Ford’s top-selling non-F150 is the Explorer, 15th-best selling 2021 vehicle sold this year and 7th top-selling SUV on the market and sits as America’s all-time best-selling SUV.

Explorer was all-new in 2020, after a nine-year run with its fifth generation, redesigning the sixth-gen as a lighter, longer and more powerful vehicle.

The vehicle that is credited with mainstreaming sports utility vehicles, Explorer began as a trim package offered on Ford F-Series trucks from 1968 to 1986. It became its own model line and replaced the Bronco II in 1991 and the mid-size remained the best-selling SUV for two decades and four generations. The 2021 Explorer continues the adventure with new style, power, performance, safety and capabilities, while retaining Explorer ruggedness, toughness and a pampering environment.

Now, for 2022, Explorer will add a new ST-Line trim with a turbocharged four-cylinder powertrain, and it will be available in rear-wheel drive. High-end King Ranch and Platinum models will increase horsepower to 400hp, and can be equipped with either a second-row bench seat or a pair of captain's chairs.

For 2021, Explorer upgraded from the 2020 redesign with reduced prices on all trims with lower-priced, RWD Enthusiast ST trim added to lineup;  King Ranch and Timberline trims added to line-up; uptweaked interiors for Limited, ST, and Platinum trims with power-adjustable front passenger seat; increased wheel choice ranging from 18 to 21 inches; standard heated front seats and optional Sport Appearance package on the XLT trim; enhanced performance packs; and a hybrid now offered for the Platinum trim with RWD powertrain. New exterior colors include Carbonized Gray, Infinite Blue Metallic Tinted Clearcoat and Stone Gray.

Built in North America at Chicago Assembly Plant, Explorer’s look changes subtly with each trim level, and remains Explorer confident, with a rear-wheel-drive architecture, athletic roundness and increased aerodynamics. Explorer measures 198.8 inches long (the ST trim is 199.3 inches long), 89.3 inches wide (including mirrors), and 70.2 inches high on a huge 119.1-inch wheelbase. Minimum ground clearance is 8.2 inches, and curbweight for the 4WD Platinum version is 4727 lbs. -- the base trim is 382 lbs. lighter.

My test Explorer Platinum exterior was enhanced by body-color door handles with satin aluminum insert, a body-color liftgate spoiler, Satin Aluminum Lower bodyside cladding accent, Quad Chrome Exhaust Tips, a unique grille with satin-aluminum finish, a Hands-Free, Foot-Activated Liftgate, LED Signature Lighting, power folding mirrors with autofold and heated glass, Rain-Sensing Wipers, Rear Bumper Step ,Acoustic-laminate window glass in front and Privacy Glass in the Second and Third Rows.

The 2021 Explorer offers three engine choices (with four set-ups): The 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-4 produces 300hp and 310 lbs-ft of torque (same as last year); the 3.3-liter hybrid is good for a combined horsepower of 318 and torque of 322 lb-ft; and the new 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6 that powered my test ride, provided 365 hp and 380 lbs-ft of torque, while another version of the 3.0 stampedes 400 horses and 415 lb-ft for the ST.

The hybrid is EPA rated at 27mpg/city and 29/highway; the 2.3 gets 21/city and 28/highway and the 3.0 version gets 18 and 24. My test Explorer Platinum 3.0 averaged 20.0mpg on the highway, around town and on soft-road excursions.

The 400hp ST can complete a zero-to-60mph sprint in 5.2 and beat 14 seconds in the quarter-mile, but my 365-horse Platinum accelerated well and finished off the sprint in 6.1 seconds (hand-timed) during a 14.6 quarter-mile.

Inside, the Explorer is spacious, well-appointed, tech-savvy, luxurious, functional and comfortable with good sightlines. With seating for six or seven, front headroom is 40.7 inches with 40.5 inches in row two (and 38.9 when there is a third row); legroom is 43.0 inches up front and 39.0 in the second seats (and a tight 32.0 inches in a third row), and shoulder room is 61.8 (row one), 61.9 (row two) and 54.6 (row three).

Explore had been awarded a 5-star safety rating and features dual-stage front airbag, front-passenger knee airbag; Safety Canopy® System; SOS Post-Crash Alert System™; Traction control; AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ and Curve Control; Anti-Lock Brake System; battery saver with headlamps-off delay; four-wheel disc with Illuminated Entry System; rearview camera; SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System; perimeter alarm; and individual tire pressure monitoring system (excludes spare).

The 2021 Explorer drops in price from the 2020s by from $540 to more than $5000 depending on trim level. The base Explorer is priced at $33,470 (RWD) and 4WD adds $2000. The XLT trim raises the RWD price to $35,245 and the Limited trim hybrid goes $44,167. My top-of-the-line 2021 Ford Explorer Platinum started at $55,725, a drop of $3000 from the same crossover I tested last year. It was decked out with Intelligent 4WD, Tri-Diamond Perforated Leather Seating Surfaces with Accent Stitching, Twin Panel Moonroof, Active Park Assist 2.0, Evasive Steering Assist, Remote Start, Heated Steering Wheel, Voice-activated touchscreen navigation and 12.3-inch Digital Cluster. The Premium Technology Package added $1195 for Multicontour front Seats with Active Motion®, a 10.1-inch LCD Capacitive Portrait Touchscreen with Swipe and Pinch-to-Zoom Capability and 14-speaker, 980-watt Bang & Olufsen B&O sound system. Splash Guards added $205 and the sticker added Destination Charges of $1195 and an Acquisition Fee of $645, but regional incentives of $1750 were applied (and may be available, so check with your dealer), making the price-as-tested $57,220.

You can see the 2021 and 2022 Ford Explorer as well as vintage Explorers and more than 3200 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Euro Fords that span decades, including just about everything Ford has offered since 1903, at the 2022 Carlisle Ford Nationals, June 3-5, 2022 at the Carlisle(PA) Fairgrounds.

Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. 

The Nissan Z debuted in 1969 and has been Datsun/Nissan’s super car for seven generations. The Nissan 370Z is about to be replaced by the 2023 Nissan Z. Developed to represent an approachable sports car for the modern age, Nissan execs say "Z is the pure expression of thrill. It is Nissan's passion wrapped up on four wheels.” The all-new, 2023 Z, which drops its numerical prefix in the U.S. for the first time, is scheduled to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in spring 2022.

However, as the 370Z is still out there, Nissan already has a super car, a high-performance street beast that has been an excitement provider since 2007, the Nissan GT-R.

Happy with what they have, the 2021 GT-R adds only one new exterior color, Bayside Blue, an homage to a 1990s color that was not offered in America, and a higher-performance GT-R NISMO model was added to the lineup. Last year’s 50^th Anniversary Edition has been shelved for a limited-edition T-Spec trim with wider fenders, gold-painted wheels, a carbon-fiber rear spoiler, and either Millennium Jade or Midnight Purple paint.

I tested the Premium trim GT-R that just about matches the NISMO’s 600 horsepower with 565 horses of its own.

With performance bred on the racetracks, GT-R boasts of a 3.8-liter V6 24-valve twin-turbocharged engine – each handcrafted by its own takumi (“artisan”) technician and supercharged for max output. In addition, the exhaust manifolds, inspired by racing technology, feature optimized turbo flange attachment points, which allow for easier servicing and potential tuning, without touching the exhaust manifold. The engine is rated at 565 horsepower with torque rated at 467 lb-ft.

The 2021 GT-R also features a standard titanium exhaust system, which better manages the high temperatures of the exhaust gases from the engine (versus non-titanium). The system includes a duct on the vehicle's undertray just forward of the muffler, which guides air into the rear diffuser section to help cool the muffler and evacuate hot air.

The base engine is the longitudinal electronic fuel-injected V-6 VR38DETT that is rated at 16/22/18. I averaged about 16.6 mpg, but I wasn’t driving it for fuel economy. I pedal-mashed and drove it for fun and for performance.

