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Corvairs on the Prairie - 2016 CORSA International Convention

Welcome to Springfield Illinois -- and the 2016 CORSA International Convention. The information provided on this page should help you plan for the upcoming convention. The convention format is similar to past conventinos, but there are always small adjustments in the schedule. Of course, the local tours, self guided and organized by the conventions, are unique to each convention locale. Springfield Illinios is most famous for its ties to Abraham Lincoln. Springfield is home to Lincolns final resting place, the Lincoln's tomb, the only home he ever owned, his law pratice office and the state capitol which he served before being elected president. Springfield is also on the route of Historic Route 66 and includes numerous locations that were in existence during the Rt 66's heyday plus many other sites dedicated to Rt 66. Join us, it is bound to be another historic CORSA convention

Convention Index (click on link to navigate to each section)
Convention Venues
Convention Schedule
Registration
Events Descriptons
Banquet
Hospitality
Tours
Accommodations
Alternative Hotels
RV Parks and Camping
Trailer and Tow Vehicle Parking
Local Attractions
Area Map

Convention Venues
(click on images to enlarge)
Springfield Illinois
Visitors web page		 Springfield image

Welcome to Springfield, Illinois, the site of the 2016 CORSA International Convention, Corvairs on the Prairie, hosted the Prairie Capital Corvair Association on July 12-16. Drive, fly, or float (Abe arrived by canoe in 1831, honest.) to Springfield, Illinois to enjoy a very historic event. The history varies just like our Corvairs - from Abe Lincoln historic sites (Home, Tomb, old State capital where the Lincoln's "House Divided" speach was first heard), to Historic Route 66 which spans from Chicago thru Springfield and then west to California. Plus historic Native American sites are nearby. Springfield is in the heartland of the Midwest with Midwest hospitality, our goal is to help you have a grand time in our grand city. By car, you'll find us on Interstate 55 (a.k.a. Route 66 for nostalgia lovers) where it intersects Interstate 72, just 200 miles from Chicago and 100 miles from St. Louis. By plane, Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport is linked with international gateway airports from Chicago O'Hare and Dallas-Fort Worth for daily flights. And, by train, Amtrak offers daily stops in Springfield from Chicago and St. Louis on the Amtrak route between the two larger cities. Greyhound Bus Lines also serves the Springfield area.
Convention Headquarters
Crowne Plaza Springfield Hotel
3000 S Dirksen Pkwy
Springfield, IL 62703
 Crowne Plaza image

The host hotel is the Crowne Plaza Springfield, right off I-55/I-72 near Lake Springfield. We have rooms reserved for our guests and plenty of on-site parking for both Corvairs and trailers. The host hotel will be the location for most of the convention events: the Concours 'd Elegance, car display, rally, economy run, and all meetings and tech sessions. The auto-cross will be a 15 minute drive away at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

We have negotiated a $99/night room rate with the Crowne Plaza Springfield (www.ihg.com/crowneplaza). Parking is complimentary and there should be ample space for trailers. To make a reservation PENDING - Will get this added when I have good information from the hotel, in a week or two.

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Convention Schedule - Tentative Schedule From 2015
Tuesday, July 12 Time (meeting locations are still being finalized)
Registration8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Indoor Vendor Setup8:00 am - 11:00 pm
Vendor Sales8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Hospitality11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Concours Participants' Meeting1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Concours Operations and Classification2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Cole Competitors Meeting5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Newcomers' Orientation5:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Birthday (Welcome) Party7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Valve Cover Races8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Wednesday, July 13
Concours Operations and Classification 7:00 am - 7:30 am 
Concours Setup 6:30 am - 8:00 am 
Registration 8:00 am - 5:00 pm 
Hospitality8:00 am - 6:00 pm 
Vendor Sales 8:30 am - 7:00 pm
 
