EFFINGHAM - Calling all fans of America's sports car. Head to the Mid America Motorworks for the Corvette Funfest from Sept. 19 to 21.

The party is held each fall on the company's 150-acre corporate campus in Effingham.

Organizers bill the free event as "one of the largest Corvette gatherings in the world." Expect more than 15,000 Corvettes and more than 45,000 Corvette fans to be there.

This year's theme focuses on the 20th anniversary of the Corvette Challenge Race Series. Meet the drivers, team owners and others responsible for making Corvettes a part of racing history.

This year is also the year of the "8s." All Corvettes made in 1958, '68, '78, '88, '98 and '08 will have a special row of parking. A special display will include 1978 pace cars and 1988 35th Anniversary Corvettes.

The soundtrack will be all country with Matt Poss & Rolling Thunder giving a free concert on Sept. 20.

If all that isn't enough, Mid America Motorworks has 50,000 more reasons to be there. The company will give out $50,000 in gift certificates on Sept. 21. You must be present to win. Visit www.corvettefunfest.com for details.

Other highlights include: free display judging on Friday and Saturday; free event T-shirt, poster and lapel pin to registrants who bring their Corvettes; and free technical sessions, including Corvette troubleshooting and suspension systems. Visit Install Alley to learn how to bolt on exhaust, brakes and other products.

Wear your 1994 Funfest T-shirt as your ticket to special parking and a photo opportunity.

As a special attraction on Thursday, lunch with Mid America Motorworks owner and Corvette author Mike Yager from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The first hour will include a tour of the MY Garage Museum and his personal Corvette collection. Space is limited. Cost is $50 per person for the tour, a gourmet lunch, drinks and an autographed gift from Yager.

Yager is more than a Corvette owner and businessman. He pushed for "Drive Your Corvette to Work Day" and lobbied the U.S. Postal Service to create a Corvette stamp, which debuted at the Funfest in 2005.

The weekend is not all about cars. Helicopter rides are available and seminars on wellness and even beading classes are scheduled.

To reach Mid America Motorworks, take exit 162, the Effingham-Sigel exit, from Interstates 57/70. Turn right on Illinois 45 North and travel 1.5 miles.

For more information on Mid America Motorworks, call (800) 500-1500 or visit www.mamotorworks.com.