Barris, ‘Corvette Fever’ Movie Car Highlight Corvette Funfest

EFFINGHAM, Ill. ' Corvette Funfest, one of the country's largest gatherings of Corvettes and Corvette enthusiasts, will be held in Effingham, Ill., Sept. 21-23. Now in its 14th year, Corvette Funfest is a free customer appreciation event hosted by Mid America Motorworks, the country's largest supplier of aftermarket parts and accessories for Corvettes and air-cooled Volkswagens.

Last year's event drew more than 14,000 Corvettes and 45,000 enthusiasts to Mid America Motorworks' corporate campus. With featured guests including George Barris, the "King of the Kustomizers," and popular rock band Three Dog Night, record crowds are expected for 2007.

The theme of this year's event will be "Celebrating a Corvette Summer" with the customized 1973 Stingray from the movie "Corvette Summer" serving as the featured vehicle. The Stingray was driven by Mark Hamill in the 1978 movie and is one of many Corvettes in the personal collection of Mid America Motorworks founder Mike Yager. Yager's extensive collection, which also features the priceless CERV-1 (Chevrolet Engineering Research Vehicle) and a 1964 World's Fair Mitchell Styling Corvette, will be on display throughout Funfest.

Attendees may also attend a seminar hosted by George Barris, who will also serve as a judge and sign autographs throughout the weekend. Other seminar hosts for the weekend will include noted automotive write Dave Emanuel, National Corvette Museum Hall of Fame inductee Gordon Killebrew and technical guru Ken Herring from the SPEED Channel's TV show "PINKS."

More information about Corvette Funfest can be obtained by calling 800-500-1500 or at www.mamotorworks.com/funfest.