Monday, December 14, 2009

National Corvette Museum Announces 2010 Corvette Hall of Fame

The National Corvette Museum has announced the following inductees to be recognized as part of the 13th Annual Corvette Hall of Fame Ceremony in 2010. Grady Davis, a pioneer for corporate sponsored private racing, Fred Gallasch, steward of the Corvette legacy, and James Ingle, 40-year GM development engineer will be recognized with the highest honor bestowed by the Museum for their contributions to the past, present and future of Corvette.


The 2010 Hall of Fame recipients will be inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame during a ceremony and banquet on Friday, September 3, 2010. Their induction will take place as part of the Museum’s 16th Anniversary Corvette Celebration festivities September 2-4, 2010.

Corvette Hall of Fame Inductee Grady Davis graduated from both the University of Texas and Harvard University, gaining employment with Gulf Research and Development Company where he spent the first 20 years in Venezuela. During his 44 year career with the company, Davis created the country’s first corporate sponsored private race team, around Don Yenko and Dr. Dick Thompson, as a dynamic test lab for Gulf Oil Company’s lubricants and fuels. With Corvette being his first love, Davis began a racing program around it that started in earnest in 1961, and continued until 1966. The Davis program successfully competed regionally, nationally and even internationally, earning the Corvette marque legions of fans that exist to this day.

With the extraordinary results of Davis’ initial venture into the racing business, the program earned four national championships, two runners-up, three regional championships and the awarding of more than 214 trophies. “His efforts established the Corvette as a genuine competition sports car, and set the bar that others would shoot for,” said Carroll Shelby, veteran automotive designer and racing driver. Donna Mae Mims, champion race car driver, credits Davis with her being the first woman driver to win a national race championship. She added “Grady lived and breathed Corvette. Grady sold the Corvette to the world.” Davis passed away September 29, 1995 at the age of 87 in Boca Raton, FL.



Corvette Hall of Fame Inductee Fred Gallasch has a long history of accomplishments which have and continue to enhance the prestige of Corvette, beginning shortly after he earned his Doctorate of Philosophy and Masters in Economics from North Carolina State University. Gallasch spent his first 12 years with General Motors in the Societal Analysis Department of the research laboratories refining his marketing acumen and acute sensitivity to the ever changing needs and wants of GM’s customers. During that time, he also published over 35 research documents, several of which appeared in professional journals.

Gallasch’s direct association with Corvette began in the late ‘80’s when he became Assistant Brand Manager for Corvette. His work helped GM to strengthen its customer focus and reinvent its product line up. According to Dave McLellan, “he constantly helped make Corvette programs happen when investment capital was scarce and the Corvette needed inside support… From an engineering perspective, I credit Fred with holding engineering’s ‘feet to the fire’ until we found the right fuel tank solution for the C5.” Gallasch has written articles for Corvette Enthusiast and Corvette Fever, and often speaks at Corvette gatherings. “If you own a Corvette, names like Duntov, McLellan and Hill are always heard or mentioned in discussion,” wrote Robert Truilzi, General Director, General Motors Asia Pacific. “At the same time, quietly and unobtrusively, the name Gallasch is also spoken frequently in those gatherings, and usually Fred is not too far behind… doing what he does best, listening to the Corvette owner and sharing his passion!”

Corvette Hall of Fame Inductee James Ingle had been the source of Corvette development engineering from the mid 70s until the launch of the C5 when he moved on to Quality Rides Group Manager conducting ride trips for all General Motors North America products. Ingle’s efforts were the result of a very disciplined engineering approach to problem solving and an ability to understand the Corvette customers and translate those into a development solution. Ingle became the quintessential Corvette test driver, logging numerous hours behind the wheel, testing new and future Corvette designs on the GM Proving Grounds. He was responsible for the published performance numbers for Corvettes from the 70s to the 1997 model including the famous ZR-1.

Long drives were his enjoyment and he became so proficient at checking out every feature of a new product that GM decided to have him develop a consistent and uniform quality drive audit process for new vehicle launches. “Jim was an excellent development driver, able to wring out a car by the seat of his pants,” said Dave McLellan. “Jim made major contributions to the C4 Corvette out through the ZR-1 in both test and development. The ZR-1 Power Key was his idea.” Ingle retired in 2006 after 43 years of work at GM.

