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Rare Display of WWII Volkswagen's at Funfest for Air-Cooled VW!
With this year being the 15th Anniversary of Funfest for Air-Cooled VW, we are really amping up the event in so many ways! To add to the excitement I just confirmed that we will have some Air-Cooled Volkswagen Military vehicles on display thanks to my friend Dr. Mac Jones.
Making the journey to Effingham will be the rare Kübelwagen, Schwimmwagen, KdF-Wagen and 5-6 other unique VW’s from his collection. All three of these vehicles were produced by VW and used by the German military during WWII. If you are a Volkswagen fan or a history buff, you won’t want to miss this cool display!
For event information or to register for Funfest for Air-Cooled VW 2013, visit www.funfestacvw.com. 
Kübelwagen, light military vehicle based heavily on Ferdinand Porsche's early Beetle designs
Schwimmwagen, an amphibious four-wheel drive off-road vehicle
KdF-Wagen, this vehicle is the closest predecessor of what we now know as the Volkswagen Beetle
Another Kübelwagen
Effingham and Entrepreneurs; Always Partners
Many of us in this area of South Central Illinois have been buying our fresh meat products from the Nuxoll family for equally as many generations.
We are so privileged in this small community to have so many risk taking entrepreneurs that continue to have faith in the future.
In the picture above, not only is Fred cutting the Yager Family Easter Dinner, he is doing son on a John Boos Butcher Block. Another Effingham success story for the past 125 years.
Beetles and Beatles at Funfest
Effingham, Ill. (March 26, 2013) – Following a tradition of outstanding concerts, Funfest for Air-Cooled VW welcomes The Beatles Tribute band, The Return, Saturday, June 1, 2013. The Saturday night concert will have guests singing along to Beatles songs from both Beatlemania/Touring years, as well as Sgt. Peppers era in the band’s two-set act.
The Return got its start back 1995 when four friends got together to play their favorite Beatles songs for what they thought would be a onetime show. That show, which was very well received, turned into a regular gig and the group has polished up their act for the highest level of authenticity. Richard Stelling as John, Shane Landers as Paul, Michael Fulop as George and Adam Thurston as Ringo capture the essence of the Beatles themselves with a near-perfect reproduction of the live Beatles concert, down to John Lennon’s on-stage gum chewing and using exact replicas of instruments and gear originally used.
“With this year’s theme of Magical Mystery Funfest, having The Return as our Saturday entertainment just makes sense. I’m thrilled to welcome one of the most authentic, entertaining and exciting Beatles tribute bands to Effingham and to Funfest,” said Mike Yager, Chief Cheerleader and Founder of Mid America Motorworks.
In The Return’s career, they have shared the stage with legendary acts such as Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Monkees, Peter Noone, Chubby Checker, Jerry Lewis & The Playboys and 38 Special. The band also headlined the Path Rocks 2009 Paul McCartney pre-party concert and the 40th anniversary celebration of the Beatles’ visit to Tokyo, and has been featured nationally on CNN, TBS and VH1.
The Return’s first set will consist of black suits similar to those worn on the Ed Sullivan show on Feb. 9, 1964 and include a mixture of #1 hits consisting of I Want to Hold Your Hand, A Hard Day’s Night and Day Tripper. The second set will switch over to Sgt. Peppers suits as seen on the album cover for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and include various #1 hits like Hello Goodbye, Revolution and Hey Jude.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 1 on the 14,000 seat amphitheater located on Mid America Motorworks’ corporate campus in Effingham, Ill. All registered Funfest attendees have automatic admission to the concert.
Mid America Motorworks is celebrating the event’s 15th Anniversary with a Magical Mystery Funfest. In addition to the popular Celebrity Choice car judging, slalom races and Saturday night concert, Funfest has added an all new line up of seminars with a new location and will be exhibiting more suppliers and vendors than ever. For the latest updates and to register, visit www.funfestacvw.com. All participants registered by May 15, 2013 will receive preferred pricing on weekend admission and the Funfest t-shirt and a goody bag, while supplies last.
This Date in Rock and Roll History
Come visit us at Corvette Funfest 2013, September 19-22. Stay tuned for this yeas Saturday night entertainment.
