Save the date for the annual festival
commemorating the birthplace of the Corvette Concept: Watkins Glen, NY!
2025 marks the 72nd anniversary of the Corvette, designed and engineered by General Motors chief stylist Harley J. Earl, who was inspired while attending the 1951 races at Watkins Glen. The first Corvette, quickly dubbed “America’s Sports Car,” thrilled onlookers at the races at the Glen two years later.
Corvette Thunder in the Glen, May 17-18, 2025, celebrates Harley Earl’s legacy, with two days of activities at Clute Park on the shores of beautiful Seneca Lake, on the Village’s main street, and at the historic Watkins Glen International racetrack.
On Saturday, May 17, the day will begin with Corvette owners will line the Clute Park Trailway to exhibit their prized Corvettes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drivers are asked to be in position by 9:30 am for the 10 am to 3 pm car exhibit. Food trucks and other vendors will be located throughout the park.
At 5 p.m., Corvette afficionados will gather at the Clute Park Community Center for a dinner and presentation by Richard Prince. Prince will speak about the history of the Corvette, and will answer questions about the longevity of this great American Car.
On Sunday May 18, pre-registered Corvette owners will take over Watkins Glen’s Franklin Street, putting their cars on display from noon to 3 p.m. The show will stretch south from Fourth Street to the historic start/finish line of the Original Road-Race Circuit in front of the Schuyler County Courthouse. At 3 p.m., drivers will start their engines and drive one paced lap of the Old Course. After that, the cars will make their way up to Watkins Glen International for laps on the world-renowned racetrack.
This Watkins Glen Promotions event promises to be a memorable experience for Corvette owners and fans alike!
Information regarding Keynote Speaker Richard Prince:
Richard Prince has been immersed in the Corvette hobby since the 1970s. From 1988 through 1995 he owned and operated a full-service Corvette restoration shop and has been writing about and photographing Corvettes and other vehicles since 1991. In addition to his most recent book, Corvette Stingray The Mid-Engine Evolution, which was published in 2024, and Corvette 70 Years: The One and Only, which was published in 2023, he has authored a 1968-1982 Corvette restoration guide book and two Corvette buyer’s guide books.
Prince’s writing and photography have also appeared in more than 400 publications around the world, including Car and Driver, Road & Track, Motor Trend, Automobile, Hot Rod, Corvette Magazine, Vogue, Maxim, The New York Times, USA Today, Racecar Engineering, Vintage Motorsport, and RACER.
He has traveled the world photographing the factory Corvette Racing program for Chevrolet since it began testing in 1997, and has photographed each generation of new production Corvettes for Chevrolet since the C5 was introduced. Prince’s decades of devotion to Corvette were recognized in August 2024 when he was inducted into the National Corvette Museum’s Hall of Fame.
Prince continues to own, restore, preserve, drive, and love various vintage Corvettes and other special interest cars.
Register Online
Open to all years, makes and models of CORVETTE. This is also for dinner registration which is open to the public!
We Need your help! register to volunteer here!
Many shifts and different types of activities involved. Please take a look; this festival cannot happen without volunteers.
Our Official Hotel Partner: The Hotel Laurel
We are pleased to announce that we have partnered with the The Hotel Laurel, an accommodation that has a rich history in motor racing. They will be offering discounted rates for the weekend of our festival to our registrants and attendees! For more information, please call them at 607-535-2706, and mention the Corvette: Thunder in the Glen to receive the rate.
The History of Corvette And Watkins Glen
Kip Zeiter from the International Motor Racing Research Center, wrote an excellent article regarding the beginnings of the Corvette Concept at Watkins Glen. This was published by Vette Vues.
Rain or Shine
Saturday
May 17th, 2025
10 am to 3 pm: Corvette Car Show at Clute Park
5-8pm: Dinner and Keynote Speaker Richard Prince- The Community Center
Sunday
May 18th, 2025
12-3pm: Watkins Glen Downtown Static Display -4th Street to 12th Street. Downtown will be closed off to traffic; local businesses open
3PM: Historic Old Course Laps begin; Corvettes move to Watkins Glen International for Drive the Glen
Our Sponsors
This festival would not be possible without help from our generous local sponsors.
Platinum Sponsor: Kookalaroc’s Bar & Grill
Platinum Sponsor: J.R. Dill Winery
Platinum Sponsor: Walters Elkland Chevrolet
Platinum Sponsor: Watkins Glen International
Program Sponsor: Basil Chevrolet
T-Shirt Sponsor: Camoradi USA Race Team
Dash Plaque Sponsor: Davis Ulmer Fire Protection
Silver Sponsor: Maguire Cars
Silver Sponsor: Hale Roofing
Silver Sponsor: Skyworks Rental
Silver Sponsor: Van Bortel Corvette
Silver Sponsor: Chemung Canal Trust Company
Silver Sponsor: Cayuga Health
Silver Sponsor: Visions Federal Credit Union
Partner: Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce
