Grand Re-Opening of Mid America Motorworks' MY Garage Museum Mid America Motorworks, the world's largest supplier of parts and accessories for Corvettes, hosted the much anticipated grand re-opening of its newly renovated MY Garage Museum & Retail Store for hundreds of auto enthusiasts. More than 100 Corvette owners attended the single-day celebration that officially debuted the MY Garage Museum's new displays surrounding and highlighting Mid America Motorworks President Mike Yager's extensive car and memorabilia collection.
Corvette visitors were treated to a Corvette seat cover installation seminar conducted by Dean Keil and Matt Daniels from Mid America Motorworks' Performance Choice Manufacturing Division. Mike Yager, Mid America Motorworks chief cheerleader, then presented an in-depth preview of the company's future plans, including details of Mid America Motorworks' newly opened on-site Install Center.
"We're very excited about the new Install Center," says Yager. "Having a dedicated facility that can handle the installation of engine dress-up pieces, performance exhaust systems, seat covers, exterior styling, and more will make it quicker and easier for customers to modify, enhance, and customize their vehicles. In fact, we've already completed our first installation appointments."
Additional special weekend events are planned at the MY Garage Museum & Retail Store throughout 2006. For a listing of dates and times, please visit www.mamotorworks.com and click on the MY Garage Museum & Retail Store link to view the calendar of events, which includes technical roundtables, club appreciation days, and special DIY seminars.
Tom Wallace Takes The Reins Of Corvette And Performance Car Team Tom Wallace recently replaced Dave Hill as Vehicle Line Executive for Performance Cars and Vehicle Chief Engineer for Corvette. He has also assumed responsibilities for compact rear-wheel-drive performance cars, including the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky.
Wallace has been with GM since 1966 when he joined Buick Motor Division in Flint, Michigan. He was named to an executive engineering position in 1980 while still with Buick and later named to the GM Truck Group in 1995. Wallace holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University (formerly GMI), and is a Sloan Fellow, earning a MBA from Stanford University. Wallace and his team were responsible for the development and launch of Chevrolet TrailBlazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Chevrolet SSR. Additionally, he led the highly successful launch of the Saab 9-7X and the Hummer H3.
An avid performance car enthusiast, Wallace has enjoyed competing in both amateur and professional road racing, rally car, and drag racing. He started racing with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) more than 30 years ago and has raced in a variety of Sedan and GT classes with race-prepped Oldsmobile, Buick, and Chevrolet models.
Watch for CF's interview with Tom Wallace in an upcoming issue.
Corvette Racing Wins Sebring 12-Hour Race Corvette Racing celebrated the Corvette's 50th anniversary in international road racing with a victory in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R driven by Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, and Jan Magnussen ran like clockwork throughout the 12-hour endurance race, finishing first in the GT1 class and third overall with a one-lap margin of victory over their rivals in the No. 009 Aston Martin DBR9. Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell, and Max Papis finished fourth in the GT1 division and seventh overall in the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R, following a hard-fought battle with the No. 007 Aston Martin in the closing laps.
"It was a brilliant victory because this is the 50th year of racing for Corvette, a heritage that began here in Sebring with a win in 1956," says Gavin, who notched his third Sebring title. "We're absolutely delighted."
The Sebring victory extended the No. 4 Corvette C6.R's winning streak in the world's great endurance races. The Gavin/Beretta/ Magnussen trio won the GT1 class in last year's 24 Hours of Le Mans and Petit Le Mans. GT1 co-champions Gavin and Beretta have now won every race in their last six starts, a streak that began in Portland in July 2005.
The No. 3 Corvette C6.R had to overcome a stop-and-go penalty following the first pit stop and a gearbox problem at the midpoint of the race. Repairs to the gearbox dropped the Fellows/O'Connell/Papis trio to fifth in class, 13 laps behind the leaders. The team battled back as Fellows, O'Connell, and Papis all did extended stints behind the wheel. With 15 minutes to go, Papis trailed Tomas Enge in the No. 007 Aston Martin DBR9 by 1.9 seconds in a fight for the final spot on the podium. He cut Enge's advantage to .24 seconds in the final laps, but could not pull off a pass.
The No. 4 Corvette C6.R took the lead at 1:03 into the race when the No. 3 Corvette was called to the pits for a pit lane speed violation, and never relinquished the lead in the remaining 11 hours. During a safety car period at the 5-hour mark, the Corvette gained a one-lap advantage that sealed the victory.
National Corvette Museum Ready to ExpandThe National Corvette Museum is applying for a $2.3 million transportation enhancement grant to be used to add a 27,000 square-foot expansion. The grant application will be submitted to the Bowling Green City Commission for consideration and a request to serve as the local government sponsor. The grant application will then be submitted to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Office of Transportation Enhancement Programs.
The Museum's building expansion plans were first announced in June 2003, with a fundraising campaign to add approximately 60,000 square feet. Approximately $2 million has been raised towards the campaign. Because of increased construction costs the decision was made to take a "phase approach" to begin the expansion. The first phase is estimated to cost about $5.3 million, and will be funded by the $2.3 million grant and $3 million by the Museum. The Museum will need to raise approximately $700,000, which will be obtained from additional fundraising efforts or from bank financing if necessary. "For the past 10 years, our main focus has been to reduce debt," states NCM Executive Director Wendell Strode. "Having reduced our debt from $12 million to $3 million, it is at a much more manageable level."
Phase one of the building expansions will bring several needed enhancements to the Museum and its 140,000 annual visitors. Enhancements include: an historic car display area, new library/archives, a Corvette store expansion, restrooms, offices, a classroom, and a new Corvette Cafe.
Additional information on the Museum's expansion plans can be obtained by calling (800) 53-VETTE.
Coming EventsAugust 1-5San Antonio, TXThe '06 annual NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society) national convention is located in the heart of San Antonio's Riverwalk entertainment area. Get the family involved for fun and excitement. There will be tours, shopping, lots of amusement activities, guest speakers, seminars, an awards dinner, along with the outstanding turnout of corvettes expected to be displayed for judging and show.Registration Info: Gary or Eric Mortimer (513) 385-8526 (513) 385-6367 Convention Info: Gary Chesnut, (817) 579-5242 (evenings) www.ncrs.org or www.ncrssanantioio2006.org
August 20, 21 Valparaiso, INThe 21st annual Midwest Corvette and Chevy Show, Swap & Auction. Big swap meet, sale corral, over 120 awards Chevy show. Saturday will feature a collector car auction with all makes and models. This is one of the best Chevy shows in the country.Info:(219) 464-9918 www.valpocarshow.com
August 26, 27Carlisle, PA Collector Car Auction. At the Corvettes at Carlisle car show. Corvettes only. Auction Friday and Saturday. Info:(815)569-8888 www.mecumauction.com CF