Bowling Green, KY Chamber of Commerce Purchases Press Kit No. 1 for C7 Corvette

The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce now owns the first-issued press kit for the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, which was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show on January 14. The press kit is a coveted memorabilia item for Corvette enthusiasts. General Motors produced just 2,014 copies, which were distributed only to media and invited guests at the auto show.

“The Corvette is part of our DNA in Bowling Green,” said Ron Bunch, CEcD, Chamber president and CEO. “We’re excited to be internationally known for this icon of the automotive world and to be owners of the first press kit. It’s a great testament to our business climate as GM brings millions of dollars in investment and hundreds of new jobs to South Central Kentucky, and I’m confident that this momentum will continue to grow in 2013.”

Housing the No. 1 Corvette Stingray press kit at the Chamber is not just for a display. It serves as a reminder of the significant impact that the Corvette makes in South Central Kentucky.

Having manufactured the Corvette in Bowling Green since 1981, General Motors announced in 2011 that it would enhance its Bowling Green facility for the production of the next generation Corvette, the Stingray. In the announcement, the company stated that the project would bring an investment of more than $131 million and plans to hire 250 new employees. Company leaders attribute this significant investment and job creation to the positive, business-friendly environment in Bowling Green and South Central Kentucky.

“I’m proud to tell anyone across the globe that Bowling Green and South Central Kentucky are a terrific place to do business,” said Dave Tatman, plant manager at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant. “I’ve worked for GM in several other states and countries, and this is the best place to do business in my experience because the entire region supports the growth of this economy.”

 

“It is an understatement to say that the Corvette plant is an asset to South Central Kentucky,” said Bunch. “As we market the region, we’re able to tout the success and tenure that the plant has had in this region. Alongside the abundance of automotive suppliers in the region, this is proof that we are an excellent location for the automotive market.”

He continued, “As the buzz grows for the new Corvette, more people are taking notice of Bowling Green and all that we have to offer. We’re also poised for significant growth in the motorsports industry because of the new motorsports park in development by the National Corvette Museum and the companies here that are part of the high-performance and racing segments, such as Holley Performance Products, Quick Fuel Technology, and RC Components. This is all because of the great partnerships that we have with these companies, the National Corvette Museum, and our stakeholders.”

Wendell Strode, executive director of the National Corvette Museum, agreed. “By partnering together, we’re exponentially growing our network of Corvette and motorsports enthusiasts. This is a true example of how we’re all committed to one goal: to grow businesses, create more jobs, and bring more dollars to South Central Kentucky.”

The Chamber purchased the press kit at auction, and General Motors will donate the proceeds to fund breast cancer research through the American Cancer Society. Bunch remarked, “This purchase was a statement about the pride we have in the Corvette, as well as a way for us to support a worthy cause. I commend General Motors for using the sale of this press kit as an opportunity to bring more awareness to breast cancer research.”

Yesterday to Today: All-new Corvette Stingray Comes to New York City 60 Years After Motorama 1953 Debut

Sixty years ago tomorrow, spectators lined New York City’s posh Park Avenue, waiting to get a glimpse of the ground-breaking 1953 Chevrolet Corvette on display at the General Motors’ Motorama show. Today, the Corvette is back in The Big Apple, marking the historic milestone with the all-new 2014 C7 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.

“The all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray is the most advanced and engaging Corvette in the long, prestigious legacy of this uniquely American success story,” said Chris Perry vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “It is a car woven into the fabric of American culture and it got its start right here in the Big Apple.”

The introduction of the original Corvette took place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Jan. 17, 1953. Only 300 Corvettes were built – all of them white with a red interior. The enthusiastic response prompted Chevrolet to accelerate production plans and by late June that year, Corvettes were rolling out of a specialized assembly facility in Flint, Mich. One of these 300 is on exhibit at the National Corvette Museum, along with another piece of important Corvette history that many don’t know about.

 

Although the Corvette crossed flags emblem has seen some variation over the years, it actually had a controversial beginning. The first logo design included an American flag crossing over the checkered flag to emphasize America’s entry into the sports car world. Originally created by Robert Bartholomew, an interior designer at Chevrolet, this emblem was installed on the 1953 prototype that was set to debut in New York’s Waldorf-Astoria during the “Motorama” show. As preparations were made for Corvette's big day, the Chevrolet legal department discovered that it was against the law to use an American flag on any commercially made product. With only four days left before the show, the pressure was on to come up with a new logo, and fast.

