Automobile Magazine Honors Tadge Juechter and 2014 Corvette Stingray

Tadge Juechter with his father, Mat Juechter at the Museum on November 20, 2013 for the R8C Museum Delivery of Mat's brand new C7

On a recent visit to the National Corvette Museum, Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter took a moment to speak with us about his 2014 Man of the Year award from Automobile Magazine. It is no coincidence that this man’s creation, the 2014 Corvette Stingray, also earned top honors by being awarded the designation of Automobile Magazine’s 2014 Car of the Year.

On receiving this honor, Tadge was humble as always saying, “Well the man of the year recognition is really a symbol of what the team has accomplished. It’s a little embarrassing for me because it's totally a team sport and I'm just the lucky guy who happens to be in charge that gets to pick up this award.”

Born in Laredo, Texas, as part of an Air Force family who frequently moved, Tadge earned degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering and an MBA at Stanford. Working for GM for two summers in college convinced him of one thing: he didn't want to work at GM. Today, he considers the term "GM lifer" a badge of honor.

The introduction of the new 2014 Corvette Stingray was well received by most, bringing in various awards and accolades, but even so, the Automobile Magazine article states, "Corvette critics can be harsh, and those complaints are rarely unfounded. Some will contend that Chevy's engineers should not be applauded for simply fixing all the stuff that was wrong in previous versions. But Juechter's team did far more than finally bolt in decent seats..." The article also hails the car as being full of thoughtful engineering, innovative technology and awe-inspiring design.

“You know, we've been nearly a full year now of almost continuous media coverage, starting with the long lead media previews before we even introduced the car in Detroit,” says Tadge. “So basically last November all the way through now, we've been in the media spotlight, you know kind of feeding out bits of information, and basically showcasing what the car is and I think it really captures people's imagination. Not just the automotive press but also the popular press, the national and international press.”

Watch the interview with Tadge below or on the YouTube website here.

NCM Motorsports Park Announces General Manager

Mitch Wright Hired as General Manager for Motorsports Park

The National Corvette Museum is pleased to announce the appointment of Mitch Wright as General Manager of their new NCM Motorsports Park, currently under construction in Bowling Green, Ky.  Wright will be assisting with the construction of the Park and will be developing all plans for operations. Upon the facility’s completion and opening, Wright will manage and oversee all aspects of its operations.

In addition to years of experience at several successful motorsports parks, Wright is also a championship winning race car driver, a highly-respected race car builder and developer, and the architect of the SCCA World Challenge racing series’ rise to prominence.

“Mitch was our number one choice to run the NCM Motorsports Park,” said Wendell Strode, Executive Director of the National Corvette Museum. “His wealth of experience and involvement with the construction of other motorsports facilities will be extremely beneficial to this project. We are honored to have Mitch on board.”

With over 35 years of experience in the automotive industry under his belt, some of Wright’s previous positions include Director of Racing/Facility Operations at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, General Manager at NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, President/General Manager at Pittsburgh International Race Complex and Vice-President of Sports Car Club of America Pro-Racing. He has been involved in developing programs and overseeing operations and events at all of these tracks. 

“I am really excited to be part of this fantastic facility and the NCM Motorsports Park team,” says Wright. “I am looking forward to being a part of making the NCM Motorsports Park and Bowling Green a destination for corporate activity, driver training and education, and recreational motorsports for car and motorcycle enthusiasts. A great buzz within the enthusiast groups is building and next fall is coming fast. I am looking forward to showing off this great venue to all that come to drive, ride or tour the place.”

Learn more about Wright on the NCM Motorsports Park website at www.motorsportspark.org.

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).

The National Corvette Museum (NCM) Motorsports Park will offer a safe and challenging environment where drivers of all ages, interests and skill levels can become more proficient behind the wheel.  With over one mile of frontage on Interstate 65 and located across from the National Corvette Museum and the GM Corvette Assembly Plant, the Motorsports Park will be one of the most centrally located and easily accessible driving facilities in the country. Learn more at www.motorsportspark.org.

