Corvette Museum Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Chevrolet

Chevrolet’s first car pulled onto the auto scene like a decked-out debutante. Race-car driver Louis Chevrolet imagined an upscale dream car based on the racing cars he loved. The Series C Classic Six produced 40 horsepower and could go a whopping 65 miles per hour, competing with the high-performance cars of its time. For the first couple of years, it was simply called “the Chevrolet.” While Chevrolet co-founder Bill Durant would quickly shift the company toward affordability, performance would stay at the heart of Chevrolet for a century to come.



The National Corvette Museum celebrates Chevrolet’s 100th anniversary with a special 14-car exhibit, showcasing a variety of Chevrolet vehicles through the decades. On display are a 1912 “Little” – a product of the Little Car Company which was dissolved into Chevrolet; a 1928 Phaeton Touring Car; a 1935 Chevrolet; a 1936 Canopy Express Pick-up – used for produce display and delivery; a 1942 ‘War Car’, a 1955 Bel Air; a 1958 Impala; a 1964 Corvair; a 1965 Chevelle 300; a 1970 Chevelle; 1987 Monte Carlo; a 1996 Camaro; a 2003 50th Anniversary Corvette and a 2012 Volt.



“Our goal for this exhibit was to not only offer a wide variety of Chevrolet models, but also select vehicles to represent each decade of the 100 years,” said Katie Frassinelli, Marketing Manager and member of the Museum’s Display Committee.



As with the majority of vehicles on display in the museum, all of the exhibit cars are on loan from private individuals with three of them on loan from the General Motors Heritage Center. The display runs through December 31, 2011 in the Museum’s Exhibit Hall and is included with regular museum admission.



The National Corvette Museum is located at I-65, exit 28 in Bowling Green, Kentucky and is open daily, 8am-5pm CT. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for kids age 6-16, kids under 6 are free, or family admission (everyone in the same household) is $25.



In addition to the Museum’s celebratory exhibit, Chevrolet has launched a special “Chevy 100” channel on Pandora featuring 100 popular songs with Chevrolet-related references such as Prince’s “Little Red Corvette” and Don McLean’s “American Pie.” Additionally, Chevrolet is sponsoring the August 20 Woodward Dream Cruise – a grassroots event which draws an estimated 1.5 million car enthusiasts and 30,000 muscle cars to Michigan’s legendary Woodward Avenue. Chevrolet fans can also vote for their favorite models in a tournament-style bracket challenge which will eventually crown just one Chevy as “the best” at www.chevrolet.com/100-years/best-chevy-of-all-time/.

National Corvette Museum Honors Teachers with Appreciation Expo

This Sunday, May 22 from 1-3pm area teachers have the opportunity to be rewarded for their hard work and efforts at the 2nd Annual Teacher Appreciation Expo. The event began as a way for the local community to show their appreciation to educators who work so hard to educate our youth. Last year’s event welcomed educators from 13 school districts and offered an afternoon of free food, massages, door prizes, swag bags and vendor booths geared towards teachers plus free Museum tours for the teacher and their immediate family.

“Growing up with a parent who worked in the school system I saw a lot of behind the scenes work they do to prepare for their students,” said Katie Frassinelli, Marketing and Communications Manager. “An event like this gives our community the chance to thank the teachers for everything they do because often the teachers don’t get thanked enough.”

This year offers loads of door prizes including $50 worth of Mary Kay cosmetics; free color, cut and style from Spa Fabulous; jewelry by A Sterling Performance; wreath by Lolly Dots Boutique; Tastefully Simple gift bag; $50 Parent-Teacher Store gift card and much more. Teachers and their immediate family will also enjoy food and drinks provided by Puerto Vallarta, Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, Mariah’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sam’s Club, Riley’s Bakery and Fazoli’s.

“We have some demonstrations that will take place on our stage throughout the event, and the first 150 teachers will take home a swag bag filled with loads of goodies,” said Jackie Utzler, Education and Community Events Coordinator at the Corvette Museum.

Teachers are encouraged to register online for the event at www.corvettemuseum.org/teacher.

For more information , visit our website:
http://www.corvettemuseum.org/teacher

National Corvette Museum's Insurance Agency Launches New Website

The NCM Insurance Agency unveiled a redesigned website this week that makes quoting collector car insurance as easy as the click of a button. The redesign allows current customers the opportunity to manage their policies, request ID cards, make policy changes and more. The new site also helps the National Corvette Museum more effectively provide useful information about collector vehicle coverages and offer online tools to facilitate the process for them.

“The previous website had a great nostalgic feel, but failed to provide important and useful information to current and future clients,” said NCM Insurance Agent Adam Boca. “The new website is easier to navigate for visitors and creates a positive experience, with useful Corvette and collector car insurance information in an easy-to-browse format.”

NCM Insurance is provided through American Modern Insurance Group, which offers discounts for eligible Museum Members. “American Modern Insurance Group was founded in 1965 and is a national leader in specialty insurance. The company’s financial stability is rated A+ (Superior) by an independent industry analyst and is acknowledged for its claim service,” according to Dave Seibert, American Modern sales representative.

“What makes NCM unique is its national reach from its vantage point within the National Corvette Museum,” Seibert explained. “It is truly integrated into the history and future of the ‘Corvette culture’ and has leveraged its special knowledge to serve the insurance needs of virtually all collector vehicles. This new website should allow the NCM Insurance Agency to enhance their customers’ experience, and that supports the mission of the Museum.”