Some reports have the 2021 Nissan GT-R Premium blazing the zero-60mph sprint in 2.9 seconds (and the 600-hp NISMO version in 2.5) with an 11.2-second quarter-mile. My test drive was not done in ideal conditions and my vehicle was not light nor was it specially tuned for the tests, so I never got under 3-seconds, and my quarter-mile was closer to 11.5, but fast is fast, and this beast was fast. Acceleration is without a beat, though the shift points were not completely on target.

Vehicle speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion, aluminum steering rack, four-point mounting, with stiff insulators was auto-cross responsive, and the independent double wishbone aluminum, integral tube-frame structure front suspension and Independent and multi-link aluminum rear soften any road irregularities and maintain a balance between driver’s road feel and passenger comfort.

With seating for four, the front is roomy -- the rear, not so much. Head room measures 38.1 inches in front and a duck-your-head 33.5 in the rear seats. Legroom is an ample 44.6 inches in front and pull-your-knees-up 26.4 inches in the back. Shoulder room is 54.3 and 50.0. The Premium cabin’s front bucket seats are a leather/synthetic suede combination, with 8-way power heated driver’s seat and heated 4-way front passenger seat.

Infotainment includes a Bose® audio system with 11 speakers (9 speakers with 2 subwoofers in rear center armrest area) with AM/FM/CD, MP3/WMA playback and Bose active noise cancellation. Included is NissanConnect® with 8.0-inch color display with multi-touch control and voice recognition for Nissan navigation and audio, HD Radio, SiriusXM ® Travel Link and Bluetooth hands-free phone system all with steering wheel audio controls.

Safety is attended to with an advanced air bag system of driver and front passenger air bags with dual-stage inflation, seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor. On board are driver and front passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags and roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags for front seat occupant head protection. Zone Body Construction with front and rear crumple zones, energy-absorbing steering column, hood buckling creases, knee bolsters, and high-strength side door guard beams were engineered for safety and support when needed.

The 2021 Nissan GT-R starts at $113,549 for the GT-R premium and $210,740 for the NISMO version. In Solid Red with a Black interior, Premium carbon-fiber all weather floor mats were added for $1085, and that was it. With $1795 included for shipping and handling, my 2021 test Nissan GT-R was priced at $116,420.

You can expect to see Zs and GTs, classic imports of luxury and racing lore and the newest a glitziest in an international vehicle wonderland showcasing more than 2300 unique and impressive imported vehicles from around the world at the 2022 Carlisle Import and Performance Nationals, May 13-14, 2022 Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds.

Also on display will be domestics, kit cars, motorcycles, trucks and high-end performance vehicles. See the top builds, restorations, clubs and brands representing the world of automobiles and performance. Get your high-octane adrenaline fix on with autocross, drifting, rolling exhaust competition, and more at the 2022 Carlisle Import and Performance Nationals.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

 

Ford launched its F-150 truck line in 1948 and it soon became “America’s Truck”, the best-selling truck in the U.S. for 44 consecutive years and America’s best-selling vehicle for 39 years. This year, the 14th generation has begun and while it may look much as its predecessor did, Ford focused on capability rather than looks as the 2021 F-150 underwent a redesign of 92% of its parts, carrying over only its cab and pickup box structure. So far, the new-gen has only built on F-150’s legacy of success and sales.

Last redesigned in 2015, the all-new 2021 Ford F-150 was introduced for the 2021 model year through a live presentation streamed over the Internet on June 25, 2020. The all-new F-150 is purpose-built from the ground up — and according to Ford, it was redesigned to be “the toughest, most productive F-150 ever.”

Most productive or not, the 2021 F-150 is a street and work beast with options. There are six powertrains including a hybrid, three cab configurations, both long and short bed lengths and myriad options for luxury, tech, infotainment and toughness to fit any budget of lifestyle. Styling may not have been outwardly addressed, but the new Ford F-150 is new from grille to tailgate.

With a 6.5-foot styleside configuration 4x4, the 2021 Ford F-150 Lariat I tested measures 209.1 inches long, 77 inches high and 79.9 inches wide on a 122.8-inch wheelbase with ground clearance of 8.3 inches and ground to open tailgate height of 33.9 inches. With a SuperCrew Cab, those measurements increase to a 157.2-inch wheelbase and length of 243.5 inches. Curbweight with a Super Crew and 5.0-liter 4x4 was 5014 pounds.

Inside, the Super Crew gets you 40.8 inches of front headroom and 40.3 in the rear; shoulder room of 66.7 and 66.0 inches; and legroom of 43.9 and 43.6.

My test Lariat had a 12-inch digital productivity screen for driving information in such modes as Normal, Eco, Sport, Tow/Haul, Slipper, Trail, Deep Snow/Sand, Mud/Rots. Rock Crawl and 4x4. It also has a 12-inch center stack touch screen with enhanced voice recognition that runs from playlist to directions. Also inside you get dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control, cruise control, delayed accessory power

dome light, fade-to-off interior lighting, grab handles, dual note horn, intelligent access with push-button start, intermittent windshield wipers, outside temperature display, power door locks with flip key, power-adjustable pedals with memory, rearview mirror, color-coordinated carpet with carpeted floor mats, black leather-wrapped steering wheel, SiriusXM® with 360L, SYNC® 4 with Enhanced Voice Recognition, FordPass™ Connect with Wi-Fi Hotspot, leather-trimmed seating, 10-way power front seats with lumbar, and more.

Safety items include six airbags, safety canopy and side curtains, Post-Collision Braking, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane-Keeping System  Reverse Sensing System, AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™, BLIS® with Cross-Traffic Alert and Trailer Tow Coverage, Curve Control, Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes and more.

Outside you get optional running boards, autodimming and heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals with memory and power folding, LED box lighting, cargo hooks, power lock and release tailgate and more.

The F-150 has direct and quick steering making it carlike in several ways. Sightlines were good and maneuverability in tight spots made the vehicle seem than expected. The ride was a bit bouncy over rougher terrain, but smooth on the highways. My 400 hp/410-lb-ft of torque  5.0-liter Lariat accelerated smoothly and powerfully and went from zero to 60 in 5,9 seconds during a 14.5-second quarter mile (hand-timed). Fuel mileage was 20.2 mpg.

The 2022 Ford F-150 starts at $29,290, and through three cab styles, 4x2 or 4x4, six powertrains and eight trim models, can start you off as high as $73,105 before options. My Lariat trim is third on the list and started at $45,045 with a 2.7-liter Ecoboost engine. The SuperCrew cab and 6.5-foot bed moved that to $47,660. Adding 4x4 (I always make sure my trucks are 4x4) added $3835. Tough Bed spray-in bedliner added $595. Molded splash guards were $220; 6-inch extended running boards added $1005; floor liners added $200. Destination charges of $1695 and Acquisition fees of $645 put the price-as-tested at $56,655.

You can see the 2021 and 2022 Ford F-150 and more than 2,000 trucks that span decades, from lowered mini trucks, lifted 4x4s, chromed out big rigs, SUV’s, custom vans, new trucks and the perfectly restored at the Carlisle Truck Nationals, August 5-7 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds.

<I> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

The Dodge Challenger has been a Dodge excitement-provider (albeit with a few stoppages) since 1958, when it debuted for two years as a limited-edition member of the Dodge Coronet line -- the Dodge Silver Challenger. Challenger made a lasting impression a decade later when it galloped onto the Pony car scene in 1969 as a sister to the Plymouth Barracuda. Entering the American “Muscle Car” Wars,” Challenger began with the Chrysler “E-body” short-deck, long-hood platform it shared with the Plymouth Barracuda. With powertrain choices that ranged from a 145-hp 225-cubic-inch I-6, to a 426-ci HEMI V-8 that thundered out 425 horses (there was also a larger 440-ci V-8 that produced 390 horsepower), Challenger’s first run ended in 1974.

The next generation lived from 1978 to 1983, when it was shelved until its renaissance in 2008. Back as a retro-luxury-muscle car in 2008, a re-design in 2015 built on the 1970s architecture and power has increased ever since, to promote Challenger as “the most powerful muscle car ever,” and  “The Strongest Muscle in America.” That boast is backed up by Challenger’s available supercharged SRT Super Stock model that explodes out 807 horsepower.

