[VIDEO] Mid America Motorworks and the MY Garage Museum Destroyed by a Tornado

The Corvette Nation is in shock this morning after learning that Mid America Motorworks’ facilities including Mike Yager’s MY Garage Museum in Effingham, IL were destroyed by a tornado on Wednesday. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

Mike Yager founded the Corvette Parts and Accessories company in 1974, and it grew into one of the largest aftermarket companies serving both the Corvette and classic VW hobbies. The company’s growth over the last 52 years helped to fuel a massive collection of Corvette vehicles and other important memorabilia in the MY Garage Museum. Now, all that is gone.

Here is a video posted this morning from Michael Yager:

In case you can’t see the video, Michael says the following:

Hey guys, Michael Yager at Mid America Motorworks. Obviously behind me is what was the MY Garage Museum. First and foremost, our family and our staff are safe, but we pretty much lost everything. Our corporate building, our outbuildings, everything is gone. Our inventory, our computer systems, So, we know we have Volkswagen Funfest this weekend and other events in the future, so at this point obviously those are cancelled. We are just asking that people just don’t show up while we’re in the cleanup process and navigating everything that’s going to come in the next coming days and weeks. I appreciate, and we appreciate all the texts, phone calls and emails. Most of them have gone unanswered but not unnoticed. The Volkswagen and Corvette community is super strong, so I know they’ll have our back when the time is there. I appreciate the thoughts and comments, and we’ll be back with ya.”

Founder Mike Yager and his wife Laurie were away in Italy when they got the news, and this morning Mike sent out this email to friends and supporters. He writes the following:

Friends,

First, forgive the open email — I’ve put everyone on one message on purpose, so Michael can see exactly who I’ve reached, and so none of you are hearing this in isolation. Laurie and I are in Italy, and I wanted this to come from me directly, not from a news report.

Last night a tornado scored a direct hit on the Mid America Motorworks campus in Effingham. Every building is a total loss. The museum, the cars, our 1910 gas station, inventory, and many of the outdoor signs from the collection are gone. From the photos I’ve seen, the last C4, the historic C5 Alpha and Beta prototypes, the CERV4b, and the rest of the collection are destroyed or badly damaged.

Here is the part that matters above all else: it happened in the middle of the night, no one was on site, and not a single team member was hurt. Everything else is just things. For that, Laurie and I are more grateful than I know how to say.

I won’t pretend I know what comes next or how long it will take. After 52-plus years, as of today we are out of business while we account for what’s left. My focus right now is two things — making sure our people keep getting their paychecks, and personally reaching the suppliers, partners, and friends who have stood beside us all these years.

Michael is copied here and is helping coordinate from our end; please reach him if you need anything before I’m back.

Thank you for everything. It means more today than it ever has.

Mike, Laurie Michael and Family

Mike also updated us on the status of the MY Garage Collection, and it’s sad to hear that most collection has been destroyed. Mike shared this as well:

For the Corvette Community. I am not stateside at this devastating time. It is my understanding that the LastC4, the C5 Alpha and Beta Corvettes, CERV4b, 1st NCM C5R box Corvette, 1949 VW cutaway, all collectibles, complete Illinois Central Railroad collection including original handwritten 1851 land grand and original corporate records books were destroyed. At this point, our family is overwhelmed with emotion and just know that our 52 plus years in the Corvette and VW community have been destroyed.

The first photos from the Mid America campus shows the complete destruction of the MY Garage Museum, the 1910 Gas Station, and heavy damage to the main corporate building.

At this time, we wish the Yager family and all their staff in Effingham our prayers for a speedy recovery. The Yagers have strong support in the Corvette community, so it’s been great to see the outpouring of messages in support of the family. We’ll bring you any updates as they come.

Source:
Mid America Motorworks

Related:
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[VIDEO] Corvette Assembly Plant Catches Fire After EF-2 Tornado Strikes Bowling Green Overnight
[PIC] Tornado Destroys C4 Corvette In St.Louis Suburb

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