Throwback Thursday: From Louis to Le Mans at the National Corvette Museum

This week we’re at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green. The museum’s newest exhibit shares the history of over 100 years of Chevrolet racing. Called From Louis to Le Mans, the exhibit runs now through January 2019. 

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway held its very first motor car race in 1909. Louis Chevrolet was in it and emerged victorious after the 10-mile, 4-lap run. The 1909 Buick Model 16 Indy Racer on display here is believed to be the exact same car that Chevrolet drove in this race.

The next generation of racing vehicles was the Buick Bugs, which broke the 105 miles per hour mark during races and held many records across the country. The 1910 bug on display here is on loan from the Alfred P. Sloan Museum Buick Gallery.  The Bugs were named for their small insect-like stature. 

Louis Chevrolet played an important role in the 1915 Cornelian redesign. His genius with internal combustion engines made him popular with many car companies seeking design improvements. This type is the smallest car to ever race the Indy 500.

Moving on to 1955, there was an accident during the 24 hours of Le Mans. The tragedy led the Automobile Manufacturers Association to ban their participation in American auto racing starting in 1957. 

This exhibit also features several more recent racecars from the NASCAR world and Corvette racing. Don’t miss the 1989 World Record Run Corvette. With cars on loan from General Motors and Darrell Waltrip Motorsports, any auto enthusiast will love the stories and artifacts on display.