Boca said that 100% of the agency’s commissions go to support the Museum. “We want to become a leading provider of Corvette and collector car insurance, and with this new website, we are on the right track,” he said.

NCM Insurance offers insurance plans for owners who drive up to 1K, 3K or 6K miles per year who occasionally drive their cars to enthusiast events, club meetings and on special trips.

“The new website provides free quotes, making it simple to compare your coverage options,” Boca said. “I encourage owners to log on to www.ncminsurance.org to discover what the NCM Insurance Agency has to offer. You can also connect with NCM Insurance on Facebook and Twitter at facebook.com/pages/NCM-Insurance-Agency/225876839230 and twitter.com/NCMInsurance.”

The National Corvette Museum is dedicated to the mission of celebration, education and preservation, and is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT - located at Exit 28 on I-65 in Bowling Green, KY.

National Corvette Museum to Auction VIN 001 - 2011 Special Edition Le Mans Z06 Corvette at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale

Tribute Car to Benefit Planned Motorsports Park

2010 marked the 50th anniversary celebration of Corvette’s first appearance and win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and to celebrate that significant occasion Chevrolet built a special 2011 Corvette Z06, donning the same Arctic White paint, blue racing stripes and number “3” as the car it pays homage to… the 1960 Cunningham Corvette which won its class 50 years ago.

Bidders at the 2011 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction will get a unique and rare opportunity to own this true one-of-a-kind Corvette on Friday, January 21 when it hits the auction block in support of the National Corvette Museum. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Museum’s planned Motorsports Park – a nearly 500 acre facility complete with road courses, autocross course, skid pad, karting track and drag strip.

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary, the 2011 tribute Corvette participated in a Legends of Le Mans event with a memorable parade lap at Laguna Seca alongside three historic Le Mans cars (1960 Cunningham, 1967 Bondurant/Guldstrand, 1973 BF Goodrich) as well as the Corvette C6.R GT2 car. The car has also been used for a number of other publicity functions including the first public showing at the Corvette Museum’s C5/C6 Bash April 30, ALMS Races at Utah, Lime Rock, Mid-Ohio and Road America, Corvettes at Carlisle and finally the NCM Hall of Fame event. The car is autographed by racing legends and Corvette Hall of Fame members Dick Guldstrand, John Fitch and Dick Thompson as well as the 2010 Corvette Racing drivers Johnny O’Connell, Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Jan Magnussen.

In addition to being a tribute car, Chevrolet with the help of GM’s Design Center added special one-off features to this production Corvette Z06 which is also the first saleable 2011 Z06 Corvette with VIN 001, manufactured on April 19 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Features include Competition Gray headlamps, mirrors and wheels; heritage 1960 style blue split stripes and #3 door numbers; special 50th Anniversary of Le Mans Racing logos; blue brake calipers; Z07 Performance Package with Brembo carbon ceramic brakes, 19” front / 20” rear 20-spoke competition gray wheels, Michelin PS2 tires, and Magnetic Selective Ride Control; black carbon fiber front splitter and rockers; ZR1 style rear spoiler; ebony leather wrapped interior with Competition Gray trim; LS7 7.0 I 427 ci 505 hp small-block V8 with dry sump system, titanium components; 6-speed manual transmission with launch control; carbon fiber fenders and floor panels; and an aluminum frame structure and magnesium engine cradle.

The Corvette is listed on the Barrett-Jackson website at: http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/lotdetails.aspx?aid=403&ln=1032&pop=0&it=1 and the auction of this car will be televised live on the Speed Network between 7 and 9pm MST. The National Corvette Museum will be in attendance at the show with a booth by the General Motors area to answer any questions about the car and offer Corvette merchandise and raffle tickets for purchase.

Download a hero card about the car here:
http://www.corvettemuseum.com/lemansauctioncar.pdf
Download a fact sheet here:
http://www.corvettemuseum.com/lemansfactsheet.pdf
View high res images of the car here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/corvettemuseum/2011SpecialZ06#
View a short video of the car here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ATyrea7Qv4

The National Corvette Museum is the ‘Gateway to All Things Corvette’ and a member-driven, 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation. Weekly news on the latest Corvette developments, racing updates, event features and raffles are available by subscribing to “NCM eNews” at: corvettemuseum.org/ncmenews. Dedicated to the mission of celebration, education and preservation, the Museum is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT - located at Exit 28 on I-65 in Bowling Green, KY.

Corvette Museum Offers $1 Admission for Kentucky Residents

The National Corvette Museum has named the entire month of December “Dollar Days” for residents of Kentucky who visit the Museum. All month long, Kentucky residents can tour the Museum for a $1.00 admission per person, and will only need to show a Kentucky drivers license to take advantage of the special offer. Children will be admitted at the $1.00 price with adults presenting the Kentucky identification.

The Museum features over 70 Corvettes, from the 1953 - the first Corvette to capture the hearts of America, to one-of-a-kind prototypes, the only 1983 in existence and historic Corvettes normally unavailable to the general public. A special Camaro exhibit with more than a dozen examples of the model is on display throughout December as well. Visitors can sit behind the wheel of a new Corvette and Camaro, race against the clock with the interactive Pit Crew Challenge, and take a drive in the new educational Driving Simulators.