Magical Mystery Tour and VW Funfest
As a former musician, band member, guitar collector and Beatles lover, I am thrilled at the entertainment for this years event. I am proud to inform you that the The Return, from Atlanta, GA will be our musical guests.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_sNMzKKzI4&feature=player_embedded#!
VW Karmann Ghia with Viper V10
Enjoy this video and hopefully we will see this Ghia at VW Funfest in Effingham, May 31st to June 3rd.
Your New Corvette?
Personally, I think it is interesting to see what designers, tuners and the aftermarket will be doing to the new C7 Corvette. Stay tuned for an exciting year for Corvette and Corvette enthusiasts!
XP-819 Debut at Amelia Island 2013!
Anyone who has children can identify with that feeling you get the first time they leave home for college. You know you won’t see them – or hear from them – until the next major holiday. I had a similar feeling when I sent the Rear Engine Experimental Corvette, XP-819, out for restoration. All the Corvettes in my collection are special to me, but the history and legend of XP-819 make me miss it even more!
As most of you know, XP-819 is being restored in New York by Kevin Mackay and the Corvette Repair Inc. team. Kevin and I have talked many times about updates and surprises with this restoration, but I hadn’t seen the Corvette in months – until Amelia Island’s Concours d’Elegance.
Watching it roll off the trailer as a drivable chassis with 2 seats, steering column and working brakes is indescribable! And then to drive it on the Amelia Island show field, to hear that engine and cruise next to the most prestigious and recognized cars in the world was an amazing feeling. It has been a long process and Kevin still has much to do, but it was incredible knowing that I was driving a piece of Corvette history with so much significance!
Probably the highlight of the entire weekend was seeing and hearing the reactions from spectators. Even long-term car lovers were impressed with XP-819 now and eager to see the finished Corvette next year. One of the best parts of the business is sharing historical, rare and one-off Corvettes with enthusiast’s who care as much or more about the Corvette than I do!
Enough talk about it, here are some pictures and a video! Enjoy.
Sitting in XP-819!
Hanging out in XP-819 with Myles Kornblatt
Driving XP-819 onto the Show Field with Kevin Mackay
Successful Trip to L.A.!
The Mid America Motorworks crew and I have just returned from a weeklong stay in sunny Los Angeles, CA. Among the many businesses we visited in search of new products, new relationships and improving our overall business, two stick out in my mind. The first was a visit to Edelbrock, where we discussed several new C6 products that will soon be on the pages of our catalog. Vic Edelbrock also personally took my son Blake and I on a tour of his garage. Shortly after, Vic took me on the 100+ Crenshaw experience in his 650 HP Z06 –boy that car is blistering quick and smooth!
The second is a visit to J&D Corvette in Bellflower, CA. This is the place to go in the greater L.A. area for Corvette repair and services, as they have been in business since 1958! In fact, when I bought my first Corvette in 1970, the first Corvette parts I needed were ordered from J&D. We had a great visit and tour of the facilities from Jaime.
Now, probably my favorite part of the week was the Corvette 60th Anniversary event at the Petersen Automotive Museum where I was able to meet and talk with many of our West Coast customers. The event had a great turnout and the three cars we shipped out – CERV I, 1964 World’s Fair and 1969 L88 – looked great on display inside of the museum! I had the great luck to talk with Dick Guldstrand, who originally drove the L88 we had on display. Dick and his crew had some cool stories to share about the car! Also, speaking on the Corvette Values panel with Rob Sass, Mike Vietro and John Kraman was fun and informative. All the attendees had great questions and the seminar was packed!
And a moment I will never forget, giving a hand to Bruce Meyer, Doug Fehan and Art Spong in unveiling the C7 on the West Coast for the first time. What an incredible and unforgettable moment! Thanks to everyone who came out to support the event at the Petersen Automotive Museum this weekend, we are already looking forward to our next visit. 
Unveiling the C7
With Vic Edelbrock touring his Garage
Participating in the Corvette Values Panel
With Dick Guldstrand in front of the 1969 L88 he drove
Corvette Performance Build Center Moving to Bowling Green
I will go on record that many more customers will take advantage to select this option when, at the same time, they can see Corvettes being built and visit the NCM. Nice move for Corvette enthusiasts!
