2014 Chevrolet Corvette is all About the Aero

Purposeful beauty in new design contributes high-speed stability, track capability

The precisely sculpted design of the all-new 2014 Corvette delivers more than just stunning good looks – every line, vent, inlet and surface has been optimized for performance.

“The all-new Corvette integrates more high-performance aerodynamic features than ever before, many taken directly from Corvette Racing,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer. “For example, the front grill and radiator flow paths reduce lift, improving vehicle stability at high speeds by keeping the car pressed to the pavement. In addition, functional vents increase track capability by channeling air to the brakes, as well as heat exchangers for the transmission and differential.”  

To develop the aerodynamic package, engineers started with data gleaned from years of on-track, high-speed performance from the Corvette Racing program – the most successful program ever in the American Le Mans Series and the 2012 GT Class champion. These techniques were applied to the production car using the some of the industry’s most advanced computer-aided modeling programs to predict and track airflow over, under and through the new Corvette’s body.

“Its sculpted design excites in all the ways that a Corvette has for six decades, with elements carefully shaped in the wind tunnel to increase airflow potential and improve cooling for a system that is as efficient as possible,” said Kirk Bennion, Corvette exterior design manager. “It’s said that form follows function, but in the case of the aerodynamic 2014 Corvette, form and function work cohesively to produce beautiful purpose.”

Chevrolet will introduce the 2014 Corvette on Sunday, January 13, 2013. For more information and video content, please visit www.one13thirteen.com. Enthusiasts can join the conversation about the next-generation Corvette, as well as keep track of new announcements on Facebook (facebook.com/corvette) and Twitter @Chevrolet(#Corvette). Fans that follow the #one13thirteen hashtag on Twitter can look forward to exclusive updates.

Country Music Stars and Cars Exhibit Opens

National Corvette Museum showcasing country music celebrity's Chevrolet vehicles

It is amazing how many country music songs mention Chevrolet and the many iconic vehicles the American brand has produced over the years. From Alan Jackson’s Chattahoochee to several Kenny Chesney songs, to Wynonna’s Girls with Guitars, Taylor Swift’s Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts’ Here’s to You… the list goes on and on. In addition to singing about the cars, many of the musicians also own Corvettes and other Chevrolet models. What better way to showcase a piece of Americana than with an exhibit of Country Music Stars and their cars?

The National Corvette Museum welcomes a "Country Music Stars and Cars" display to the Exhibit Hall. The exhibit runs through January 18, 2013, and features Chevrolet vehicles owned by various country music celebrities plus some memorabilia and artwork. “Country Music Stars and Cars” is co-organized by Lon Helton, host of Country Countdown USA and Board Member of the National Corvette Museum.

The Corvettes to be featured in this exhibit include:

• Kix Brooks' 1958 Corvette
• George Strait's 1958 Corvette
• Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's 1960 Corvette
• Steve Wariner's 1966 Corvette
• Roy Orbison’s 1967 Corvette
• Dolly Parton’s 1968 Camaro
• Troy Gentry's 1970 Camaro SS
• George Jones' 1978 Corvette
• Marty Robbins' 1981 Corvette
• Brad Paisley's 1999 Corvette
• Steve Borchetta of Big Machine Records’ 2011 “Rascal Flatts” Camaro

 “As a founding member and board member of the National Corvette Museum, this was a great project for me to volunteer my time in helping to organize,” said Lon Helton, CEO/Publisher of the Country radio and music industry trade publication Country Aircheck and host of the syndicated radio show heard on more than 300 stations nationwide, Country Countdown USA. “The country music singers, songwriters and producers were very receptive to the exhibit and I think we have a great representation of both cars and people in the industry.”

In addition to the vehicles on display, the exhibit features large woodblock country music concert prints by Print Mafia of Bowling Green, various pieces of country music memorabilia and autographed items.

Aspiring country musicians are invited to schedule acoustical performances on the Chevy Stage in the Exhibit Hall now through January 18. “One of our staffers is known for her country music vocal talents and would perform short ditties for school groups,” said Katie Frassinelli, Marketing & Communications Manager. “This gave us the idea to open it up to the music community to showcase their talents, much like the Nashville Airport does.” Musicians interested in performing can call Frassinelli at 270-467-8846 or email katie@corvettemuseum.org to schedule a time slot. Performances will be booked primarily on peak hours, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. A schedule of performances will also be posted on the Museum’s website.

