Some of the artifacts in the National Corvette Museum’s collection are actually small collections themselves. One notable example is a set of medallions celebrating the Corvette’s 40th anniversary, which was donated to the Museum by George Biederman. Produced by Pacific Mint in 1993, the set includes a total of 60 medallions, each one showing an image of a Corvette and the crossed flags emblem that corresponds to the Corvette’s generation. The medallions are 1.25 inches tall, two inches wide, and .125 inches thick. They are made of sterling silver, although a coating of translucent enamel covers the top of each one. This coating gives the medallions the appearance of large, brightly colored postage stamps. 

Collectors could order the medallions by mail on a month-to-month basis. The set is divided into three cases, each holding 20 medallions. To get the total number to 60, Pacific Mint released two medallions for several Corvette model years, often to represent the coupe and convertible body styles in the set. Other medallions feature special edition or landmark Corvettes like the 25th Anniversary Edition from 1978 and the 1990 ZR-1. The final medallion in the set depicts the 40th Anniversary Corvette, released in 1993. 

 The National Corvette Museum’s automobile collection includes several of the cars featured in the Pacific Mint set, including a 25th Anniversary Edition Corvette donated by Craig and Sharon Conde. This car’s most distinguishing attribute is its two-toned silver paint, which consists of bright silver on the upper surface and dark silver on the lower surface, separated by silver pinstriping. Although the car also came with aluminum wheels and sport mirrors, the silver paint was what ultimately set this Corvette apart from others in 1978. A total of 15,283 25th Anniversary Corvettes were sold, and their production began the custom of General Motors periodically releasing special Corvettes for the car’s milestone anniversaries. As the Corvette turns 72 this month, enthusiasts have no shortage of collectibles celebrating the evolution of America’s Sports Car.  

The National Corvette Museum is proud to continue its commitment to honoring the nation’s military by participating in the 2025 Blue Star Museums program and recognizing Veterans with a dedicated free admission month in November.

From Armed Forces Day (May 17) through Labor Day (September 1, 2025), active-duty military personnel, including those serving in the National Guard and Reserve, and up to five family members will receive free Museum admission through the national Blue Star Museums initiative. A valid active-duty military ID is required upon entry.

Separately, all U.S. military Veterans from any service branch are invited to enjoy free general admission to the Museum during the month of November only. Veterans must present proof of military service upon arrival.

“The active-duty and veteran communities embody the highest values of service, resilience, and patriotism,” said Bryce Burklow, President and CEO of the National Corvette Museum. “This is one small way we can give back to those who have given so much and invite them to experience the history of America’s Sports Car.”

In the late 1980s, Corvettes briefly had their own racing division, sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). It began when the C4 Corvette dominated the SCCA’s Pro Endurance Series. Once the car was banned due to its unmatched performance, GM and performance driving instructor John Powell responded by launching the Corvette Challenge Series in 1988. 

This 10-race spec series, open exclusively to Corvettes and sanctioned by the SCCA, promised a one-million-dollar purse and one-hour races. These races often served as support events for Trans-Am weekends. Talented drivers from across the country jumped at the chance to compete in identically prepared Corvettes. 

One of those drivers was Andy Pilgrim. At the time, he was racing a Pontiac Firebird in the IMSA Firestone Firehawk Series and wasn’t affiliated with any of the top Pro Endurance teams. But after winning an SCCA endurance race in Texas in a car owned by George Farris, Pilgrim earned his opportunity. Impressed by Pilgrim’s performance, Farris started a Corvette Challenge team and brought him on as the driver. 

In January 2025, Pilgrim returned to the National Corvette Museum to recount his experience in an oral history interview. He drove the white No. 18 Corvette with a small crew and hauled the car to tracks across the United States using an open trailer. Despite racing against multi-car, well-funded teams, Pilgrim held his own and won two races during the 1988 season. 

Pilgrim’s winning No. 18 Corvette is currently on display in the Museum’s Performance Gallery, on loan from Jay Heckman. Visitors can also view clips from his oral history interview alongside the car. The full interview is preserved as part of the Museum’s permanent collection. 

The Corvette Hall of Fame proudly announces its 2025 class of members-elect, who will be formally inducted during a ceremony on Friday, August 29, 2025, as part of the National Corvette Museum’s 31st Anniversary Celebration. 

Established in 1998 by the National Corvette Museum, the Corvette Hall of Fame stands as the highest honor in the Corvette community. For 27 years, it has recognized trailblazers whose passion, integrity, and accomplishments have shaped the history of America’s Sports Car. 

Each year, inductees are selected from three categories: Racing, GM/Chevrolet, and Enthusiast. The 2025 Corvette Hall of Fame class includes:  

Racing – Kim Baker, SCCA Corvette Racer 

Kim Baker was a standout driver in the SCCA’s professional endurance racing division throughout the 1980s. Growing up in Western Massachusetts, he began his motorsports journey by competing in autocross events as a teenager. His SCCA career took off in 1984, shortly after he started racing his new C4 Corvette. 

Over the next several years, Baker built his team, Baker Racing, into a dominant force in the SCCA Endurance Championship, capturing the title each year from 1985 through 1987. Two key factors behind his success were his experience as a Corvette test driver and his strategic partnership with Goodyear. Baker’s standout performance in 1985 earned him multiple bonuses from Goodyear, support he turned into a full sponsorship the following season. 

