Mid America Motorworks sits at the crossroads of interstates 57
and 70 in East Central Illinois. Although business has been flowing through the Effingham,
IL location since 1976, the story began a few years earlier in 1974 when Mike Yager saw a
chance to provide Corvette lovers with accessories to enhance the hobby.
At the time there was no single source for Corvette enthusiasts to find lifestyle products.
With a loan for $500, Yager traveled to car shows and began selling patches, emblems and
owner’s manuals, among other items, from the trunk of his car. Word quickly spread that
Yager offered quality products and exceptional customer service. Recognizing the potential
to take his success to the next level, Yager officially quit his day job
and created Mid America Enterprises.
From beginnings as a two-page, black-and-white mail order flier with
a small listing of Corvette replacement parts and accessories in 1978 to the 300+ page
full-color catalog of today, Yager has continued serving the Corvette aftermarket with
quality parts and superior customer service.
In 1998 the company expanded to serve the Volkswagen industry when Yager acquired The Real Source,
a supplier of Volkswagen parts and accessories. With this expansion, Mid America Motorworks gained
a wealth of new products and accessories for owners of the beloved Air Cooled VW Bug, along with
those for the Karmann Ghia, Air Cooled VW Bus, Type 3 and The Thing.
Over the years, Yager noticed a void within the industry for a reliable source of seat covers,
carpeting and interior components. Recognizing that the Corvette and Volkswagen communities
deserved more, Yager opened PERFORMANCE CHOICE manufacturing in 2002. PERFORMANCE CHOICE is
known as a leading manufacturer of soft good interior products for special interest automobiles,
designing OE replacement and custom products from seat covers and carpet sets to console
cushions and rock guards. While primarily serving the Corvette and VW markets,
PERFORMANCE CHOICE is growing as trusted source of interiors within the automotive industry.
In 2004 Mid America Motorworks again expanded its Volkswagen line by acquiring the assets of
Rocky Mountain Motorworks, becoming the nation’s biggest supplier of parts and accessories
for Air Cooled VW. In 2011 the VW offerings again grew with the purchase of OE VeeDub,
bringing sourcing and product lines of quality Original Equipment Air Cooled VW parts
to Mid America Motorworks.
Since opening in this location in 1976, Mid America Motorworks has grown into a 150-acre
corporate campus encompassing a Corporate Office, Order Fulfillment Center, PERFORMANCE CHOICE,
Installation & Restyling Center and the famous MY Garage Museum & Retail Store. Mid America
Motorworks mails some 4.5 million Corvette and Volkswagen catalogs every year to customers worldwide.
The professional show field on the north side of the campus is home to a variety of events each year,
including Funfest for Air-Cooled VW in June and Corvette Funfest in September. An outdoor concert
arena and a park-like setting are only the beginning elements to making the show field a sought-after
venue for many different automotive entertainment applications. Mid America Motorworks has become a
trusted source for quality autotainment, encompassing all aspects of the Corvette and Air Cooled VW hobbies.
Regular events and an endless array of new hard parts, accessories and lifestyle items encourage enthusiasts
to “pursue their passion” at Mid America Motorworks.