We won’t see the next generation of Challenger until 2023, and the 2021 version sits on the same platform it debuted on in 2008. Its last major facelift was in 2015, yet with iconic looks and power to attract, the 2021 Dodge Challenger is in a dogfight, or Pony race with Mustang for the top-selling muscle car spot this year. With few changes except conveniences in store for 2022, the 2021 beast adds a widebody package available on R/T Scat Pack Shaker and T/A 392; memory feature for driver's seat, steering column, side mirrors, and radio presets available on all trim levels; 20-inch wheels now standard on GT AWD, available on SXT AWD trims; additional SRT branding on SRT trims and Black chrome finish on the grille, spoiler, and fender badges on some SRT trims

In classic muscle car front-wheel, rear-drive configuration, the SRT Super Stock’s revised powertrain rating, combined with its larger, stickier standard Nitto drag radials, help propel the 807-hp model to a 3.25-second zero-to-60mph sprint and a 10.5-second quarter. 

Other model power numbers start at 303hp and there is a power setting for every taste, as long as you like muscle. The 2021 Dodge Challenger offers a full range of engine options, including the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 on SXT, SXT AWD, GT and GT AWD models; the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 on R/T models, the naturally aspirated 392 HEMI V-8 on R/T Scat Pack models; the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V-8 on SRT Hellcat and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI high-output V-8 on SRT Hellcat Redeye and new SRT Super Stock.

Available in 13 exterior and five interior colors, the 2021 Challenger is built at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada. Its unitized steel body construction measures 197.9 inches long, 78.3 inches (widebody) wide and 57.7 inches high, with 5.2 inches of ground clearance on a 116-inch wheelbase. My manual shift model weighed 4308 lbs. (curbweight)

I went with a manual shift 5.7-liter HEMI that was good for 375 hp and 410 lbs-ft of torque set up that is EPA rated at 15mpg/city and 23mpg/highway. My test driving averaged 16.8 mpg, and I did a lot of pedal mashing. My sprint speed was 5.1 seconds during a 13.8-second quarter-mile.

Inside, you get 21st century infotainment and headroom of 39.3 inches in front, 37.1 rear knee clearance of 4.4 inches;  legroom of 42 in front and 33.1 in row two; and shoulder room of 58.5 and 53.9. 

Acceleration is as quick as I can shift and stomp, and the electric steering is mildly into understeer. The indy short- and long-arm front suspension and five-link rear floats a bit for a driver, but is smooth for passengers.

With nine models in the line-up the 2021 Dodge Challenger starts at $29,065 for the 303-hp SXT and ranges on up to $82,465 for the 807-hp SRT Super Stock. Most buyers will go somewhere in the middle and my test R/T model was third up on the list and started at $35,575 with a 5.7-liter HEMI and 6-speed manual shift. In classic Go Mango (orange) paint, classic black R/T side stripes and hood cowl added $395. In the cockpit, Alcantara/Nappa leather seats were standard, along with a UConnect 4C system with 8.4-inch display. An Alpine Audi Group option with subwoofer added $995 and a power sunroof added $1295. The $3095 Plus Package added machined granite 20-inch wheels, 276-watt amp, 6 premium Alpine speakers, HD radio, 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hot Spot, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, power tilt/telescope column and much more.

Adding destination charges of $1595 and discounting a $1500 National Retail Consumer Cash deletion, my 2021 Dodge Challenger was priced at $42,540.

You can see 50 years of Challengers and all things Dodge, Chrysler and Plymouth at the 2022 Carlisle Chrysler Nationals at the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds, July 15-17, 2022.

The largest Mopar event in the world, the show features more than 2,800 vehicles from all eras of the Chrysler brand, along with parts, tools, memorabilia, collectibles and more.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

The Chevrolet Camaro is the No.3-selling muscle car in America for 2021, and there is talk of an all-electric reboot in Camaro’s future. It may be third in sales, but it is a king beast on the asphalt.

When Americans clamored for a muscular, powerful, sporty car for the street and for tire-smoking bragging rights in the early 1960s, GM answered the call, attacked the genre, and put out a vehicle to compete for the 1967 model year … the Camaro. When Chevrolet product managers were asked what “Camaro” means, they responded with “a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.” And The Pony Wars of American muscle was born.

Through six generations, 5.5 million Camaros have been sold, with its first four generations produced from 1967 through 2002, and it’s most recent two generations built from 2010 through the present.

For 2021, There are only a couple of changes to the Camaro ZL1 lineup for 2021. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are now on its roster of features, and Chevy offers a new extra-cost paint color: Wild Cherry. And for 2022, expect only some color palette changes, and a loss of some wheel and cosmetic options.

In the front-engine, rear-drive formula that drove iconic muscle cars back in the day, the 2021 Camaro is available in eight trims and convertible and coupe configurations. The top-of-the line 2021 ZL1 is powered by a 650-hp/650 lb-ft of torque, 6.2-liter LT4 supercharged V-8 engine with direct injection. EPA rated at 21mpg/highway and 14 mpg city in manual … the “only” way to drive a muscle car for some of us … this power-packed street beast can fly from zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and finish off a quarter-mile in 11.5.

Built to hug the road, Camaro is 52.4 inches high, 74.7 inches wide and 190.2 inches long, on a 110.7-inch wheelbase. That translates to a close-to-the-pavement sticky ride, and a cozy interior with only 36.6 inches of front headroom and a hunched over 33.4 inches in the rear – a convertible is much more comfortable with better sightlines. The coupe weighs in at 3853 lbs for the stick shift version, and the manual shift convertible weighs 4120. On the road, the wide ride is giving to passengers and secure  for the driver, with quick, powerful acceleration, responsive handling and cornering and strength, grace and style in every situation. ZF rack-mounted electric, power-assisted and variable ratio rack-and-pinion steering with 20-inch rear tires and 19-inch front Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R rubber make for a ride-on-rails performance.

Inside the well-appointed high-tech cabin, legroom is an ample 42.7 inches in front and a crunched 29.9 inches in the rear. Shoulder room is comfortable with 55.5 in front and 50.3 in row two.

Infotainment includes an 8-inch diagonal color touch screen and available Navigation system. Built-in Wi-Fi hotspot is onboard with available 4G LTE data.

Safety is attended to with an airbag system consisting of dual- stage frontal, thorax side-impact and knee, driver and front passenger, and head curtain side-impact (head curtain airbags on coupe only). Standard items include Passenger Sensing System. There is a standard tire pressure monitor system, HD rear-vision camera, Head-Up Display, Forward Collision Alert in the coupe only, Rear Park Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert.

Available in coupe and convertible configuration in eight trims, starting at $26,195. My test ZL1 was top of the line and started at $64,195 for the manual coupe and $65,790 for the automatic. In Summit White (though I would have preferred Red Hot, and Premium paints are available), the exterior was mated to a Jet black set trim with red accents.  The ZL1 1LE Extreme Track Performance Package with rear bench seat, visible carbon fiber weave hood insert, Satin Black hood wrap and performance suspension with DSSV dampers added an additional $7500.  Premium carpeted floor mats with ZL1 logo added $185. With gas guzzler tax of $1700 and destination freight charges of $1195, my test 20231 Camaro ZL1 was priced at $73,580.

You can expect to see six generations of Camaros and all things GM, from antique to classic to present and future at the 2022 Carlisle GM Nationals, June 24-24 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

 

Originally envisioned as a second-gen Falcon, Ford’s Mustang immediately became its own legendary self when it was introduced April 17, 1964 and became the most successful Ford launch since the Model-A.

Ford’s original Pony Car, the Mustang, has been the top-selling muscle car of all-time, with nearly 10 million vehicles sold, and it has occupied the No.1 yearly slot in muscle car sales since 2015, when it supplanted Chevy Camaro in total yearly sales. This year, the 2021 Mustang is in a horserace for the top spot with Dodge Challenger …  but with an expected new design in the works for the 60th anniversary in 2024, the new 2022 Mustang receives a few cosmetic changes. Last fully revamped in 2015, and refreshed in 2018, Mustang adds the return of the limited-edition Mustang Mach 1 fastback coupe, first seen in 1969.  

