Sinkhole-Swallowed 1 Millionth Corvette Restoration Underway

Milestone damaged when earth opened beneath National Corvette Museum

Craftspeople and technicians at the General Motors Design Center are painstakingly restoring the historic 1 millionth Chevrolet Corvette damaged nearly 16 months ago when a sinkhole opened beneath the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky.

The restoration crew is part of GM’s Mechanical Assembly group at the Design Center, which typically spends its time building prototype and concept vehicles. The white 1992 Corvette is a challenge because rather than build an all-new vehicle from the ground up, the workers are trying to preserve the original appearance of a production vehicle.

It is the second of three sinkhole-damaged Corvettes that Chevrolet has pledged to restore. The first, a 2009 Corvette ZR1 prototype known as the Blue Devil, was only lightly damaged and was returned to its original condition last fall. The National Corvette Museum will oversee the restoration of the third car, a 1962 Corvette.

Five other Corvettes swallowed by the sinkhole will remain in their as-recovered state to preserve the historical significance of the cars. They will become part of a future sinkhole-themed display at the museum.

Sinkhole summary

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, at 5:44 a.m., National Corvette Museum personnel were notified by their security company about the burglar alarm going off in the Skydome area of the museum. Upon arrival at the museum, a sinkhole measuring about 45-by-60 feet wide and 30-foot deep was discovered.

Security camera footage showing the Skydome floor’s collapse has been viewed more than 8.5 million times on YouTube.

Eight historic Corvettes – two on loan from GM and six owned by the museum – were swallowed that day:

• 1993 ZR-1 Spyder (on loan)
• 2009 ZR1 “Blue Devil” prototype (on loan)
• 1962 Corvette
• 1984 PPG Pace Car
• 1992 1 millionth Corvette
• 1993 40th Anniversary Corvette
• 2001 “Mallett Hammer” Z06
• 2009 1.5 millionth Corvette

On March 3, 2014, the 2009 Blue Devil was the first car recovered and despite significant damage was started and driven out of the Skydome. The 1.5 millionth Corvette and Mallet Corvette were the last cars pulled from the sinkhole, on April 3 and April 9, respectively – after workers were initially unable to find them amid the collapsed earth.

Edelbrock Family Foundation Sponsoring Summer Camps at National Corvette Museum

Five Day-Long Camps Slated for July

For the past five years the National Corvette Museum has hosted an automotive-themed “Vette Camp” to introduce kids to the world of cars and Corvette. This summer, the Museum has teamed up with the Edelbrock Family Foundation to bring not one, but five camps combining cars with other exciting themes.

“We have a lot of repeat campers each summer, so we decided to come up with some themed day-long camps to provide variety while still offering some of the favorite automotive activities,” said Museum Education Coordinator, Kellie Steen.  “We think this summer’s camps will attract new campers to the Museum, and give kids the opportunity to pick and choose their favorite topics.  It will also give us the opportunity to host a lot more kids than we have in the past.”

The themes of the camp include Minecraft (July 9 and 30), Sinkhole Science (July 20), Superhero Science (July 27), and Wild Weather (July 31). In addition to the themed activities, campers will have the opportunity to ride in a Corvette, tour the GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant and/or participate in a discussion and Q&A with a Corvette Plant engineer. Each camp is 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. C.T. with early drop off and late pickup available. The cost is $45 per child, per camp and online registration is available at www.corvettemuseum.org.

The Edelbrock Family Foundation was formed with the purpose of bringing together like-minded organizations that share a passion for providing education and training for America’s youth. “We hope to foster a new generation of automotive industry leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, enthusiasts and more,” said Vic Edelbrock, Jr.  The Edelbrock Family Foundation also supports Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge, Campus Cruisers, Automotive Education Alliance, Patriot Outreach and Rev’ved Up For Kids.

In addition to the summer camps, the funding supports the Museum’s drivers’ education programs.  In 2009 the Museum purchased two educational driving simulators, offering hands-on learning for drivers of all ages. Today, the Museum’s Drivers’ Safety Academy offers a number of courses, from Tire Rack Street Survival to Car Control and Situational Awareness Clinics, older driver courses through AARP, Powder Puff Mechanics and International Driving classes.  Programs utilize facilities at the Museum and NCM Motorsports Park, combining classroom instruction and hands-on training.  For a complete list of classes with descriptions and upcoming dates, visit www.corvettemuseum.org.

Sinkhole Surveying Nets Engineering Award

Ric Federico, EnSafe and Wendell Strode, Corvette Museum

On February 12, 2014, eight classic Chevrolet Corvettes were swallowed by a sinkhole that opened up beneath the Skydome of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. A year later, the technology used to survey the sinkhole and surrounding areas nets local company EnSafe an award.

"Every year the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) - Tennessee Chapter issues an award for engineering excellence," said Ric Federico, Senior Project Manager in the Bowling Green, Kentucky office of EnSafe, Inc. "For our work in mapping the cave without drilling into it from the surface, the EnSafe NCM microgravity project was entered into the Surveying and Mapping Technology category where it won the Grand Award."

EnSafe provided support in evaluating potential environmental and safety concerns in the Museum's Skydome during initial response activities, and subsequently designed and conducted a microgravity survey to evaluate the extent of the void and aid in identifying other potential karst features beneath the Skydome. EnSafe worked with Western Kentucky University (WKU) professors from the Department of Geography and Geology, who entered the void and prepared a cave map, which revealed excellent correlation between the microgravity data and the actual cave dimensions.

"We worked closely with WKU, Hayward Baker, and Scott, Murphy, Daniel early on and throughout the project to help the National Corvette Museum evaluate the problem and potential remedies, and we are pleased that our project and data were of value to the project team in developing and refining the micropile strategy," said Federico.

Geotechnical firm Hayward Baker is currently finalizing micropile installation and the Skydome construction is on track to be complete in July.

Corvette Museum Marks One-Year Anniversary of Sinkhole

Live Streaming Ceremony Planned to Re-Introduce Restored Blue Devil to Display Floor

This Thursday, February 12 marks the one-year anniversary of the day the car community collectively gasped at the sight of eight Corvettes tumbling more than thirty feet into the depths of a sinkhole inside the National Corvette Museum’s Skydome. What could have been disastrous for the Museum, which celebrated its 20th Anniversary in 2014, turned out to be a positive, landing the Bowling Green, KY attraction prime time news coverage across the globe and a 67% increase in attendance for the year.