“Dollar Days” is the Museum’s way of giving back to Kentucky residents to thank them for their support and gives them an opportunity to see first-hand why the Corvette is one of the state’s greatest resources and now the official state sports car of Kentucky. “We are proud to be able to showcase our Museum dedicated to this extraordinary automobile and celebrate, educate and preserve Corvette’s legendary past and future,” states NCM Executive Director Wendell Strode. “Each visit to the Museum is different because things are ever changing, and guests visiting in December will be able to see our new Camaro display. We look forward to welcoming our Kentucky friends.” Visitors can also take a chance to win a 2011 Corvette or Camaro for only $10 and do some holiday shopping in the Corvette Store.

The National Corvette Museum is the ‘Gateway to All Things Corvette’ and a member-driven, 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation. Weekly news on the latest Corvette developments, racing updates, event features and raffles are available by subscribing to “NCM eNews” at: corvettemuseum.org/ncmenews. Dedicated to the mission of celebration, education and preservation, the Museum is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT - located at Exit 28 on I-65 in Bowling Green, KY.

Corvette Museum to Offer Limited Edition Z06 Carbon Raffle

Car is one of only 500 to be built.

The automotive world received an exciting announcement this year when information was released on the new 2011 Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition. The car represents the latest track-to-street technology transfer, and with only 500 to be produced it is sure to be on every Corvette lover’s holiday wish list this year.

“Designed to further incorporate technology developed through racing, the Corvette Z06 Carbon Limited Edition is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Corvette’s first race in the 24 Hours of LeMans,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet General Manager. “With a limited production of 500 units, this car is a must-have for the true Corvette collector and driving enthusiast.”

The National Corvette Museum is offering the chance for someone to win one of these cars through a fundraising raffle. The car, a Supersonic Blue Carbon Edition Z06, VIN #03 AND the FIRST production Carbon Edition in Supersonic Blue, will be raffled on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at 2pm CT. Winner need not be present to win and as with most Museum raffles there are a limited number of tickets available. Chances to win this collector car are $300 each, with only 1,000 tickets available.

“For track use, the Z06 Carbon is the best balanced Corvette yet. It combines the lightweight and naturally-aspirated Z06 engine with the road-holding and braking of the ZR1,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette Chief Engineer. “For technical tracks like Laguna Seca, the Z06 Carbon could shave up to three seconds off the Z06 lap time.”

This limited edition Z06 boasts Brembo carbon ceramic brakes with specific dark gray metallic calipers and black 20-spoke 19-inch front/20-inch rear wheels complementing the car’s Michelin PS2 tires. Other mechanical features include Magnetic Selective Ride Control for the first time on the Z06 and enhanced cooling. The car also features a special carbon pattern engine cover.

Exterior features include black headlamps and mirrors, a ZR1-style body color spoiler, body color door handles, carbon fiber raised hood and black carbon fiber rockers and splitter.

The Z06 Carbon’s ebony leather and suede interior is complemented by blue seat stitching to match the exterior. Other features include a unique steering wheel emblem, sill plate and logoed headrest. The car has all the options, and MSRP is $99,925.

Tickets are available online at corvettemuseum.org/raffle or by phone during normal business hours at 800-538-3883. The winner will be contacted by phone following the drawing, and raffle winners are posted on the Museum’s website at corvettemuseum.org/raffle_winners/. “Our raffle fundraisers offer a chance to make someone a Corvette owner and truly benefit the Museum in many ways,” states NCM Executive Director, Wendell Strode. “We look forward to welcoming another raffle winner to the Museum to take delivery.”

National Corvette Museum and Historic Railpark & Train Museum Offer Free Child Admission with Kid-Friendly Food Donation

Promotion to Benefit Feeding America: Kentucky's Heartland Adopt-A-BackPacker Program

Have you ever had to go a day without food? Two days? Many school children in Kentucky do just that. Feeding America: Kentucky's Heartland, based in Elizabethtown, has what's known as 'Adopt a BackPacker'... a program where the organization prepare bags of food each week, with at least eight kid-friendly food items, that are discreetly placed in the child’s backpack each Friday by their teacher while the kids are at recess or lunch.

The mission of Kentucky’s Heartland is “to meet the needs of hungry children by providing them with nutritious and easy-to-prepare food to take home on weekends and school vacations when other resources are not available.”

The foods are all easy to prepare and nutritious, like pop-top soups, peanut butter crackers, cereal bars, pudding cups, juice boxes and other nutritious foods. Children who don’t get enough food do not perform well academically, display unacceptable behavior and have poor attendance due to illness or other reasons that are unexcused.

The National Corvette Museum and Historic Railpark and Train Museum in Bowling Green are helping to create awareness and support of this program by accepting donations of these items October 1 - 11. Visitors donating a food item will receive free child admission (or $2 off adult admission) to that museum.

The National Corvette Museum is located at I-65, exit 28 and is open daily, 8am to 5pm. Learn more at http://www.corvettemuseum.org/ or call 270-781-7973. The Historic Railpark and Train Museum is located at I-65, exit 26 and is open Monday through Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and Sunday 1-4pm. Visit their website at http://www.historicrailpark.com/ or call 270-745-7317. Both the National Corvette Museum and Historic Railpark and Train Museum are 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.

You can also learn more about the Adopt-a-BackPacker program at http://www.feedingamericaky.org/. The program services 30 Kentucky counties.

