Tornado Destroys Mid America Motorworks and MY Garage Museum in Effingham

Car owners always apply a high-performance detailing line to their prized vehicles, but nature can strip away those machines in seconds. A Wednesday night tornado destroyed Mid America Motorworks and the adjoining MY Garage Museum in Effingham, Illinois. The weather event completely wiped out over five decades of automotive history.

Mike Yager started the business in 1974. Over 52 years, the operation grew into a massive aftermarket supplier for Corvette and classic Volkswagen enthusiasts. This growth funded an incredible collection of rare vehicles. The storm hit the facility in the middle of the night. No staff members were on the property, and first responders reported absolutely no injuries.

Mike and Laurie were traveling in Italy when the disaster occurred. The founder wanted to communicate directly with supporters. The tornado even destroyed the inventory for its high-performance detailing line.

He sent the following open email:

Friends, First, forgive the open email I’ve put everyone on one message on purpose, so Michael [his son] 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 later shared an update regarding the specific inventory lost in the rubble. He confirmed the storm destroyed the Last C4, the C5 Alpha and Beta Corvettes, the CERV4b, the first NCM C5R box Corvette, and a ’49 VW cutaway. The destruction also claimed a complete Illinois Central Railroad collection. Mike added: “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.”

Rebuilding requires much more effort than simply restocking the Corvette and Volkswagen parts businesses. The owners face a massive reconstruction process to evaluate the surviving property. The enthusiast community continues to send intense support to Mid America Motorworks during this difficult recovery period.