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.

NCM Ambassador Thinks Outside the Brick

When it comes to supporting the Museum, our Ambassadors find creative ways to get their fellow club members on board. Ken Bakenhus of San Jacinto Corvette Club in Houston, TX is one such Ambassador - thinking outside the box (or in this case, brick) to garner donations for the Museum.

"When raising funds for our club bench, I gave different incentives for different donation levels such as a plaque, club jacket, dinners or a combination of all three for the larger donations," said Ken. "After raising the bench funds, I was able to sell a lot of bricks because members wanted their brick in front of the bench."

Ken also got creative by gluing C7 model Corvettes to the top of Flint Bricks, and using them as rewards to members who contributed to the club's Motorsports Park 'Acre.'

"Using my Lifetime Membership discount for the C7 models, and the bricks on sale at 3 for $25, I raised $4,800 with just a $444 expenditure."

Thanks, Ken, for your creativity and support!

Does your club have an ambassador? If not, check out the process to have one online here: www.corvettemuseum.org/ambassadors.

Museum Member Donates Cars for Kids

Museum Lifetime Member and Master Ambassador Marty Dooley of St. Louis, MO has been collecting toy Corvettes since he was a boy - and now he's sharing his toys with other kids.
"While visiting the Museum I saw a lot of kids there, and after asking what was going on I learned that the Museum was hosting Vette Camp for kids to learn about the cars," said Marty. "Thinking of all the Hot Wheel type Corvette cars I had at home and no longer needed, I asked if I could donate them to the NCM so the kids could have a little remembrance of their camp day."

Marty gathered up his cars, about 200 total, and brought them on he and wife Judy's next visit to the Museum. Education Coordinator Kellie Steen says the cars will be very much appreciated and enjoyed by the kids. "This will be our sixth year of offering camps for children, and I know the cars will be a huge hit!" Steen said.

The National Corvette Museum hosts a number of educational camps and activities throughout the year. To learn more, visit: www.corvettemuseum.org/kids.

National Corvette Museum Celebrates 10,000th Delivery

While you may have seen truckloads of brand new Corvettes traveling the interstates ready for delivery to dealerships across the country, a large number of America’s sports car are also delivered just across the street from the world’s only GM Corvette Assembly Plant to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. On Friday, March 6, 2015 the 10,000 Corvette was delivered to the Museum, ready and waiting for its new owners.

In September 1995 a program began at the Museum where Corvette customers, when ordering their new car from Chevrolet dealers across the U.S., can select option code “R8C” designating that they will take delivery of their car at the Museum. The program includes a personal V.I.P. tour of the Plant and Museum, a detailed hands-on Corvette introduction and feature demonstration by a trained delivery team member, an engraved plaque, a Museum Delivery door jamb decal, and a one-year individual membership to the Museum. The Museum has delivered new Corvettes to buyers from every state, including Alaska and Hawaii.

“Corvette owners really enjoy red carpet treatment, and what better place to receive that than at the Home of Corvette?” said Shane Webb, Museum Delivery Manager. “We have delivered over 1,700 seventh generation Corvettes in the past 17 months alone, so not only is the latest model Corvette growing in popularity, but our Delivery program is as well,” he added. The Museum ranked 2nd in number of Corvettes delivered in 2014.

Dave Effler of Aurora, CO was surprised on November 13, 2014 when he received a phone call telling him he had won a Corvette raffle sponsored by the Museum – and he was again surprised upon arriving at the Museum on Friday – learning that his car was the milestone 10,000th R8C delivery.

“Several years ago I came through the Museum with a friend and learned about the raffles, and dreamed of someday driving out of here in my own Corvette,” Dave recalls. “The night before this raffle came up I saw that there were still tickets available so right before I went to bed I hit purchase.” The next day Dave missed the call telling him he was the winner because he was in a business meeting. But as he checked messages on his way back to the office, he was in for a big surprise. “I nearly passed out,” he laughs.

He called his wife Susan, and left a message to call him back. “He said it was an emergency so naturally I thought family medical emergency. When I finally reached him he said, ‘you are never going to believe this, but we won a Corvette.’”

“We’ve always said that a Corvette would be our last big vehicle purchase for retirement, weekend trips and driving around the mountains in,” Susan says with a smile. “We kept saying, one of these days we’re going to get a Corvette. Today is the day.”

