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Last C4 Corvette

2012-02-03T21:48:34Z

One of the FAVORITE cars in my Corvette Collection is the Last C4. This car was a project that many of us here at Mid America Motorworks worked on and accomplished.

Jim Perkins, then the General Manager of Chevrolet Motor Division made this happen. We were able to visit the plant to film the car for two days and shot over 1,000 still photos of the car being assembled. Each person who worked on the Last C4 also autographed the car. It was really something to amazing to be a part of!

This car is proudly displayed seven days a week in the MYGarage Museum here in Effingham, Ill.

PART I

PART II

Mid America Motoroworks to Feature Facebook Contest Attend Corvette Expo-Houston

2012-02-03T21:38:31Z

For the first time in over twenty years, Mid America Motorworks will have a presence at Corvette/Chevy Expo in Houston.

I recall the early years and all the many friends that we made during this event. In preparing for the 2012 Corvette Show Season, we have decided to attend several more Corvette Shows and reconnect with our customers.

If you are in the Houston area on February 11-12, make it a point to stop by the Brown Convention Center and visit with our Director of Sales, Michael Furman and one of our Sales Associates, Daniel Schmitz.

One new feature that Mid America Motorworks will introduce at the Expo is that of a "cyber" choice award. Each day at the show, our team will photograph a number of the show Corvettes and those featured cars will be displayed on our Facebook page, allowing our Facebook Fans to vote on their favorite Corvette. The winner will receive a trophy and have their car posted on our Fan Page.

Autotainment.com Website Launches

2012-02-03T21:37:56Z

If you have visited this blog or are one of the many who read it, I'm sure you've noticed a change in appearance over the last few weeks. Those changes will continue and are only a few of many digital changes taking shape at Mid America Motorworks.

During the first quarter of 2012, many new Mid America Motorworks websites will launch. One of the first to get a "jump start" is the URL supporting my blog: Autotainment.com. This site is a one-stop-shop for all Mid America Motorworks sites, as well as links to major Corvette activities, magazines, museums, private collections, classic car auctions, clubs and club events.

The idea behind the Autotainment site is to make it a go-to place where Corvette Owners and Enthusiasts, as well as vintage VW Beetle and Air Cooled VW Owners and Enthusiasts, can find out what is going on in their respective hobbies.

On the Road to the Super Bowl!

2012-02-03T21:30:02Z

Traveling to Indy this weekend for the Super Bowl? Make sure to stop by our MY Garage Museum on your way!

We were honored by a visit from St. Louis' KDSK as part of their Road to the Super Bowl, showcasing a few fun stops along the way from St. Louis to Indianapolis. Check out Blake's interview with Heidi Glaus and come by the Museum seven days a week to see the full collection!

60th Anniversary Corvette Announced

2012-01-12T19:13:53Z

Corvettes 60th Anniversary Edition announced. Read the news on America's favorite sports car here - NOW!

In a few days, you will be able to go to www.countdownto60.com to keep up with all of the activities and news about this new Corvette Edition as well as the celebrations that will happen commemorating this momentous occasion.

Go to your FAVORITE Chevrolet Dealer today and get yours ordered.

Herbie to Sell at Gooding & Company Scottsdale Auction

2012-01-11T18:00:39Z

Another Herbie will soon find a new home with another collector! Gooding & Company will be selling this fabulous car Saturday, January 21 at their Scottsdale Auction

If you cannot make the Scottsdale sale, you can view three original Herbie VW's anytime at the MYGarge Museum on our Corporate Campus in Effingham, Illinois. We're open seven days a week!

Wisconsin Hot Rod Radio This Saturday

2012-01-11T18:00:30Z

This Saturday at 9-10 AM Capt'n Bob, Arlo and Mike Yager discuss Mid America Motorworks, Corvettes, Air-Cooled VW's and Funfest Events.

I can't wait to chat with Capt'n Bob and his sidekick Arlo about my favorite things - cars and car events! If you live in the greater Milwaukee area, you can listen on AM 1340 or go to Wisconsin Hot Rod Radio and listen on the net from anywhere!

Capt'n Bob and Arlo are on each week talking about the great car hobby and their website is jam packed with cool automotive events. Check them out!

1972 LeMans France and Corvette

2012-01-11T17:13:31Z

Facebook and Groups on Facebook is such a great way to share information. Although I am a group member of Registry of Corvette Race Cars, I am not on that page every day. If you are a Corvette historian or Corvette race car fan, you should join the group on Facebook or go the website of Registry of Corvette Race Cars for additional information.