Camaro Exhibit Coming to Corvette Museum this Fall

Transformers 'star' Bumblebee scheduled to make an appearance

While you can see over 80 unique and rare Corvettes on display at the National Corvette Museum anytime, the Museum will also welcome some cool Camaros for your viewing pleasure this fall. October 1 through December 31 the Museum’s exhibit hall will include a dozen unique, fast and even rare examples of Corvette’s younger sibling.

Those who remember John Schnatter’s search for his long lost Camaro, (founder of Papa John’s Pizza) will enjoy seeing it on display as part of the exhibit. Schnatter had sold his beloved 1971 ½ Camaro Z28 in 1983 when his father’s tavern was on the verge of closing because of a bankruptcy. With the $2,800 he received for the car he was able to save their business and later launched the Papa John’s pizza empire. Schnatter says that for 26 years he wanted the car back, and in 2009 by offering a finder’s fee of $25,000 and $250,000 to purchase the car John was re-united with the Camaro.

Joining Papa John’s car is PGA golfer Kenny Perry’s 1969 Camaro, a 2001 Dale Earnhardt Camaro (1 of only 81 made), a 1987 1LE Prototype, a 2010 Indy 500 Pace Car, a 1968 Big Block plus several more head-turners.

Of course, the icing on the Camaro cake will come October 18-28 when the Museum welcomes “Bumblebee,” star of the Transformers films. The Camaro is one of the actual “autobots” used in the first and second Transformers movies (2007 and 2009), driven by actors Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox. The third film is currently in production and is set to release July 1, 2011 in 3-D.

Camaro lovers will have the opportunity to not only sit behind the wheel of a new Camaro, but also register to take one home! The Museum will be holding a fundraising raffle for a 2011 Black Camaro SS/RS and chances are only $10 each. The car features black leather interior, LS3 – 6.2L V8 engine with 426 horsepower, 6-speed manual transmission, silver stripe package, Hurst short-throw shifter, 20” aluminum polished wheels and more. The prize also includes a voucher to participate in a Bondurant 3-Day Driving School, valued at over $4,000! The drawing will be held in February of 2011 at the National Corvette Museum.

For the full Camaro-experience, a one-day Camaro/Firebird Classic event is planned during the exhibit. Saturday, October 23 will be packed with autocross, drag racing, a car show, poker run, BBQ lunch and more. Participant registration is all-inclusive at just $50 per person. Spectators/guests can pay just $20 for the lunch and museum admission. Event credential pick-up begins at 8am.

For more information on the exhibit and event, visit our website at http://www.corvettemuseum.org or call (800) 538-3883. The National Corvette Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Corvette’s past, present and future. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, the Museum is located at Exit 28 on I-65 in Bowling Green, KY.

Calling All Cars! Kentucky State Police Team Up With National Corvette Museum to Offer Scenic Road Tour

Kentucky is known for horses, bourbon and history… but October 12-16, 2010 participants of a first-ever scenic Kentucky road tour will get to experience more than just that. The National Corvette Museum has teamed up with the Kentucky State Police to lead a fundraising event like no other – taking participants to some of the most popular attractions and best dining the Bluegrass State has to offer. The proceeds from the event will benefit both the National Corvette Museum, a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation, and the Kentucky State Police’s Trooper Island Camp, a free of charge, weeklong experience designed to help underprivileged kids age 10-12 develop their self image, build healthy eating and exercise habits, provide spiritual growth and further mental capabilities.

“The ‘One Lap of Kentucky’ Event is a great way to spend some time seeing the many wonderful sites our state has to offer,” said Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer. “The Kentucky State Police are excited to be a part of the event and are honored that a portion of the registration will benefit Trooper Island. Since 1965, the island has been run entirely on donations. It is from the generous contributions of people across this great state and beyond that we are able to continue to operate this magical place,” he added.

The road tour begins on Wednesday, October 13, departing from the National Corvette Museum down US-68/KY-80 to the Shaker Museum at South Union, the Jefferson Davis Monument, Metalsa Factory (formerly Dana) in Hopkinsville to see how Corvette frames are made and on to lunch at the Pennyrile State Park. The day continues with a visit to the “Land Between the Lakes” with dinner at Patti’s 1880’s Settlement in Grand Rivers and overnight at Kentucky Dam State Park Lodge.

Thursday takes the group to Paducah with visits to the Dippin’ Dots factory and Quilt Museum, time to browse Lowertown ending with dinner at the famous Moonlite BBQ in Owensboro. Friday includes a tour of the International Bluegrass Museum, taking the Kentucky backroads to Rough River State Park for lunch and wrapping up with visits to Churchill Downs and the Derby Museum in Louisville.

The trip comes to a close on Saturday with visits to the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum, including a souvenir of your own custom bat, shopping and lunch at the Whistlestop Café in Glendale and finishing back at the National Corvette Museum. While caravanning is a signature Corvette activity, this road tour welcomes all makes and models of cars.

“Corvettes share a common passion for road tours, and we feel by hosting this tour with the Kentucky State Police this passion will rub off on others,” said Roc Linkov, Events Manager at the National Corvette Museum. “What better time to explore Kentucky than the fall!”

The tour fee is $625 for the driver, and $225 for their guest. The fee includes lodging for three nights, lunch on three days, admission to all attractions and dinner the first two nights. Registration closes October 4. For more information on the ‘One Lap of Kentucky’ Road Tour, visit our website at http://www.corvettemuseum.org/ or call (800) 538-3883. The National Corvette Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Corvette’s past, present and future. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, the Museum is located at Exit 28 on I-65 in Bowling Green, KY.