For more info on this or other upcoming exhibits at the museum, visit their website at www.corvettemuseum.org or contact the museum at 270-781-7973.

  

Since 1953 the Corvette has been America's Sports Car. The National Corvette Museum was established as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit foundation with a mission of celebrating the invention of the Corvette; preserving its past, present and future; and educating the public about Corvette.

The National Corvette Museum is 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).

Monster Mash at the Museum

Boys and ghouls are invited to “do the mash” at the National Corvette Museum this weekend! On Saturday, October 27 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the museum is hosting a free event with loads of activities for children and their families. A huge success in prior years, the Monster Mash event was established to provide a fun and affordable opportunity for children to celebrate Halloween at a national landmark right in their own back yard.

This year’s activities include:

• Trunk-or-Treat through a display of Corvettes & collector cars
• Free arts and crafts activities
• Carnival games (25 cents a ticket, most games 2 tickets) with prizes
• Face, hair and nail painting for $1.00 each/4 tickets
• Kids' Costume Contest at 2pm with prizes for ages 0-2 years, 3-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-12 years, Best Homemade Costume and "Best of Show"
• Pumpkin painting for $3.00
• DJ Tim Livingston will also be spinning your favorite Halloween tunes

Museum tour admission is separate from the free activities, however those who come for the event (and have at least one person in your group is in costume) receive half price admission.

For more information on this event, please contact the museum at 270-781-7973.

Since 1953 the Corvette has been America's Sports Car. The National Corvette Museum was established as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit foundation with a mission of celebrating the invention of the Corvette; preserving its past, present and future; and educating the public about Corvette.

The National Corvette Museum is 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).

Next-generation Corvette to Debut 1.13.13 in Detroit, C7 Logo Revealed

New Crossed Flags logo illustrates the character of the all-new, “C7” Corvette, which features only two parts from the C6

Today, Chevrolet confirmed that the seventh-generation Corvette will debut the evening of Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013 in Detroit. To kick off the countdown to the debut, Chevrolet debuted the new Crossed Flags logo for the new, 2014 Corvette

“The all-new, seventh-generation Corvette deserved an all-new emblem,” said Ed Welburn, GM vice president of global design. “The new Crossed Flags design reflects the character of the next Corvette. The flags are much more modern, more technical, and more detailed than before – underscoring the comprehensive redesign of the entire car.”

The new Crossed Flags logo was unveiled at Road Atlanta, as Corvette Racing celebrated a sweep of the 2012 production-based American Le Mans Series GT championships.

Chevrolet secured the manufacturer’s championship, Corvette Racing secured the team championship, and Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner captured the drivers’ championship, with four wins in the nine races preceding Petit Le Mans, the 2012 ALMS season finale.

These championships make Corvette Racing the most successful team in ALMS history, with a total of 77 class wins, eight drivers’ championships, and nine manufacturer and team championships since 2001. The team has also taken seven class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2001. Corvette Racing will campaign the C6.R for the 2013 ALMS season, as the C7.R is expected to make its racing debut in 2014.

“Winning the ALMS championships with the Corvette C6.R, against prestigious competitors from Ferrari, Porsche, and BMW is the perfect send-off for the sixth-generation Corvette,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette chief engineer.

“The seventh-generation Corvette will build on that success,” Juechter continued. “With the new Corvette, we set out to build a world-challenging sports car with design, refinement, efficiency and driver engagement that is second to none. The result is a truly all-new Corvette. There are only two carryover parts from the C6 used in the C7 – the cabin air filter and the rear latch for the removable roof panel.”

The Crossed Flags logo has been a hallmark of the Corvette since its 1953 introduction. It has always incorporated a pair of flags, one a racing checkered flag and other featuring the Chevrolet “bowtie” emblem and a French fleur-de-lis. The design has evolved over the years, but has been featured on  ore than 1.5 million Corvettes built between 1953 and today.

