18 yr old boy, should I let him drive it.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Bartruff1

....I would also pick out the road.

Uhhh, something like Lombard Street?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Uhhh, something like Lombard Street?

Actually because of traffic, nearly 24 hours a day, you cannot move more than 5mph down that hill. Great for learning how to idle in traffic.

[madmaxx]

It's not as much about driving experience it's about individuality. In other word anybody can drive safely at posted speeds. Less than 1 % of 18 year old are actually men and some never get there. they are influenced and cohereced by anything but themselves. If you are asking the question then he is no where ready. Has he bought his own cars, saved enough and will pay for his college education? Worked an actual job or is he the characteristic titty baby. Doing good is not staying out of trouble it improving yourself and support others instead of others supporting youself.

[*13*]

18 must have been a long time ago, for you...

[terry mason]

Jason, I agree with 13, responsibility is taught and caught, not deserved. I was raised around fast cars, sprints and super modified. Worked side by side with my dad on many of them. He showed me by his actions that NO ONE CAN HANDLE AN OVER POWERED CAR IN ALL SITUATIONS. That lesson has served me well, when I forget that, and I have, I get into trouble. My son grew up around fast cars also, learned to drive in a street rod. Your son sounds a lot like Ryan.
Ryan is now 34 years old, he is a graduate engineer, has driven my Cobra many times. Most of the time I have been with him. He has built and driven many fast cars himself, never had a ticket and now owns his own Cobra.
It is a hard decision to make and I agree his mom should be involved in the decision, I like what you said about your own immaturity, if he is cut from that cloth maybe he should not be allowed to drive the Cobra, if not you should honor that.
With that being said all my kids spent a LOT of time driving with me in parking lots. Good luck on your decision. terry

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by D-CEL

I am now facing the “should I let him drive it” struggle. My son is a wonderful, near 18 year old, senior in high school, good decision maker, who is beside himself about not being allowed to drive the Cobra.
I know how I would have felt it that car was in the garage when I was 18 .
I have no fear of his mechanical ability to operate the pedals safely. But….I have tremendous angst thinking about the yahoo in a new Corvette or Porsche or Honda with a fart pipe, that pulls up and sees a teenager behind the wheel of that snarling, rumbling thing. I know I would not have been able to keep the testosterone floodgates closed.
I certainly want him to enjoy the fruits of life, but I’m restrained by the “im your dad, not your friend” protectionist mentality.
I kinda feel like he is being punished, for how I was as a young man and my though process now.
Lets hear your thoughts

thanks
Jason

Do you love and care about him?

If so, I'd send him to a quality High Performance driving school first.

Heck, my brother just turned 54 and asks why I've never let him drive any of my Cobras. My response, "because I love you too much".


Bill S.

[madmaxx]

I turned 18 mentally about 12 years old. I led life of hard work and now love every minute of it as I continually reap the dividends. No my parents were not my friends, thank God!

Gotta give my parents credit 4 kids all with master degrees all millionaires and all paid for our own educations, cars, houses, and I have owned three cobras to boot.





QUOTE=*13*;1272234]18 must have been a long time ago, for you...[/quote]

[PatBuckley]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Do you love and care about him?

If so, I'd send him to a quality High Performance driving school first.

Heck, my brother just turned 54 and asks why I've never let him drive any of my Cobras. My response, "because I love you too much".


Bill S.

Bill, do you really think that a few days spent at a HPDS will instill good judgement in an 18 year old? Do you really think that those few days at the school will ingrain the kind of reflex action that are required when one finds oneself in an unexpected "situation"?

I don't.

I think those driving schools install a false sense of security in their students. I think it takes years of practicing what they teach before the benefits of attending are realized.

Kind of like a guy taking karate lessons for three days and then heading out to the local bar spoiling for a fight.

[jhv48]

Originally Posted by madmaxx

I turned 18 mentally about 12 years old. I led life of hard work and now love every minute of it as I continually reap the dividends. No my parents were not my friends, thank God!

Gotta give my parents credit 4 kids all with master degrees all millionaires and all paid for our own educations, cars, houses, and I have owned three cobras to boot.





