Effingham, Ill. (September 21, 2011) – Corvette enthusiasts from around the world converged on Mid America Motorworks’ corporate campus in Effingham, Ill. for the 18th Annual Corvette Funfest. Themed “America’s Star Spangled Corvette Party,” the four day celebration welcomed more than 15,000 Corvettes and 45,000 enthusiasts with the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile™, the unveiling of two research Corvettes and a Saturday concert by legendary performer, Don Felder.
Funfest Preview Day welcomed guests a day earlier and kicked off the festivities with a Fun Run Road Tour sponsored by Corvette Market magazine and headed up by the Wienermobile™. The iconic hot dog on a bun led some 350 Corvettes through the scenic countryside to the historic Courthouse Square in downtown Effingham for the Effingham Convention and Visitors Bureau’s street party. Corvette Funfest brought together two examples of American culture, as the Wienermobile™ was on display throughout the weekend. Guests took photos with the legendary vehicle built on a GM chassis and learned about its history from the brand representatives, affectionately called Hotdoggers.
Guests were given the first look at the newest additions to the Yager family’s Corvette collection during the unveiling of the Alpha and Beta Build C5 Corvettes. The Alpha and Beta cars still wear the camouflage they donned during testing and are the only Alpha and Beta Corvettes still in existence. They join research vehicle CERV-4b in the Yagers’ stable to round out the vehicles involved in the planning stages of the C5 Corvette. Funfest guests were invited to take an up-close look at the Alpha and Beta Corvettes during the unveiling at the Opening Ceremony of Corvette Funfest.
After days of expert seminars, Vintage Motorsports’ celebrity autographs and Celebrity Choice judging, attendees rocked out with “Don Felder: An Evening at the Hotel California” presented by Neal Tire and Auto Service. Former lead guitarist with the Eagles for 27 years, Felder and his band opened the show with “Hotel California” and followed with hits such as “One of These Nights,” “Already Gone,” “Victim of Love” and “Heartache Tonight.”
The new Install Dome was a hit with enthusiasts looking for better performance in the form of new exhaust systems, brakes and tires. Saturday brought the addition of the Two Rivers District of Boy Scouts of America, who volunteered at Funfest and organized a Camporee on the south grounds of Mid America Motorworks’ corporate campus.
Other highlights from the weekend include the Friday Night Charity Event at the Yager’s home, Teammates for Kids Foundation Corvette Auction and the Army National Guard Patriot Chopper display. Despite some rainy weather, Family Fun Day was a success with the first annual Funfest 5K Walk/Run sponsored by Hodgson Mills, a Pinewood Derby and a free afternoon concert by Travis Birch.
Pre-registration for Corvette Funfest 2012 is off to a great start, with twice as many registrants than in previous years. Corvette Funfest 2012 will celebrate the golden anniversary of the 1963 Split Window Corvette Sting Ray Coupe and convertible, as they are considered one of the most venerated sports car designs. Due to it’s popularity there’s even a healthy aftermarket for it. Dates are Sept. 13 through 16, 2012.
Mid America Motorworks offers quality aftermarket parts and accessories for Corvette and Air-Cooled VW enthusiasts. For more information on Mid America Motorworks or to request a free catalog, call 1-800-500-1500 or shop online at www.mamotorworks.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and keep up with Mike Yager at blog.autotainment.com.