For the seventh-generation Corvette, the Crossed Flags design is a more technical, more angular, and  ore swept appearance – a proportion that echoes the new car. It is also a more detailed representation,  howing greater depth, color and attention to detail. More than 100 variations were considered before the final design was selected.

The new Crossed Flags design will be featured on the all-new, 2014 Chevrolet Corvette, which will  ebut the evening of Sunday, Jan 13 in Detroit. The Corvette debut will be reserved for credentialed  edia. Chevrolet will offer a limited number of tickets for Corvette enthusiasts, with proceeds  enefiting the National Corvette Museum, in Bowling Green, Ky. Interested parties can visit  ttp://www.corvettemuseum.org/registration/c7_reveal/info.shtml for more details.

Over the next weeks more information and video content about the seventh generation Corvette will be unlocked on www.one13thirteen.com. Enthusiasts can join the conversation about the next generation Corvette, as well as keep track of any new announcements, on Facebook (facebook.com/corvette) and Twitter@Chevrolet(#Corvette). Fans who follow the #one13thirteen  ashtag on Twitter will soon learn more and can look forward to exclusive updates.

FAST FACT: The first Corvette debuted as a concept car on January 17, 1953 at the GM Motorama in New York City. That car originally featured an emblem with a checkered flag crossed with an American flag. As the American flag couldn’t be used for a commercial emblem, the logo was changed to the fleu-de-lis/bowtie design by the time the car went into production in June of 1953. The original logo with the American flag is on display at the National Corvette Museum.

Free Admission to Area Museum on Smithsonian Magazine's 8th Annual Museum Day

On Saturday, September 29, 2012, the Historic Railpark and Train Museum, and the National Corvette Museum will participate in the eighth annual Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day. The Museums will join other participating museums and cultural institutions nationwide to open their doors free of charge to all visitors who download the Museum Day Ticket from Smithsonian.com. A journey to celebrate our world’s dynamic heritage and cultural life, participating Museum Day venues emulate the free admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C.-based facilities.

The Historic RailPark & Train Museum takes a step back in time to the golden era of passenger service. A guided tour of vintage railcars showcases the workings of a Post Office Car, Dining Car and Sleeper Car. The self-guided tour of the two story museum immerses visitors into the cultural story of the railroad including two new exhibits. "Hobo Times explores the life of the Hobo with the secret language interpreted into quilts by Creative Quilters Guild," said Sharon Tabor, Executive Director of the Railpark. "The Civil War and the Railroad includes personal stories, models and antique photography," she added.

Visitors to the National Corvette Museum will enjoy the special "September 11, 2001: A Global Moment" exhibit on loan from the New York State Museum, plus a new 1,000 square foot KidZone. "We are an ever-changing Museum and no two visits with us are the same," said Katie Frassinelli, Corvette Museum Marketing Manager. "We are more than just Corvette, offering a little something for everyone."

The Museum Day Ticket is available to download at www.smithsonian.com/museumday. Visitors who present the official pass will gain free admission for two people to one participating museum or cultural venue of their choice. One ticket is permitted per household, per email address. Listings and links to participating museums’ and sponsors’ sites can be found at www.smithsonian.com/museumday.

Hendrick Automotive Group Contributes to NCM Motorsports Park; Track Designer Hired

The National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park project recently got a major boost.  NASCAR great, Rick Hendrick, through the Hendrick Automotive Group, is making a $100,000 contribution to the NCM Motorsports Park. As owner of Hendrick Motorsports, his teams have collected 10 Sprint Cup Series Championships and over 200 NASCAR victories. While Rick knows racing, he is also a great friend to the National Corvette Museum with a real interest in the Motorsports Park as a recreational and educational facility.

“The National Corvette Museum celebrates an American original and one of the most iconic cars ever made,” said Rick Hendrick, chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group and owner of NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports. “Racing is in the Corvette DNA, so the addition of the Motorsports Park is an exciting next step for the NCM facility. Being associated with the track’s message of education and safety is something we’re proud of, and we look forward to taking some laps when it’s completed. The Museum is already a very special place for Corvette and racing enthusiasts, and this new project will grow that reputation even more.”

