Corvette Counts Down To the Biggest Birthday Party of the Year

DETROIT May 15, 2003; The official countdown is under way for Chevrolet to celebrate Corvette's 50 years as America's first and favorite performance sports car. The anticipated 15,000 Corvette owners and enthusiasts have less than 50 days to tune their engines and pack their bags for an historical road trip and vacation in Nashville, TN. On June 27 and 28, Corvette's largest gathering of vintage and new model Corvettes and their owners will take over Music City USA.

Rick Baldick, Corvette marketing director, said "The Corvette family of employees, owners and enthusiasts have been planning this celebration for more than two years. I have heard that a few folks from the caravan already have bags packed and are ready to hit the highway."

Before the official Chevrolet Celebration at the Coliseum (home of the NFL's Tennessee Titans football team), more than 5,000 Corvettes spanning five decades of production will caravan from all points of the US to Bowling Green, KY, home of Corvette's manufacturing and assembly plant, and also of the National Corvette Museum. Once arriving in Nashville, caravan drivers will be welcomed by 10,000 additional enthusiasts to participate in a wide variety of activities.

Activities include: vintage car displays, Chevy C5-R racing tour with driver Andy Pilgrim, parades, technical seminars, restoration clinics, heritage displays, racing exhibits, Chevy Rock & Roll Tour, historic memorabilia, a major rock & roll concert (talent to be announced in early June) and much more.

"We're planning on a truly impressive number of activities going on in order to celebrate this landmark anniversary in grand style. A 50th Anniversary only happens once, and we're determined to make Corvette's one to remember", said Baldick.

Up to 15,000 hotel rooms in 19 area hotels are expected to be booked over a three-day period. The event is expected to generate millions of dollars for the city of Nashville.