The National Corvette Museum established the Corvette Hall of Fame in 1998. The purpose is to confer the highest honor and recognition upon the most influential individuals in the history of the Corvette. The award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, each having reached the highest level of accomplishment. Inductees must also reflect the highest standards of integrity and character to positively enhance the prestige of the Corvette and the National Corvette Museum.

Additional information on reserving a spot at the prestigious Corvette Hall of Fame banquet will be available in the coming months via our website at: http://www.corvettemuseum.org/ or can be obtained by subscribing to our weekly eNewsletter “NCM eNews” at: http://www.corvettemuseum.org/ncmenews/. The National Corvette Museum is a member-driven, non-profit foundation dedicated to educating the public through the preservation of the Corvette’s past, present and future heritage. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, the Museum is located at Exit 28 off I-65 in Bowling Green, KY.

Monday, November 30, 2009

DECEMBER IS DOLLAR DAYS FOR KENTUCKY RESIDENTS VISITING THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM!

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 admission offer. Children will be admitted at the $1.00 price with adults presenting the Kentucky identification.

Guests visiting will also be able to see the Museum’s completed 47,000 sq. ft. expansion including the Corvette Café, Library/Archives and Corvette Store. Corvette Boulevard features an indoor street scene with a barrel roof, street lights and sidewalks, and provides access to many new areas of the Museum’s building expansion.

The Museum features over 80 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. Guests can also sit behind the wheel of a new Corvette and photograph the experience, and race against the clock to change tires, fuel up and keep our Corvette race car in the lead as part of our Pit Crew Challenge exhibit.“Dollar Days” is the Museum’s way of giving back to Kentucky residents for their support and also gives them an opportunity to see first-hand why the Corvette is one of the state’s greatest resources and a true sports car. “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 new displays including a temporary Corvair exhibit and some of their favorites. We look forward to welcoming our Kentucky friends.” Visitors can also take a chance to win a 2010 Corvette for only $10 and do some holiday shopping in our new 4,600 square-foot Corvette Store offering unique gift items found nowhere else.

The National Corvette Museum is a member-driven, non-profit foundation dedicated to educating the public through the preservation of the Corvette’s past, present and future heritage.

Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, the Museum is located at Exit 28 off I-65 in Bowling Green, KY. For more information on the National Corvette Museum, visit our website at: www.corvettemuseum.org or call (800) 53-VETTE (83883).

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

NCM Offers "Free Admission" to Recognize U.S. Military, Firemen and Police Officers During November's "Military Appreciation Month


November is "Military Appreciation Month" at the National Corvette Museum and all military personnel, firemen, police officers and their immediate families will receive "Free Admission" during the entire month of November. All branches including active, retired and reserve members will be honored with free admission when presenting a military or service ID.
The newly-expanded, 115,000 square-foot Museum features over 80 rare and classic Corvettes from the past, present and future along with many interactive displays including the "Pit Crew Challenge," new hands-on trivia games and much more. The expansion also includes a new Corvette Cafe, a perfect 'pit stop' for breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack.

In conjunction with Veterans Day on November 11th, we are offering free admission for the entire month to these service men and women to honor those who fight and protect our country and our freedom. "We are truly a blessed nation and our military provide the safety we have to enjoy our American privileges," states NCM Executive Director, Wendell Strode. "Corvette is an American icon and we invite these special individuals and their family members to experience a tour of the Museum dedicated to America’s favorite sports car."

The National Corvette Museum is a member-driven, non-profit foundation dedicated to continuing the mission of education, preservation and celebration of the Corvette’s past, present and future heritage. Regular updates and details on special promotions, events and important Corvette news announcements are sent weekly via our eNewsletter – "NCM eNews" available by subscribing at: http://www.corvettemuseum.com/ncmenews/.

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. For more information on the Museum visit us at:http://www.corvettemuseum.org/ or call 800-538-3883.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

2010 National Corvette Museum Events Posted

The NCM has locked in our Corvette events for the 2010 season! Below are the dates so mark your calendars. More information on each individual event will be posted online at a later time.

