Valet Parking?

[Edley Rondinone]

What do you SAY to the sometimes pimply-faced, Red Bull-chugging, minimum-wage worker (of mostly Latino descent here in L.A.) when (if?) you pull into a fancy club/restaurant/bistro/Steak 'n' Lube who wants to eject your rear end out of the car so they can "park" your car for you? Here in L.A. they have driven the Ferraris, Porsches, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Rolls Royces, etc, and parked them "up front", to show other drivers and sundry passersby that someone of an important ilk is partaking of "their" establishment. Do you request that you park it yourself, saying that Cobras are very tricky to drive safely? Even if that means you have to park "out back"? Do you request a spot where you can keep an eye on it, just 'cos it looks good? Or do you just stay home and order Domino's?

[speedraser]

No Cobra yet, but with my Morgan or Porsche I just tell them nicely that I'd like to park it myself, and I give them a tip ($3-5). I've never had a problem this way - I think they understand, and if they get the tip they're not losing anything financially.

[Bish Wheeler]

They say, "You want to park it yourself, right?" and they show me where to park it. Usually right in front.

Bish

[klayfish]

Edley,
I spent almost 3 years as a valet a fancy restaurant in downtown Philadelphia while in college (and I graduated in '97, so it wasn't that long ago). I can't honestly say in all that time we had a Cobra pull up. Lots of Porsche, Ferrari, Rolls, etc... Usually they let us park. Many times they would hand us money to leave the car up front (though we kept the keys, in case the cops made us move the cars), but a spot up front cost $10-$20. I suggest giving the valet a few bucks and asking to park it yourself. They'll understand.

I can honestly say that of the thousands and thousands of cars I parked, I didn't damage a single one (not that I didn't sample their power, I didn't damage any of them), but many of my fellow co-workers shouldn't have been trusted with a tricycle, let alone a $50,000+ car.

Steve

[Mark IV]

This may influence your decision...
http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/me...tml?1059513977
http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/me...tml?1059659916

I don't want to paint all valets with this brush but the potential exists.

Rick

[gear88]

this takes me back when i was i high school i parked cars at a country club. there was the regular caddies, lincolns once and a while a benz. one night a bmw 750IL pulls up i tried not to smile to big. the parking lot was down a hill from the club about 200 yards away and i knew this was my chance. i didnt care if i lost my job or not. i did the biggest break stand. it was about 45 seconds the tires spun so fast they didnt even squeel after i was done i couldnt even see out of the window there was so much smoke and a 50-60 foot patch of rubber. that car was so sweet! there was one viper at the club too but the guy would never let me drive it. maybe that was a good thing?

dont mean to scare any body, but it happens. what would you expect from a 17 year old that drove a ford escort.

brad

[Excaliber]

How about that "Ferris Bueler" movie and the valet parking the Ferrari,,,,LOL.

I haven't let a valet park the Cobra, not sure I would. I did several times with my Austin Healey 3000. One time when I returned from my meal the car was STILL parked by the valet stand, right where I had left it. Turns out they couldn't figure out how to start the engine so they COULDN'T move it.

Turn the key and then "push" the dash mounted button for the starter.

Ernie

[Russ Dickey]

I agree with you guys. I park my Cobra, and leave a tip.

In high school, I also worked as a valet for an upscale Itlalian restaurant here in Kansas City, and I would salivate like Pavlov's dog anytime that a sports car would come in. Our valet parking lot was about 1/8th a mile down the road, so needless to say, we got our nightly road tests in.

We never damaged one, but a close friend of mine that I worked with did get "busted". It was the late 80's, and this big, Italian mafia-type and his super-hot girlfriend came in with a brand new Camaro IROC-Z, and it was the first year for the 350ci engine. Not the fastest car in the world, but hey, we were teens.

My friend "Bill" takes the keys and proceeds to go park it. The couple walks in the restaurant, sees the full waiting lounge, decides they don't want to wait, turn around and walk out of the place just in time to see Bill doing a huge, smokey burn-off down the street in the Camaro. I just stood there petrified, watching this guys face turn red and the veins in his head pop out.

We got probably the biggest a$$ chewing I've ever received from the IROC owner and our boss, but it was still better than the a$$ beating this guy wanted to lay down on us!

I've got high blood pressure as it is, so I don't want to risk the emminent heart attack I would have should I see such a thing happening with my Cobra...

Russ

[bill32]

I have not yet had an problem when I said I would park it myself. And I usually provide a tip since I am generally directed to park right up front.

[Hal Copple]

It actually takes six switches in my SPF to fire it up. Not that i have to manipulate all six to do it, but the electrons do have to get across six contacts in various parts of the electrical system before they get to the spark plugs. Seven, if you add the Accusump switch. If my car is hot, i have to carefully bring up the fuel and oil pressure, and tickle the Pro HP Holley to get it running smoothly.

I have had valets move Turbo Porsches out into the rain so my car could be under the awning. I happen to be friends with the head valet at an expensive place "where the beautiful people go" in Charlotte, and when i stop by, he always asks what mods i have done since the last time i was there. We raise the hood, talk and chat, and then he has me leave my SPF right by the front entrance. I can't afford to actually eat there, so i wander away to shop or grab a sandwich down the street, but my friend Bill always invites me to park in his special spot by the door none-the-less.

It is fun, to stand talking with Bill, and have some man bring his wife over and point out my car and tell her "you will never ever actually see one of these cars again....."

Plus had a bunch of prom night young couples want to have their pictures taken standing next to my car back in May. So i stood back, and watched them line up for their pictures, standing next to the Great Stroker.

No, valets don't drive my car. I remember back in the mid '60's, Road and Track took a GT-350 on a trip, and watched a valet drive off in the wrong gear, and ruin the clutch slipping it so much it overheated the clutch disc.

By the way, when it is time for me to leave, i do it like Steve McQueen probably would. Casually open the door, one hand on the rollbar, then a slight step in and drop down, like a race driver, then slowly pull on the Rayban Aviators, strap on all five points of the Simpson harness, carefully adjusting the belts, then start toggeling switches, crank the Stroker, and bring up the pressures, then clear it out with a few thundering blips, then with a final adjustment of the Aviators, check traffic, and ease out of the parking place. If i am really "ON" it can take at least 5-7 minutes to actually move my Replica!

It is something you learn with time and lots of dedicated practice. You gotta have style.

[Lowell W]

RIGHT ON HAL!!!!!

[Edley Rondinone]

Hal: Good Story!

[Jamo]

I give them a $20, have them move whatever POS is in the prime spot and I back her in. I have them stand guard while the pipes are hot to protect morons.

I pretty much pull a "Hal", but mine is much more involved...at least 10 minutes just to get my butt settled in.

[Mr.Fixit]

Hand him $5 and ask, "Where do you want ME to park MY car?"