National Corvette Museum Offers Buy One, Get One Free Admission with School Supply Donation

The National Corvette Museum is offering Buy One, Get One Free Admission now through Sunday, July 25 to any visitor who brings a donation of school supplies to the Museum. A Corvette will be “crammed” with the donated supplies, and then caravanned to the Tony Rose / Sam 100.7 “Stuff the Bus” on Monday, July 26. Sam 100.7 distributes the donated items to the many schools in South Central Kentucky.

“Last year visitors to the Museum and Museum employees donated six large boxes of school supplies,” said Katie Frassinelli, Marketing and Communications Manager. “We hope to top that this year, and the Corvette caravan over to the bus is always a fun way to wrap up the Sam 100.7 Stuff the Bus campaign.”

Anyone with a Corvette is welcome to join the caravan to the bus on Monday, July 26. The caravan will depart the Museum around 8:15am.

The National Corvette Museum is open daily, 8am until 5pm. Regular admission prices are $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for youth age 6-16 and children 5 and under are free. For information call 800-53-VETTE (83883) or visit the Museum online at www.corvettemuseum.org.

National Corvette Museum's Anniversary Celebration to Showcase Corvette Racing's Past and Future

Display Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Le Mans Participation

This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans marked the 50th anniversary of Corvette's first participation in the world's most celebrated sports car race. And this year’s NCM Anniversary Celebration will re-unite Briggs Cunningham’s No. 3 Corvette with the 2011 Special Z06 created as a modern version of the 1960 racer.

"When you look at the Corvettes that raced at Le Mans 50 years ago, it's impossible not to be impressed by the passion, the immense courage, and the physical stamina that was required to race for 24 hours in those vehicles," said Corvette Racing program Doug Fehan. "It was an astounding feat, and the men who drove them have my respect. Regardless of what Corvette Racing may have accomplished in the past or what we may accomplish in the future, we will always work in the shadow of these racers."

Briggs Cunningham's No. 3 Corvette was purchased by the late Chip Miller who went through great lengths to restore the car. His son, Lance, has carried on the passion by shipping the car to this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans race… a race where it finished first in the large displacement GT category and eighth overall at Le Mans in 1960.

Driver Johnny O'Connell enjoyed the rare opportunity to drive the No. 3 1960 Corvette during a photo shoot at Le Mans. "The race cars and technology have changed greatly over the years, but Chevrolet's approach to racing has been consistent," O'Connell said. "The Corvettes that raced at Le Mans in 1960 were very nearly stock vehicles, and to this day, Corvette Racing is still a tool to improve the breed. The relationship that the race team has with the production engineers definitely benefits Chevrolet customers.”

Lance will travel to Bowling Green, Kentucky September 2-4 with the Cunningham Corvette, and conduct a seminar as part of the National Corvette Museum’s weekend activities. His Corvette will be displayed side-by-side with the 2011 Special Z06.

The 2011 Special Z06 was created by Chevrolet as a one-off production Corvette Z06, the first 2011 Corvette manufactured with VIN 001. GM Design Center created a modern version of the famous white and blue stripe 1960 Le Mans winner, adding many special features. Event attendees will get the chance to photograph both cars together at the Museum.

2014 Corvette Caravan - Letter from the Chair

Many thanks to all of you who have already sent your best wishes and offers of help. All support is greatly appreciated. I most certainly will be soliciting your assistance, advice, and action in the days and months to come.

Although the next caravan is four years away, the time will pass so rapidly we will wonder why all the planning didn’t start in 2009. With that certainty in mind, I have set the following goals for completion by the end of this year. I want to have all the caravan segments identified and the captains for each assigned.

So, how do we get there by Christmas? First, I am soliciting inputs from all those who would like to captain a caravan segment in 2014, both past and future captains. If you felt like your area of the country was not served by an authorized caravan and you think an added segment is warranted, let me know. If you are a past captain and wish to assume the task again, let me know. If you weren’t a captain on the last caravan, but would like to lead a group this time, let me know. In other words, to paraphrase the rum commercial, “calling all caravan captains”. Please let me know your telephone number when responding. Once the captains have been installed, we can begin to massage the routes. Not down to the rest stops, but the overall plan to ensure we have optimized all the routes.

The traffic pattern from the past caravan will be the basis for the one in 2014. Some additions, deletions, and modifications may occur, but in general, not much will differ from that successful event. I do want to review all the past routes so I am familiar with how the segments were connected.

Having been involved in the organizing and funding of two caravans, I know all the hard work is done by the caravan captains and their local teams. My job will be to help make that task as trouble free as possible and keep everyone informed, on a timely basis, of the caravan status. In addition, the NCM will be streamlining the registration process and further reducing the workload of the captains. I solicit all participants to join in and help support your captain. It is a huge task to raise funds, book venues, publish route books, time daily routes, etc. Please volunteer and become part of the caravan process. You won’t be sorry.

This caravan will mark the twentieth anniversary of the opening of the museum and the silver anniversary of its conception. We have the opportunity to make it the largest and best caravan ever. All we need is an abundance of new ideas and a ton of hard work.

You can contact me at vettltd@hotmail.com. I promise to get back to you within a 24 hour period. One exception, I will be out of the country from June 8 until June 27. If I can reach a computer, I’ll get back to you during this time.