Because this was a “Build Your Own” Corvette raffle where the winner gets to pick out all of the options of the car, they went all-out putting together their dream Corvette – a 2015 Shark Gray Z51 Corvette Coupe. “It’s been pretty exciting,” Susan says. “This process of creating and putting together all of the options that he wanted. It’s almost been like the delivery of a baby. We’ve been waiting months for this. The anticipation and excitement… it’s like he is 16 again.”

She should know as they were high school sweethearts. Dave looks at her and smiles. “My friends have all known just how long I’ve loved and lusted for a Corvette. Susan is my first love from high school, and this car is my second love.”

To commemorate the day, Dave was presented with a slate build sheet and window sticker for his car, and a framed photo of the experience – signed by all those involved with the Delivery. A special brick will also be placed in the walkway outside the Museum’s Delivery area, engraved with his name, the date and 10k Delivery.

“Being the 10,000th delivery is just icing on the cake,” Dave says. “The whole experience with the staff, and this extra attention, has just been great.”

“We are very proud to share this experience with Dave,” said Wendell Strode, Museum Executive Director. “We hope others who are purchasing a new Corvette will consider checking out the many programs we offer that provide hands-on, behind-the-scenes and V.I.P. experiences with your new car.”

In addition to the R8C Museum Delivery Program, the Museum offers Buyers’ Tours, Photo Albums, Engine Build Experiences, Personalized Plate Packages, Xperiences and V.I.P. Tours.

The Museum shares the excitement of the delivery experience with thousands, via the Museum’s webcams available online at corvettemuseum.org/webcam. Information on the Corvette Museum Delivery Program option is available through Chevrolet dealers across the United States, by calling the National Corvette Museum at (800) 205-4248, or by logging on to corvettemuseum.org.

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.

Engine Build Experience in Full Swing



Corvette Z06 buyers now have the option to assembly their 650-hp supercharged LT4 engine at the new Performance Build Center inside the Bowling Green Assembly Plant. The Engine Build Experience is selected with order code PBC and is offered on all Z06 trim levels.

The Museum handles the concierge services for Engine Build customers and coordinates many aspects of the program. We welcomed our first Engine Build customer, Henry Younger of Gurley, AL, on February 11. "Being there at the Plant makes this option much more attractive now," said Younger. "This is my second build and it was fantastic just as my first was. The LT4 is so much different than the LS7 I built first - incredible is the only way to say it, I guess, along with a big WOW, what an engine."

The $5,000 option comes with a full day with a Performance Build Center engine assembly technician who instructs and oversees the build; a personalized engine plaque identifying the owner/builder and the date of the engine build; professional photography of the experience; piston trophy commemorating the experience and a build your own engine polo.

Learn more about this and other unique Corvette experiences online at www.corvettemuseum.org.

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).

An Out of This World Experience at the Corvette Museum

 

Comets, Asteroids, Meteors: Great Balls of Fire Exhibit presented by U.S. Bank, running from February 6 - May 10, 2015

How did our solar system form? What are comets and asteroids made of? Why did the dinosaurs go extinct? The Great Balls of Fire: Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors exhibit at the National Corvette Museum, presented by U.S. Bank, answers these questions and many more in an interactive experience that's out of this world!

“The Great Balls of Fire Exhibit is very hands on, informative and makes learning fun for all ages,” said Education Coordinator, Kellie Steen. “Each year we bring a kid, family and school-group focused exhibit to the Museum to provide additional educational opportunities. We appreciate the support of U.S. Bank to help bring this special exhibit to Bowling Green.”

Asteroids and comets are messengers from space that have had a significant effect on Earth's history and are likely to influence the future as well. Visitors make comparison between the risk of asteroid or comet impacts and the risk of more familiar natural disasters such as tsunamis, tornados, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The exhibit weaves in stories of individual scientists whose work has furthered the study of asteroids and comets. Scientists, whose formative years included amateur explorer activities, will also be highlighted. There is something to learn for visitors of all ages.

“U.S. Bank contributes to the strength and health of our communities by supporting projects in the areas of education, economic opportunity, and artistic and cultural enrichment,” said U.S. Bank Regional President Craig Browning. “We are proud to partner with the National Corvette Museum to bring this special exhibit to South Central Kentucky.”

A visit to the National Corvette Museum is like enjoying two museums in one. Groups will get to experience not only the special Great Balls of Fire exhibit, but also Corvette displays - an important part of Kentucky and American history, and a KidZone with automotive-themed activities. The Museum offers self-guided tours, or guided tour are available for groups of 10 or more.

This special exhibit will be held in the Museum’s Exhibit Hall from February 6 - May 10, 2015.
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.