“We were fortunate the good Lord was watching over us,” said Wendell Strode, Executive Director, “because no one was in the Museum at the time.” Security cameras captured the first moments of the 5:39am sinkhole collapse, and the footage has garnered 8.5 million views world-wide on YouTube, plus countless more via news media outlets and television documentaries.

Of the eight prized Corvettes claimed by the sinkhole, two were on loan from General Motors and the other six were owned by the Museum. All eight cars were recovered from the hole, each receiving various degrees of damage. Only three of the cars were deemed in good enough condition for restoration.

“General Motors came forward the day after the sinkhole collapse and offered their support in restoring the cars,” Strode said. The 2009 ZR1 ‘Blue Devil’ was repaired by GM this past Fall and unveiled at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas on November 4, 2014. The 1992 ‘One Millionth’ Corvette began restoration at the GM Design Center in Warren, MI in January. The process is expected to take six months. The Museum will be working with a private Corvette restoration shop to repair the 1962 Tuxedo Black Corvette. Currently six of the Corvettes are on display in the Museum’s Exhibit Hall. All eight are planned to be reunited later this year when the Skydome construction is complete and the building is re-opened to the public for tours. The main portion of the Museum continues to remain open for tours during the construction process, which can be observed through a Plexiglas window.

The Museum’s Board of Directors had initially voted to explore keeping a portion of the sinkhole open, but ultimately it was decided to fill it in due to cost, safety and appearance concerns. The process to fill the hole was completed in January, and micropile installation starts this month.
“We are currently working with Creative Arts Unlimited of Pinellas Park, FL to develop a meaningful, first-class exhibit to tell the story of our sinkhole,” said Katie Frassinelli, Museum Communications Manager. “The construction team installed a manhole which leads into one side of our cave. The exhibit will incorporate a kiosk which connects to a camera and lights inside the cave, allowing visitors a live view of what lies beneath their feet. The exhibit should be educational and entertaining with plenty of hands-on and interactive features.”

To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the sinkhole, the Museum has planned a ceremony for 3pm CT featuring a recount of the discovery of the sinkhole by Betty Hardison, Museum Library & Archives Coordinator, who was contacted by the security company and was first on the scene. Zach Massey, Project Manager with Scott, Murphy and Daniel Construction will then share details on what work has been performed thus far, and provide updates on the remaining work to be completed. The ceremony will include an official unveiling of the restored 2009 ZR1 ‘Blue Devil’ as this will be the first time it has appeared on display at the Museum since the repairs were completed. The Blue Devil was the first Corvette recovered from the sinkhole, cranking up for a crowd of cheering on-lookers.

“Everyone has joked that the Museum ‘made lemonade’ out of this situation, so we thought it fitting to end our ceremony with a lemonade toast to continued good fortune for the Museum,” added Frassinelli. The ceremony will be live streamed via YouTube and can be accessed on the Museum’s website at www.corvettemuseum.org.

The Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation, is located at I-65 exit 28 in Bowling Green, KY and is open daily, 8am-5pm CT. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids age 6-16, children age 5 and under are free, $8 for seniors or $25 family admission and free for active military. Learn more at www.corvettemuseum.org or call 800-53 VETTE (83883).

Corvette Museum Sinkhole Filling Officially Begins

Ceremonial "First Rock" Tossed Into Hole

It's been seven weeks since construction work on the National Corvette Museum sinkhole began, with the 'filling of the hole' process officially starting today. Museum Executive Director Wendell Strode cast the first rock, inscribing 'Awesome God, Everyone Safe' on it. "The good Lord let it happen. It was roughly a quarter to six in the morning and we did not have anyone in the museum. No staff, no visitors, no guests. We're so thankful for that," Strode said before tossing the first rock into the hole.

The weeks-long process to prepare the hole to be filled was no quick and easy task, as the openings to the cave had to be first plugged. "Each side of the cave is approximately 30 feet long and about 20 feet high. It's just not feasible to fill the entire cave with rock so the construction team had to get creative with plugging every crevice," said Strode. A combination of steel sheet piling and gunnite were used to create a barrier before loads of gravel were conveyored into the building to begin filling the hole.

The construction team has lowered a remote-controlled Bobcat into the hole to level out the gravel. They expect the process of filing the sinkhole to take about two weeks.

Currently the hole features a 48-inch manhole which will allow access to one side of the cave, even after the sinkhole is filled. "We have some ideas for an exhibit where you can see into the cave via a camera with lights, and guests would be able to maneuver the camera, so we needed access to the cave to allow us to service that equipment as needed," said Katie Frassinelli, Marketing & Communications Manager. A number of exhibit companies are currently bidding on the planned sinkhole/cave exhibit which will be installed in the Skydome once construction work is complete. The work is expected to be complete by July, and the exhibit is anticipated to officially open Labor Day weekend, 2015 as part of the Museum's 21st Anniversary Celebration.

The National Corvette Museum is located at I-65 exit 28 in Bowling Green, Kentucky and is open seven days a week, from 8am until 5pm Central Time. Museum admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids age 6 to 16, $8 for seniors or $25 family admission. Children age 5 and under are free. While access to the Skydome is currently closed for construction, a Plexiglas viewing window is available so that guests may watch ongoing work.

For more information on the Museum, visit www.corvettemuseum.org, download their free app on iTunes or Google Play or call 800-538-3883.

Museum Skydome Closes for Construction Monday; Military Appreciation Month Brings Special Helicopter Display

If you have not yet made the trek to Bowling Green, Kentucky to view the massive sinkhole that opened inside the National Corvette Museum on February 12 of this year, you have just a few more days to do so. Construction is slated to begin on Monday, November 10 and is expected to take approximately eight months to complete.

Currently six of the eight “sinkhole Corvettes” are on display in the Skydome: the 1962 Tuxedo Black Corvette, 1984 PPG Pace Car, 1993 ZR-1 Spyder, 1993 40th Anniversary Ruby Red Corvette, 2001 “Mallet Hammer” Z06 and 2009 “1.5 Millionth” Corvette. After November 9th the Museum plans to move three of the cars into other public viewing areas until the Skydome re-opens in July, 2015.

