Sloan Convention Center
Bowling Green, KY
This was the 33rd Annual Corvette Homecoming, held every year since the Corvette Assembly Plant moved from St. Louis to Bowling Green in 1981.
Thanks to Joe & Vera Pruitt for hosting us again this year, and supporting our doing a 50/50 raffle at the awards banquet and concert. As a result, Corvettes Conquer Cancer was able to send $1160.00 to the American Cancer Society's office in Bowling Green!
The Grand Marshal this year was Barry Meguiar,
of Meguiar's Car Care Products and "Car Crazy" TV fame.
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Thursday July 25
Leaving Decatur AL, 4:58 am
That early start got me through Nashville unimpeded,
and at the Sloan Center by 7:30!
Is this a primo space or what: Next to the stage in the ballroom where the Sans Pareil show judging was held!
Sean's 63 Sting Ray!
I had barely finished setting up my table when this guy came over to chat. He said that he had a red 63 convertible at the show. He insisted that I go see it, and this is what I found! His grandfather, Lewis Irving, has owned it since 1963! (Read the sign fmi) We got to be great buddies, and he convinced his dad to let him ride shotgun with me in the Road Tour!
Thursday evening dinner
At Mariah's. Barry Meguiar clowned with some of our Alabama crowd.
Friday, July 26
M/C, Mason Barnes, with Homecoming Grand Marshal, Barry Meguiar, as Bowling Green Mayor, Bruce Wilkerson, prepared to present Barry with the "Key to the City".
The "Barn Find" 53!
The "John Gotti" 63!
Note the siren!
Retired Corvette Plant manager, Wil Cooksey, speaking about launching a new Corvette model at the Plant.
The Road Tour
This was a great 48 mile scenic drive, winding through the countryside.
Awaiting the start with my co-pilot, Sean.
At a photo op stop, Sean tried out the driver's seat, begging to rev the engine... and eventually got his wish!
These 2 were taken by Sean, using my camera after killing the battery in his. Love that mirror shot!
[After the conclusion of the Tour at the National Corvette Museum, Sean had another wish granted. For the entire trip he had been badgering me (as his dad had warned me he would!) to GET ON IT! I kept reinforcing to him, in detail each time, why that was not a reasonable thing to do with a couple hundred Vettes on narrow winding roads with lots of blind rises. Finally, on the short hop down I-65 to return to the show, I had the opportunity to floor it, briefly. He got to see 104 on the GPS. BTW, that was the fastest I've ever had it with the top off!]
Saturday, July 27
Deborah DuBois joined the exclusive "Inside the Oval" group for her generous donation.
Walk-around of the 2014 Corvette C7 StingRay
Sean, in front of his dad and grandfather, was eating it all up.
Both of Sean's grandfathers signed the hood for their donations:
Lewis Irving (L) and Eugene Goering (R).
That's Sean's dad, Ryan Goering, in the blue shirt.
Barry Meguiar spoke about the history of the company that his grandfather founded in 1901, and the industry itself.
Saturday night banquet and concert
7 Bridges: "The Best Eagles tribute band in the country" per Rolling Stone.
Very good... very loud.
At the intermission, I drew the winner of the 50/50 for the American Cancer Society. The pot was $770.
Unbelievably, for the second year in a row, the winner was Dick Yanko! (BTW, both times he bought the car-length for $100.) And again, he declined his share, so the entire $770 went to the ACS Bowling Green office!
Thank You Dick!!!
With Barry & Karen Meguiar after the concert.
(Side note: I was sitting with the Meguiars during the concert. At one point Barry tugged my sleeve and stuffed a wad of bills into my hand, to ensure, he whispered, that ACS got over $1000!)
Thank you Barry and Karen; the total to ACS was $1160!
Sunday, July 28
After a leisurely breakfast with Sean's gang at their hotel across the street, it was time to pack up and head home.
Final stats