Paul Mariano
National Chair
2014 NCM Caravan

Kentucky Teen Loans Stingray Skateboard Artwork to National Corvette Museum

Artwork is on display in front window of Museum's Library & Archives

The National Corvette Museum received a unique and interesting piece of art for display on Thursday, June 10. Harrison County High School Senior, Tyler Hardin presented the museum with a skateboard bearing artwork of a 2011 Stingray Concept Corvette in multiple perspectives.

Tyler was first given the skateboard by members of the Harrison County High School “Skaters with a Purpose” club (S.W.A.P.). The club gave out 13 boards to multiple artists around the county and some to other states. “I am a diehard Corvette fan, so I figured that this was one way to show it,” Tyler said. “Beneath the center image is the reflection, which is that of a 1965 model and the top right hand corner is a 1969 model, but it’s all about the 2011 model,” he added.

Tyler just graduated from Harrison County and is from Sadieville, Kentucky. He will be entering Spencerian College this summer, majoring in Graphic Design. Tyler currently has no formal training in the area of drawing and design, and learned his technique from his grandfather at an early age. Tyler said everything on the skateboard was hand sketched, and amazingly – it only took four hours of drawing and two hours of finishing to produce this one-of-a-kind skateboard.

Tyler’s Stingray Skateboard will be on display in the front display window of the Library and Archives at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky for a period of 6-9 months.

The National Corvette Museum is located at I-65 exit 28 in South Central Kentucky. It is open daily from 8am until 5pm Central Time. More information is available online at www.corvettemuseum.org or by calling 800-53 VETTE (53553).

Pictured: Tyler Hardin presents National Corvette Museum Executive Director Wendell Strode with the Stingray Skateboard for display.

Photos of the skateboard can be downloaded at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/corvettemuseum/StingraySkateboard?feat=directlink

Horses to Meet Horsepower This Friday at the National Corvette Museum

Alltech and the First Lady of Kentucky to hold formal press conference on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games

The First Lady of Kentucky, Jane Beshear, is partnering with Alltech’s president and founder, Dr. Pearse Lyons, to travel the Commonwealth and states surrounding Kentucky to promote the largest sporting event to come to the United States since the 2002 Winter Olympics – the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.

On Friday, May 28 the National Corvette Museum will host a press conference for the event, allowing area media to interact with the First Lady, an accomplished equestrian herself, and Dr. Lyons in regards to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. In just over 100 days the world’s finest athletes will gallop into the Bluegrass to compete in eight world championships over 16 days at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

The press conference begins at 8am Central Time in the National Corvette Museum Conference Center and will last approximately one hour, including a short video about the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Media and the public will have the opportunity to ask questions.

National Corvette Museum Announces 2014 Caravan National Chair

They come from miles around… lines of colorful Corvettes, all generations represented, traveling from every continental United State and even a few foreign countries to gather in the Home of the Corvette. 2014 will bring the 5th National Corvette Caravan and will mark the 20th Anniversary of the National Corvette Museum. Leading the spectacle is Paul Mariano of Huntersville, NC, a 20-year Museum member who is not only a lifetime member of the Museum but also a founding member.

Paul is currently the ambassador to the Museum for the Queen City Corvette Club in Charlotte, NC, and previously was the ambassador for the Corvette Club of Santa Barbara, CA. He is a member of the NCRS and was a participant of the Southern California caravan in 1999, co-captain of the Southern California caravan in 2003, and sponsorship/advertising chairman for the 2009 North Carolina / South Carolina / Virginia caravan.

“When Roc Linkov, NCM Events Manager, asked if I would do it, I did have a little trepidation,” said Paul. “But as when I agreed to take the Southern California caravan at the last minute, I thought if not me then who? I have such a deep love affair with the museum that I want to contribute as much as I can, wherever I can. Without the great help that my wife Barbara provides, I could not manage to take on any of these caravan tasks. I just hope I can provide the service that everyone has entrusted to me.”

Paul is an avid supporter of the National Corvette Museum, the Corvette Race Team and the Corvette lifestyle. He currently owns a 1967 big block coupe Corvette and a 2007 Z06.

The 5th National Corvette Caravan will take place the first week of September, 2014. Regional caravans will form and join other caravans as they travel across the United States to gather in Bowling Green, Kentucky for four days of festivities at the National Corvette Museum. “A national caravan such as this requires years of planning and coordinating and the Museum is fortunate to have a volunteer like Paul to take on this monumental task,” stated National Corvette Museum Executive Director, Wendell Strode.

The Museum is located at I-65, exit 28 in South Central Kentucky and is open daily, 8am to 5pm Central Time.

National Corvette Museum Helps Stamp Out Hunger

The National Corvette Museum is offering two dollars off admission now through Saturday, May 8 to any visitor who brings a donation of nonperishable items to the Museum. The National Corvette Museum is participating in ‘Stamp out Hunger Day’ by collecting canned food items for local food banks.

Visitors will be sure to enjoy hands-on, interactive exhibits, a new Corvette Café, expanded Store, Conference Center, the chance to sit in a Corvette and even register to drive one home. Not only will visitors enjoy an afternoon within the ‘Gateway to all things Corvette’ but they will be helping stamp out hunger in South Central Kentucky.

‘Stamp Out Hunger’ is an annual drive by the National Association of Letter Carriers. Items collected by the National Corvette Museum will be picked up on Saturday, May 8 by the local postal service.