Chevrolet also unveiled this week at SEMA in Las Vegas the restored 2009 "Blue Devil" ZR1 Corvette. The Corvette will be shipped to the Museum after the show and is scheduled to return to the floor in July as part of the grand re-opening of the Skydome.

In addition to the plexiglas viewing window which will be open during construction for guests to view the progress, a temporary sinkhole mini-exhibit will be available in the Museum, providing photos, videos, details and artifacts.

To kick off Military Appreciation Month at the Museum, four special helicopters from the NC Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association will be on display Wednesday afternoon through Saturday. They will also make an appearance in the Bowling Green Veteran's Day Parade on Saturday. The helicopters include an OH-6 light observation helicopter, OH-58 bate helicopter for the gunships, UH-1H Huey (Slick) used to carry troops and supplies, and a UH-1C Huey gunship.

The helicopters will be joined by a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Resupply Vehicle (RSV) from the Kentucky National Guard, which will be available for viewing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The displays are part of the ExxonMobil Vets 'n Vettes event at the Museum November 6-8. All military veterans plus police and firefighters, and their immediate accompanying family receive free admission to the Museum in November as part of Military Appreciation Month.

The National Corvette Museum is located at I-65 exit 28 in Bowling Green, Kentucky and is open seven days a week, from 8am until 5pm Central Time. Museum admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids age 6 to 16, $8 for seniors or $25 family admission. Children age 5 and under are free but are not allowed in the Skydome building. For more information on the Museum, visit www.corvettemuseum.org, download their free app on iTunes or Google Play or call 800-538-3883.

Museum Sinkhole Remediation Plan Outlined, Construction Starts November 10

Corvette Museum Skydome Sinkhole Viewing Ending Soon

National Corvette Museum officials met on Wednesday with construction personnel and engineers to review the plan, process and timeline for remediating the sinkhole and repairing the Skydome building.  Construction is slated to begin on Monday, November 10 and if everything goes according to schedule, the project will be completed by July, 2015.

The team reviewed the step-by-step process of filling the sinkhole beginning with the removal of boulders.  Late November through December the team will then install sheet piling to block the cave openings.  The hole will then be filled with about 4,000 tons of fist-sized #2 stone, taking place late December through mid-January, 2015. The remaining concrete slab flooring in the room will be removed in mid-January.  At that time, electrical, water and HVAC  repair work will occur through mid-February.

A quantity of 46 micropiles as well as grade beams will be installed mid-February through late March. The micropiles will be spaced 15-20 feet apart at an average depth of 141 feet based on the structural engineering design.  This design will ensure that if another collapse were to occur, the floor would remain intact.  Following this process will be the installation of additional stone as well as a new concrete slab floor (anticipated to take until late April to complete).  The final two months of construction will include the rebuilding of a new entrance with garage door and emergency exit doors, other repairs, repainting, installing new lighting fixtures, a thorough cleaning and other final touch ups.

Changes to the room will include a one-level natural color polished concrete floor without stairs and ramps like the current room has; the new garage door to allow for easy display car access as well as the ability to have an open-air entry for after-hours facility rentals; a redesigned drainage system; and 12 foot paved perimeter around the Skydome.  The cost of the project is just over $3.2 million.

While the Skydome web cams will be removed during the construction process, the Plexiglas viewing window will remain so that Museum guests can watch the on-going work.

The Museum team has received numerous ideas and suggestions on ways to tell the story of what happened on February 12, 2014 and provide interesting and entertaining aspects for visitors.  The Museum is currently exploring several options that include the opportunity to see down into the caves and 3D art.

The Museum plans to display the three restored Corvettes and five unrestored Corvettes in the Skydome once work has completed.

“We appreciate all of the support, feedback, ideas and prayers throughout this very interesting time in our history,” said Wendell Strode, Museum Executive Director.  “Sunday, November 9 will be the very last day to see the sinkhole up close and in person – so if you’ve been wanting to check it out for yourself you have just over three weeks to do so.”

Currently six of the eight “sinkhole Corvettes” are on display in the Skydome: the 1962 Tuxedo Black Corvette, 1984 PPG Pace Car, 1993 ZR-1 Spyder, 1993 40^th Anniversary Ruby Red Corvette, 2001 “Mallet Hammer” Z06 and 2009 “1.5 Millionth” Corvette.  After November 9^th the Museum will move as many of the cars as possible into other public viewing areas until the Skydome re-opens in July, 2015.

The National Corvette Museum is located at I-65 exit 28 in Bowling Green, Kentucky and is open seven days a week, from 8am until 5pm Central Time. Museum admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids age 6 to 16, $8 for seniors or $25 family admission. Children age 5 and under are free, but are not allowed in the Skydome building. For more information on the Museum, visit www.corvettemuseum.org or download their free app on iTunes or Google Play, or call 800-538-3883.

Museum Board Finalizes Decision on Sinkhole, Great 8 Corvettes

The National Corvette Museum Board of Directors held their quarterly meeting and finalized plans for repair of the Museum’s Skydome building, and the eight Corvettes affected by the February 12, 2014 sinkhole collapse.

After careful review of additional information and revised plans with price quotes from the construction company, the board voted to completely fill in the sinkhole.

“We really wanted to preserve a portion of the hole so that guests for years to come could see a little bit of what it was like, but after receiving more detailed pricing, the cost outweighs the benefit,” said Museum Executive Director Wendell Strode. “At the June board meeting, the information available at that time indicated a cost of around $500,000 more to keep the hole, but after incorporating additional safety features and vapor barriers for humidity control, the price tag rose to $1 million more than the cost to put the Skydome back how it was.”

Keeping even a portion of the sinkhole would require 35 foot retaining walls to be built inside of the sinkhole, additional micro piling, visible steel beams running through the hole, and soil nailing. All of these additional structural features are to ensure the safety of the sinkhole and prevent cracking and breaking of the sides in the future, which could result in stability issues, but take away from the natural look of the original sinkhole. The board also considered future maintenance issues that could arise if the hole was kept and the possibility that the hole wouldn’t look like a naturally occurring sinkhole any longer.

“The interest in our new attraction has been phenomenal so we do plan to leave it ‘as-is’ through our Vets ‘n Vettes event November 6-8, 2014, after which time we will begin the process of remediating and filling the hole,” Strode added.

Chevrolet and the National Corvette Museum will restore three of the Corvettes that were damaged when they were swallowed up by the sinkhole.