Family Fun Weekend - January 16-17
C5/C6 Bash - April 29-May 1
The Gathering - May 13 - 15
Forum Cruise-In - May 27 - 29
Father's Day Brunch - June 20
High Performance Driving Event at VIR - June 28 - 29
NCM Birthday Bash - September 2 - 4
Z06 Fest - September 16 - 18
Pace Car Reunion - September 23 - 25
Vets 'n Vettes - November 4 - 6
Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus - November 27

Thursday, October 22, 2009

What's in the Museum Now?

The National Corvette Museum is a living museum with constantly changing display cars. Below is a list of what's on display right now!

Total Cars on Display – 88
Total Cars Owned by Members – 43
Total Cars Owned by GM – 26
Total Cars Owned by NCM – 21
Total Cars Owned by Others - 12

Vehicle Description, Date Arrived - Scheduled Date of Pickup

Revolving Circle
1968 Astro-Vette, April 2009 - March 2010

Lobby
2005 Silver Convertible (C6 Sitter Car), Jan. 2005-Not Determined

Corvette Boulevard
1980 Vette for Vet’s , Oct 2008 - Oct. 2009

Gateway
1959 Black Convertible, June 2004 - N/A
1962 Fawn Beige Convertible, Aug. 2006 - N/A

Barber Shop
1953 White Convertible, Aug. 1994 - N/A

Zora
1974 Blue Coupe, Feb. 1998 - N/A

Mobil Station
1954 Red Roadster, April 2009 - April 2010
1957 Black Convertible, N/A

Route 66
1966 Blue Coupe, April 2009 - April 2010
1958 Silver Olive Convertible, Dec. 2008 - Dec. 2009

Assembly Plant
1972 LT-1 Silver Convertible, Aug. 2007 - Sept. 2008
1973 White Convertible, Aug. 2001 - Negotiable

Dealership
1965 Blue Coupe, March 2008 - March 2009
1965 White Coupe, October 2008 - October 2009
1965 Open Chassis, Dec. 2008 - June 2009

Performance Area
1963 Z06 Race Car, N/A
1959 Fuelie, Sept. 2009 - Sept. 2010
1954 Pizza Man, May 2009 - May 2010
1989 ZR-1 Morrison, Aug. 1994 – Not Determined
IMSA GTP, April 2005 – Not Determined
#7 Owens Corning Race Car, Sept. 2009 - Sept. 2010
1972 GT1 Racer #40, Aug. 2005 – Not Determined

Nurburgring Track
2008 Sunset Orange ZR1, April 2009 – Not Determined

Design Area
C5R Homologation Car, Jan. 2005 – Not Determined
Black Concept , April 2002 – Not Determined
Corvette Indy Concept
Red Concept, April 2002 – Not Determined

Engineering Area
C5 Rolling Chassis
C6 Red Seating Buck, Mar. 2004 – Not Determined
Z06 Aluminum Frame, June 2006 – Not Determined

Crash Test
1997 White Coupe

Sky-Dome / Outer Circle
1978 Pace Car, Not Determined
1986 Pace Car, June 2002 – Not Determined
1995 Pace Car
1998 Pace Car
2003 Pace Car, March 2003 - Not Determined
2004 Pace Car, March 2005 - Not Determined
2005 Pace Car, March 2006 - Not Determined
2007 Pace Car, Sept. 2007 - Not Determined
2008 Pace Car, April 2009 - April 2010
2005 Red Coupe (Dempster Corvette), Sept. 2007 – Not Determined
2005 NASCAR Mexico Pace Car , June 2008 - June 2009
2004 Daytona 500 Pace Car, April 2005 – Not Determined
1986 Malcolm Konner
2008 Wil Cooksey Edition Z06, July 2008 – Not Determined
2007 Ron Fellows Z06, March 2008 – Not Determined