 

The designers acted quickly, and looked toward Louis Chevrolet for inspiration. Searching at first for a family crest that could be adapted into a flag they ran into a dead end, as the Chevrolet family didn't have a crest. Getting desperate, they looked to the French origins of Chevrolet’s name for inspiration. They chose the fleur-de-lis, which means “flower of the lily” as it is the French symbol for royalty. Beneath that there are three lines to represent the three Chevrolet brothers. The revised emblem was quickly made by jewelers and installed on the prototype where it has remained on Corvettes ever since.

The actual American flag emblem that was pulled off of the first Corvette for the Motorama show is on display at the National Corvette Museum, on loan from GM.

Akerson’s ’58 Vette Going on Block for Habitat for Humanity

A new home for a classic American car will soon help pave the way for several new homes for families throughout metro Detroit.

General Motors Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson’s personal 1958 Chevrolet Corvette will be auctioned off on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. EST, by the famed Barrett-Jackson Auction Company in Scottsdale, Ariz.  All proceeds will be donated by Akerson to Habitat for Humanity Detroit and its efforts to rebuild the Morningside Commons neighborhood located just east of GM’s Renaissance Center world headquarters in downtown Detroit.

“The 1958 Corvette is pure American ingenuity and creativity and the free spirit that Chevrolet represents to me.  I love the car – but I think it’s probably better purposed somewhere else,” Akerson said.  “The need for Habitat for Humanity is so great that I thought, ‘Wow, maybe I could really make a difference in a whole different way.’”

Akerson’s affiliation with Habitat for Humanity Detroit has been ongoing. Last February, he and his wife, Karin, made a personal donation of $1 million to help launch “Leaders to Rebuild Detroit,” Habitat’s three-year, $25 million initiative to serve at least 500 families in Morningside Commons through house construction, rehabilitation and energy efficient upgrades.

“The fact that Dan is giving up a car that I know must mean an awful lot to him is very humbling,” said Vincent Tilford, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Detroit.  “For whoever buys this classic car, not only are they going to give it a new home, but they’re also going to give new, better and healthier homes to families in this neighborhood – and actually help rebuild an entire community.”

The 1958 Corvette featured a 245-horsepower V-8 and included new body and instrument panels and new upholstery.  External highlights included dual headlamps – a Corvette first – and twin chrome trunk spears.  Chevrolet built 9,168 Corvettes for the 1958 model year, but only 510, or just over 5 percent, were painted Regal Turquoise. Akerson’s Corvette is a hardtop convertible and is considered scarce among remaining 1958 models.

“I hope the new owner will feel like their money is going to a good place,” Akerson said. “It will help families become more rooted in our community. At the same time, they’re going to have new memories and new fun of their own.  It’s not often you can get all of it packaged into a great car, great fun, great memories and that you’re doing something good at the same time.”

The National Corvette Museum will be in attendance with merchandise available for sale as well as raffle tickets for their various upcoming Corvette raffles. For information on upcoming raffles, please visit http://www.corvettemuseum.org/raffle/.

For more details or to register for the auction, call 480-421-6694 or visit
www.barrett-jackson.com/scottsdale/2013/danakerson.

Corvette Racing #4 Hauler Pits at NCM

Today the Corvette Racing #4 hauler stopped by the NCM. Dave James is the driver of the truck and a pit crew member, “I could fly to races but I don’t like flying that much. Besides, this is a nice truck to get to drive and the fan reactions that I get along the way are always fun.”

He’s been with Corvette Racing since 2000 and can’t hide the smile when he thinks back on his life so far. “Getting to go to France is great, and every time I step out onto the track there it still gives me chills. Being a part of the team that wins the greatest race on earth—there’s no feeling like it.”

He was impressed with the Museum, and despite being a part of the Corvette story he was surprised by how much he learned along the way. “I found myself in the Corvette Racing exhibit!”
Dave was on his way back from testing in Austin, Texas, at the Circuit of the Americas when he stopped by the NCM. He says that the drivers liked the track and are looking forward to racing there. “Another good thing about adding Texas to the schedule,” he says with a grin, “is that the National Corvette Museum and the Assembly Plant are on the way home. We’ll get a chance to stop by more often now.”

Another excuse to come here will be the NCM Motorsports Park. “That’s exciting. I can’t wait until it is done. It’s not that far from us, and having a track here to test on with all of the major turns from all of the major tracks we race at will be great for the team and great for the fans who want to come out and watch. That is going to be a real draw and a lot of fun.”

