Corvette Road Trip - Destination: Bowling Green

We drive an '11 Grand Sport To Corvette's Birthplace

From the March, 2011 issue of Vette

By Walt Thurn

Photography by Walt Thurn

A modern Corvette can be the perfect car to take on a road trip, provided you only need two seats. It doesn't matter if you drive alone or as part of a Corvette caravan, the experience of piloting one of these hugely competent sports cars down a scenic route or simply over a challenging stretch of road can be a memorable one. Recently we decided to take an extended drive in an '11 Grand Sport coupe to try out its road manners.

As we reported previously, the C6 has undergone subtle changes for the new model year. Our Torch Red automatic coupe was equipped with $15,405 worth of optional equipment. Add these to a base price of $54,790, tack on a $950 destination charge, and you end up with a sticker price of $71,145.

Options included the $7,705 4LT Premium equipment group, the $1,195 Grand Sport Heritage package, $1,995 chrome wheels, the $1,795 navigation system, a $1,250 six-speed automatic, the $1,195 dual-mode performance exhaust, and $270 automatic-transmission pedal covers.

It's worth noting that our coupe was also fitted with the original-style Goodyear F1 run-flat tires, not the latest Gen 2 shoes. We drove a Z06 with the newer Goodyears recently and liked them a lot better than their predecessors. They were quieter and had nearly as much grip as the Michelin PS2 ZP tires we tested earlier this year.

We chose to make our road-trip destination Bowling Green, Kentucky, located some 65 miles north of Nashville. After all, this is where the Corvette Assembly Plant and the National Corvette Museum are located. Guided plant tours are offered to the public four times a day, Monday through Thursday, for $7 per person; the tour takes around an hour and fifteen minutes. Check the plant website (www.bowlinggreenassemblyplant.com) for the tour schedule and other plant details.

After many years of planning and fundraising, the National Corvette Museum (NCM) opened its doors on Labor Day 1994. It's located across the road from the assembly plant and easy to spot from I-65. The NCM grew so popular with visitors that it underwent an expansion that doubled its size several years ago. Sixteen years after its grand opening, the facility continues to provide enthusiasts with a detailed history of America's favorite sports car.

At the start of the NCM tour, visitors see a special display that pays tribute to Zora Arkus-Duntov, the legendary engineer who brought true performance to Chevy's fiberglass two-seater. Beautifully restored vintage Corvettes are parked in period dioramas to give visitors a glimpse of what it was like to own a Vette in the past. Other displays offer insight into Corvette design and construction.

The NCM also offers the Museum Delivery program to new-Corvette buyers. By checking off the R8C option code on your order form and paying $490, you can pick up your ready-to-drive Corvette at the museum. It's a popular program that keeps the museum staff busy all year long. Check the NCM's website (www.corvettemuseum.com) for more information on the museum and a list of other events held throughout the year.

Our road trip got us to Bowling Green just in time to attend the 16th anniversary of the museum on Labor Day. Part of the festivities included a "Bourbon and Coke" tour, including a drive through scenic rural Kentucky with lunch and two plant visits. This drive sounded like a great way to try out the Grand Sport on some winding country roads, so we signed on.