Museum Executive Director, Wendell Strode, is thankful for the support and all that it means.  “We are grateful for this generous contribution and thrilled by what this donation represents. Coming from one of the most successful individuals in NASCAR history, this is a real confirmation that all of our hard work, planning, and fundraising activity is beginning to get the attention of people who understand and appreciate the full potential of the NCM Motorsports Park. As we continue to move forward, we are confident that validations like this one will lead to increased involvement from sponsors, race teams, and motorsports organizations who will want to be a part of this exciting project.”

In other exciting news, Steve Crawford has been selected as the park’s track designer. Steve’s first track opened nearly 40 years ago, and since then he has designed the Thunderhill Motorsports Park in Willows, CA and more recently, The Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, WA.

“We were immediately impressed by Steve’s initiative while still in the interview phase,” said Wendell. “He had already started coming up with sketches as soon as he saw the layout of the land that we had to work with. He was on board from the beginning with the idea of working with Corvette Racing to build in features from Le Mans, Watkins Glen and the Nurburgring.”

With the uniqueness of the track and special features recommended by Corvette Racing designed into it, the track can be used as a test facility for all of the American Le Mans and Grand Am teams. The possibility of some NASCAR teams using it for road course practice has also been discussed.

In addition to the track design and facilities, the close proximity to hotels, restaurants, shopping and such is also appealing to motorsports enthusiasts.

Steve plans to have the track design finished by the end of the year. He will then work with the Museum’s local civil engineering firm, DDS Engineering, to prepare bid documents for the track – a process which is expected to take two to three months to complete. Bid packages should be ready by the end of the first quarter of 2013.

“Of course, continued fundraising is the key issue that will influence whether we send those bid packages out and have our ground breaking in time for the Bash,” said Wendell.  “At this point we are still confident that this will happen but need individuals and clubs to keep the momentum going with donations of any amount. We had six new participants step forward to take part in our Buy an Acre Campaign during our last event. Each time someone steps up to do this, whether it is an individual, a club or organization, it not only gives us the ability to move forward financially, but it also shows prospective sponsors something about how much the Corvette community wants this track to happen. You built this world-class Museum, so your support of this track is a powerful endorsement to potential sponsors,” he added.

For more information on the National Corvette Museum’s Motorsports Park and to see a short video on the plans, visit www.motorsportspark.org.

'Celebrate My Drive' With Free Teen Driving Event Saturday

On Saturday, September 15, 2012, State Farm is hosting Celebrate My Drive events across the U.S. and Canada, creating one special day for communities to rally around new drivers as they explore the road ahead.  One such local community event will be from 10am-3pm at the National Corvette Museum.

“The regional State Farm office approached us early this spring wanting to see how they could partner with us on our teen driving programs,” said Katie Frassinelli, Marketing and Communications Manager at the National Corvette Museum.  “Like us, State Farm has an interest in keeping our teens safe on the roads, and the programs we offer both through the driving simulators and our car care and maintenance seminars were a great fit for their Teen Driving efforts.  State Farm is supporting the Museum with grant funding for this event, the texting while driving virtual reality simulator, and additional resources for our ongoing teen driver classes.”

Activities at Saturday’s event include a golf cart course using Fatal Vision goggles, basic vehicle maintenance seminars, door prize drawings, driving simulator demos every 30 minutes, vendor booths and a mock crash by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.  The Museum and State Farm have also rented the P.E.E.R.S. Foundation Virtual Reality Simulator – Aware TXT. The simulator is designed to teach students the dangers of texting and driving, the consequences of their actions, how to make the right choice and to provide them with a hands-on demonstration on the simulator.

Families are welcome to drop in for a few activities, or stay for the entire event.  All Celebrate My
Drive activities are free, and reduced rate Museum admission is available for those participating who would also like to tour the exhibit areas.  A complete schedule with more details is available online at: http://www.corvettemuseum.org/registration/drive/index.shtml.

State Farm’s website also has many resources for teen drivers and their families. Log on to http://teendriving.statefarm.com/celebrate-my-drive to learn more.