Corvette Funfest 2006 Theme Car

Mid America Motorworks hosted its thirteenth annual customer appreciation event the weekend of September 15. The free event, Corvette Funfest 2006, was held on Mid America Motorworks’ Effingham, IL corporate campus. Over the course of the weekend 14,063 Corvettes parked at the event and over 45,000 enthusiasts took in the sights. Annually, Corvette Funfest is one of the largest gatherings of Corvette enthusiasts in the country.

Mid America Motorworks founder and Chief Cheerleader Mike Yager said of the weekend, “Funfest has grown each year since its inception. It is a great way to celebrate our customers and the camaraderie shared by Corvette enthusiasts.” Mike Yager, whose title of Chief Cheerleader was never more evident, as he moved through the crowd each day, shaking hands and greeting customers, GM engineers, industry VIP’s and others by name. One way Mid America Motorworks said thank you to its customers was with a free REO Speedwagon concert the evening of Saturday, September 16. The rest of three day event was packed with excitement and activity. 

• Bobby Likis Car Clinic Interview with Mike Yager at Corvette Funfest 2006.

• Admission was free for all pre-registered Corvettes.

• Rock legends REO Speedwagon held a free concert Saturday evening.

• Over 20,000 fans packed Mid America Motorworks’ corporate campus to enjoy an evening of great music from REO. Local musical talent was provided by Matt Poss and the Wild Bunch.

• Food and drink vendors stayed open long into the night to serve the crowd.

• Attendees received free commemorative T-shirts, lapel pins and posters featuring Mike Yager’s 1964 World’s Fair GM Styling Corvette and the World’s Fair Unisphere.  Mike recently brought the car back to its roots- the 1964 World's Fair in Flushing, New York - where it was first created for and displayed.

• During the Opening Day Ceremony, Wil Cooksey, Bowling Green Assembly Plant Manger, presented Mike Yager with a special plaque honoring Mike’s contributions to the growth of the National Corvette Museum. Mike was named as an Ambassador at Large for the Museum.

• A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Mid America Motorworks Installation & Restyling Center was held at 5pm on Saturday.

• The Celebrity’s Choice Awards were given out both  Saturday and Sunday. Well-known celebrities from all facets of the Corvette hobby chose their favorite Corvettes from the thousands on hand. Winners received a beautiful 3-D laser etched crystal trophy featuring the World’s Fair Corvette and the Unisphere.

• Newly expanded at Funfest was Install Alley. Over 200 customers had new exhaust systems installed by Corsa, B&B, Bassani, Borla, and SLP. Other installs included high performance brakes systems, air intakes and other accessories from Mid America Motorworks, Baer, and American Car Craft.

• Dozens of major industry suppliers were on hand to demonstrate Corvette products and to answer questions on installation and use. Some of these include Fidanza, Comp Cams, Factory Reproduction, Holley, HP Performance, Beams, Bosch, Hypertech, K&N, Bilstein, Coverking, Dee Engineering and many more had a presence at Funfest 2006.

• Mike led a “Behind the Scenes” VIP Tour on Thursday. The tour gave a glimpse of Mid America Motorworks’ inner workings.

• 54 Corvette clubs took advantage of Club Parking.  Club members were able to park with their respective clubs, pitch a tent and prospect for new members or just gather.

• In celebration of the 10^th anniversary of the Grand Sport it was the featured car in Center Stage Parking. 25 Grand Sports were in attendance.

• The MY Garage Museum was open to the public and was packed with so many new exhibits that the excitement spilled out onto the pavement with a dozen outside displays.

• Over 50 Corvettes filled the For Sale Corral, with many changing hands and leaving with happy new owners.

• Mid America Motorworks’ famous “Scratch & Dent” Sale Tent was packed from the opening minute. Shoppers cleared the tables right down to the lacquered tops!

• Thousands of happy customers packed the Sales Pavilions and took advantage of the opportunity to order their products and take them home with them that same day.

• The New “Best Garage & Corvette Themed Room” Contest saw dozens of great entries.  Choosing winners was difficult, but the top choices were:

Grand Prize- Duane & Pat Williams of Farmington, MO

Second Place- Joe Coleman of Pana, IL

Third Place- Robert Schwarz of Downers Grove, IL

• Crowds packed into the free Tech Seminars conducted by industry experts.  Dennis Gunning, Restoration Specialist for MY Garage Museum, Gordon Killebrew, C4 Technical Expert, and dozens of others led workshops.  Throughout the day owners learned how to enhance performance, handling, and styling.

• In view of the high percentage of female Corvette owners and enthusiasts, Funfest included a Ladies Spa, Scrapbooking classes and expanded beading classes.

• Well-known Corvette collector Bob Patrella brought his C5R Corvettes for a special race display.  Michael & Blake Yager, C5R Corvette Racing History Enthusiasts, presented a special seminar on C5R racing with Bob in the C5R Tent Display.

• Wil Cooksey, Manager of the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, and a number of his engineers and support personnel, brought a group of 2007 Corvettes for display.  Wil and his team spent many hours each day demonstrating the features of the new Corvettes. They also answered questions from the hundreds of owners who packed their tent all day long.

• A trailer load of new 2007 Corvettes, sent by GM, was on display for the weekend.

• Mike and Laurie Yager opened their home on Friday evening of Funfest. An exclusive Automotive Art Charitable Art Exhibit, with proceeds donated to Catholic Charities Area Foster Children Program, Effingham Art Guild and the City of Effingham Sculptures on the Avenue program, was held around their Bowtie pool.

For a picture review of Corvette Funfest 2006 or any of our past events, please choose a menu option at left.

Aerial View of Corvette Funfest 2006