Sky-Dome / Inner Circle
1977 White Coupe 500,000th, May 2009 - May 2010
1992 White Convertible 100,000th
1969 Orange Roadster, April 2008 - April 2009
1971 LT-1 Blue Coupe, Not Determined
1981 Red Coupe, March 2008 - March 2009
1987 Red Callaway, Aug. 2005- Not Determined
1998 Aztec Gold Coupe, March 2009 - March 2010
1989 ZR-1 Yellow Coupe Geneva
1995 #3 Grand Sport Prototype, Sept. 2006- Not Determined
1983 White Coupe “The one and only”
1993 ZR1 Black Spyder, Sept. 2006- Not Determined
1990 ZR-1 Cutaway Chassis
1989 Red ZR12 Falconer, April 2009 - Sept. 2009
1968 Astro II, April 2009 - Sept. 2009
1995 ZR1 Red Coupe (The Last One)
1953 White Convertible, Sept. 2009 - Sept. 2010
2009 White Convertible (1,500,000th), Sept. 2009 - Not Determined

Exhibit Hall
1960 700 Sedan Corvair, Oct. 2009 - Dec. 2009
1961 Station Wagon Corvair, Oct. 2009- Dec. 2009
1963 Rampside Corvair, Oct. 2009- Dec. 2009
1964 Spyder Conv. Corvair, Oct. 2009- Dec. 2009
1965 Fitch Sprint Corvair, Oct. 2009 - Dec. 2009
1966 Yenko Stinger Corvair, Oct. 2009- Dec. 2009
1969 Monza Conv. Corvair, Oct. 2009- Dec. 2009
1964 Monza Coupe Corvair, Oct. 2009- Dec. 2009
1964 Monza 4-door Sedan Corvair, Oct. 2009- Dec. 2009
1965 Greenbrier Sportswagon, Oct. 2009- Dec. 2009
1967 Monza Sedan Corvair, Oct. 2009- Dec. 2009
1966 Corsa Coupe Corvair, Oct. 2009- Dec. 2009

Thursday, September 24, 2009

National Corvette Museum’s 15th Anniversary a Success

Event attendance topped 24,000 over five days
Labor Day weekend 2009 saw one of the world’s largest moving automotive events take place as Corvettes from all over the country participated in Caravan 09. As part of the 15th Anniversary and Grand Reopening of the National Corvette Museum, over 4,500 Corvettes came from all over the United States, Canada, Netherlands, the UK and Australia, got together in major cities as they grew in numbers and then converged on Bowling Green Kentucky.

As the “Gateway to All Things Corvette” the National Corvette Museum held a ribbon cutting ceremony welcoming Corvette enthusiasts to the newly expanded 115,000 sq. ft. facility, and hosted a five-day event that included a special exhibit of rare Corvettes, seminars with Corvette designers, engineers and experts, GM Assembly Plant tours, road trips, drag racing, autocross and a surprise appearance by the Stingray Corvette concept car that played the role of “Sideswipe” in the Paramount film Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Attendance over the five-day event exceeded 24,000, as visitors toured the new facility including the exhibit hall, library and archives, Corvette café and interactive exhibits.

Three 2010 Corvettes and $15,000 in cash were raffled off and several cash drawings were held for those who pre-registered for the event. The annual membership meeting was held yielding great ideas and feedback for the Museum team, a special reception recognizing Lifetime Members took place after hours at the Museum and four Corvette elite were inducted into the Corvette Hall of Fame at the annual dinner. News and developments of the planned NCM Motorsports Park were shared, and more details can be found on the new website at http://www.motorsportspark.org/.

Museum Executive Director Wendell Strode commented afterward, "The tremendous success of this event says a lot about the love people have for – America's sports car, and for fellow car enthusiasts." The Museum welcomed 1,875 new members to the Corvette family during the event.

Fast Facts:

- 25 Broad Range Caravans, some made up of 2-3 smaller caravans, largest composed of over 900 Corvettes
- Over 4,500 Corvettes in attendance and 5,290 people were registered for the event
- 5,290 people were registered for the event
- Overall event attendance topped 24,000
- 1,875 enthusiasts became new members of the Museum

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

2010 Torch Red Corvette Coupe Raffle Opens

Tickets Only $10 Each - Winner to be Drawn January 28

The National Corvette Museum has begun a Corvette raffle fundraiser featuring a 2010 Torch Red Corvette Coupe. This Corvette raffle car features a six-speed transmission, paddle shift with automatic modes, NPP dual-mode performance exhaust, removable transparent roof panel, ebony leather seats, 5-spoke forged chrome aluminum wheels and an audio system with 6-disc in-dash CD changer and MP3 playback. The winner will be drawn on Thursday, January 28 at 2:00 p.m. CT. Tickets are available at $10 each with an unlimited number of tickets to be sold.