Concours d'Elegance 9:00 am - 4:00 pm 
Tech Sesson2:30 pm - 4:00 pm 
Model Car Setup3:00 pm - 5:00 pm 
Tour 7:30 am - 6:00 pm 
Air Vairs Group Meeting 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm 
1960 Caveman Group Meeting 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm 
Corvair Preservation Foundation Meeting 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm 
Chapter Editors, Webmasters, & Officers Meeting 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm  
CORSA Annual Meeting 6:45 pm - 7:30 pm  
Corvanatics Meeting 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm 
Virtual Vairs Group Meeting 9:00 pm - 10:30 pm  
Thursday, July 14
Economy Run Participants Meeting7:30 am - 8:00 am 
Rally Participants Meeting7:30 am - 8:00 pm 
Economy Run8:30 am - Noon 
Registration8:00 am - 5:00 pm 
Hospitality8:00 am - 6:00 pm 
Vendor Sales8:30 am - 7:00 pm 
Tour: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm 
Rally1:00 pm - 4:30 pm 
Banquet Table Assignments
- Chapters 		2:00 pm - 2:30 pm 
Banquet Table Assignments
-Individuals		2:30 pm - 4:00 pm 
Autocross Pre-Tech/Classification 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm 
Tour: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 
Ultra Van Motorcoach Club Meeting 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm 
Yenko Stinger Group meeting8:00 pm - 9:00 pm 
V-8 Registry Group Meeting9:00 pm - 10:00 pm 
Stock Corvair Group Meeting9:00 pm - 10:00 pm 
Friday, July 15
Autocross Tech Inspection7:30 am - 8:30 am 
Registration8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Hospitality 8:00 am - Noon
Vendor Sales 8:30 am - Noon
Autocross Drivers Meeting8:30 am - 9:00 am 
Autocross9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Tech Session3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Cocktail Social Hour 6:00 am - 7:00 pm
Banquet & Awards7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Saturday, July 16
Car Display Setup8:00 am - 9:00 am
People's Choice Car Display9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Stock Corvair Group Event9:00 am - 2:00 pm

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Registration

Registration is not yet available. Check back around the first of the calendar year, 2016. Hopefully by then the registration form will be ready in both online and paper form. Electronic online registration is preferred. It also guarentees you that your registration did not get lost in the mail. Happens.

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Events
Concours d'Elegance

The Concours will be just outside the main entrance to the hotel on the East side of the parking lot. Operations check will be done the day before using the road that drives behind the hotel - between the Crowne Plaza and the Holiday Inn Express. On the east side, just before the parking lot will be the judges. Rain provision will utilize the hotel entranceway -- yep, got that "covered". Car wash is on the back side of the host hotel, again between it and the Holiday Inn Express.

Economy Run

The Route has not yet been fully planned but expect it to be mostly flat as central Illinois is mostly flat. Current plans are to travel some parts of Historic Route 66 during the economy run.

Model Car Concours d'Elegance

Expect to have a great area to exhibit your models, dioramas and valve cover racers -- yes, valve cover racers may be entered in the model concours, modifed class I think it is. We may provide an area for "display" only models and display, space permitting

Road Rally

The Route has not yet been fully planned but expect to travel parts of Historic Route 66. The route will be in the opposite direction of the economy run so doing both will allow you to see a lot of Route 66.

Autocross

The autocross is the one event that is not located at the host hotel. The autocross will be held on the north end of the Illinois State Fairgrounds using a mix of parking lot and fairgrounds streets. The fairgrounds are close, but not within walking distance, roughly 7 miles. Basic driving instructions are turn right from the parking lot onto Dirksen parkway. Travel North 4.6 miles to Sangamon Avenue, turn Left. There is a bowling alley, King Pin Lanes, and three gas station at the corner. Plus a Mcdonald's, and Sonic Drive-In are just before the corner on the right. Follow Sangamon Avenue for 1.6 miles to Peoria Road. The fairgrounds is ahead on the right. Details on which gate to use will be forthcoming. But i think gate 7 on the north side will be used. Turn right at Peoria Road, follow the road to Taintor Road, first non-fair road. Turn Left. The third fair gate is gate 7, turn left into the fairgrounds. Parking for spectators, participants and trailers will be available.


Illinois State Fairgrounds on the north side of Springfield Fair Ground Maps

7 miles from the Crowne Plaza Springfield, - north on Dirksen, left at Sangamon and you're there. More details later.

Fair Map
Tech Sessions

These are still in the planning stages. If you have a tech session you want to do, please let us know

Corvair Display

The Corvair Display will use the same area as the Concours, the parking lot on the East side of the hotel, just outside the main entrance. Car wash is on the back side of the host hotel, again between it and the Holiday Inn Express. Unfortunately, if it rains during this event, we all get a cool shower.

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Awards Banquet
Awards Banquet Menu

The menu has not been established yet, in part, because the Hotel Chef is re-working the menu options. Should be scrumptious.

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Hospitality

This is the Midwest -- of course we're hospitible. Oh, the Hospitality room will be well stocked with Puzzles and other games to help promote a little camaraderie amongst all our Covair friends. The room is a bit out of the way on the 12th floor, but it is very spacious and overlooks the parking lot where all the Corvairs and Corvair outdoor vendors will be. The view is quite spetacular, for Springfield. Expect the usual refreshments -- light snacks, popcorn, soft drinks, water and coffee -- to be available.

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Tours
Tours are still pending, but here are some pictures of area attrractions
Route 66

Historic Route 66 - original Brick road

Route 66

Historic Route 66 road sign

Route 66

Historic Route 66 - Shea's Gas Station

Lincoln New Salem

Lincoln Sites - Lincoln New Salem State Historic site<. A recreation of the village where Abe Lincoln was Post Master and a co-owner of a store.