With the addition of Mach 1, the 2021 Pony car stable includes Mustang EcoBoost® and Mustang GT, both available in fastback and convertible models, as well as the track-ready Mustang Shelby® GT500®  the most powerful street-legal Ford in history and the most advanced Mustang ever on the street, track or drag strip. The new Mach 1's heritage-inspired appearance plays off an aerodynamic design, cosmetic-yet-functional front end, stylish black stripes on the hood and bodysides and a blade spoiler. From a performance perspective, Mach 1 gains power enhancements and handling elements also available on Shelby GT350 and GT500 offerings. The Mach 1 comes with a 480hp 5.0-liter V8 engine and .an available Rallye Suspension Package and improved Brembo brakes. The system is EPA rated at 15/23 mpg, and has been clocked at 4.2 seconds for a zero-to-60mph sprint and a 12.6-second quarter-mile.

For Mustang EcoBoost and GT models, 2021 introduces standard Ford Co-Pilot360™. The suite of driver-assist technologies includes auto high-beam headlamps, rearview camera, Blind Spot Information System, Lane-Keeping System, and Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning and Dynamic Brake Support. A front and rear Belt Minder® safety belt reminder system and rain-sensing wipers are also standard.

In Oxford White with a Ceramic (white) interior, and a 6-speed manual transmission – I love a muscle car with a stick … so much more tire-smoking, power when I ask for it fun than in an automatic, my test ride added an EcoBoost handling package and a Pony package. It came with Recaro cloth seats, Mach 1 instrument panel bade with a unique chassis number and the Mach 1 Handling Package: 19-inch by 10.5-inch (front) and 19-inch by 11-inch (rear) Dark Tarnished-painted aluminum wheels; 305/30R19 (front) 315/30R19 (rear) tires; adjustable strut top mounts; front bumper sport; blade decklid spoiler and a Magnetic Rear seat with a folding split bench.

Standard exterior features include Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert,  Easy Fuel® capless fuel filler, hood vents, LED sequential taillights, Pony Projection Lights, rear diffuser, performance rear spoiler, bright 4.5-inch exhaust tip finish, manual fold and pony puddle lamp, unique lower and outboard grilles, unique front upper grille with Pony badge, silver painted strut-tower brace with Mach 1 badge, unique front and rear lower fascia and rear-window defroster.

Standard Power and Handling items include Brembo™ six-piston front brake calipers with larger rotors, electronic line-lock (track use only), independent rear suspension, launch control, selectable drive modes, Selectable Power-Assisted Steering, MagneRide® damping system, heavy-duty front springs, larger radiator, Open Air Induction System, Performance Enhanced Powertrain Calibration, unique intake manifold, black painted brake calipers, Unique Chassis Tuning, Active Valve Performance Exhaust System with Revised Tuning and more.

Interior Features include cabin particulate air filter dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control, aluminum foot pedals, ambient lighting with MyColor® and 4.2-inch cluster, auto-dimming rearview mirror autolights (automatic on/off headlamps) with wiper activation, bright chrome door speaker surround, premium carpeted floor mats with accent stitch, illuminated door-sill scuff plates, intelligent access with push-button start, leather-wrapped parking brake handle, leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise and audio controls and tilt/telescoping steering column, MyKey®, power windows, rear view camera, heated steering wheel, 9-speaker sound system with amplifier, AM/FM Stereo MP3 capable, SiriusXM®, SYNC® 3, FordPass™ Connect with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and more.

Safetywise, the Mustang includes Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keeping System, 4-way adjustable front head restraints, 3-point safety belt restraint system for all seating positions, glove box door-integrated knee airbag,

AdvanceTrac® with Electronic Stability Control, driver's knee airbag, dual front airbags

front-seat side-impact airbags, LATCH Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children, Personal Safety System™ for driver and front passenger, Safety Canopy® side-curtain airbags, SOS Post-Crash Alert System™, Ford Co-Pilot360™  and more.

The 2021 EcoBoost Fastback starts at $27,205, EcoBoost Premium Fastback $32,225, EcoBoost Convertible $32,705, GT Fastback $36,285, other Premium models run from $37,725 to $45,785, and the Mach 1 starts at $53,400, with the Mach 1 Premium at $53,300 and the Shelby GT500 at $72,900.

My tested 2021 Mustang Mach 1 with the $1250 Mach 1 appearance package was priced at $57,745.

You can expect to see 2021 and 2022 Mustangs as well as 58 years of Ponies and just about everything Ford has offered since 1903, at the 2022 Carlisle Ford Nationals, June 3-5, 2022 at the Carlisle(PA) Fairgrounds.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

 

This weekend, Fall Carlisle, or more accurately, the 47th annual Fall Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Corral will close the season at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. This car-lover’s experience includes a massive automotive flea market that is one of the best opportunities to get your hands on all things automotive. With 8,100 spaces of vendors selling a vast array of automotive parts, accessories, cars, collectibles and memorabilia, there is something automotive for everyone. Accompanying the automotive flea market and car corral is the Manufacturers Midway featuring the latest and greatest products and services, and a two-day auction across the street, presented by Carlisle Auctions.

One of the highlights of the event is the attendance and display of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA). The AACA’s mission statement is to be “America's premier resource for the collectible vehicle community.” Since 1935, AACA has had one goal: The preservation and enjoyment of automotive history of all types. From Nationals (Meets) and Tours to Regional events, AACA was established to bring enthusiasts together through exciting National activities, friendship, and Antique Automobile … an award winning 100-page full color magazine.

AACA first displayed at Fall Carlisle in 2020, and Ed Buczeskie, Fall Carlisle Event Manager said, it is important for AACA to display at Carlisle. He said, “Their involvement began out of (Carlisle Events co-owner) Bill Miller’s desire to help our friends at the AACA after it was announced that they would not be able to hold their Fall Meet in 2020. It was very important to Bill that we reach out and offer them space at Fall Carlisle. He wanted to give them space (totally free of charge) to promote the AACA, sell memberships to Carlisle guests, get membership renewals from current members and to display some of their cars. As Bill put it, ‘for about one-and-a-half weeks in September/October, Central PA becomes a car-lovers paradise with Fall Carlisle and Hershey being back to back. We are all in this together and we need to support each other.’”

Buczeskie  said, “We also worked with the AACA to offer their vendors space at Fall Carlisle because we knew it was going to be a financial hit to many of them if they didn’t have a venue to sell their products. We made an effort to reach out to them and let them know that they could vend at Carlisle. We also did a lot of marketing to let people know that there would be a lot of ‘Hershey vendors’ at Fall Carlisle. It was all done in a way that was VERY CLEAR that we were NOT out to ‘steal’ the AACA’s vendors. Rather, we just wanted to offer them a one-time opportunity to vend in lieu of Hershey.”

Wayne Tuck, AACA Executive Vice President, said, being at Fall Carlisle benefits his group. “A display at Carlisle provides AACA the opportunity to recruit new members and renew memberships of existing members. It also allows us to tell our story about what AACA does to benefit the entire hobby, members and non-members alike. We find a great source of old car fans at Fall Carlisle.”

Tuck said the AACA display includes a wide variety of his members’ cars. He said, “Last year we had cars on display representing nearly every decade of automobile production. A table is set up with membership benefit brochures, sample magazines and membership applications. Recruitment personnel are available to answer questions, and for visitors, ours is a car-lovers’ showcase.”

Tuck said the AACA display is dictated by the space available. “We have had as many as 15 cars displayed when enough space is available. This year, more emphasis is placed on recruiting members than in the past.”

Buczeskie added, “There is a strong social aspect to Fall Carlisle (and Spring) that cannot be had via online sales. Even though Fall Carlisle is all about buying and selling, there is a social aspect that online commerce will never have. For many shoppers, it’s about walking around with friends and/or family while you shop for deals. For many vendors, it’s as much about spending the weekend with friends as it is about making sales. You can see this in the interactions that occur during the event. It can be in the swap area or you can see it in the AACA display as the current members relate to each other as well as the new members getting acquainted with the AACA for the first time.”

