Bloomington Gold USA was founded in 1973 to preserve the long-standing heritage of the Corvette name. This year, however, major changes were in store for the club, as owner, Guy Larson, moved the club’s main event to Indy after previously hosting it in Champaign, Illinois.
And, according to Hot Rod, the move was a successful one.
The crowd’s reaction to the event was one of acceptance during the plethora of events offered at the Indy location. Lingenfelter Performance Engineering and Ridetech hosted an all-day autocross event, parade laps in club member’s Corvettes were held around the famed 2.5-mile oval track, home to the Indy 500, and those who ponied up with cash could take a ride in a two-seat Indy race car.
But, Bloomington Gold isn’t just a Corvette club. The certifications handed out are coveted by owners. Corvettes attending can be registered “Gold,” if their Corvette scores at least 95 out of 100 points from judges, confirming the car is close, or the same, as when the vehicle left the factory. There’s also the “Survivor” certification, attesting the Corvette is at least 50 percent unrestored. And the amount of attendees at the event show how much Bloomington Gold and its certifications mean.
When asked about the overall impression from the event, Larson had this to say: “Attendees this year were thrilled with the driving opportunities at Bloomington Gold. Fast laps, autocross, and driving their own Corvettes on the world-famous Indy oval track! It was a car guy and girl’s dream!”
You can count on Bloomington Gold returning next year to the same place, on June 23-25, 2016.
Comment
How do I get notification of the 2017 event. It’s a long drive from Oregon.
…Larry