Date/Time
Date(s) - 08/22/2024 - 09/01/2024
All Day
Location
National Corvette Museum
The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky hosts a grand celebration every five years. The next celebration is Labor Day weekend, 2024.
As a part of the celebration, the Museum plans caravans from all corners (and in between them) of the U.S. for the owners of the 8,000 – 10,000 Corvettes expected to be in attendance. The “official” caravan from Southern California begins in Pasadena and travels through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Indiana, on the way to Bowling Green. Okay, but largely the same route we’ve taken before.
Some COCSD members are joining the Arizona/New Mexico caravan through those two states, the Texas panhandle, Oklahoma and Arkansas before meeting up with the SoCal group in Missouri. The beginning and end of that route sound fun. But the middle, not so much.
What if there were another route, combining the best of those two routes while making stops at five road course tracks and other fun attractions along the way? You own a Corvette. Its natural habitat is a race track. You might not be interested in participating in track days, but why wouldn’t you take the opportunity to safely cruise FIVE race tracks? If you DO participate in track days, wouldn’t you like to take the chance to check out some fun tracks?
The “Racers’ Detour” is for those of us who like driving our Corvettes where it is safe and fun and where we don’t have to worry about the potential consequences of breaking speed limits. The drive will be scenic, with fun stops at great museums and one of the best chocolate makers on the planet!
The Detour begins here in San Diego on Thursday, August 22nd. We’ll head to the Phoenix area, where we’ll start with the Arizona/New Mexico group. But before we arrive at the hotel in Arizona, we’ll stop at a new race track – the Apex Motor Club in Maricopa.
Here is the full (tentative) itinerary:
Thursday, August 22 – 7 am meetup at the Walmart parking lot in El Cajon. Parade laps at Apex Motor Club, Maricopa, AZ. Overnight at Courtyard Mesa at Wrigleyville, Mesa AZ. 344 miles, estimated 5.7 hours of driving time.
Friday, August 23 – Join the Arizona/New Mexico group to Albuquerque, NM. 413 miles, 6.4 hours
Saturday, August 24 – Parade laps at Pueblo Motorsports Park, Pueblo, CO. Visit the National Museum of WWII Aviation in Colorado Springs. Overnight at Courtyard Denver Central Park, Denver, CO. 463 miles, 7.0 hours.
Sunday, August 25 – Parade laps (and/or track time) at High Plains Raceway, Deer Trail, CO. Overnight at Fairfield Inn & Suites, Kearney, NE. 376 miles, 5.3 hours
Monday, August 26 – Parade laps at Motorsports Park Hastings, Hastings, NE. Visit the Museum of American Speed, Lincoln, NE. Stop at Baker’s Candies, Greenwood, NE. Dinner in Omaha, NE. Overnight at Towne Place Suites, Liberty, MO. 393 miles, 6.0 hours
Tuesday, August 27 – Parade laps at Ozarks International Raceway, Gravois Mills, MO. Overnight at Fairfield Inn & Suites, Cape Girardeau, MO. Join in the festivities hosted by the town! 426 miles, 6.9 hours
Wednesday, August 28 – Join the Southern California and Arizona/New Mexico groups for the drive into Bowling Green. Meet up with all of the COCSD Caravan participants. 231 miles, 3.6 hours
Sunday, September 1 – Track day at NCM Motorsports Park, adjacent to the Museum.
Here is link to the map on bing: Racers’ Detour map
If you are considering joining us, I STRONGLY urge you to make the hotel reservations NOW! Check Airbnb and Vrbo for houses and apartments in Bowling Green. Hotel rooms are incredibly expensive and spots to stay are getting booked fast. DO NOT WAIT!!! You can usually cancel within weeks of the event with no cost.
Please let me know if you plan on joining us, so I can keep you updated. Questions? Call me at 619-723-2020. Craig