Tuck is appreciative of the support and said, “We are grateful to Carlisle Events for providing this opportunity to promote our shared interest in the old car hobby.”

Buczeskie said, “Spring and Fall Carlisle are swap meets. They aren’t intended to be entertainment like our specialty shows. Displays and attractions are different from entertainment because entertainment is typically scheduled for a certain time(s) while displays and attractions can be enjoyed at any time without a specific schedule. So we classify the AACA display as a ‘highlight’ of Fall Carlisle 2021, as are the Bill Miller Collection auction, all of the deals from the swap meet and car corral and the Carlisle Auction at the Expo Center. One other highlight is local author, antique collector, owner of “The Old Sled Works” and historian, Jimmy Rosen, who will be in Building T selling copies of his book “Got Gas?” It’s a book all about service stations from Central Pennsylvania in the 20th century. But AACA is an important aspect of the event.”

Car lovers and parts-hunters can visit the automotive paradise called Fall Carlisle, this weekend at Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

 

Two “car guys: struck up a friendship that centered around their love for cars … all cars. At the time, car shows focused on pre-WWII vehicles that were called “classics,” and these two car guys wanted to celebrate all cars as their friendship developed into a lifelong partnership.

With that determination in mind, Bill and Chip Miller (no relation), founded Carlisle Events in 1974 for "car guys and girls just like them." Prior to Carlisle Events' emergence, anyone interested in restoring or showing 1950s‐ or 1960s‐era cars had few options. That all changed when Chip Miller and Bill Miller Jr., became friends through a mutual interest in cars of the 1950s.

Together they began going to car shows and automotive flea markets, where like‐minded individuals would hunt for parts and accessories to restore their vehicles. A need for these events became obvious to these two men in 1973. Until that time, the only cars deemed worthy to collect were pre‐WWII automobiles.

On September 26, 1974, on the rented Carlisle Fairgrounds, "Post War '74" took place. It was the very first car event promoted by the company. In a year still remembered for gas lines and inflation, nearly 600 vendors set up in more than 800 spaces, and 13,000 spectators paid the $1 admission to sample their wares.

Bill Miller Jr. was asked what made him and Chip decide to put on a show at all. Miller said, “In 1973, the president of a new car club, The Milestone Car Society, asked me if I could bring a special car to their booth at the AACA Fall Swap Meet in Hershey. Chip had a 1954 Corvette that he wanted to sell, so we brought that and put it in the booth. Of course, at that time there were no cell phones, so Chip put his business card on the windshield with the price, and that he would be back every hour on the hour if someone was interested.”

Miller continued, “When we returned to the booth, the business card was on the floor of the car instead of the windshield, so Chip thought someone was interested in the car and didn't want anyone else to see the card and just threw it on the floor. That wasn’t the case. A few minutes later, someone in a golf cart pulled up and asked who owned the car. Chip thought that this was the person interested in the purchase. When Chip approached him, the man said that Chip was not allowed to sell the car in the swap meet because it was not an antique car.”

Miller added, “Being in our 20s, and the car being 20 years old, we thought it was an old car. AACA rules at that time were that the car had to be 35 years old or older. They got a little testy with us and we snapped back, so they made us remove the car from the show. After we took the car to the parking lot and returned to the show Chip said, ‘Isn't it a shame that we can't show cars that we like at a car show.’ I said that we should start a car show for cars that we liked. We each put up $500, drew up a partnership and the next season started a car show for cars after the Second World War. Postwar '74 was born.”

Miller said they chose Fall for the inaugural event because it was the week before the Fall Hershey Swap meet and the new partners thought people coming to Hershey could just spend another few days and attend both events.

However, they encountered several obstacles before the event could be run. Miller said, “The biggest obstacle was finding a location that we could afford, We looked at three locations and picked the Carlisle Fairgrounds because it was the least expensive.” He remarked, “Better dumb luck than good management. Carlisle is the Keystone of the Keystone state as Route 11, Route 81 and the Turnpike intersect here and it is the perfect location for people traveling any distance North, South, East or West.”

The first year the show was a huge success, with 600 vendors and 13,000 spectators, but Miller said the elements were against them soon thereafter. “During the show years two and three, it rained every day and almost wiped us out. The town was mad as cars and trucks leaving the event dragged mud all over town and for the vendors, business was not good. It rebounded after that and we were off to gangbuster events from then on.”

According to Miller, they began the event strictly as a hobby event and didn't look for it to flourish as it did and turn into a business. Miller said, “We were happy that it did become a successful business, because there is no better business that working in the hobby that you love.”

After 47 Fall Carlisle shows Miller has enjoyed many event high points, including celebrity guests and the growth of additional automotive events.  Miller said, “We have had so many big names from the hobby at our events including Carroll Shelby, Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Linda Vaughn ("The First Lady of Motorsports". and “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”), Bruce Larson, The Teutuls of Orange County Choppers fame, all of the Dukes of Hazzard stars, Bill Goldberg, Chip Foose, Hailie Deegan (NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver),Gallagher (the comedian), Bobby Allison and Cindy Williams (of Laverne and Shirley fame), just to name a few.”

He is proud of the growth of other events across the years. Miller said, “As our flea market-only shows grew, we started single-marque shows including Ford, GM, Chrysler, Truck Import, Corvette, and of course our auctions, which are a huge success. Even now, our Florida auctions draw thousands of people and hundreds of cars to Lakeland, Florida  twice a year. Our single-marque shows grew every year as we set record attendance of show cars. People love to interact with like-minded car owners so they can learn more about the hobby.”

Miller praises those loyal fans who attend the shows. “We have seen every kind of weather over the years that you can imagine. The car people are tough. The shows go on rain storms, snow and sunshine. And our vendors can handle any type of weather too. We are all certainly much happier when the sun is out.”

Miller has also seen challenges that have been met. “The pandemic was certainly a challenge,” he said. “We did all the CDC requirements, as did every other business, and made it through, and this year has been strong and we look to end the season with Fall Carlisle and huge turnouts of vendors and visitors.”

Miller sees a bright future ahead for all the shows. He said, “Our future is bright  because we try and stay on top of the market. We want the shows to appeal to all ages and genders. We do something for the young, the older men and women, the younger enthusiasts, and especially for the kids, as they are the future of the hobby.”

Above all, Miller applauds fans and visitors. He said, “The car people are the greatest people in the world. We raise thousands of dollars for charities every year. When you realize that about half-a-million people pass through these grounds every year and we don't have any problems, what better testament could you have to the quality people of the car hobby?”

You can attend the 47th annual Fall Carlisle, now known as Fall Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Corral, September 29 - October 3 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. This massive automotive flea market is one of the best opportunities to get your hands on all things automotive before the winter non-picking blues kicks in. With 8,100 spaces of vendors selling a vast array of automotive parts, accessories, cars, collectibles and memorabilia, it's almost certain that you won't go home empty-handed. Accompanying the automotive flea market and car corral is the Manufacturers Midway featuring the latest and greatest products and services, and a two-day auction presented by Carlisle Auctions across the street.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Carlisle Events 2021 event season is winding down, with the checkered flag set to waive following a trio of events, Fall Carlisle presented be eBay Motors (September 29-October 3), the Fall Carlisle Collector Car Auction (September 30-October 1) and the Lakeland Fall Collector Car Auction (November 12-13). This year has been an exciting return to all things car-related at Carlisle, following the challenge of 2020, with what Mike Garland, Public Relations Manager for Carlisle Events called “an incredible ride.”  The Carlisle Events season schedule broke records in attendance, vendor interest and car participation, with the highest turnouts in more than a decade.

Now, Carlisle Events turns its attention to 2022. What is in store for automotive enthusiasts for next year, the 48th Carlisle Events season? While the shows are still being fine-tuned and added to, and will continue to do so until each event is on stage, Garland said, “We are excited to build on the momentum that 2021 offered us.  We expect the demand and interest in our car shows to equal, if not out shine what we experienced this year.”

Garland described an overview of the schedule, saying, “Each event offers an amazing gallery of cars, including ‘Featured Vehicle Displays’ that offer an all-star snap shot of certain themes, designs, or milestone eras of production.  When you visit our web page,  you’ll learn about each event for 2022, and when you attend your show (or shows) of choice, you’ll see these amazing pieces of art in person.” Garland suggests that visitors check the web page often, as show enhancements are added as they are confirmed.