Chevrolet will restore the 2009 Corvette ZR1 prototype, known as the Blue Devil, and the 1-millionth Corvette produced – a white 1992 convertible. The GM Heritage Center will oversee this process. In addition, the restoration of the 1962 Corvette will be funded by Chevrolet, but will be handled by the National Corvette Museum. A restoration shop has not yet been determined. The remaining five cars were determined to be too badly damaged to warrant restoration. They will remain in their as-recovered state to preserve the historical significance of the cars and what happened on February 12, 2014. They will become part of a future display at the Museum.

In total, General Motors will provide nearly $250,000 in support to help the Museum recover from the sinkhole. The National Corvette Museum celebrates its 20th anniversary this weekend as it welcomes the Corvette enthusiasts nationwide who have helped expand and support the non-profit Museum.

“Our goal was to help the National Corvette Museum recover from a terrible natural disaster by restoring all eight cars,” said Mark Reuss, GM Executive Vice President, Global Product Development. “However, as the cars were recovered, it became clear that restoration would be impractical because so little was left to repair. And, frankly, there is some historical value in leaving those cars to be viewed as they are.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by Corvette enthusiasts from around the globe.

“There has been an outpouring of messages from enthusiasts the world over, asking us not to restore all of the cars,” said Wendell Strode, executive director for the National Corvette Museum. “For Corvette enthusiasts, the damage to the cars is part of their history, and part narrative of the National Corvette Museum. Restoring them all would negate the significance of what happened.”
Timelines for the start and projected completion dates for the three Corvettes’ restorations have not been established. They will be announced later.

Sinkhole summary

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, at 5:44 a.m., National Corvette Museum (NCM) personnel received a notification from their security company about motion detectors going off in the Skydome area of the museum. When those personnel arrived on site, a sinkhole was discovered, eventually measuring about 45 feet wide, 60 feet long and up to 30 feet deep.

Security camera footage showing the Skydome floor’s collapse has been viewed nearly 8.3 million times on YouTube.

The sinkhole swallowed eight historic Corvettes – two on loan from GM and six owned by the museum:

• 1993 ZR-1 Spyder (on loan)
• 2009 ZR1 “Blue Devil” prototype (on loan)
• 1962 Corvette
• 1984 PPG Pace Car
• 1992 1-millionth Corvette
• 1993 40th Anniversary Corvette
• 2001 “Mallett Hammer” Z06
• 2009 1.5-millionth Corvette.

On March 3, the 2009 Blue Devil was the first car recovered and despite significant damage was started and driven out of the Skydome. The 1.5-millionth Corvette and Mallett Corvette were the last cars pulled from the sinkhole, on April 3 and April 9, respectively – after workers were initially unable to find them amid the collapsed earth.

All eight cars were placed in a special display, fueling a nearly 70-percent jump in museum visitor traffic in the months after the sinkhole appeared.

Construction is expected to take approximately 6 months to complete. The Museum will remain open during the process, and the work in the Skydome will be viewable via a Plexiglas wall.
The Museum plans to create a meaningful sinkhole exhibit within the Skydome, featuring the cars involved, 3D interactive images of the sinkhole, videos, photos and more.

The Museum is located at I-65, exit 28 in Bowling Green, KY - just one hour north of Nashville, TN and less than two hours south of Louisville, KY. Open daily, 8am-5pm CT, admission to the Museum is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors age 65 and over, $5 for kids age 6-16 and children age 5 and under are free. Access to view the sinkhole is included with regular admission. Guests who enter the Skydome to view the sinkhole must be age 8 or older. For more information on the Museum, visit their website at www.corvettemuseum.org or call 800-538-3883.

Museum Board Meets Regarding Sinkhole Fate

The National Corvette Museum Board of Directors met today to discuss and decide on the future of the Skydome building. Three primary options were presented: 1) Fill the sinkhole and replace the floor so that the building is much like it was previously; 2) Keep the entire sinkhole as is; 3) Keep a smaller portion of the hole open.

With 14 of the 16 board members present, the group decided to move forward with Option 3, keeping a portion of the sinkhole open, but pending review of further information.  This option as it stands would include an opening approximately 25’ by 45’ wide, and 30’ deep, providing views down into a portion of the cave.  The opening could have some existing ground and rock face, and a dirt embankment where one or two of the cars could be placed for display.

Each board member expressed how the decision was not about them or what they thought but rather what is best for the Museum, and what most of the members and visitors would want.  “I have a responsibility to represent the people who sent me here. We all do for our geographic areas,” said a Board Member.  “My own personal opinion changed as time went on.  I come here today with my marching orders from my members.  About two thirds of my organization says to leave it open in some form or fashion,” he added.

After much discussion the Board decided that additional information was necessary before making a final decision.  Some changes discussed could affect the cost estimate.  More information was also requested on the impact on the humidity in the room and potential impact on any cars displayed within; the temperature control of the room and any associated impact on the Museum’s utility costs; and review and consideration of any other costs associated with the maintenance of the Skydome if the hole is left partially open.  The additional information could result in the plans being modified.

Mike Murphy, C.E.O. of Scott, Murphy and Daniel Construction, was on hand to answer questions and provide his feedback on the proposals.  “You come in and you have all these displays of the history and life of Corvette, and then you come into the Skydome to see this new part of history,” said Murphy.  “I think it will always be a part of history, but will the increased attendance continue?  I don’t know, but it will always be of high interest.”

As expected, the group deliberated greatly as to what is the right decision.

Christy Thomas, CFO for the Museum, shared that an estimate had been provided for filling in Option 3’s small portion of the sinkhole should the Museum decide later to end the exhibit.  “If the interest in the exhibit wanes, or if down the road we decided that we don’t want the hole any longer there is always an option to put the room back how it was,” Thomas said.

Thomas shared with the Board some numbers – including a 59% increase in the number of visitors from March to June 23, 2014 compared to the same time period in 2013.  The Museum has also seen an increase of 71% in admissions income, 58% increase in Corvette Store sales, 46% increase in Corvette Café sales, 72% increase in Membership for a total of a 65% increase in these revenue areas overall.

“We have to look at creative ways to generate interest in the Museum,” said Executive Director Wendell Strode.   “It would be so much easier to just be a regular automotive museum with our Corvettes on display, but we have to think outside the box.”