Today my son michael alerted me to a post by a member, James Cantrell, of the starting grid from the 1972 24 Hours of LeMans. I am repositing that photo here as our #4 LeMans Corvette is on that grid!

You can see the car, as well as other historically significant Corvette Race cars, seven day per week at MYGarage Museum in Effingham, Illinois

Stoneage VW Beetle Discovered

2011-12-15T22:44:25Z

I just had to share this awesome photo. Need a caption for this vehicle. Green Veehicle?
Like A Rock? Enjoy.

SunTrust Daytona Prototype C6 Corvette, Rolex 24 at Daytona

2011-12-06T23:24:03Z

One week ago today, Blake and I were visiting with Wayne Taylor Racing in Indianapolis, viewing the all new Daytona Prototype Corvette. At that point, the race team was dry fitting body panels on the Dallara Chassis, building the all new Corvette DP for testing at Daytona.

Pictured below is the car just a week later at Daytona testing for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. This is one of only FIVE Corvette Daytona Prototypes built for this race season.

Laurie, Michael, Blake and I will be attending the Rolex 24 at Daytona race, January 28th and 29th, cheering on our FAVORITE Corvette Daytona Prototype, pictured above, as well as the four other Corvette Prototypes and the C6R Corvettes.

Now if I just had a few extra hundred thousand dollars, I could replace the Toshiba name with the Mid America Motorworks name!

SunTrust has been racing for years and my first experience meeting the team was during the summer of 2002 in Canada. Michael and Blake were racing Formula Renault 2000 when I met Ken Wiseman, Corvette owner, customer, Captain Aviation Department, and now friend.

Ken was the party responsible for getting Blake and me into the "skunk werks" of Taylor Racing to see this Corvette being built.

Check out this blog for the prior post of this new entry into the Corvette Racing program.

C4 Corvette Rear Compartment Doors Available Soon

2011-12-06T17:12:13Z

If you have attempted to replace the Corvette carpeting in your C4 Corvette over the past few years, you will realize that the rear compartment door assembly has been discontinued by GM. Great news - we have reproduced the doors for the two different styles and they will be available in late January of 2012!

Click the link above to order now. Be the first in line to get a new set of Corvette Door Assemblies and save dollars at the same time!

Shown above is the 1984 to 1991 Corvette Rear Compartment door assembly with both right hand and left hand supports. The 1992 - 1996 assembly has only one left hand support. Also available in Spring 2012 will be the correct decals for jacking instruction, as well as a variety of yearly decal changes for various features of your C4 Corvette.

Another VW Beetle Survives!

2011-12-06T15:28:12Z

Another VW Beetle survives the process of aging. Thanks to one of our customers, D. Pettis, another vintage VW Beetle is now back in great shape.

One of the many rewards of running an entertainment / hobby business such as Mid America Motorworks is the thrill of seeing a restoration success.

I thought our VW fans would enjoy seeing this as much as I did!

C5 Corvette Developmental Cars Displayed at MCACN

2011-11-27T19:31:18Z

Last week in the greater Chicagoland area, Rosemont, Mid America Motorworks attended the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals - MCACN. Personally, I think MCACN always hosts the finest, most unique, and most outstanding selection of cars found at any muscle car event. It is truly an event that should be on everyones calendar for next year and the years thereafter!

Besides Mid America Motorworks commercial booth, we took three Corvettes from the MYGarage Museum Collection for display. CERV4b, and the C5 Alpha and Beta cars were on display during the show.

You can read about and see the cars from a post on CorvetteBlogger.com. As a Corvette enthusiast and collector, I enjoy sharing my cars as well as reading what others have to say about them. Thanks for the article Keith.

Mike's Revved Up BBQ Sauce

2011-11-27T18:51:36Z

This was a fun project started prior to Corvette Funfest in 2011. Mike's REVVED UP BBQ Sauce was an idea inspired by my family and my love of cooking. Although grilling is lower on my skill sets of cooking, I do enjoy the good feelings of summer, friends, the grill and my new BBQ sauce. Celebrate life in the fast lane, try one or two bottles!

Funfest for Air Cooled VW's 2012 Version

2011-11-23T21:40:55Z

Funfest for Air Cooled VW will be held on June 1 - 3, 2012 in Effingham, Illinois.
This year we have many new ideas of how to enjoy our VW's even more.
A new VW in the MYGarage Museum Collection will debut.
Here's a sneak peek!

What is it? Hint; 794.8 miles from new, one owner, no undercoating.
Stay tuned for more on this wonderful piece of VW history.