If you are new to Corvette Racing and want to be up to speed for the season-opening Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on Saturday, March 16, 2013, you can go to the race archive at www.alms.com/alms-tv and watch last year’s fight for the ALMS Championship.

Corvette Racing #3 C6.R Race Car Making Pit Stop in Bowling Green

Corvette Racing fans in the Bowling Green, Ky area are in for a treat this week. On its way home from the Circuit of the Americas track in Austin, Texas, the Corvette Racing #3 C6.R race car will be making a two-hour appearance at the National Corvette Museum from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. CST on Thursday, December 20, 2012.

The Corvette #3 C6.R race car, driven by Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor, was the 2012 Michelin Green X Challenge GT Team Champion car, finished 2^nd in the 2012 American Petit Le Mans race and has received many other honors at various race events. It combines a sophisticated chassis as well as powertrain and aerodynamic technology developed by GM Racing with the advanced engineering of the sixth-generation Corvette, Corvette Z06, and Corvette ZR1 production models.

The 2012 season marks Corvette Racing's 14th year in international road racing. The two-car team made its competition debut in February 1999 in the Daytona 24-hour race, finishing third and 12th. From that modest start, Corvette Racing has become one of the world's most successful production sports car teams, winning eight consecutive ALMS GT1 manufacturers and team championships and seven straight ALMS GT1 drivers' titles.

For more information on this vehicle and Corvette Racing, please visit: http://www.corvetteracing.com.

1-Lap of Kentucky Event Raises $11,000 for Trooper Island

Annual event has yielded over $18,000 in past three years for non-profit camp

The “1-Lap of Kentucky” tours are popular events that quickly sell out to Corvette adventurers who like chasing a State Trooper while helping two good causes. As a part of the National Corvette Museum in Motion program, the 1-Lap tour raises money for both the Museum and Trooper Island, a Kentucky State Police non-profit camp for underprivileged children.

 

“This is our third year of doing the Corvette Tour” said retired KSP Sgt. Craig Sutton, who is the tour leader and former Director of Trooper Island. “Each year we have visited a different part of the state. We’re proud of our state and enjoy showing it off to visitors.”

 

Previous tours have visited the Land Between the Lakes and Owensboro, the Bourbon Trail and Horse Country, and most recently explored eastern Kentucky for a trip through the mining camps, Trooper Island and the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea. “We’re planning three tours next year,” says Museum Events Manager Roc Linkov. “From this unique partnership we get to have a meaningful and fun event that provides underprivileged children with a fun and meaningful event of their own. That is a great thing.”

 

On Wednesday, December 5, 2012 Roc Linkov presented a check for $11,000 to Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer as Sgt. Craig Sutton presented Museum Executive Director Wendell Strode and Museum Events Associate Karen Renfrow with a plaque from the KSP in honor of the NCM's participation in this worthwhile effort.

 

While the event typically involves a large number of Corvettes, all makes and models of vehicles are welcome. Next year's event will highlight Kentucky's "Only One" attractions... all the great places and things Kentucky has that exist no where else in the world. To learn more about the 2013 1-Lap of Kentucky event, visit the Museum's website at http://www.corvettemuseum.org/registration/one-lap/info.shtml. Registration for the tours will open late spring 2013.

 

About National Corvette Museum The National Corvette Museum is the ‘Gateway to all things Corvette’ and is open daily from 8am to 5pm Central Time. It is located at I-65 exit 28 and more information can be found by calling 800-538-3883 or online at www.corvettemuseum.org.

 

About Trooper IslandTrooper Island was developed by the Kentucky State Police as part of a long range program of public service to the youth of Kentucky. For one week young people can be given a touch of hope and desire of a better tomorrow through experiences at a permanent recreational site. Located in a secluded corner of Dale Hollow Lake near the Cumberland and Clinton County line, the island is leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is run by a non-profit charitable corporation.

December is "Dollar Days" 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 or other proof of residency 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. Visitors can sit behind the wheel of a new Corvette, enjoy a number of new hands-on activities in our KidZone and take a drive in the educational Driving Simulators.

A special "Country Music Stars and Cars" exhibit is also on display, featuring Corvettes and Camaros owned by country music celebrities like Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Dolly Parton, George Strait and Kix Brooks. The exhibit also includes original concert prints and posters by Print Mafia and Hatch Show Prints plus memorabilia autographed by a number of celebrities.

“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 the official state 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 exhibits are ever changing. We look forward to welcoming our Kentucky friends.” Visitors can also take a chance to win a 2013 Corvette 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.