The construction plans also included eliminating the two level display space that once existed in the Skydome, both making it easier to get cars in and out, and increasing the number of cars that can be accommodated for display. 

“We only have one chance to do this right.  As a board, we owe it to everyone to explore all possibilities, to completely investigate all financial aspects and impacts, and to make a fully informed decision,” added one Board Member.

Plans are still on track to leave the sinkhole and 8 Corvettes on display “as-is” through the end of August and then begin construction in September.  The Museum will celebrate its 20^th Anniversary with an event August 27-30, and the Grand Opening of the NCM Motorsports Park is slated for August 28.  “We have a lot to be thankful for right now,” said Strode.  “We really want to thank all those who have stood by us during this difficult time, and we are looking forward to celebrating with everyone in August! “

The Story of the 1962: David Donoho's Donated Vette

David Donoho was a die-hard Corvette enthusiast, developing an infatuation from a young age and even saving up enough money to buy his first – a brand new 1962 – when he was in high school.  David was so obsessed, in fact, that he earned the nickname “The Weather Man” because his friends would tease him about how closely he would watch the weather, and quickly take his Corvette home when there was a chance of rain.

David loved the car and had a kindred spirit towards the car… so when it came time to make plans for his estate he knew he wanted it to go to a loving home where it would be respected and cared for.  “David didn’t want it sold; he wanted it to remain well maintained by those who would protect it,” said longtime friend and attorney Beth Sease.  Beth had suggested David consider donating his prized vehicle to the National Corvette Museum.  “Wendell [Strode, Executive Director] visited and developed a relationship with David.  Wendell assured David that the Museum would preserve it according to his wishes.”

“David was an unassuming and simple man,” said Beth.  She added that as a long time blue-collar worker, David saved his money and invested it wisely to have the funds to support his Corvette hobby.  David was the proud owner of four Corvettes in his lifetime – a 1987, 2001 and 2006 (in addition to the 1962) and all were garage kept.  He personally cared for the cars and only had people he trusted do work on them.

As David’s health prevented him from being able to get out and enjoy the car, Beth encouraged him to donate his 1962 before his passing to reap maximum donation and tax benefits.  The car is black with red interior and mostly in its original condition – with the exception of the convertible top being replaced with a hard top.  In 2011, David turned over the keys to his beloved car – a car he had owned all of its life… just over 50 years.  Beth says that turning the car over to the museum seemed to be the best thing to benefit David and preserve his memory.

After various health issues, David passed on June 6, 2013 at the age of 76.  In his will he left another gift to the museum… funds to care for his car.  “David’s cash gift will help us ensure that his car is maintained in a way that would please him,” said Wendell.  “To be gifted a Corvette that has had only one owner and been kept in such great condition all these years is rare.”

On February 12, 2014 Mother Nature struck the Corvette Museum, taking David’s prized car several feet down into a sinkhole.  Luckily, the Corvette was one of the last to fall in and suffered minor damage in comparison to the others.  GM’s Design Center in Warren, MI will be overseeing the restoration of the car.  “While it breaks our heart that this happened to David’s car, we know that it will be in good hands with GM overseeing the repairs.  Several experts from the National Corvette Restorers Society have also reached out to offer their expertise,” said Wendell.  “We look forward to getting the car repaired and back to its former glory.”

What's Next for the National Corvette Museum

Operation Corvette Plus Team Meets to Review Sinkhole Findings, Discuss Skydome Plans

Last Tuesday, team members involved with the National Corvette Museum’s sinkhole recovery and remediation met to discuss the future of the Skydome and construction plan moving forward.  Presentations were made of all of the findings, from drillings, to microgravity readings, and the WKU cave and karst team’s exploration into the hole.

Dr. Jason Polk with WKU shared that the void discovered beneath the Skydome extended in two directions– one leading from the Skydome towards the Museum’s truck parking lot, and the other leading from the Skydome towards the pond.  Both cave areas start approximately 50 feet underground.  According to Dr. Polk, “You don’t typically have sinkholes without caves or voids of some type below them, so this finding was not surprising.”  He also indicated that in our area of Kentucky we drive through and around sinkholes and caves every day, with some types of sinkholes even being miles wide.  There are dozens of known, mapped caves in the Bowling Green city limits, and over 200 documented caves in Warren County.

Dr. Polk stated that they found mineral deposits which are indicative of dry conditions in the northern extension of the cave.  This information means that this portion of our cave is likely thousands of years old and has been there since long before the Museum was constructed.  The cave also probably hasn’t had flowing water in a very long time.

The team reviewed the construction documentation from the original building and Skydome.  Prior to construction of the building a geo-technical test was completed in accordance with normal standards.  They found nothing to indicate any problems.  “Normally if there is enough rock, it doesn’t matter what is below it,” said Danny Daniel of Scott, Murphy & Daniel Construction.  Daniel also indicated that rebar was not required in the concrete flooring of the Skydome.  “It’s no different than the floor of your garage at home.  Rebar was not needed to support the weight of the cars in the Skydome,” he added.  [EDITORS NOTE: SMD Construction did not build the original portion of the Museum]

The team thinks that our sinkhole was caused by the collapse of a portion of a cave roof, although they are still compiling data. Several things could have caused this, including the extra weight from clay soils above the roof becoming saturated from heavy rain. The team stressed that there is no reason for anyone to be any more concerned for safety here than any other area prone to significant karst development and sinkhole collapse, and it is important to note that much of Bowling Green/Warren County is located in just such an area.

Dr. Polk and Dr. Leslie North, also with WKU Center for Cave and Karst Studies, will be conducting a presentation on Saturday, April 26 at 3:15pm CT on the sinkhole collapse and how it happened. The presentation will be in the Museum's Conference Center.

Moving forward the team is exploring ways to rebuild the Skydome floor.  One such plan includes drilling with micro piles then adding beams to ensure the Skydome floor is fully secure.  The Museum is also exploring various ideas, which would in some way preserve a portion of the sinkhole, helping to tell the story of what is now Museum and Corvette history.  “We will continue to explore these ideas as the process has not moved along far enough to know if keeping a portion of the hole is feasible or not,” said Wendell Strode, Executive Director of the Museum.  “The interest in our sinkhole and the rescued Corvettes has been more than expected, and our attendance for March was up 56% over March of last year,” Strode added.  “Our special display focusing on this event is now open in our Exhibit Hall.  Current plans are to keep the cars on display as they are so that guests through the summer and especially the thousands attending our 20th Anniversary Celebration will have a chance to see the cars and witness the sinkhole for themselves.”