Garland said that the fun at the events comes in many forms.  “Coming to a car show at Carlisle is more than just enjoying cars in a field, it’s an automotive history lesson.  I promise that no matter which show or shows you come to, you’ll see something you either have never seen before, or something rarely seen. Not only do these great machines sit on display at Carlisle, they’ll also be in motion. Each event offers competitions such as autocross, a rolling exhaust contest, parades, and more. Plus, with kids 12 and under admitted FREE and amazing food available within the food court, it’s an affordable fun family outing.”

Some of the anticipated highlights for 2022 include the following:


AUTO MANIA – January 14 - 16, 2022. Carlisle’s first show of the year is always a big draw for East Coast car lovers.  This event held at the Allentown Fairgrounds, offers

The THRILL of the HUNT.  For more than 30 years Auto Mania has been Pennsylvania’s largest indoor heated automotive Flea Market. With continued support from Carlisle Events, old-school collectors turn their collections into cash.


WINTER CARLISLE AUTO EXPO – January 28 - 29, 2022. ALL-NEW, the Winter Carlisle Auto Expo offers indoor and outdoor options for those looking to buy, sell and trade all things automotive. It is a two-day flea market sale of collector car automotive parts, collectibles, and car corral at the Carlisle Expo Center.  Garland said, “Our two January events are a great way to beat the winter blues and re connect with car lovers from around the region.”


SPRING CARLISLE and SPRING AUCTION – April 20 - 24, 2022. Hope springs eternal with Spring Carlisle presented by eBay Motors. It is a two-day collector car auction powered by Carlisle Auctions. The final days of April come to life with car enthusiasts from around the world, as the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds become one of largest cities in the state for five straight days.  Garland said, “Mix in an auction where past, present and future classics are available to the highest bidder, and Spring Carlisle offers an unmatched automotive utopia.”


CARLISLE IMPORT and PERFORMANCE NATIONALS – May 13 - 14, 2022. An international vehicle wonderland where 2,300+ unique and stunning imported vehicles from around the world are on display, as well as domestics, kit cars, motorcycles, trucks and high-end performance vehicles. See the top builds, restorations, clubs and brands representing the world of automobiles and performance. Garland added, “Get your high-octane adrenaline fix on with autocross, drifting, rolling exhaust competition, and more.”


CARLISLE FORD NATIONALS -- June 3 - 5, 2022. The world’s largest all-Ford themed weekend, the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar’s brings in more than 3,000 show cars spanning the history of the Blue Oval badge, and also hosts a massive automotive flea market, special guests, displays, and an annual visit from Ford corporate. Garland said that already on the agenda are: The 60th Anniversary of Shelby, a Lightweight Reunion, and an SSP 40th Anniversary (Fox Mustang Cop Cars).


CARLISLE GM NATIONALS – June 24-25, 2022. A showcase of the best vehicles that are part of the GM family.  This includes Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Pontiac, Chevrolet, and more.  Garland said, “This is a great event for checking out the past, present and future of the brand, with all generations of the Camaro represented, plus Featured Displays within Building T, Y and on the National Parts Depot Showfield.” All General Motors vehicles are welcome from vintage & classics to the modern 6th- Generation Camaro. Planned items include: The 60th anniversary of Chevy II / Nova, the 40th Anniversary of the Third-Gen Camaro, S10 Anniversary truck, and more.


CARLISLE CHRYSLER NATIONALS – July 15-17, 2022. The Chrysler Nationals is the largest Mopar event in the world featuring more nearly 3,000 vehicles from all eras of the Chrysler brand. Classic, muscle cars and high-performance new models are all showcased at this Mopar-lover's paradise. Garland said, “This show is destined to cross the 3,000 show car mark very soon.  Could 2022 be the year? “ The world’s biggest Mopar themed event is filled with amazing displays and the unparalleled automotive flea market with collectibles, parts, and merchandise associated with the Mopar hobby.

Already on the board are such showcases as: 1970 Charger 50th Anniversary Redux, Mopars in the Family, 1972 Mopars and a Prowler 25th Anniversary display. Garland added, “’Mopars in the Family’ is going to be a display of Mopars with some sort of family connection. This is an organic display, there are thousands of ways a car can have a family connection so we plan to keep it vague and let the potential participants tell us what they think is a family connection. The obvious scenarios are things like a father-son project, a car that was inherited, etc. But we sure there are some really cool scenarios that we couldn’t possibly even think of, that will construct the event.”


CARLISLE TRUCK NATIONALS – August 5-7, 2022.  Trucks of all shapes, sizes, styles, and eras haul in for a three-day tailgate that doubles as the most family friendly event on the Carlisle Events schedule.  Presented by A&A Auto Stores, guests can enjoy big rigs, monster trucks, cool custom vans and family entertainment.  This is a must-attend for truck lovers of all ages.


CORVETTES AT CARLISLE – August 25-27, 2022. Corvettes at Carlisle is the largest and most fun-filled Corvette event in the world. The annual Corvettes at Carlisle event features thousands of Corvettes representing all generations of America’s classic sports car. Garland calls upon Corvette enthusiasts to, “Celebrate America’s Sports Car in 2022, with special displays created for YOU. Every generation of Corvette is represented, with industry guests and more.  The 2022 Corvettes at Carlisle features a 50-year reunion of 1972 Corvettes, and “Chip’s Choice” spotlights the Pratt & Miller/Factory Corvette Race cars, plus a visit from Team Chevrolet, the downtown Carlisle Corvette Parade and Street Party and more, including the 50th Anniversary of the birth of Corvettes at Carlisle Event Leader, Lance Miller. 


FALL CARLISLE and FALL AUCTION --  Sept. 28-Oct. 2, 2022. It is difficult to think about wrapping up the 2022 Carlisle Events season before it even starts, and before the 2021 Fall Carlisle is in the books, but, as Garland said, “Once the end of September rolls around, we’ll once again be coming together to say goodbye. The flagship event for Carlisle Events, Fall Carlisle presented by eBay Motors, brings car lovers together from around the world to buy, sell and trade all things automotive.  If ‘X’ truly does mark the spot, then Fall Carlisle offers a treasure at every turn.”

Make your plans to visit Carlisle Events in 2022. Complete event details for every Carlisle Events car show or Carlisle Auction’s event can be found at CarlisleEvents.com or CarlisleAuctions.com

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

Fall Carlisle, or more specifically, Fall Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Corral is set for its 47th annual show Sept. 29-Oct. 3 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. It all started as “Post War '74”, an event for enthusiasts of more-recent vehicles than the Pre-War car shows that dotted America at the time. 

Car buddies, Bill Miller and Chip Miller (no relation), founded Carlisle Events in 1974 for "car guys and girls just like them." Before their enterprise, there were few options nationwide for those car people interested in restoring or showing 1950s‐ or 1960s‐era cars. That all changed when Chip Miller and Bill Miller Jr., became friends through a mutual interest in cars of the 1950s. Together, they began going to car shows and automotive flea markets, where like‐minded individuals would hunt for parts and accessories to restore their vehicles. A need for these events became obvious to these two men in 1973. Until that time, the only cars that were considered worthy of collecting were pre‐WWII automobiles. That was until “Post War ’74”.

Co-founder and co-owner of Carlisle Events, Bill Miller, Jr. said the notion of this event began in 1973. “The president of the new car club, The Milestone Car Society, asked me if I could bring a special car to their booth at the AACA Fall Swap Meet in Hershey, PA,” he said. “My friend Chip Miller had a 1954 Corvette that he wanted to sell, so we brought that and put it in the booth. Of course, at that time, there were no cell phones, so Chip put his business card on the windshield with the price and a note saying he would be back every hour on the hour if someone was interested.”

Miller continued, “ When we returned to the booth, the business card was on the floor of the car instead of the windshield so Chip thought someone was interested in the car and didn't want anyone else to see the card and just threw it on the floor. A few minutes later someone in a golf cart pulled up and asked who owned the car. Chip thought that this was the person interested in the purchase. When Chip approached him, he said that Chip was not allowed to sell the car in the swap meet because it was not an antique car.”

