Z06 homecoming- Bowling Green Trip
06-23-2015, 08:45 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Z06 homecoming- Bowling Green Trip
My wife and I left Dallas and headed to Bowling Green. Took about 10 and 1/2 hours with 2 fill ups along the way. Coolant temps hovered around 189 with the occasional 210 when we hit traffic. Average gas mileage for the trip was 27.5/28mpg, so not horrible for the 12 year old Z. Vette was actually quite comfortable and enjoyable to drive, with the exception of what Arkansas calls a road. 
Wife and I switched off driving and of course when she takes the wheel she lets this happen:
A big shoutout to the driver in Tennessee who opted not to strap down what they were hauling. A chunk of wood came flying off, bounced on the road, briefly made out with my front bumper, and then moved on to the next victim. Of course they conveniently exited as this was happening. Looks like it will buff out, but did leave two deep scratches:
We opted to stay at Super 8 across from the museum which cost $80 a night(booked through hotels.com). I can't complain and the room is what one would expect at that price-king size bed, 2 chair sofas with foot rests, desk with office chair, hot plate, fridge, coffee maker, free cable, free wifi.
We did the plant tour first and did reservations online which allowed us to be group 1. I highly recommend doing this as they do tours in 7 minute intervals after the session begins. Sorry, no cameras allowed inside, but I can tell you they run a pretty tight ship. We were able to see the 2016's being made. Yes, you read that right 2016(production started last week). It was pretty neat watching all of them being made, but my favorite were the Z06's. You can tell the employees take great pride in their work.
Some outside pics:
Spotted a bunch of Texas Vettes in the parking lot and after further research ended up being the Lone Star Corvette Club.
Have a non GM vehicle? No worries there's a spot for you at the back of the lot:
Your vehicle is a non American company? You are stuck parking in the lot behind that sign.
Excuse the tar on the car:
Now for the museum pics:
C6R to the right of the picture
Can you guess the year? Fuel lines should be a dead give away:
Concept car:
C5 test crash vehicle-after use they are typical crushed and shredded:
Sink hole cars:
If you haven't done so put this trip on your bucket list and don't forget to take your Vette.
Wife and I switched off driving and of course when she takes the wheel she lets this happen:
A big shoutout to the driver in Tennessee who opted not to strap down what they were hauling. A chunk of wood came flying off, bounced on the road, briefly made out with my front bumper, and then moved on to the next victim. Of course they conveniently exited as this was happening. Looks like it will buff out, but did leave two deep scratches:
We opted to stay at Super 8 across from the museum which cost $80 a night(booked through hotels.com). I can't complain and the room is what one would expect at that price-king size bed, 2 chair sofas with foot rests, desk with office chair, hot plate, fridge, coffee maker, free cable, free wifi.
We did the plant tour first and did reservations online which allowed us to be group 1. I highly recommend doing this as they do tours in 7 minute intervals after the session begins. Sorry, no cameras allowed inside, but I can tell you they run a pretty tight ship. We were able to see the 2016's being made. Yes, you read that right 2016(production started last week). It was pretty neat watching all of them being made, but my favorite were the Z06's. You can tell the employees take great pride in their work.
Some outside pics:
Spotted a bunch of Texas Vettes in the parking lot and after further research ended up being the Lone Star Corvette Club.
Have a non GM vehicle? No worries there's a spot for you at the back of the lot:
Your vehicle is a non American company? You are stuck parking in the lot behind that sign.
Excuse the tar on the car:
Now for the museum pics:
C6R to the right of the picture
Can you guess the year? Fuel lines should be a dead give away:
Concept car:
C5 test crash vehicle-after use they are typical crushed and shredded:
Sink hole cars:
If you haven't done so put this trip on your bucket list and don't forget to take your Vette.
06-23-2015, 09:48 PM
#3
Instructor
I was just there this afternoon. Very neat place to visit for sure! We flew in last night to the regional airport and flew back this afternoon after the tour. I highly recommend the vip tour at the plant. Very cool experience!
06-23-2015, 10:55 PM
#5
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Thanks for the pics - sounds like you and your wife had a great trip.
06-24-2015, 10:26 AM
#8
Melting Slicks
Yeah thats a great trip. My brother and I did that a few years back. We left from Columbia SC and hit Deals Gap on the way up. Did the 1st factory tour in the morning followed by the NCM than over to Art's Corvette's followed by another factory tour in the late afternoon. We got the last tour of the day and it was only my brother and I so we told the tour guide we had done a morning tour so he did a different tour for us by going to places that were not on the standard tour. Great time. Thanks for posting your pictures. 
