Effingham, Illinois Becomes Corvette Country

Annual event welcomes thousands of Corvettes and enthusiasts
 
EFFINGHAM, Ill. - Oct. 6, 2015 - PRLog -- As Corvettes from foreign countries and 39 states descended on Mid America Motorworks’ Corporate Campus, it was easy to see why this year’s Corvette Funfest was called Corvette Country. The show officially opened Thursday, but guests started arriving as early as Monday, anxious to get a peek at the displays that were going up on the 160-acres in Effingham, Ill.

Gates opened Thursday at 8 a.m. to Corvette enthusiasts ready to celebrate America’s Sports Car. They took advantage of upgrades in the Install Dome, shopped the latest lifestyle items in the Fun Dome outdoor retail store and got the lay of the land before lining up for the annual Fun Run.

At 4:30 when the Fun Run left the grounds, more than 500 Corvettes were in line for the scenic drive through Effingham County. The Corvettes were led by Bob and Leola Klosterbuer’s fully-restored 1964 Corvette and matching 1948 Chevy COE hauler. When they reached the local parade route, the lead was handed off to the Funfest Tram, filled with Effingham area cancer survivors and Fear Nothing supporters.

Downtown, a Welcome Fest sponsored by the Effingham Convention and Visitors Bureau included live entertainment by Allie Keck, a performance by Cayla’s Dance Team, and an impromptu Corvette show. The first Celebrity Choice winners of the weekend were selected, along with Mayor Jeff Bloemker’s Choice for the City of Effingham award.

Friday, Corvette Funfest was in full swing, with Corvettes streaming onto Funfest Boulevard 3-wide. Expert seminars delivered tips, tricks and the latest information on everything from Racing Headers to Performance Tuning and Building a New Corvette.

New to Corvette Funfest this year, enthusiasts had a chance to have fuel rail covers, helmets, cell phone cases and even high heels pinstriped by Louie Allison and Rick Losh. They could also get the autographs of their favorite Corvette and automotive celebrities, during the scheduled Celebrity Autograph sessions.

Friday welcomed another new addition: Funfest Flashback Friday. 101 The Fox, KCFX-FM Disc Jockey and Corvette Forum moderator, Steven Bell entertained the crowds for two sessions of classic rock tunes. If they sounded familiar to Corvette Funfest regulars, there was a good reason. Bell played hits from past Funfest concerts and got enthusiasts involved by asking them trivia about each artist.

Friday evening featured the annual Corvette Funfest Charity Event, raising funds for Fear Nothing. The local non-profit organization was created by 2-time cancer survivor and former Mid America Motorworks employee, Jodi Waymoth. With a laid-back Luau theme, the Charity Event welcomed guests with colorful leis and included a silent auction, a live auction, authentic Polynesian dancing and fire throwing, and tributes to those who fought the fight against cancer. Proceeds from the evening will be donated to Fear Nothing, which uses 50% of their funds to assist local families going through cancer treatments and 50% to fund private cancer research.

Saturday began with the Opening Ceremony at the Funfest Pit Wall, where Mike Yager and the whole Yager Family officially welcomed their guests to Corvette Country. Max Brockhouse with the Solid Axle Corvette Club and John “Hutch” Hutchinson and Maureen Waller with Grand Sport Registry announced plans to coordinate both of their events with Corvette Funfest 2016.

Saturday also gave guests a chance to hear what the experts think of the latest trends in the Corvette industry, with the annual Expert Panel. Event MC, Dennis Pittsenbarger hosted the panel, asking the likes of Mike Yager, Fred Gallasch, Kevin Mackay and Lance Miller to give their insights on what makes the Corvette hobby so strong.

The Expert Panel was followed by the Hardee’s Thickburger® Eating Contest, pitting 5 contestants against each other to see who could eat the most Thickburgers in 5 minutes’ time. With an official Hardee’s judge on hand to confirm, a winner was announced and given Thickburgers for a year.

The Funfest Stage was then the setting for the annual Corvette Funfest Fashion Show, where industry celebrities strutted their stuff, showing off the latest Corvette fashions and giving out some great prizes.

The highlight of the day came with the Saturday Evening Concert. As registered guests and concert goers awaited the band, the Yager Family announced winners of the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School Weekend Course, 3 $500 Gift Certificates from Condon Skelly Collector Insurance and the pinstriped Fender Strat that was autographed by the band.

Mike Yager introduced David Marks and the Surf City Allstars, as is tradition and the band took the stage with Beach Boys classics. From “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “I Get Around” to “Surfin’ USA” and “Little Deuce Coupe,” the band played hit after hit to a full crowd.

Sunday wrapped up with the annual St. Anthony’s High School Corvette giveaway, featuring a 2016 Corvette. With the final awards given out Sunday just before noon, the Corvettes and their owners left the grounds, moving a little slower than they arrived.

Corvette Funfest 2016 will celebrate the end of an era with the last C4, as well as the beginning of the next generation with the first C5. The event is scheduled for Sept. 15-18. Registration for next year, along with highlights from this year, are accessible at www.corvettefunfest.com

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Mid America Motorworks
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217-540-4200
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Location:Effingham - Illinois - United States
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