Celebrate Military Appreciation Month at the National Corvette Museum

National Corvette Museum 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 American branches including active, retired and reserve members will be honored with free admission when presenting a military or service ID.

The 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," educational driving simulators, KidZone, hands-on trivia games and much more. The Museum also includes a Corvette Store featuring a wide selection of apparel and gift items, plus a Corvette Cafe, the perfect 'pit stop' for breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack.

"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."

6th Annual Vets 'n Vettes Event
November 7-9, 2013

Registration has been extended until Monday, November 4 and on-site registration will be available for only $15 per person. This event features road tours, a poker run, pizza party, military history team trivia, participation in the Bowling Green, Kentucky Veteran's Day Parade and more.

On Thursday, November 7th the Museum is hosting their annual “Wounded Warrior Recognition Day.”  In addition to those in the wounded warrior program, the Museum is also inviting all Purple Heart recipients and their spouses to join in for a complementary luncheon at 11:30am in the Museum’s Conference Center.  Following the luncheon Brig. Gen., USAF (Ret.) Dan Cherry will be making his “My Enemy, My Friend” presentation at 3pm.  RSVP is required by contacting Karen at 270-467-8804 or Bryce at 270-777-4506.

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:
www.corvettemuseum.org or call 800-538-3883.

National Corvette Museum Receives Largest Donation to Date

Corvette enthusiast Don Messner leaves his car collection to the Museum

Corvette enthusiasts are known world-wide for their passion towards America’s sports car and the lifestyle it inspires, but some people take their love for this car beyond the extra mile. Such a person was businessman and Montoursville, PA resident, Donald L. Messner, who made arrangements for his Corvette collection to be gifted to the National Corvette Museum upon his passing.

In business Don was known for his focus, determination and ability to make things happen. In his personal life, he was equally determined to make the most of it, enjoying a wide variety of activities including scuba diving, horses, racing, power boating, radio control airplanes, fishing, hunting and Corvettes.

Don’s love for Corvettes led him on a search to acquire low mileage, rare cars that were in excellent condition. Over the years, as his collection grew, he had a special climate-controlled garage built for them that he called The Toy Box.

In January of 2012 Don was diagnosed with melanoma. Knowing it was incurable; he continued to enjoy life as much as he was able. He joined the Museum for the exclusive unveiling of the 2014 Corvette Stingray at the Chevrolet Media Event in Detroit, and traveled to the National Corvette Museum to take delivery of his 2013 Corvette, as well as a visit to the Corvette Assembly Plant. While at the Museum, he decided that it was the best place to permanently display his Corvette collection.

For his wife Marlene, she is gratified to see Don’s collection going to the Museum to be enjoyed by the thousands of visitors who visit annually.

“He said he wanted to plant a seed. He wanted others in similar situations with rare Corvettes to see the Museum as a place for them. Most of all, he wanted to inspire future generations to work hard to buy their own Corvettes some day so that they, too, could enjoy the lifestyle that goes with owning them.”

The Corvettes in the Don Messner Collection include:
• 1965 grey coupe, custom race built Corvette
• 1967 427 convertible Corvette
• 1969 convertible/hard top Corvette
• 1989 coupe Corvette
• 1990 ZR-1 Corvette
• 1996 Collector’s Edition Corvette
• 1996 Grand Sport Corvette
• 2000 convertible Corvette
• 2008 Z06 Corvette
• 2013 60th Anniversary Corvette with R8C Museum Delivery

Don passed on May 22, 2013, but he has left behind a stunning collection of cars that will demonstrate his love of Corvette to others for years to come. “When people see these cars,” Marlene says, “I want them to remember Don Messner and his legacy. He was an amazing and very generous man.”

A special exhibit of these cars will be held in the Museum Exhibit Hall from May 10-September 12, 2014.