Miller said that being in their 20s, and with the car being 20 years old, they thought it was an old car, but AACA rules at that time stated that the car had to be 35 years old or older. Miller remarked, “They got a little testy with us and we snapped back and they made us remove the car from the show. After we took the car to the parking lot and returned to the show Chip said, ‘Isn't it a shame that we can't show cars that we like at a car show?’  I said that we should start a car show for cars that we liked, so we each put up $500, drew up a partnership and the next season started a car show for cars after the second World War, and ‘Postwar '74’ was born.”

Miller said they chose the week before the Fall Hershey Swap Meet because they thought that people coming to Hershey could just spend another few days and attend both events.

He added, “The biggest obstacle was finding a location that we could afford, we looked at three locations and picked the Carlisle Fairgrounds because it was the least expensive. It was better dumb luck than good management. Carlisle is the Keystone of the Keystone state as Route 11, Route 81 and the Turnpike intersects here and it is the perfect location for people traveling any distance North, South, East or West .”

On September 26, 1974, on the rented Carlisle Fairgrounds, "Post War '74" took place. It was the very first car event promoted by the company. In a year still remembered for gas lines and inflation, nearly 600 vendors set up in more than 800 spaces, and 13,000 spectators paid the $1 admission to sample their wares.



Within a few years, the Carlisle Fairgrounds had become a Mecca for collector car enthusiasts all over the world. The runaway success of what became known as Fall Carlisle led to a similar spring event in 1977. In short order, they became complete sellouts for vendor and car corral.
 
Miller did not expect the success and the 47-year growth. “We did it strictly as a hobby event,” he said,  “and didn't look for it to flourish like it did and turn into a business. We were happy that it did because there is no better business that working in the hobby that you love.”



Regarding event growth, Miller said, “We grew so fast each year that we ran by the seat of our pants. We made changes on the fly, often when the show was in progress. Everyone rolled with the punches because the vendors were doing a huge business and the spectators were having fun. The biggest problem came from the owners of the Fairgrounds as they would build a building right in the middle of our swap area and not consult us before they did it. We would arrive at the grounds weeks before the show only to find the grounds changed. Back to the drawing board and make quick changes. So we bought the Fairgrounds.”

The show has changed over the years, of course, and Miller said much has to do with merchandize. “New old stock (NOS) merchandise has given way to reproduction merchandise. Now NOS merchandise is harder to find and has become quite valuable. Being a vendor is very hard work and many new generations of the vendors’ families don't want to pursue the same tasks that their parents did. But the hobby is still alive and well and the shows are booming this year after everyone has gotten out again.”

After 47 Fall Carlisle shows Miller sees some very real high points, including celebrity guest stars.  Miller said, “We have had so many big names from the hobby at our events. Carroll Shelby, Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Linda Vaughn – ‘Miss Hurst’, Bruce Larson, The Tuetels of Orange County Choppers fame, all of the Dukes of Hazzard stars, Bill Goldberg, Chip Foose, Hailie Deegan (NASCAR driver), Gallagher -- the comedian, Bobby Allison and Cindy Williams (of Laverne and Shirley), just to name a few.”



The success of Fall Carlisle led to other shows and Miller recalled, “As our flea market-only shows grew we started single-marque shows, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Truck Import, Corvette, and of course our auctions, which are a huge success. Even now, our Florida auctions draw thousands of people and hundreds of cars to Lakeland, Florida  twice a year. Our single-marque shows grew every year as we set record attendance of show cars. People love to interact with like minded car owners so they can learn more about the hobby.”

Last year was tough, but he sees a rebound in sight. “The pandemic was certainly a challenge,” he said. “We did all the CDC requirements, as did every other business, and made it through. Our future is bright because we try to stay on top of the market. We want the shows to appeal to all ages and genders. We do something for the young, the older men and women, and especially for the kids, as they are the future of the hobby.
Miller loves the events and the people who come to them. “The car people are the greatest people in the world,” he said. “We raise thousands of dollars for charities every year. When you realize that about one half a million people pass through these grounds every year and we don't have any problems what better testament could you have to the quality people of the car hobby.”



Fall Carlisle is the last event of the calendar year for Carlisle Events and marks the end of the Carlisle based show and automotive flea market season. This massive automotive flea market is one of the best opportunities to get your hands on all things automotive before the winter non-picking blues kicks in. With 8,100 spaces of vendors selling a vast array of automotive parts, accessories, cars, collectibles and memorabilia, it's almost certain that you won't go home empty handed. Accompanying the automotive flea market and car corral is the Manufacturers Midway featuring the latest and greatest products and services, and a two-day auction presented by Carlisle Auctions across the street.
 
> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Car auctions are exciting and full of energy. The shiny, detailed car rolls under the spotlights onto the stage. The auctioneer/announcer gives a background on the vehicle and starts the bidding in a mellifluous, musical cacophony. The excitement builds and the bids start coming in until you hear the auctioneer bring down the gavel and say, “sold.” Some deals are great deals favoring the buyer, and other bids are funneled by excitement, competition and the desire of the bidder to add this precise vehicle to their collection, and end up favoring the seller.

That excitement is on the bidder/buyer’s end, but what does the seller do to consign and sell their vehicles? Sellers can consign their vehicles at this year’s Fall Carlisle Collector Car Auction, Sept. 30-Oct.1 at the Carlisle Expo Center, 100 K Street in Carlisle, PA, across from the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The Auction is an accompaniment of the Fall Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Corral, but it is also a stand-alone event of its own merits.

Carlisle Events held its first Collector Car Auction in 2006, but the modern-day incarnation of Carlisle Auctions began in 2013 in Zephyrhills, Florida, and has seen unprecedented success from the opening gavel. Carlisle Auctions’ home base of Carlisle, Pennsylvania has been a sell-out from a consignment standpoint, with millions of dollars in sales taking place at each event. For sellers, supported by Carlisle Auctions’ “FREE UNLESS SOLD**” guarantee, 400-500 high-quality classics plus memorabilia cross the block, and each auction welcomes even more bidders and excitement as brand awareness continues to grow. Certain restrictions apply for the FREE UNLESS SOLD** guarantee.

(FREE UNLESS SOLD** means that if a consignment does not sell, the consignor is refunded most, if not all fees associated with the consignment. That means a higher caliber of car crosses the block and even more cars can be part of the Auction. Vehicles 25 years and older are the ONLY consignments available for the FREE UNLESS SOLD guarantee. All vehicles are welcome, but consignments 24 years and newer will be subject to all applicable fees associated with the auction.**)



Carlisle Auctions has been featured on Fox and Friends as well as multiple Velocity TV programs. Carlisle Auction has sold cars for Burt Reynolds, private collectors and has even done charity work on behalf of those in need, while keeping its loyal enthusiast base a priority.

At last year’s Carlisle Fall Auction, 191 vehicles sold – a 56 percent sell rate – for an average sales value of $16,335. The lowest price sold was $800 and the highest sale hammered down at $114,000 for a total sale figure of $3,120,000. Some of the top sold vehicles included a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette for $114,042, a 1935 Packard 8 Sport  Phaeton for $99,008, a 1947 Chrysler Town and Country for $97,280, a 1969 Ford Mustang for $74,297, a 1970 Dodge Challenger for 73,398 and a 1965 Corvette for 70,905. It wasn’t all muscle cars, though as 1955 and 1957 Bel Airs went for more than $50,000 each, as did a 1932 Ford 3-Window, a 1956 Chevy Nomad and a 1958 Chevrolet Impala.

So, what’s the best way for you to consign and sell a vehicle at Carlisle Auctions?
Tony Cline, Director of Auction Operations for Carlisle Events said, “Do your homework and let us do the rest.” Cline said this is the easy part. “Call me at the Auction Office at 717-960-6400,” he said. “We can discuss what it is you’re selling, and put together a plan for success.”