Lincoln Tomb

Lincoln Sites - Lincoln's Tomb, final resting place for Abe, Mary, and sons.

Old State Capitol

Lincoln Sites - Illinois Old State Capitol, Abe gave his "House Divided Speech" in this building.

Lincoln Home

Lincoln Sites - Lincoln's Home, the only home Lincoln owned.

Corn field

And just for fun, an Illinois Corn Field.

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Accommodations - Host Hotel
Crowne Plaza Springfield Hotel
3000 S Dirksen Pkwy
Springfield, IL 62703

The host hotel is the Crowne Plaza Springfield, right off I-55/I-72 near Lake Springfield. We have rooms reserved for our guests and plenty of on-site parking for both Corvairs and trailers. The host hotel will be the location for most of the convention events, the Concours 'd Elegance, car display, rally, economy run, and all meetings and tech sessions. The auto-cross will be a 15 minute drive away at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

We have negotiated a $99/night room rate with the Crowne Plaza Springfield (www.ihg.com/crowneplaza). Parking is complimentary and there should be ample space for trailers. To make a reservation PENDING - Will get this added when I have good information from the hotel, in a week or two.



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Alternative Hotels
Alternative hotels are pending when needed

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RV Parks and Camping

KOA is located near Lake Springfield - Approximately 7.5 miles from Crowne Plaza Camping also available at other locations around Springfield including but not limited to Riverside Park (9.5 from host hotel); The Illinois State fair grounds, New Salem State Historic Site (24, 18 miles from host hotel) and several other locations around Lake Springfield.

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Trailer and Tow Vehicle Parking

The north end of the parking lot at the host hotel is expected to be reserved for trailers and tow vehicles. The better they are parked, the more the lot can accommodate. The hotel staff does have experience with car shows. They can provide great suggestions, such as how much room to leave so you can get in and out with your trailer without disturbing anyone.

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Local Attractions
Close to the host hotel

Across the street from the Crowne Plaza is a shopping mall with several fast food options and a movie theater complex. Several casual restaurants are within a quarter of a mile.

Around Springfield

Lincoln Related - Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Lincoln Tomb, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Lincoln’s New Salem State Historical Site, Illinois Old State Capitol, Lincoln Depot, Lincoln-Herndon Law Office, Lincoln family church pew, Lincoln bank ledger

Route 66 related - Historic Route 66 itself goes through town, Shea’s Gas Station Museum (by appointment only at this time), Cozy Dog Drive-in (the original!!), Route 66 Hotel & Conference Center (Route 66 memorabilia)

Knight’s Action Park - Water Park, Mini Golf, Go-Karts, Driving Range, Ferris Wheel.

Lake Springfield - Lincoln Memorial Garden & Nature Center, Henson Robinson Zoo, boat rentals

Museums (most are smaller sites) - Illinois State Museum, Illinois Fire Museum, Illinois State Military Museum, Air Combat Museum and many more

Other - Route 66 Drive-In Theater, Dana Thomas House (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright), Iles House (one of the first homes built in Springfield), Vachel Lindsay Home, Illinois Executive Mansion (yes, it is open for tours), Illinois State Capitol, Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon, Washington Park Botanical Gardens, Southwind Park (ADA accessible park)

In the region (Interstates 55, 72, 155 and 74 connect all listed towns with Springfield)

Decatur, IL (40 miles) - Chevrolet Hall of Fame Museum (has some CPF artifacts)

St Louis, MO (100 miles) - Cardinals baseball (Hall of Fame and Museum, Busch Stadium Tour, Ballpark Village, perhaps a game?), Mississippi River waterfront (Jefferson National Expansion Memorial - a.k.a. the “Arch,” stationary river boat casino), Forest Park (zoo, museums), Missouri Botanic Garden, “The Hill” (Italian-American district)

Peoria, IL (75 miles) - Caterpillar Visitors Center (interactive museum), Peoria Riverfront Museum (planetarium, children’s discovery center, folk art), stationary river boat casino

Hannibal, MO (100 miles) - Sites related to Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) and Maggie Tobin (“Unsinkable” Molly Brown) who were both born in HannibalAcross the street from the Crowne Plaza is a shopping mall and a movie house

Others Dana Thomas House -Frank Lloyd Wright Design Iles House - one of the first homes built in Springfield Goveernors Executive Mansion -- yes it is open for tours Illinois State Capital Southwind Park - ADA accessible park New Salem Theatre in the Park Hoogland Center for the Arts Lincoln’s Ghost Walk

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Convention Area Map
Will add a local map soon

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2016 Corsa International ConventionCorvairs On The Prairie