On Thursday the Museum received a donation of a 40th Anniversary “Ruby Red” Corvette. Lynda Patterson of Louisville, Kentucky donated her car in response to the news of the sinkhole swallowing another “Ruby.”  The complete release on Ms. Patterson’s car donation is available online here.

Representatives from GM will be meeting with the NCM next month to inspect each of the Great 8 and determine which ones are appropriate to be restored.  The Corvettes that are not restored will be kept on permanent display as part of preserving and telling the story of the February 12th Sinkhole Collapse.

Links to photos, videos and information related to the sinkhole are available on the Museum's website at www.corvettemuseum.org. For the latest updates visit the Museum’s Facebook Fan page at www.facebook.com/corvettemuseum.

Final Corvette Recovered from Sinkhole

2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 Ends Quest to Save Museum Corvettes

The last of the "Great 8" Corvettes has been pulled from the depths of the 40 foot wide by 60 foot deep sinkhole that collapsed within the Skydome building of the National Corvette Museum exactly eight weeks ago, marking the end of the first phase of rebuilding.

"We're happy to have the completion of our major goal to recover all eight of the Corvettes," said Wendell Strode, Executive Director of the Museum. "Next week we have a meeting with all the major players, including the construction team, geo-technical firm, cave and karst specialists, engineers, our insurance company and others to review all the findings and have discussions on the next steps and a mutual understanding about rebuilding."

The 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 was one of two Corvettes that's whereabouts were initially unknown after the sinkhole happened. The car was finally discover this Monday, upside down with the nose pointing towards the red Spire in the center of the room. It is, by far, the most heavily damaged of all eight Corvettes.

"It looks like the worst one... a lot of parts and pieces," said Mike Murphy, CEO of Scott, Murphy and Daniel Construction. "It took a lot of punishment from a lot of big rocks."

The Mallett Hammer was donated to the Museum this past December by Kevin and Linda Helmintoller of Land O' Lakes, Florida, Lifetime Members of the Museum and previous R8C Museum Delivery participants. Upon hearing the car had been located, Kevin traveled to Kentucky to witness the rescue operation. "I expected bad, but it's 100 times worse," he said. "It looks like a piece of tin foil... and it had a roll cage in it! It makes all the other cars look like they're brand new."

Strode had forewarned Helmintoller that the car would be in bad shape and he might not want to watch the recovery process. "Honestly though, I'm still glad I'm here because I would have never believed it was this bad. I'm not positive I would have recognized it - there are just a few little pieces that give it away."

Helmintoller added that he sent pictures of the damaged car to his engine builder, who (jokingly) was quick to point out that the motor was not covered under warranty.

Kevin and Linda spent 13 years modifying the Corvette, a car they purchased new in 2001. The Mallett Hammer conversion was completed in June 2002 and since then has had many AntiVenom LSX Performance modifications with the car boasting 700hp with 575 torque at the flywheel. The car's speed achievements helped it score a cover of GM High Tech Performance magazine.

"We donated this car to the Museum to help with the continued growth, but also because it could be a good vehicle for training other drivers at the new NCM Motorsports Park," Helmintoller said in December upon donating the car.
A “Great 8” display will officially open next week in the Museum’s Exhibit Hall and the sinkhole Corvettes will be available for viewing, as-is, through the Museum’s 20th Anniversary Event August 27-30, 2014.

Links to photos, videos and information related to the sinkhole are available on the Museum's website at www.corvettemuseum.org. For the latest updates visit the Museum’s Facebook Fan page at www.facebook.com/corvettemuseum.

Seventh Down, One to Go

2009 “1.5 Millionth” Corvette Recovered

In less than a week, the 1.5 Millionth Corvette has gone from location unknown to being dug out from the depths of the sinkhole… regaining its status as a display car in the National Corvette Museum on Thursday. 

While methods of probing the mounds of dirt in the sinkhole and the use of metal detectors were

unsuccessful in finding the milestone Corvette, it was the retrieval process of the Spyder that yielded signs of the first of the two missing cars.  “We had no idea where it was, we just happened upon it,” Mike Murphy, CEO of Scott, Murphy and Daniel Construction said. 

Upon the removal of the Spyder, the team began working to free the 1.5 Millionth.  Initial attempts to pull the car free were to no avail as a large rock appeared to be wedging the rear of the car in the dirt.

“Originally, we thought we had to remove the boulder itself to free the vehicle,” said Zach Massey, Project Manager with Scott, Murphy and Daniel Construction, “But we were able to free the 1.5 without addressing the boulder as it turned out it was not directly resting on the car, which was a great advantage to us.”

Wednesday afternoon the team was able to successfully free the car, with final removal from the sinkhole taking place Thursday morning.  “While the car appears to be in really rough condition, most of the major components are still there and provides a great base to work off of,” said Adam Boca of the NCM Insurance Agency and a member of the Museum’s Display Committee.

The National Corvette Museum was given the opportunity to purchase the milestone car brand new to preserve its place in history.  It was built in Bowling Green, KY on May 28, 2009 and is a white convertible with red interior, a small nod to the first 300 Corvettes built in 1953 in Flint, MI – all being white convertibles with red interiors.  The 1.5 Millionth is fully loaded with the 3LT Preferred Equipment Group, Z51 Performance Package, Dual Mode Performance Exhaust, Navigation, 6-Speed Automatic Transmission with Paddle Shift and has a 6.2L V8 engine boasting 430 hp. 

The final Corvette to be removed is the 2001 Z06 with Mallett Hammer conversion. “The rest of the day will be spent probing and excavating the area to find any signs of the Mallett Hammer,” said Murphy.

The “sinkhole Corvettes” will come together for a special display in the Museum’s Exhibit Hall through August 3, after which time they will be moved into the restored Skydome where they will remain on display, as-is, through the Museum’s 20^th Anniversary Event August 27-30, 2014.

Links to photos, videos and information related to the sinkhole are available on the Museum's website at www.corvettemuseum.org. For the latest updates visit the Museum’s Facebook Fan page at www.facebook.com/corvettemuseum.