QUOTE=*13*;1272234]18 must have been a long time ago, for you...

[/quote]

And your point is???!

[twin turbo]

Originally Posted by PatBuckley

I think those driving schools install a false sense of security in their students.

That reminds me of one particular driving school that was using Corvettes. They had a problem with multiple people crashing their cars on one particular corner immediately after leaving the track.

[ERA2076]

If he meets this - sure (track only) - else, no.

Originally Posted by john chesnut

He has raced go karts since 10, different classes of sprint cars and asphalt late models. I haven't had to pay for racing the past few years as he has had rides offered to him.

He's 19 now. He's never had a ticket or accident. From the beginning he needed to be with me when we worked on the karts/cars, be respectful to others and the vehicles, and get great grades. And, all aggressive driving is done at the track. Not on public roads. Driving the Cobra is a reward earned as well. A reward that we enjoy together.

[madmaxx]

If the father question the child ability the child is not ready. Age is meaningless. The post you questioned was a resposne to another post. Real simple if some ones wants to drive a cobra Ferrari go buy one.




And your point is???![/quote]

[MaSnaka]

So Jason what's the verdict???? You have enough advisers yet? Does he drive or does he ride?

John

[mdross1]

I think we are mostly all the same when it comes to other people driving our Cobra's. Once gave in and let my son drive our car told him to avoid one road because of rocks pushing up through the tar. Well he did not and was sick when he drove back in the driveway. He straddled a rock bulge the bell housing flange hit it, no damage. In the end was glad because it inspired me to trim that flange and gain an inch of clearance.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by D-CEL

My insurance is good, no restrictions. And we are all on the same page as far as experience, Id never let him out alone until I was sure he was competent on the operation and control side. Funny, I have no problem putting him in my RS4 and it makes 420hp. But it sissy HP, its easy, all wheel drive, big brake blah blah. just doesn't charge the glands like the Cobra.

Looks like D-Cell checked out of this conversation some time ago. It sounds like he is comfortable letting him drive as long as he is in the passenger seat and his insurance is good - I think that is probably reasonable.

I was always described as being mature for my age when I was young (others description - not mine) - but when I was 18 and bought my first muscle car, I was hell on wheels and lucky to have lived to see 20. A teenager and good sense/responsibility when unsupervised are oxymorons. Fortunately, must teens have enough fear of doing something really stupid in front of good old Dad, to behave sensibly while under direct observation. I just hope he sticks to a piece of road with little traffic at first and keeps the keys hidden when it's not being driven.

[blown871]

Too many variables having that driver or any other driver in your car.
the 'what if's' out weigh the nice gesture of letting someone driving the car.


They call them 'accidents for a reason' and your entire world can change.. with putting that variable into motion.

... Your insurance.. only covers so much....the price of any claim can affect/effect the rest of your world in a millisecond.

[ERA2076]

Cobra Driving Takes Skill

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by PatBuckley

Bill, do you really think that a few days spent at a HPDS will instill good judgement in an 18 year old?

If the parent in question is insistent on putting his child behind the wheel, it could not hurt. Personally, I have yet to let Josh get behind the wheel of any of my Cobras or Mustang based race cars. he is not ready for either or and I love him too much to allow him the choice of poor judgement in risking his life.


Bill S.

[D-CEL]

First: Thanks everybody for your input I truly appreciate all of your insight.
I have been digesting it all and taken some really good points away.
I completely agree with the "Its not about age, its about maturity"
And with that I have decided that I am going to take him out with me as the passenger and see how he does. I will get him comfortable so he drops his guard and see what he is likely to do if he was ever by himself.

"And the Zen Master said, We'll see..."

Jason

[HSC-ZL1]

I asked both of my kids, several times during my cobra build if they wanted to come out in the garage and help. Neither of them will drive my cobra until they are 26 as the insurance allows because I never got any help. I do not count the brake bleed pedal pushing as help. I guess I am a little old school and believe privileges are earned. I think driving a big block cobra is a privilege.