The winner of the new Corvette will also be able to take part in the Museum’s highly requested “R8C Museum Delivery Program” which provides a private VIP tour of the Corvette Assembly Plant and Museum, a hands-on demonstration by a trained NCM Delivery Team member and includes a one-year Individual Membership to the Museum. In addition, an “R8C Delivery” decal and plaque exclusive to only Museum Corvette Delivery participants will be presented to the winner. R8C deliveries are viewed world-wide via the Museum’s webcams available at: http://www.corvettemuseum.org/webcam/

“The success of our raffle fundraisers is a team effort and one that we could not count on without the help of our ambassadors, members and supporters,” states NCM Executive Director, Wendell Strode. “As a non-profit foundation, we are always creatively using other means to raise funds and continue our mission. The Corvette raffles we offer each year are a tremendous help to us and we appreciate the support of everyone who buys a ticket and helps promote them.”

Tickets for the Red Corvette Coupe are available online at: http://www.corvettemuseum.org/raffle/ or they can be purchased by calling (800) 53-VETTE (83883). The raffle is available to participants world-wide and is void where prohibited by law. Participants do not have to be present to win. Previous raffle winners are posted via our website at: http://www.corvettemuseum.org/raffle_winners/.

The National Corvette Museum is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the mission of education, celebration and preservation of Corvette and its heritage. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, the Museum is located at Exit 28 off I-65 in Bowling Green, KY. For more information on the National Corvette Museum visit our website at: http://www.corvettemuseum.org/ or call (800) 53-VETTE (83883).

Monday, September 14, 2009

National Corvette Museum to Host Special Corvair Exhibit

Corvair Celebrates 50th Anniversary on October 2

October 2nd of this year marks the 50th anniversary of the unveiling of America’s first mass produced rear engine, air cooled automobile, the Corvair. In recognizing this special time in automotive history the National Corvette Museum will host a 6,000 sq. ft. exhibit solely featuring the Corvair.

“Occasionally we have ‘second season’ exhibits as a way to draw people in to the Museum,” said Executive Director, Wendell Strode. “We have found that often our non-Corvette exhibits bring in folks who may not have otherwise visited and in doing so are able to educate others on the Corvette.”

The Corvette and Corvair’s history overlap in many ways. Looking for a new and innovative design, designers used the new Corvette model as the basis for the new Corvair. Some called the car the "Corvette Corvair." In fact, former Chief Engineer for Chevrolet Ed Cole was key in the development and promotion of both, and former GM Design Chief Bill Mitchell designed the interior on certain years of the Corvair, and was instrumental to Corvette’s overall design from the late 50s through early 80s. These common denominators were strong selling points for Corvair’s temporary presence in the National Corvette Museum.

The 1954 Corvair and the 1960 Corvair have nothing in common but for the name. The ‘54 Corvair used the Corvette front end, had ribbed air intakes on the hood and fender vents. It had a wrap-around windshield and the fastback roof swept into a chrome-trimmed licensed plate housing. The rooftop seems to have simply been inserted upon a Corvette body as there was no storage behind the rear seats. The chassis and power train of the Corvair was Corvette 100%. Its windshield had a 53-degree slant. The interior of the car was really a ‘54 Corvette. Aside from the Corvette, the Corvair was the only American automobile that consistently appeared at American rallies, autocross meets, hillclimbs and sports car racing events.

Besides the first year four-door sedan and two-door coupe, the Chevrolet Corvair fleet included a station wagon (Lakewood), pick-up truck (Rampside and Loadside), panel van (Corvan), passenger van (Greenbrier), Spyder, Corsa and other specialty versions like the Fitch Sprint and the Yenko Stinger. Visitors to the Museum will not only see over 80 Corvettes on display, but also some of the finest Corvairs in the country including a: 1960 Sedan; 1964 Spyder Convertible; 1961 Lakewood; 1969 Monza Convertible; 1966 Corsa Coupe; 1966 Yenko Singer; 1965 Fitch Sprint; 1963 Rampside; 1964 Coupe; 1966 Sedan; 1965 Greenbrier and 1964 4-Door Sedan. The Corvair was produced from 1960 through 1969.

