It might seem logical that the National Council of Corvette Clubs would hold its annual convention in Bowling Green – the mecca of the Corvette world. But the event has only been held here two times previously – in 2001 and 2013 – in the 57 years the convention has been held.

Next week will mark the third time the gathering of Corvette enthusiasts will be held at the home of the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant and National Corvette Museum.

Richard Yanko of the host Vette City Vettes club said the convention should draw as many as 600 Corvette lovers from across North America to Bowling Green for the Monday through Friday event.

“It just seemed like a natural thing” to have the event back in Bowling Green this year, Yanko said.

Another recent annual convention was held in Nashville and drew scores of attendees north of the Tennessee border to see the Corvette sites here.

One of the new local draws is the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park, where some of the convention events will be held.

The convention will be based at Sloan Convention Center with some events at Beech Bend Park.

Mother Nature will be adding an unexpected local draw as well – the total solar eclipse Monday that is drawing thousands of visitors to the region.

When plans were being made for the 2017 convention more than two years ago, the eclipse was not on many people’s radar, Yanko said.

Fortunately for the National Council of Corvette Clubs, blocks of rooms in local hotels were booked well in advance, so finding accomodations for next week’s convention has not been an issue.

Yanko said there are no special plans for the eclipse viewing – “we’ll probably just step out of the hotel and view the eclipse,” he said, adding that the host Holiday Inn at Sloan Convention Center should be a prime viewing location.

The convention participants will be making bus trips to Nashville and area attractions and taking part locally in concerts, tours, drag races, a raffle to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, dinners, car shows and more.

The events are for club members only, Yanko said, but the public will likely see quite a few classic and collectible Corvettes on city streets next week.

Yanko said he’s heard from many national club members who are relishing the chance to meet again in the home of the Corvette.

“They are really enthusiastic about coming down,” Yanko said.