Corvette Funfest 2012 Theme

2011-11-23T21:11:15Z

For all who follow and anticipate Corvette Funfest each year, I am proud to announce our graphic theme for Mid America Motorworks 2012 Corvette Funfest, September 13th - 16th.

We will be celebrating the Golden Anniversary of the 1963 Corvette Sting Ray, one of the most venerated sports car designs.

Adding to the distinctive split rear window and convertible models, the 1963 Sting Ray offered up to 360 hp, a sizeable number for its time and very respectable even by today’s standards. It was also the first time Corvettes featured a fully independent rear suspension.

Corvette Funfest 2012 will host the largest gathering of 1963 Corvettes we can round up, from historically significant cars to YOURS!

Many of you will recognize the artwork as that by none other than the popular Corvette Artist Dana Forrester. Dana has painted many of our event themes in the past and we are honored to once again have his artwork as our signature brand for this year's Corvette Funfest.

The Corvette that is the subject of Dana's artwork belongs to Mid America Motorworks, MYGarage Museum Corvette Collection. The 1963 Split Window coupe has the Z06, Big Tank Big Brake options. We purchased the car at Carlisle from Dana Mecums Auction.

This great example of the first year Sting Ray was verified by NCRS as being delivered to Yenko Chevrolet in Cannonsburg, PA as one of Chevrolet's first five Z06's delivered to influential dealerships.

The Sting Ray was the rolling symbol of the 60's American Dream. You can expect our Saturday night entertainment to reflect the feel of those early 1960's. Any suggestions?

The New C6 Leather & Neoprene Seat Covers at SEMA 2011

2011-11-23T21:08:55Z

The SEMA Show always falls during my birthday "week" and it's a real treat to celebrate at SEMA! All car people should make a point to visit SEMA - it's an awesome event!

Our friends from PowerTV were on sight to film new products and they did not fail to stop by our booth and ask "what's new?" PowerTV Host, Jessica Barton, and crew talked with us about two new options we're offering for Corvette seats.

Check it out:

Our Neoprene Seat Covers are a great way to protect your seats with a custom look. Our Neoprene Seat Covers come in a variety of color options, plus C3 through C6 emblems to give your interior a unique look. We use the finest automotive grade Neoprene for comfort and added durability. Treated to withstand more than 300 hours of UV exposure, our Neoprene Seat Covers are a great mix of comfort and style.

We also showed off our brand new C6 Leather Seat Covers with Alcantara® Inserts. Alcantara, an Italian-made synthetic, pairs versatility with durability to adapt to the demands of luxury interiors. Our C6 Seat Covers with Alcantara Inserts are a Mid America Motorworks exclusive! They bring the extravagance of high-end vehicles to the performance of a Corvette - the best of both worlds!

Mike Yager's Corvette Bible and Jay Leno

2011-11-16T22:04:14Z

Several months ago, I had the opportunity to visit Jay Leno and tour his collection of Motorcycles and Automobiles. What an amazing collection. And I thought I had a lot of "stuff"!

During that visit, Jay took the time to talk about the second edition of the Corvette Bible.

The 14 minute interview can be seen at on jaylenossgarage.com. Sorry about the 30 second commercial!

Noland Adams' 1953 Corvette Selling at Russo and Steele

2011-11-16T21:58:57Z

An interesting Corvette; Noland Adams' 1953 is selling in January at the Russo and Steele Collector Automobile Auctions in Scottsdale.

Noland as well as his 1953 Corvette has a fascinating connection with Mid America Motorworks. Clicking on the above link will tell the story!

I wish Noland and Russo and Steele owner Drew Alcazar success with this NCRS 99.8 point significant Corvette.

2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype Grand-Am Racer

2011-11-16T19:05:44Z

Often times when I visit with customers at Corvette Funfest or in the MYGarage Museum, guests inquire as to my favorite Corvette. That is a difficult question to answer. Most often, my comment ranges from "how many children (grandchildren) do you have?", which one is YOUR favorite? You get the point.

However, I do tend to "favor" the Corvette or Corvettes(s) that we are currently promoting, as they tend to be on my immediate radar screen.

Now if the question is "what Corvette" do you wish you had, but don't, that is easy! My answer would be one of the GTP Corvettes from the 80's pictured below.

Now, Chevrolet has raised the bar once again with the introduction of the 2012 Corvette Daytona Prototype. Read the complete story at Jalopnik.

Now I NEED two more Corvettes for the Collection!