“In our minds, Corvette is the God and we’ve been allowed to participate in their heaven,” said Corvair Exhibit Chairperson Greg Scarboro. “We’ve been looked upon as the poor man’s sports car enthusiast, so to us it is very much an honor to be allowed in the Corvette Museum.”

The exhibit offers the chance to take an informative stroll down memory lane and learn about the rise and demise of the Corvair, and their similarities with the Corvette. The display will be on exhibit from October 2 through December 31, 2009. The National Corvette Museum is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky on I-65 at exit 28. The Museum is open daily from 8am until 5pm. For more information call 800-53-VETTE (83883) or visit the Museum website at http://www.corvettemuseum.org/.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Transformers Concept Corvette ‘Sideswipe’ on Temporary Display at the National Corvette Museum

Visitors to the Museum can view a piece of Hollywood

Visitors to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky will get an extra special treat September 5 through 9th when they visit the Museum. Sideswipe - the Chevrolet Corvette concept vehicle character from the new “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” movie is on display on Corvette Boulevard and will be unveiled Saturday. Sideswipe is a sleek concept created by Corvette Designers and is influenced by the original Sting Ray race car, introduced in 1959.

“In honor of the 50th anniversary of the original Corvette Sting Ray concept racer, GM Design created an all new Sting Ray Vision that is a homage to the original 1959 concept and continues the long tradition of Corvette Concept Cars,” said Harlan Charles, Chevrolet Corvette Marketing Manager. “This futuristic Sting Ray vision of America’s performance icon was featured as Sideswipe in Transformers 2,” he added.

The concept, along with the four other Chevrolet Transformer Autobots, debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in February. The DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures film opened in the United States on June 26. The car is on display as part of the National Corvette Museum’s 15th Anniversary Celebration event.

The National Corvette Museum is located at I-65, exit 28 in Bowling Green, Kentucky and is open daily 8am to 5pm. The Museum will be open until 8pm on Wednesday, September 2, Friday, September 4 and Saturday, September 5. For more information, visit http://www.corvettemuseum.org/ or call 800-53-VETTE (83883).

KSP to Participate in National Corvette Museum 15th Anniversary Celebration and Caravan


The Kentucky State Police are participating in the Corvette Museum 15th Anniversary Celebration and National Caravan. KSP will escort four separate caravans of Corvettes traveling to the Bowling Green Museum from across the country.

As a unique twist, each of the caravans will be escorted by a Corvette detailed to resemble a marked KSP cruiser including flashing blue lights.

The Corvettes that will be driven by KSP personnel are on-loan for the day from local owners. Drivers include Commissioner Rodney Brewer, Lt. Col. Mike Sapp, Captain Deron Berthold and Trooper Mike Hatler.

KSP units will escort the caravans as they enter the Commonwealth and remain with the groups until they arrive safely at the museum.

The Corvette Caravans traveling to Kentucky will originate in Georgia, Indiana, Nebraska and North Carolina. These caravans will pick up additional Corvette drivers in Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wyoming with the final destination set for the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green.

The museum has a full weekend of events planned to celebrate their 15th anniversary. Activities include special displays such as “Firsts and Lasts;” showing the first and last model of each generation of Corvettes, entertainment in the Museum's amphitheater, daily arrivals of Corvette Caravans from across the U.S., and the completed renovation of the entire Corvette Museum which is ready to tour and enjoy!

Caravans will begin arriving in Bowling Green at noon, Sept. 2, 2009 and will continue through 3 p.m. (central time) on Friday when the last caravan is set to arrive. Over 5,000 guests and spectators are expected to be on hand for the celebration. A view of Corvettes for miles is a sight to see and the staggered arrivals give participants a chance to both be greeted on arriving and be greeters for the next group

For more information about this event, please contact the National Corvette Museum at 1-800-53-VETTE or visit their website at http://www.corvettemuseum.org/

One-of-a-kind Corvettes to be Displayed for a Limited Time

Visitors will have just one week to view the Mako Shark, Manta Ray, Aerovette and Stingray Racer