Corvette became so dominant in the Endurance Championship that in 1988, the SCCA banned Corvettes and Baker Racing from competing in the division. Undeterred, Baker continued racing in other series and remained involved in Corvette performance testing. He contributed to the pre-production testing of the ZR-1 in 1989 and was a member of Tommy Morrison’s world-record-setting ZR-1 team. 

Although Baker later explored stock car racing and other forms of motorsports, he and his team are still best known for their dominance in SCCA endurance racing and for enhancing the performance reputation of the C4 Corvette. 

GM-Chevrolet – Chuck Jordan, General Motors VP of Design 

Chuck Jordan had an affinity for sketching cars as a boy, and his passion for automobiles led to a 43-year career with General Motors, beginning in 1949. As a protégé of Harley Earl, Jordan held design roles with Cadillac, Opel AG, Oldsmobile, and Buick. In 1986, he became GM’s Vice President of Design, where his leadership revitalized the creative energy of the design staff. 

Guided by the mantra “no dull cars,” Jordan championed the fun and excitement of automotive design, embracing both production vehicles and concept cars. Among his early contributions were the iconic Cadillacs of the late 1950s, recognized for their sweeping fins and bold chrome details. He also played a role in the design of the 1958 Corvette. 

In the later years of his career, Jordan oversaw the design of vehicles such as the Pontiac Firebird, Buick Reatta, and Cadillac STS. As Vice President of Design, he directed the creation of several concept cars that had a significant impact on the Corvette’s evolution, including the Corvette Indy, the CERV III, and the Stingray III. 

Jordan also influenced the styling of the C2, C3, and C4 production Corvettes and was a vocal advocate for preserving the Corvette program during the development of the C5. Deeply passionate about automotive design, he was admired and respected by colleagues across the industry. After retiring from GM, Jordan continued to inspire future designers by teaching automotive design to high school students in his native Southern California.

Enthusiast – Charley & Jim Robertson, Corvette Racing Ambassadors 

Jim and Charley Robertson are well-known figures in the Corvette Racing community. They are on a first-name basis with drivers, team members, GM executives, and many fans. At any given race, you can find them volunteering in the paddock or corrals, helping to streamline autograph lines, and even gathering extra posters for charity auctions. 

Beyond race day, Jim and Charley play a vital role in organizing special events and strengthening the bond between Corvette Racing and its fan base. If you’re on Charley’s email list, you’re always in the know with the latest team news. Her social media channels are a trusted source for racing updates and fan engagement. 

Although their efforts might resemble those of a professional PR team, their commitment is entirely volunteer-driven and powered by a deep love for the team and the Corvette community. The Robertsons are also active members of the Circle City Corvette Club, based in Dothan, Alabama. Through the club, they launched an annual auction of Corvette Racing memorabilia donated by the team. The proceeds benefit both local charities and the National Corvette Museum. 

“Each inductee in this year’s Hall of Fame class represents a distinct and powerful thread in the fabric of Corvette history,” said Bryce Burklow, President and CEO of the National Corvette Museum. “From track dominance to design innovation and fan-driven passion, the 2025 class exemplifies what it means to contribute to the Corvette legacy. These individuals have not only elevated the brand, they have helped define what Corvette means to generations of enthusiasts around the world.” 

On November 30, 2016, General Motors unveiled its newest sports prototype race car, the Cadillac DPi-V.R. The 600-horsepower racing machine marked Cadillac’s return to prototype racing for the first time since 2002. Some of the car’s features include Brembo brakes, performance wheels, and vertical lighting elements—all inspired by Cadillac’s line of V-Performance automobiles. The Cadillac DPi-V.R competed in North American endurance racing events from 2017 to 2022. Its successor, the Cadillac V-Series.R, debuted the following season as the brand’s next-generation prototype racer. 

One of the Cadillac DPi race cars is currently on exhibit at the National Corvette Museum, along with a photograph captured by Richard Prince. Prince’s photograph features the automobile on display, along with four other Cadillac prototype race cars, on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway in 2022. Prince typically handles preseason photography for Cadillac and Corvette Racing each year before Daytona’s 24-hour race in late January. The photograph shows all five cars in motion, moving at speeds around 50–60 miles per hour. 

Capturing an image like this one presents significant challenges for a photographer, even one with decades of experience like Prince. First, the photographer must coordinate with teams and racing officials to reserve track time. The drivers of each car receive instructions regarding where they should be positioned and how fast they need to go. For this image, Prince shot out the open door of a minivan while tethered to the vehicle in a full safety harness. This setup allowed him to make adjustments by giving additional directions to a representative of the race teams, who relayed instructions via radio to the drivers of the cars and the minivan. Although he used a gyro stabilizer system to help steady the camera, he noted that bumps in the track and the turning of the vehicles made it difficult to hold the camera still. 

Prince’s goal was to get the cars in focus while capturing enough blur in the road surface and surroundings to create a sense of motion. He calls this photograph a winner due to the pleasing composition of the race cars, the centering of the Daytona branding on the wall, the framing created by the wall and double yellow lines, and the overall sharpness of the image.