June 15, 2010
Corvette magazine editor returning home for car show
Andy Bolig, editor of Corvette Enthusiast magazine, stands next to his modified 1985 Corvette outside The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY. Bolig, who grew up just outside of Columbia County, will be signing autographs at Bloomsburg Hospital’s Annual Rod & Custom Cruise-In, held August 13, 14, and 15 at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds.
Growing up just outside of Millville, Andy Bolig now travels the country as editor of Corvette Enthusiast, one of the most popular Corvette magazines in the nation. Bolig will make a special stop home this year as a featured guest at Bloomsburg Hospital’s Annual Rod & Custom Cruise-In.
Taking place August 13 – 15 at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, Bolig will be at the show signing autographs starting at 1:30pm on Saturday, August 14, prior to the New Individuals taking the stage.
“I am excited to be attending such a great show right in my backyard,” says Bolig. “I always go to the big Corvette show in Carlisle, but it will be nice to be so close to home.”
Bolig plans to drive his modified 1985 Corvette from Florida to the show. He has written many articles in Corvette Enthusiast about this car, and put about 20,000 miles on it last year attending car shows all over the east coast.
Growing up just on the Lycoming county side of the Columbia/Lycoming county line, Bolig was fascinated with all things mechanical, especially engines. And by age 12 he was already repairing and rebuilding them.
“Cars had always been part of my life. I helped my dad build a ’23 Ford T-Bucket while I was in high school and together, we built a ’67 Ford Galaxie 500,” explains Bolig.
Bolig often fantasized about writing for car magazines, but it wasn’t until he moved to Lakeland, FL with his wife Ami to finish college that a chance encounter jump started his writing career.
“While working in a small hardware store, a man with a Muscle Car Review shirt came in asking about cabinets,” explains Bolig. “I knew MCR was published by Dobb’s Publishing in Lakeland, and as fate would have it, I was staring face to face with Tom Shaw, the editor of Muscle Car Review.”
It took Bolig another two years, and a lot of patience, but he finally got his first job writing for a car magazine as a tech editor for Corvette Fever.
“I had always liked Corvettes but never had the opportunity to own one,” says Bolig. “Even with a really steep learning curve, I really enjoyed taking in all the information I could about these cars, and eventually bought a basket-case ’85 Corvette that needed everything.”
It took Bolig eight years to finally get the Corvette running, but rebuilding the car was an invaluable learning opportunity.
Bolig spent five years at Corvette Fever before being offered the editor position at Corvette Enthusiast.
“Amos Press had just revamped their Corvette magazine. It was re-titled as Corvette Enthusiast, and they wanted a fresh face to go with the new title,” says Bolig. “I’ve been here for about five and half years and it’s been great.”
Corvette Enthusiast is a monthly publication with a national circulation of 35,000. It is also available for free on-line at www.corvetteenthusiast.com.
The Hazleton Corvette Club is helping organize Bolig’s appearance at the Annual Rod & Custom Cruise-In.
“Anyone who owns a Corvette knows about Andy Bolig,” says Judy Andres, Hazleton Corvette Club president. “We are very excited to meet such a well-known person in the Corvette-world, and proud to be helping Bloomsburg Hospital’s car show.”
For more information on the car show, visit www.rodandcustomcruisein.com or email cruisein@bloomhealth.net.