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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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