Bowling Green, KY

Today we joined up with the WIN caravan in Bowling Green, KY. I just love that name - Bowling Green. It conjures up a lovely pastoral scene with people sitting around in lawn chairs, drinking mint juleps, and lawn bowling. . .

Anyway, we pulled out of the campground at Land Between the Lakes at 7:20am - certainly a record for us. However we had incentive since Ernie and Wanda (our hosts for this stop) had scheduled a tour of the Corvette assembly plant for this morning at 11:30, followed by the Corvette museum. What fun!

Unfortunately the factory does not allow cameras so you have to imagine hundreds of Corvettes making their way down the assembly line. We asked how many were currently on the line and were told they put out 88 a day and each one takes 5 days, so you can do the math. It was an impressive sight! We also learned there are currently four models with the cheapest going for $46,000. I thought she said $26,000 and was all set to buy one. Surprisingly, none of the WINs asked if you can tow it 'four down.'

Next we had a special tour of the museum where they did allow pictures. Ron found a nice blue one he liked. Of course it was one of the most expensive ones at over $100,000. If you look closely, you can see Max, Peggy, Marvin, and Judy in the background.


The first Vettes were made in 1953 and the museum had one from that year. You could get it in any color you wanted as long as it was white. :-) I thought it was interesting that they had automatic transmissions.


Here's the info on it.


I liked this slightly newer one with the signature side panels.


Bowling Green had one of those town art projects to raise money so obviously they decorated Corvettes. I think it was only a year or two ago, so we'll have to be on the lookout for them around town.


Wanda demonstrated her prowess by lifting one end of a Corvette frame while Austin looked on in amazement.


Kids, don't try this at home, but they purposely ran this car into a wall at 35 mph. Corvettes are designed to crumple and fall apart like a race car, protecting the passenger compartment.


Interesting fact, each year has a slightly different insignia on the hood. We were told that Corvette enthusiasts wear a pin with their car's insignia to identify other owners with the same year car.


The museum personnel were kind enough to allow me to take this $54,000 baby out for a spin.

(You know I'm kidding, right?)