Get Ready to Celebrate “National Corvette Day” on June 30th and “Drive Your Corvette to Work Day” on July 1st, 2022!
Did you know that the Corvette has its own, official, NATIONAL holiday?
National Corvette Day
Each year, on June 30th, or “National Corvette Day,” Corvette owners around the world celebrate the day the very first Corvette drove off the assembly line in 1953 – on June 30, 1953, to be exact. On June 30, 1953, the first of three hundred 1953 Corvettes rolled off the original Corvette assembly line, which was (for its first year of production) located in Flint, Michigan. By the time production began on the 1954 model year, production had been re-homed to St. Louis, Missouri, where it remained until 1981, where it was re-homed a third and (we hope) final time to Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Bowling Green plant, which was formerly a Chrysler air-conditioning factory, has remained the sole manufacturing facility to build Corvettes for the past 39 years.
The Corvette has become one of the most iconic sports cars of all time, with millions of examples built in the 69 years since its launch. To commemorate the Corvette as one of the most significant milestones in American automotive history, the House of Representatives enacted a resolution on June 26, 2008, officially proclaiming June 30th as “National Corvette Day.” The proclamation reads as follows:
H. Res. 970
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
June 26, 2008.
Whereas the Chevrolet Corvette is America’s first sports car;
Whereas the first production Corvette rolled off a Flint, Michigan, assembly line on June 30, 1953;
Whereas the Corvette is now manufactured in Bowling Green, Kentucky;
Whereas the Corvette is the most widely respected production sports car in United States history;
Whereas the Corvette is truly a symbol of American pride;
Whereas General Motors is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2008; and
Whereas the 30th of June would be an appropriate day to designate as `National Corvette Day’: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives supports the designation of a `National Corvette Day’ to honor the Chevrolet Corvette.
As “America’s Sports Car,” the Corvette is a vehicle that has received continual bipartisan support. The House resolution to create “National Corvette Day” was first introduced by Republican Representative John Shimkus (R-Ill). At the same time, the Democratic administration also long embraced the Chevy Corvette, with former U.S. President Barack Obama driving an original 1963 Stingray at the White House, and more recently when Joe Biden declared the car “better than Porsches” during a commencement speech at Yale University.
This year marks the 69th anniversary of the Corvette’s official production start date.
Drive Your Corvette to Work Day
When “National Corvette Day” lands in the middle of the week, or on the weekend, then the Friday closest to the June 30th holiday is recognized as “Drive Your Corvette to Work Day.” This second half of the Corvette enthusiast’s ultimate holiday provides the perfect excuse to pull your beloved Corvette out of the garage and put a few, fun-filled miles on it as you cruise down the interstate to work.
Ways to Celebrate National Corvette Day
Even if you don’t own a Corvette, there are still plenty of ways to participate and enjoy “National Corvette Day.” Here are a few suggestions:
Visit a Car Museum or Exhibit
Enjoy the fun of National Corvette Day by visiting one of the many amazing automotive museums across the country (or around the world.) Naturally, the ideal destination for this holiday would be a trip to the National Corvette Museum located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Established by the National Corvette Restorers Society as a non-profit business in 1994, this museum is a mecca for Corvette owners and enthusiasts alike. It strives to preserve the car’s rich history as well as educate its visitors about the past, present, and future of the Corvette.
Enjoy a Local Celebration
Many Chevrolet and GM dealers across the U.S. will host open houses and/or special events for their local communities. While Corvette production is at an all-time high demand, there are still plenty of dealerships with Corvettes in their showrooms. Moreover, savvy dealers will invite local Corvette clubs to come and showcase their cars as part of the holiday, creating a unique opportunity to see Corvettes from all generations in one spot.
Drive Your Corvette
Of course, the best way to celebrate National Corvette Day is to, naturally, drive a Corvette. For those that don’t own one, there are opportunities to take tour laps at the NCM Motorsports Park (across the street from the National Corvette Museum.) For those that have a little more disposable income, there are rental programs out there where you can drive a Corvette for a day (or a weekend) and really experience what it’s like to live the Corvette lifestyle. And, for the thousands of owners that have their own Corvette (or Corvettes) tucked away in a garage at home, this is an ideal time to get them out, dust them off, and put some miles on the odometer….maybe even take a friend or family member for a ride!
However you celebrate – we hope you have a very happy National Corvette Day tomorrow and Friday!!
