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Classic Cars Southeast To Co-Sponsor 27^th National Corvette Homecoming

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(July 7, 2008) – Classic Cars Southeast announces an alignment with the 2008 National Corvette Homecoming (NCH) to be held in Bowling Green, Kentucky July 18, 19 & 20.  The Lebanon based dealership teamed up with Keith Martin’s Corvette Market Magazine, to co-sponsor this year’s 27^th anniversary event.  “We are very happy that Classic Cars Southeast and Corvette Market Magazine have joined our event as sponsorship partners”, said Joe Pruitt, owner of NCH. “These great co-sponsors will be presenters of the Sans Pareil award, a new “high-honor” Corvette Certification. The new classification will feature a custom award, along with other components, to designate those Corvettes receiving the highest marks from a special team of industry experienced judges”. 

Prior to 1978, Corvette judging at Bloomington, Illinois was based on "car versus car" competition, however, in 1978 enthusiast, David Burroughs, brought Gold Certification judging into the competition.  His plan was to enable any Corvette to be a winner if it met high standards of authenticity.  It would allow Corvettes to be judged, not against each other, but as to the car's level of accuracy compared to the day it left the factory.  The Gold Certification judging procedures became the benchmark for judging of all types of automobiles.  Since the certification was held in Bloomington, Illinois, in 1984 the show became officially known as Bloomington Gold Corvettes USA.  Three additional prestigious events were also added - the Special Collection, the Restoration Workshops and the Silver Salute.

The Sans Pareil classification is designed to rival the current Top Corvette Certifications and will bring a new standard to Corvette certification judging.  NCH coordinators have recruited John Ballard, for position of chairman of the prestigious Judging Committee.  John comes well qualified and will ensure the highest possible standards for such a prestigious award.  He has been a research chemist in paint formulation, application, and troubleshooting for 44 years.  His extensive background as an NCRS Master Judge (400 Level) and experience as a Bloomington Gold Judge will greatly enhance decisions associated with establishing judging procedures for the 2008 Corvette Homecoming Sans Pareil competition.

John’s personal Corvette collection contains low mileage original cars with several achieving NCRS “Bowtie” and “Bloomington Benchmark” status. He is often called upon to speak at seminars on car show judging, preparation and restoration. John will use his extensive experience in setting the new standards of excellence for Sans Pareil.  All NCH team members involved in this judging process must meet the high standards he has prescribed.  One of the most important aspects of the judging team will be to ensure this new category has a limited amount of certification spaces available each year.  This will help to maintain prominence of the special coveted award.  The other judges working with John are all GM Corvette Factory employees, offering a combined total of over 150 years of “up close” and “personal” experience with the infamous Corvette.

The National Corvette Homecoming roots can be traced back to 1980, when several Corvette enthusiasts decided it was time to create a Corvette club.  It began as the “Corvettes Limited Corvette Club”, however, in 1981 the first actual Corvette Homecoming show was held at the Red Carpet Inn in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  Soon afterwards, the originators decided it should be more of a reunion of owners bringing their cars “back home” where the vehicles were born.  It later evolved into a National show and the annual event continues to grow, attracting involvement from local, national and international participants and spectators.   

The event has had several homes over the years, however, for 2008 it settled into the Sloan Convention Center, located right in the heart of Bowling Green.  This new venue has adequate parking available for spectators and excellent competition areas around the complex.  For special display areas, vendor spaces and the newest and most exciting Sans Pareil competition, there are great carpeted and air conditioned indoor areas.  This will ensure a first class show and maximize the enjoyment of both participants and spectators.  A $10 entrance fee will allow attendees the opportunity to view one of the nation’s most impressive gatherings of Chevrolet’s version of the great American sports car.  There is no charge for children under the age of twelve.  Complete details about the 2008 NCH can be found on the organization’s website at www.corvettehomecoming.com.

 This year’s date for the NCH event was changed to late July in an effort to enhance greater participation and become more competitive with other events.  A new designation of Grand Marshall has also been established for the event and the inaugural honoree will be David Burroughts, the man behind Bloomington Gold.  Event promoters have strived to continuously improve the show each year and their desire is to ensure it is the most rewarding experience possible for each Corvette enthusiast in attendance.  Greater focus has been placed on promoting the show more fully via the internet and ensuring adequate updated information is continually posted on the event website.  Additionally, many of the show’s components have been revised over the years, such as expanding the car corral to include a wide variety of classic vehicles.  However, primary emphasis remains on the Corvette, the one and only American sports car.

The Corvette Assembly Plant will be available for tours during the homecoming event and for a $5 admission, anyone can enjoy a tour where they will get a first-hand look at where “America’s Sports Car” is born.  An online reservations system has been established for advance ticketing, simply go to the factory’s internet website at http://www.bowlinggreenassemblyplant.com and follow the appropriate link.  For an $8 per person entrance fee, participants and attendees can also tour the impressive Corvette Museum.  Here, they can witness the celebration of the invention of the Corvette and preservation of its past, present and future. Additional information on the museum’s content, activities and tours can be found on their internet website at http://store.corvettemuseum.com.

Classic Cars Southeast buys sells and restores investment quality antique, classic and muscle cars.  The company’s “all-indoor” “museum-quality” 28,000-square-foot showroom is a “world-class” facility for the most discerning car enthusiast and normally has 40 to 50 vehicles on hand at any given time.  The facility has become a popular backdrop for entertainment industry photo shoots and videos.  It has been included in specific TV programming for CMT Canada, SPIKE TV, Spanish TV, Nashville’s NBC network affiliate, Nashville Public Television and special programming with the two local cable network providers, Charter Mainstream and Comcast Spotlight.  These media outlets, coupled with a major internet campaign, have helped the dealership acquire recognition from local, national and international automobile enthusiasts. 

“We are excited to be part of the 27^th anniversary festivities for National Corvette Homecoming and look forward to our co-sponsorship with Keith Martin’s Corvette Market magazine”, said Dale Nunnery, founder and president of Classic Cars Southeast”.  “Corvettes have always been a great attraction for our dealership and it is very hard to hold on to one for a long period of time”.   Additional information on the classic car dealership can be found on line at www.classiccarsse.com.

Keith Martin’s Corvette Market Magazine is a “must-have” quarterly publication for any corvette enthusiast.  It covers everything one could possibly want or need to know about new and classic Corvette collecting, investing, values and trends.  Martin has assembled a team of experts that publish some great insider’s information about what is really going on in the Corvette market.  This magazine answers all the questions being asked, including the most important - whether the car you have, or want to have, is worth $20,000 or $200,000.  The magazine can be purchased at most newsstands or additional information can be found on the Internet at www.vettemarket.com.

Dale Nunnery, founder and president of Classic Cars Southeast, stands alongside a very special 1963 Chevrolet Corvette that is on display in the Lebanon based dealership showroom.   This classic fuel-injected split-window is a recent addition to his private collection and not for sale.  The immaculate “display only” Sting Ray coupe has a 327ci/360hp engine and has been certified by a Bloomington Gold judge.  These factors, coupled with its designation of “all-correct matching numbers”, help to make it one of the most desirable classic car collectables.  Out of 10,594 ’63 coupes manufactured, there were only 1,700 fuelies originally sold and Nunnery is the third owner of this prized vehicle.   It has become a favorite attraction of the many enthusiasts that visit the dealership’s museum-quality showroom.