ZR-1 Spyder Recovered from Sinkhole

Corvette Recovery Resumes Nearly One Month After Initial Cars Extracted

Last week, the construction team began the tedious process of removing dirt from the sinkhole in hopes of recovering the two missing Corvettes, and to unearth the ZR-1 Spyder which previously only had a portion of the left rear quarter visible. With the aid of a heavy duty vacuum and excavating equipment, the team struck gold - or rather fiberglass - on Friday, March 28 with the discovery of the 1.5 Millionth Corvette.

"When we started digging around the Black Spyder, we found a piece of white fiberglass underneath it and we continued to expose that until we saw that it was the 1.5 Millionth car," said Mike Murphy, CEO of Scott, Murphy and Daniel Construction. "We had no idea where it was, we just happened upon it. We hope when we move the white car we find the red car that way, because we've just not had any luck detecting where it is." Murphy indicated that they have utilized metal detectors as well as probing rods, and that they remove layers of dirt as they probe but have not had a lot of luck so far.
On Monday, the team worked to continue removing dirt from around the Spyder, then in the early evening decided to carefully pull the car out of the remaining dirt.

"It was free everywhere except underneath there was a concrete slab wedged. We felt we had it in the best position, just like pulling a gun out of a holster. Everyone felt like it was best to take it so it wouldn't bend and break if we'd had it exposed more," Murphy said.

The team resumed recovery efforts early Tuesday morning, removing a large boulder that was lodged in the cabin of the Spyder and collecting bits and pieces of the car to help with any restoration or preservation efforts. The Spyder was removed from the depths of the hole around 9am CT, and is in worse shape than even the PPG Pace Car.

"We have always feared that as we dig further into the hole, that the cars would continue to be in worse shape," said Katie Frassinelli, Marketing and Communications Manager. "Unfortunately those predictions were accurate. The 1.5 Millionth has both a large boulder and a concrete slab laying on it. We anticipate that when that car is pulled out, possibly on Wednesday, that it's going to be in even worse shape than the Spyder."

While each sinkhole Corvette has a "story," that of the Spyder is one of the most interesting. The ZR-1 was not a convertible, but GM made only a few prototypes that were. This car was a full performance ZR-1 and was originally painted Sebring Silver with a Neutrino Yellow interior. It debuted at the 1991 North American Auto Show before being repainted black and having the interior changed to red.

"They didn't build a convertible ZR-1 to sell to the public. This is actually a car that General Motors took to different shows to show the car off," said Mike Williams, a member of the Museum's Facility team who's father helped build the car. According to a May 1991 article in Vette Magazine, "The ZR-1 Spyder represents the first time a concept car has ever been assembled on a production assembly line."

The car has many one-off features including custom billett aluminum wheels, a custom tonnau cover with waterfall (an influencer of the C5 Corvette waterfall), a chopped windshield half the normal height, lowered seats mounted directly to the floorpan allowing air to flow around your head, narrowed mirrors, side coves and a louvered hood. Mechanically, the Spyder is a stock 1990 ZR-1.
The underside of the Spyder's hood features signatures of all those involved in building the car. "They have not been able to retrieve the hood. We are still hoping they find it, but that's one of the big problems. When we displayed the car we wanted everybody to be able to see the signatures so when the car went in the hood was up, and it just snapped the hood off," added Williams.

Today, the team will be working to remove the boulder and concrete slab in preparation for removal of the 1.5 Millionth Wednesday or Thursday. The Spyder is now on display in the Museum's Exhibit Hall.

Links to photos, videos and information related to the sinkhole are available on the Museum's website at www.corvettemuseum.org. For the latest updates visit the Museum’s Facebook Fan page at www.facebook.com/corvettemuseum.

Skydome Update from Construction Manager, Car Extraction Plan Announced

Providing timely updates on the Corvette sinkhole incident has always been a priority for the Museum. In an effort to provide everyone with as much information as possible, Mike Murphy with Scott, Murphy and Daniel, our Construction Management company, has written an update as to the work that has been completed and the plan for work moving forward.

OPERATION “CORVETTE PLUS”
We’ve named the project this because for something to raise from a base level ‘up’ equals moving in a ‘+’ direction.  Our ultimate goal is to keep the existing building ‘up’ in its original position, raise the Corvettes in the hole ‘up’, then bring the fill in the hole ‘up’ and lastly, bring the concrete floor back ‘up’ to its original level.

We are very appreciative of the National Corvette Museum, Chubb Insurance and VanMeter Insurance Group to allow us to assemble the best group of professionals to effectively and accurately ‘heal this horrendous hole’ in the Skydome.  Our reputation both in business and personally, obligates us to hold the best interest of our community partner in mind 24/7 until the project is completed.

“CORVETTE PLUS” ESTIMATED SCHEDULE
Since the beginning of the project, the number one goal is to ‘proceed cautiously ‘ with the recovery and reconstruction in such a manner to keep safety of the facility and the workers the main priority and number two,  plan and perform in a positive (+) direction daily.  Because there are so many unknowns within the boundaries of this project, having an exact schedule ‘in stone’ is not practical or possible.  Every day’s planning and action determines the next step in executing a successful operation.

THIS WEEK (2/24/2014)
We began the week finishing shallow test borings in the remainder of the Skydome floor to insure there was no immediate danger of another sink hole collapse happening in the remaining floor space. These tests proved successful.

Before heavy equipment such as manlifts, excavators and cranes (which are on site and ready to approach the sink hole area) could be brought into the Skydome area, deeper test drilling was performed to insure a sufficient thickness of earth and rock was present to support this equipment’s entry and operation. The last test hole was completed Wednesday morning and the ‘positive data’ recorded has now been turned over to the engineers and geologists for their analysis and verification. Additionally on Wednesday, drillers moved their operation to the outside foundation of the Skydome and have begun the drilling, high-strength grouting and installation of steel cased micro piling connected to the dome’s perimeter foundation. This operation, securing and reinforcing the building’s foundation, will continue for approximately 1 ½ to 2 weeks. 

Today, Thursday (2/26/14), we received ‘the go ahead’ by the professionals to give the ‘green light’ to bring equipment into the area and begin the set-up and preparation for the cranes to suspend engineers and contractors safely into the middle of the sink area and examine closer the condition of the hole and finalize the recovery plan, determine exact measurements for lifting and verify techniques for beginning the removal of the ‘three’ most assessable vehicles (those not embedded into the embankment). The mobilizing of equipment and accessories, along with the final planning and hole condition examination should finish this week’s work schedule through Saturday, as the outside piling installation continues. There is a suspended steel ring around the spire in which the lighting and sprinkler system is located. A quick test run on Wednesday is indicating the possibility to disconnect the system and raise it above the needed working area of the crane booms. This could possibly cause a day’s delay in the recovery operation should this be determined once cranes are in their designated positions.