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

National Corvette Museum Goes Mobile

Museum releases new app for mobile devices

The increasing need to access websites via mobile devices and tablets has lead the National Corvette Museum to offer their own mobile app for smart phones. The free app can be downloaded by searching for “Corvette Museum” via Apple iTunes, Google Play or the Fast Appz site. Users of the app can easily access the Museum’s virtual tour with audio tour clips to accompany their visit to the Museum, as well as video clips, recent news and blog posts, general museum information, upcoming events and exhibits, the Corvette Café menu, sign up to receive Corvette raffle updates and much more.

Since the app was officially announced on Thursday, October 17, approximately 1,000 people have downloaded it and 42 photo submissions have already been submitted by users in hopes that theirs will be featured in the Museum’s mobile app gallery. Currently the most popular feature of the Museum’s new app is the Exhibits section, where users can quickly find out what exhibit is currently on display and what’s coming to the facility in the future.

National Corvette Museum to Host Fourth Annual Museum Moster Mash

Boys and ghouls are invited to “do the mash” at the National Corvette Museum! On Saturday, October 26 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., the museum is hosting their fourth annual Museum Monster Mash, a free event with loads of activities for children and their families, in the Museum Conference Center. A thrilling time for all, this 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 collector cars
• Free arts and crafts activities
• Carnival games (25 cents a ticket, most games two tickets) with prizes
• Face, hair and nail painting ($1.00 each/4 tickets)
• Kids' Costume Contest at 10 a.m. with prizes for ages 0-2 years, 3-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-12 years, Best Homemade Costume and "Best of Show"
• Pumpkin decorating ($2.00)
• DJ Tim Livingston spinning your favorite Halloween tunes

Museum tour admission is separate from the free activities; however those who come for the event in costume receive half price admission.

More information is available on our website at: http://www.corvettemuseum.com/registration/monster

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).

Young Racing Enthusiasts Create Their Own Le Mans

At eight and eleven years old, Christopher and JP Noga of La Grange, Ill., prove that you are never too young to get into racing. Proud members of Cub Scout pack 83, JP and Christopher are both avid car and racing enthusiasts. Winter is their favorite time of the year, as this is when their Cub Scout pack’s annual “Pinewood Derby” event is held. Hundreds of Cub Scout packs around the country hold their annual Pinewood Derby races during this season to help with the onset of cabin fever, especially in the colder regions. 

Cub master Don Murphy of Pack 280c organized the first of these Pinewood Derby events on May 15, 1953, in Manhattan Beach, California. Murphy's son was too young to participate in the popular Soap Box Derby races, so he came up with the idea of racing miniature cars made of wood. The cars featured the same gravity-powered concept as the full-size Soap Box Derby cars, but were much smaller and easier to build.

Today, Cub Scouts build a special car made of wood for these races that usually come from kits containing a block of pine, plastic wheels and metal axles. Putting together these cars is a big part of the fun and a great way to involve family members and friends in the competition. For this year’s race, JP decided to build a Ferrari, and Christopher, an avid Corvette lover, built the Compuware C6R Corvette in homage to the Corvette Racing team--recent winners of the ALMS GT title. 

Excitement was building up as race day came, and the competitors rolled out their cars to the starting line. All the time spent building, testing and setting up their entries had led to this moment. With Ferrari and Corvette being rivals at the world’s most famous race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, all eyes were on the Noga boys as they prepared to defend their car’s honor. Christopher Noga, driving the C6R, took his place behind the wheel and put together a time of 9.224 in his combined runs of four heats. His brother in the Ferrari took his runs, driving for all he was worth to put together a four heat combination time of 9.245. In a performance reminiscent of the 2011 Le Mans race, Corvette came out on top.

JP and Christopher are eagerly looking forward to their pack’s 2014 Pinewood Derby race, and already have design ideas in mind. Just like the teams that have been facing off for years in Le Mans France, the Noga brothers are working on their cars for next year, hoping it will be their turn to claim victory. One can’t help but wonder if these Pinewood Derby racers will one day find themselves on the grid of the Circuit de la Sarthe, revving their engines and ready to chase the checkered flag again.