The National Corvette Museum is open daily, 8am until 5pm. Regular admission prices are $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for youth age 6-16 and children 5 and under are free. For information call 800-53-VETTE (83883) or visit the Museum online at www.corvettemuseum.org.

For more information on the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, visit: www.helpstampouthunger.com.

Act Designating Corvette as the Official State Sports Car of Kentucky Signed by Governor

Kentucky can now add one more item to its list of state “symbols”… the Corvette. April 26, 2010 Governor Steve Beshear signed House Bill 104 - an act designating the Corvette as the official state sports car of Kentucky.

“Since 1953, the Corvette has been considered America’s sports car. As home to the Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentuckians have long considered the Corvette to be Kentucky’s sports car and a great symbol of Kentucky pride and craftsmanship. House Bill 104, which was passed during the 2010 General Assembly, now makes that designation official. It was with great pleasure that I signed HB 104 into law,” said Governor Beshear.

A companion bill (Senate Bill 111) was first introduced by State Senator Mike Reynolds, D-Bowling Green in January. “Bowling Green is becoming more of a tourist destination. The National Corvette Museum is a major part of that and is a definite drawing card for the traveling public. Drawing attention to our community and the Corvette’s unique role in our American heritage can only boost economic development for our area,” said Reynolds.

Representative Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, is the primary sponsor of HB 104. “I am pleased that we were able to move this legislation during the late hours of the session,” Senator Reynolds said. “I want to commend my colleague, Rep. Jody Richards, for his hard work on pushing this bill in the House.”

Bowling Green, Kentucky is home to both the General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant (the only place in the world Corvettes have been manufactured since 1981) and the National Corvette Museum, a non-profit foundation with a mission of celebrating the invention of the Corvette and preserving its past, present and future since 1994.
"With the Chevrolet Corvette being one of the most recognizable symbols of Kentucky, it only makes sense for the car to be designated as the state's official sports car.

Many people who think of Kentucky, think of Corvette. Our workforce is proud to have been building the Corvette in Bowling Green for almost 29 years," said GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant Manager Bob Parcell.

The act reads as follows:
AN ACT designating the Corvette as the official state sports car of Kentucky.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 2 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:
The Corvette is named and designated the official state sports car of Kentucky.

A ceremonial signing of the act is planned to take place this summer in Bowling Green.

Tom Wallace Joins the Corvette Museum Motorsports Park Team

The dream of an educational and recreational track at the National Corvette Museum shifts into high gear

Tom Wallace knows Corvettes. As a former Vehicle Line Executive for General Motors and Corvette Chief Engineer, he was at the wheel when the ZR1 Corvette was born, giving the world a 638 horsepower, 200+ mph, American-made super-car. Today, he's working on a new chapter of motorsports history and teaming up with the National Corvette Museum to promote and develop a 400-acre Motorsports Park.

The proposed Motorsports Park (not just for Corvettes) is being designed with the help of Pratt/Miller Engineering who is the company behind the ALMS Championship winning Corvette Racing team. Once their conceptual design is fine-tuned by a professional track designer, this track will be the only one in the world where professional and amateur drivers of all makes of cars and motorcycles can experience many of the signature features of the LeMans road course. Along with the track, (which can be reconfigured into four different courses) there will be an autocross/skid pad area, a drag strip and a karting track, allowing for everything from teen driver safety training to a wide variety of motorsports applications and events.

“What makes Tom an ideal member of the team,” says Wendell Strode, Executive Director of the Museum, “is that he is also a race car driver. Because of that, he knows what makes a track challenging for drivers and he understands what features would make it useful as a testing facility for race teams and manufacturers. In addition to that, Tom is a driving instructor so he understands the track’s importance as an educational facility for people of all skill levels. We are thrilled to have him on board with us.”

Tom's experience in racing goes back to his college days and includes drag racing, autocross, IMSA, Sebring 12 hour, Daytona 24 hour, SCCA Road Racing in GT1 (including several trips to the SCCA National Championship Runoffs) and Waterford Hills Road Racing. Today he is still very active in motorsports, along with his two sons.

Tom is enthusiastic about the project and looking forward to being involved. His first focus will be on fundraising, corporate sponsorships and planning for track operation.
“Since before my retirement in 2009, I have thought that a Motorsports Park at the Museum would raise the whole Corvette community to another level,” Tom said. “Initially, I’ll be working with Tom Blair in pursuing sponsors for the project. Tom (Blair) is an outstanding businessman and researcher and a good strategist of visionary business models.”

“What I’ll bring is my perspective as a racer. I know what makes a track great. I understand wheel to wheel, autocrossing, drag racing and karting. My background has given me insight into how different market segments will want to use this complex for competitive events, practice and educational purposes. I know a lot about driving and what drives people to want to get on a track. This will be the ideal facility for all kinds of applications, and a great place to showcase America’s sports car.”

For more information on the National Corvette Museum’s Motorsports Park project, visit http://www.motorsportspark.org.