Everyone should keep in mind that a special operation such as this cannot be on an ‘exact planned schedule’ like a new building under construction is often orchestrated.  Concerns and calculations which insure the safety of the building and workforce will remain our #1 priority, even if it impedes our schedule to insure that each task is performed exact and successful.

NEXT WEEK (3/3/2014)
We anticipate if all plans and factors work successfully, the removal of the first three vehicles will begin during the day on Monday, in hopes to have all three cars extracted by Wednesday. The first car to be removed is the 2009 ZR1 "Blue Devil." There may be some complications when removing the 1962 Black Corvette because the 5 ton concrete slab resting against the front of the car must be lifted simultaneously and in conjunction with the lifting of the vehicle. We will be allowing approved media to film INSIDE of the Skydome during the first car's removal.

STAY TUNED
IF WE (Scott, Murphy & Daniel Construction) HAVE ANY CHANGES OR ALTERATIONS OF OUR SCHEDULE, WE WILL NOTIFY THE CORVETTE MUSEUM AND OFFER OUR BEST GUESS ‘UPDATES.’

National Corvette Museum "Open for Business"

Tours, Deliveries, Rentals carry on as usual; Viewing window added for visitor glimpse of sinkhole

February 12, 2014 is a day that will go down in the history books of Corvette, a day when a large sinkhole opened up in one of the most unusual spots – the Skydome area of the National Corvette Museum, taking eight prized Corvettes with it. Teams of engineers and construction personnel have been on-site since day one, securing the area and moving forward with the remediation of the sinkhole. While the Museum was closed to the public on the day of the unfortunate event, we re-opened the following day and have been open normal hours since then. The Skydome area of the Museum is the only portion currently closed to the public.

The safety of Museum employees and guests is our #1 priority, and with that in mind we wanted to share information from our team of experienced professionals as to safety and stabilization of the building.

“Concerning the safety of the facility at the National Corvette Museum, it is important to understand that the Skydome is an independent structure that is isolated from the remainder of the facility with a building expansion joint. The collapse of the slab-on-grade within the Skydome has not compromised the structures of the remaining facility. Furthermore, it should be noted that the Skydome structure has been closely monitored and exhibits no signs of displacement or member distress at this time.”
– Kevin Krantz, Structural Engineer, K&S Engineering, PLLC

“Having spent 40 years living and working in the Bowling Green area, sinkholes and our Karst geology are a fact of life for our Firm and our community. Of the many sinkhole remediation projects that we have consulted on, I cannot recall any situation where additional sinkhole collapses have occurred as a result of an initial collapse. We have no reason to believe that the situation at the National Corvette Museum is any different. For the safety of the public, our Firm has monitored the facility daily since the morning of the collapse and will continue to monitor the facility daily until all repairs are completed. During this monitoring, we have seen no indication of additional collapses therefore, we believe that the National Corvette Museum is safe and encourage the public to continue visiting.”
- Dennis D. Smith, PE, PLS, M.ASCE and Matt Rogers, PE, M.ASCE, DDS Engineering, PLLC

“In Bowling Green, Kentucky, we are highly knowledgeable about sinkholes and caves, as we have studied them for many decades through pioneering work done at WKU and from others. This area of the country is an iconic example of a landscape where sinkholes occur. In recent years, our knowledge and understanding, along with the technology and science to better study these landforms, has advanced significantly. Living, visiting, or vacationing in an area like Bowling Green, KY is as safe as anywhere else in the country. In fact, millions come very year specifically to visit places like Mammoth Cave and our natural parks solely because of their interesting and dynamic geology and water features! “
– Dr. Jason Polk, Assistant Professor of Geography and Geology, Western Kentucky University. Dr. Polk also recommends www.underbgky.org for more information on Bowling Green’s karst landscape.

Two barrier walls have been installed between the Skydome building and the rest of the Museum. One wall includes a video monitor which shows live webcam footage of the work being completed in the Skydome. The other wall incorporates a plexi-glass viewing area so that guests may witness the sinkhole for themselves from a safe distance. Both areas are part of the Museum tour and included with regular admission.

The National Corvette Museum is open daily, 8am to 5pm and is located at I-65 exit 28 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Learn more about the Museum at www.corvettemuseum.org and get the latest updates on the Museum’s Facebook Fan page at www.facebook.com/corvettemuseum.

Sinkhole Collapses at National Corvette Museum

We received a call at 5:44am from our security company alerting us of our motion detectors going off in our Skydome area of the Museum. Upon arrival it was discovered that a sinkhole had collapsed within the Museum. No one was in or around the Museum at the time. The Bowling Green Fire Department arrived on the scene and secured the area. The Fire Department has estimated the size of the hole is 40 feet across and 25-30 feet deep.

It is with heavy hearts that we report that eight Corvettes were affected by this incident. Those cars include:

• 1993 ZR-1 Spyder on loan from General Motors
• 2009 ZR1 “Blue Devil” on loan from General Motors

The other six vehicles were owned by the National Corvette Museum including:

• 1962 Black Corvette
• 1984 PPG Pace Car
• 1992 White 1 Millionth Corvette
• 1993 Ruby Red 40th Anniversary Corvette
• 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 Corvette
• 2009 White 1.5 Millionth Corvette

None of the cars affected were on loan from individuals. The Skydome exhibit area of the Museum is a separate structure connected to the main Museum. A structural engineer is now on-site to assess the existing damage and stability of the surrounding areas. The Museum is closed to the public for the day to allow us to carefully assess the situation. We will keep everyone informed as we know more.

With the 20th Anniversary celebration, Grand Opening of the NCM Motorsports Park, and the National Corvette Caravan coming August 27-30, we’ve got a lot to be excited about in 2014, and look forward to getting the Skydome repaired and reopened very soon.

 

 

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.

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Media Contacts:

Wendell Strode, Executive Director – 270-467-8814

Katie Frassinelli, Marketing & Communications Manager – 270-467-8846

Bob Bubnis, Communications Coordinator – 270-467-8805