BREAKING: Mid America Motoworks Facility Leveled by Tornado

Our buildings have sustained catastrophic damage after being in the direct path of a tornado this evening. Thankfully, all team members are safe and no injuries were reported. We’ll share more updates as we work through the recovery process. Thank you.

Laurie and I just got news our property at Mid America Motorworks was totally lost to a tornado. Unfortunately we are in Italy and have no direct access to photos at this point. Our understanding is that the MYGarage Museum and cars, corporate building and inventory, 1910 vintage gas station, all exterior signs, all support buildings etc are totally destroyed. In other words, our entire 52 years in business is gone. Most of all of our personal family history that was stored at Mid America Motorworks , from Michael and Blake’s childhood, artwork is gone as well. We owned an original copy of Illinois Central Railroads original corporate minutes there as well.

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.

Update from Michael Yager at 9am ET 6/18/2026:

First and foremost our family and our staff are safe, but we pretty much lost everything. Our corporate building, or outbuildings, everything is gone. Our inventory, our computer systems, so.... we know we have Volkswagen Funfest this weekend and other events in the future, 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 gonna come in the next coming days and weeks. I 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.

Update from Effingham County Emergency Management Agency 6/18/2026

An impactful tornado travelled an estimated 12-15 miles through the northern parts of Effingham County this evening. While we know there are reports of injuries, so far, there are no reports of serious injuries or fatalities. There was also extensive damage to multiple residences, businesses, and farms. The situation is still unfolding, and we don’t expect to have a full report until after daylight.

Read the full briefing on their website

By the mid 1990s, the company had become more than a catalog. It had become a gathering point for the Corvette world. In 1994, Yager held a small customer appreciation event that brought in a few hundred Corvettes. That little get together became Corvette Funfest, and it grew into one of the largest Corvette events anywhere. At its peak, Funfest brought in tens of thousands of people and thousands of Corvettes. It became a mix of installs, tech sessions, concerts, celebrity guests, and a general feeling that the entire Corvette community had shown up in one place. I had the privilege of attended a few of them over the years, and let me tell you, it was nothing short of fantastic!

Funfest also attracted some of the biggest names in Corvette history. Designers, engineers, and former Corvette chiefs all made appearances over the years. Yager himself became a major figure in the hobby and eventually served on the board of the National Corvette Museum.

Video of damage to Mid America Motorworks facility after the June 17th, 2026 tornado

Pictures of damage to Mid America Motorworks facility after the June 17th, 2026 tornado

OMG...!!! 😵 This is a HUGE loss to everyone associated with the Corvette and VW communities...!!!