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| Welcome to
the Events Page |
 THE
VISIT 1.0:
An appropriate newspaper
headline would have been "Porsche invades Bowling Green!"
Bowling Green, KY is the home of both the GM Corvette assembly
plant and the National Corvette Museum. On the weekend of
April 27-29th, the NCM opened its doors to the Porsche Community
for the first time in history. In fact, it was the first
time that any non-American automobile marque had been invited
onto the NCM's grounds. This weekend event was appropriately
titled "The Visit".
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 The
Kentucky, Musik-Stadt and Southern Indiana Regions of the
PCA co-hosted this event with the National Corvette Museum.
There were 140 pre-registered participants, approximately
80 cars displayed in front of the NCM, and six other historic
Porsche's displayed inside. Participants were able to view:
The "Hippie" 917K, a '74 RSR, a '97 993 Cup car, a '94 Turbo
3.6, an '87 Factory Slantnose 930S, and an all original '79
930. We were also fortunate enough to have several special
guests on hand: Bob Miller; PCA National President; Tom Charlesworth,
technical advisor for 924, 944 & 968; Justin Bell, multi-Le
Mans winner, factory driver for Porsche and son of world-renowned
Porsche factory driver and 5-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell.
Mike Yager, owner of Tweeks and the 2002-03 Chair-Elect for
the NCM Foundation was also on hand. With these caliber guests
it wasn't difficult for this event weekend to be a success.
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 The
activities began Friday morning with a plant tour of the Holley
Performance Center - made famous by their production of carburetors
and fuel injection systems for automobiles and watercraft.
After the Holley tour the group traveled to the Corvette Assembly
plant where we were greeted by the Plant Manager and given
a special V.I.P. tour. We met the Executives behind everyday
production and were allowed into areas normally off-limits
to the general public. After the Corvette plant tour the group
got together out in front of the Corvette museum for the unveiling
of "The Visit" commemorative brick. This was the first ever
non-Corvette related brick to be laid in the NCM's "Walk of
Fame." It was definitely an honor to be allowed a space in
front of the Museum to serve as a continuing reminder of this
history-making event. To learn more about the NCM's brick
program visit their website (www.corvettemuseum.com).
Other firsts include: the first time the PCA National President
has met the National Council of Corvette Clubs President,
the first Porsche Club tour of the NCM and Corvette factory,
and the first time a non-GM automobile has been displayed
inside the NCM. Friday evening ended with some Kentucky barbecue
on the front lawn of the museum and an auction for a ride
in a 2001 Corvette Z06. There was a sudden cloudburst that
sent participants scrambling to raise and install convertible
& targa tops. The evening ended with a round of friendly yet
spirited go-kart racing. |
| Saturday
was filled with various seminars, a drive to a local winery
(which had excellent homemade candy, jams and preserves),
a cruise through historic downtown Bowling Green, a celebrity
judged car show, and a V.I.P. tour of the National Corvette
Museum. The evening ended with a banquet and awards presentation
in the Skydome of the NCM.
To round out the weekend, Sunday offered participants either
a scenic countryside tour or a low speed autocross at Beech
Bend Raceway Park. Justin Bell offered those with enough
nerve a thrill ride around the course in a race-prepped
911 targa, beating the next closest time by 3 full seconds
in a car he had never been in until his run!
At the end of the weekend
"The Visit" had raised $505.00 in auction donations for
the NCM; drawn participants from as far away as Arizona,
Oklahoma, Florida and New Jersey, and offered participants
to meet more than a few people who have been instrumental
in Porsche's history and in the history of the PCA. But,
most importantly, The Visit offered participants the chance
to learn about the history and pedigree of America's Sports
Car, to make new friends and more than a few great memories.
Special thanks must go to Bob Miller, Justin Bell, Tom Charlesworth,
Mike Yager, and Larry Hayes-Activities Director of the NCM.
Without these people the weekend would not have been as
successful or enjoyable.
We're looking forward
to hosting a 2nd Annual Visit next year. Hope to see you
there!
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