Many times as Corvette owners we are asked to drive participants in parades, homecoming football games and other pageants that require motor vehicles. Parade driving is a lot of fun IF you follow the rules. Unfortunately for a retired fire chief from Gastonia, North Carolina who drove his midyear Corvette in a Christmas parade, the rules did not include:
Drinking Heavily Before the Parade
Running over the Feet of Spectators
Carrying a Handgun
Resisting Arrest
Yes, a retired fire chief with a .22 blood alcohol content was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving during a Christmas parade after he drove his classic Corvette over the foot of a spectator. Our fun-loving chief was also carrying a .22 pistol and yes, he resisted arrest.
For most Corvette owners, these rules are no-brainers. But let’s review just in case we miss something.
Don’t drink and drive in your Corvette. Driving a Midyear should be intoxicating enough without the alcohol. Stay in the center of the parade route. You are not a Shriner riding on a little motorcycle. You might want to consider declining the invitation to drive in a parade if it requires the driver to carry a handgun. Finally, should you be drink and drive, hit a spectator, be arrested on DUI and gun charges, make sure that when you resist arrest you do it in front of a television camera so the rest of can see what a dumbass you are.
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