You had posters of them on your bedroom wall as a kid, maybe even a book featuring their sleek designs. Now, for a very limited time, you can see these one-of-a-kind concept cars in person at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The four Chevrolet Corvettes, a 1961 Mako Shark Concept, 1965 Manta Ray Concept, 1973 Aerovette Concept and 1959 Stingray Racer, are all on loan from the General Motors Heritage Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

“These cars were some of the top prototypes developed by GM and hold a significant place in Corvette’s history,” said Betty Hardison, NCM Library and Archives Coordinator. “They were on display when the Museum held the grand opening in 1994, so it was fitting to have them back for this grand re-opening event, 15 years later.”

The temporary display begins Tuesday, September 1 and continues through Wednesday, September 9, as part of the Museum’s 15th Anniversary Celebration. The cars can be viewed in the National Corvette Museum’s new Exhibit Hall. The Museum is located at I-65, exit 28 and is open daily, 8am-5pm Central Time. The Museum will have extended hours on Friday, September 4 and Saturday, September 5, closing at 8pm. For more information please contact the National Corvette Museum at 800-53-VETTE (83883) or visit us online at www.corvettemuseum.org.


About the Display Cars

Mako Shark
The Mako Shark was designed by Larry Shinoda under the direction of GM Design head Bill Mitchell in 1961 as a concept for future Chevrolet Corvettes. In keeping with the name, the streamlining, pointed snout and other detailing were partly inspired by the look of that very fast fish. The “Mako Shark” was very similar to the 1963 production Corvette it inspired, with some alterations. These included adding two more brake lights in the rear (six total), making the nose of the car longer and more pointed, creating a clear glass roof with a periscope-like rear-view mirror and remodeling the interior.

Manta Ray
In 1969 development began on the Manta Ray, created through a transformation of the Mako Shark II primarily from the cockpit to the rear of this elaborate car. Only the tapered “boat tail” motif remained with the addition of a new and considerably longer rear end in place of the abrupt duck tail. During the winter of 1969-70, the Manta Ray underwent subtle additional changes. These were the last changes to a dream car that had since become reality.

Aerovette
In 1976, the 1973 Corvette 4-Rotor concept was taken out of storage and renamed the Aerovette. The double rotary engine was replaced with a transversally mounted 400 CID V8 engine. Bill Mitchell, Vice President of Design, lobbied for the Aerovette as the next Corvette and GM chairman and CEO, Thomas Murphy actually approved the Aerovette for 1980 production. In the end, management decided that they were selling every fiberglass bodied, front engine V8 “traditional” Corvette they could build, so why make a huge risky investment in a mid-engine car. The Aerovette project was cancelled.

Stingray Racer
Bill Mitchell wanted to build a Corvette racecar capable of beating Europe’s best. With an AMA ban on manufacturer-sponsored racing, the project had to be privately financed and the design could not have any recognizable association with Chevrolet. With Mitchell’s own time and money heavily invested into the project, he contracted Larry Shinoda to assist in the development of the revolutionary concept.

Combining the 1957 SS chassis with the new fiberglass body resulted in a sleek and muscular roadster. Mitchell’s Stingray was completed in 1959 with the engineering help of Zora Arkus-Duntov. Accomplished SCCA driver Dick Thompson raced the Stingray and piloted it to two consecutive class championships. At the end of the 1960 season, Mitchell retired the Stingray from competition, detuned it, added a full windshield and passenger seat, drove it on the street and exhibited it as an experimental show car.

Shortest Caravan Departs Tonight


Local Residents will have their chance to see a caravan of Corvettes

They come from all across the U.S… the miles of Corvettes traveling the country’s highways and byways to convene in Bowling Green. But what about those fiberglass beauties that already call South Central Kentucky home? Area residents can join in what has been deemed the “shortest caravan”, departing tonight, Tuesday, September 1 at 6:00 p.m. from the WKU Ag Expo Center on Elrod Road.

The caravan will travel a whopping 12.5 miles, up the Natcher Parkway and I-65 North to the National Corvette Museum. Dozens of Corvettes are already pre-registered to attend and spectators are welcome! There’s no cost to participate, and the Corvette Café will be open at the Museum upon arrival so participants can enjoy refreshments.