Rare and Prototype 4th Generation Corvettes to Be Displayed at Upcoming Event

Rare cars, good times and fast fun are expected at the National Corvette Museum's C4/ZR-1 Gathering

May 13-15 will bring a rare opportunity to see some of the best fourth generation Corvettes around. The National Corvette Museum will host the annual C4/ZR-1 Gathering and on site will be several ground-breaking and record-shattering Corvettes that were responsible for taking the marque back to supercar status. Among them are four prototypes that escaped GM’s destruction orders for test vehicles, including a 1988 (known as Queenie), the 1989 DRM ZR-1, and the 1989 ZR-1 prototype that was recently sold at Barrett-Jackson. Two 1990 Lingenfelters in the 600 hp range will be present, as well as one of only two Aerobody Lingenfelters in existence. Also making an appearance will be the car that broke the 24-hour World Speed Record in 1990 and the members of the team responsible for this historic achievement, including Tommy Morrison, John Heinricy and Jim Minneker.

This collection of C4 Corvettes will be one of the most impressive exhibited in one place. Included in the 24 car special-exhibit will be the Corvette that introduced the ZR-1 to the world as well as the last ZR-1 to roll off of the assembly line and many significant models in between.

Along with the Fourth-Generation ZR-1 Corvettes, a very rare 1970 ZR-1 will be on display, too. One of only 25 made, this track-inspired C3 is another example of Corvette’s early connection to racing.

Seminars and clinics during the three-day event will cover drag racing fundamentals, detailing, diagnosing and maintenance tips along with informative presentations from C4 Corvette Chief Engineer Dave McLellan and some of the others responsible for creating this car.

While the event focuses on the C4 Corvette, the 2011 Z06 Carbon Corvette will also be on site for fans to look over during a “walk around” with GM staff.

Former Corvette Test Engineer and 2010 Corvette Hall of Fame Inductee Jim Ingles will lead participants on a road tour to nearby Hopkinsville, Kentucky for a tour of a Dana Corporation Plant. The facility manufactures Corvette frame rails and the Z06 frame. Included with the tour are guides explaining the various production steps and lunch will be served at the plant. Additional event activities include drag racing, a car show, auction, autocross, scavenger hunt and road trips that will take drivers over the same routes the GM uses to test the handling of Corvettes. For a more detailed agenda and registration information, visit http://www.corvettemuseum.com/registration/gathering/info.shtml.

Governor Beshear Attends Opening of Educational Driving Simulator Theatre

National Corvette Museum visitors to experience realistic driving scenarios virtually

Gov. Steve Beshear today joined local and National Corvette Museum officials to open the educational driving simulator theater—a learning tool designed to instruct visitors on realistic driving situations.

“We cannot stress the importance of responsible driving enough,” Gov. Beshear said. “These simulators can teach drivers how to correct mistakes virtually, within a safe environment without the potential consequences of actual crashes. I applaud the Corvette Museum for taking the lead on this safety priority.”

The one-of-a-kind theatre features numerous widescreen televisions and two driving simulators within stationary automobiles, to give the driver lifelike effects of the road. The simulators also feature the highest quality graphics and surround sound.

“The simulators will not only enhance a visitor’s experience at the National Corvette Museum, but also result in having better educated drivers on Kentucky’s roads, making them safer for everyone,” said Wendell Strode, executive director of the National Corvette Museum.

Realistic driving scenarios play out on simulated highways in urban and rural settings and in different weather conditions. As drivers maneuver the simulator, they will feel tension on the steering wheel; feel the car react to the road surface; and hear highway and vehicle sounds. The experience will include a variety of common driving tasks, taking drivers through situations involving some of the most prevalent factors in highway crashes. Visitors 16 or older to the museum in Bowling Green can participate in this educational experience.

“The National Corvette Museum continues to be a great tourist attraction for the Bowling Green area,” Tourism, Arts and Heritage Secretary Sparrow said. “The addition of the driving simulator theater makes this museum an even better attraction.”

“The National Corvette Museum has been a mainstay of our community for years, and we’re proud to support its growth and its announcement today. We congratulate and thank the Museum for bringing two simulators, which will promote safe driving, to South Central Kentucky,” said Warren County Judge Executive Michael Buchanon.

The Corvette museum received a $198,000 Transportation Enhancement award in 2007 to fund the project.

"This celebration today represents the forward-thinking nature of our community, the "Home of the Corvette." We're proud to be the home to two driving simulators at the National Corvette Museum, and we congratulate the Museum on their additions to their facility," said Bowling Green Mayor Elaine Walker.

“The simulator theater is an excellent educational addition to the National Corvette Museum as it offers a hands-on driver safety program to families and groups in a fun environment. With this being the only one of its kind in the area, it has the opportunity to make a difference in the safety of our highways as visitors and locals experience the consequences of their behavior under various driving conditions,” said Vicki Fitch, executive director of the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.


About the National Corvette Museum: The National Corvette Museum was established in 1994 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit foundation with a mission of celebrating the invention of the Corvette and preserving its past, present and future. The 115,000 sq. ft. facility is a popular tourist destination in Bowling Green, Kentucky with an ever-changing collection of historic Corvettes, interactive displays, rotating exhibits, a café, conference center and store. While located near the GM Assembly Plant, the National Corvette Museum is not supported by, or affiliated with the General Motors Corporation. For more information on the National Corvette Museum, please visit http://www.corvettemuseum.org.

About the Grant: Transportation Enhancements are transportation-related activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic, historic and environmental aspects of Kentucky’s transportation infrastructure. Federal funding is available to government agencies to provide support for transportation and community improvement projects. TE funding is administered by the Transportation Cabinet. Information about TE is available at http://www.tea21.ky.gov.