Cline joined Carlisle Events in 2013 after 25 years of automotive experience and is a graduate of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Dealer Academy. He said, “We consign 400-plus vehicles for each auction -- anything with a collectible flavor. We consign vehicles from the 1920s through modern day, from sports cars to muscle cars, trucks, SUVs and one-offs. We discuss the options with the seller and together, we can sell it to the right bidder.”

Historically, the truck and SUV sectors do well, but anything can sell if it is packaged and priced well. Cline said the most common price of a sold vehicle is $20,000, but sales have gone from $500 to hundreds of thousands. “A few years ago we sold a 2006 Speed Yellow Ford GT for just under $300,000,” he said.

Cline said the Carlisle Auction bidders are a broad mix of collectors, hobbyists, enthusiasts, and dealers. He said, “I lightheartedly say that we welcome all speculators and accumulators.”

What is the best way to sell your car?

Cline believes that the best way to sell your car is at auction. He said, “The auction environment is clearly the best scenario in which to sell your vehicle. We will market it nationally via the web, social networking, direct mail, email, etc. We have in-person bidders, phone bidders, and online bidders. We have assembled one of the top auction teams in the country who drive to sell your vehicle, and we have proven, result driven processes.”

What are mistakes to avoid?

Cline said, “The number-one mistake that folks make when attempting to sell a vehicle is not having it priced correctly to market. One of the most important aspects of my day, is helping people to price their vehicle properly, I liken it to, if you were going to sell your home, you probably would call a Realtor. They would come look at your home: age, dimensions, upgrades, needs and conditions. They then would look at comparable homes that have actually sold over different periods. The same practice applies to selling your car. We can look at similar examples that have sold nationally and determine an average transaction price. At that point, we would determine where your car falls relative to that average price. I cannot over stress how important correctly pricing your vehicle to the market is.”

Energized about this year’s show, Cline said that many exciting consignments will be on the block at the 2021 Fall Auction. “One in particular,” he said, “is a 1963 Chevy Corvette Convertible, and we have a powerful and awesome-looking 2019 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Callaway Coupe. We also have a 1949 Ford F1 truck, 1971 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler, 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS and a 1961 Cadillac DeVille. There are lots of great ones from vintage to late-model to see and bid on.”

Whether you are a bidder, consignor or just an interested car fan, the place to be is the Fall Carlisle Collector Car Auction, Sept. 30-Oct.1 at the Carlisle Expo Center, 100 K Street in Carlisle, PA. Call Carlisle Auctions today at 717-960-6400, the Carlisle Auctions team is standing by ready to answer questions about the process and the events.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Corvette has been “America’s sports car” since 1953. Through 68 years and eight generations, more than 1.75 million Corvettes have been sold. From 1953 to 2019, the street celebrity was front-engined, and since 2020, it has been mid-engined. Along the way, it has teched up, safetied up, powered up and comforted up. As with any work of art, Corvette has had to be maintained, touched up, and in some cases repaired or tweaked to maintain its perfection. One of those top techs who keeps Corvettes humming, is Paul Koerner, “The Corvette Mechanic.”

Koerner, who will be host and featured speaker at nine tech/repair/information seminars (seven different topics) at the 2021 Corvettes at Carlisle (Aug. 26-28) at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, has been a GM service technician since 1997 and a Corvette specialist since 1999. He said that there are challenges that come with advanced technology, but that Corvette engineers listen and respond quickly to field input.

Koerner  has obtained the classification of GM World Class Certified Service Technician. That means that he is fully tested and trained by GM to repair any system in any GM vehicle (except for Saab and medium-duty trucks). His passion and knowledge run deep, as does his drive to help those in need of automotive help. As a case in point, at the 2019 Winter AutoFest event, Koerner was found in the parking lot helping a patron whose car had broken down. He is ready at all times with his GM knowledge and skill.
Koerner started his tech career working at a Chevy dealership in 1997. He said, “It was the first year of the 5th Generation and I saw problems from the tech side. I was just a car shop repair guy and had to earn a level of trust from the pros to get to work on the important cars.”

As a Corvette service tech, Koerner said the most fun part of his job is the people. “I get to meet the enthusiastic people who own the Corvettes. I can look them in the eyes and share their experiences,” he said. He also gains fun from the challenges. Koerner said, “The advancement in tech is the most significant challenge in automotive professions. You look at Corvette and it is state-of-the-art, and the tech keeps improving, so keeping up with it is the single biggest challenge.”

Koerner said Corvette really has a handle on shape and performance. He said, “The way they shape the car to be everything enthusiasts want it to be is what is so right about Corvette. It is a car for any enthusiast, tailored for looks and performance, and designed so you can cruise in it all day in comfort, or race it on the track. Anything you’d like a powerful car to be is what makes up Corvette.”

As nothing is perfect, Koerner also noted that improvements could be made. He said, “From a service tech standpoint, we can always use more resources and more ways to educate techs on the latest technology.” However, Koerner praised GM saying, “Corvette improvements are constant and ongoing. They are constantly working on improvements and we techs receive daily updates on service information. Additionally, we can file feedback on repairs if we see something wrong. GM looks at each repair product feedback form and they quickly respond to the field product reports. I often get a response in an hour or two. They never stop trying to improve Corvette.”

Koerner said that while each generation is different and requires different fixes, what he sees most often are tech issues rather than mechanical issues. He said, “There is a lot of computer programming and less about mechanical aspects or architecture.” Of those fixes, the most creative one he has made occurred at Cars at Carlisle. Koerner said, “In 2014, I saw someone on the field with a bad connector. At my next seminar, I asked if anyone had a Chevy rental car and I took a part off of a Chevy Cruze and put it on the troubled 2012 ZR-1. I diagnosed the condition and got the needed part from a local Chevy dealership. We fixed the problem and put the part back on the rental.”

Koerner’s first Corvettes at Carlisle was in 2000. “I was a fledgling tech,” he said, “and while I thought I knew it all, this event opened my eyes to what I didn’t know. I started doing seminars at the show in 2004 and it has been amazing to be a part of this event. The best aspect is being able to help customers and enthusiasts  and doing whatever is necessary to assist them or affect a repair to get them home safely.”

He praised his team and the Carlisle staff, adding, “What we are doing this year could not have been accomplished without my team. My service advisor will be there, techs who work with me and whom I train are all an important part of what we bring to the show, and all of those who plan and coordinate the show and our part of the show, are what brings it all to reality.”



The Middletown, CT resident will be on hand at Corvettes at Carlisle to instruct, entertain, discuss and help. For example, when you lift the hood of your prized Corvette, you see what makes it go, but do you really know how it works? What if something goes wrong? Can you troubleshoot the issue or know what to do next? At his seminars, Koerner, with his GM World Glass Certified Technician credentials will tell you everything you want to know about your Corvette (and then some). Koerner, along with his Corvette Mechanic Team will head seminars covering the following topics:

Thursday
Diagnostic Assistance: 9 am - 11:30 am 
The Corvette Mechanic Team will perform drive-up diagnostic assistance at The Corvette Mechanic tent behind Building T. There is no appointment necessary and first come/first served. Spectators are free to sit in and watch, listen and learn about all aspect of diagnostic process from 1984-2021 Corvette. Video feeds on screens with scan tool information along with diagnostic process from Chevrolet on Corvette. Questions may be asked during process from the audience.

Stump The Corvette Mechanic Team: 11 pm – 3 pm
Do you have a problem with your Corvette? Did someone tell you it can't be fixed? Do you have gremlins you might want to get rid of? The Corvette Mechanic Team can fix what ails your Corvette or at least point you in the right direction for an accurate resolution to your problems. In this grandstand seminar, they discuss with the Corvette owners what is the problem, how they would go about diagnosing this problem and what potential solutions they can offer. And if you stump them, you will receive a 2022 Fun Field Registration from Carlisle Events. Corvettes from 1984 to present will be covered. 

Friday: 
Corvette Information from 1984-2013, C4/C5/C6 Q & A: 9 am - 10:15 am  
The Corvette Mechanic Team will answer questions about Gen 4 through Gen 8 Corvette. Discontinued parts will be discussed, as will aftermarket solutions. Diagnostic process from the 1980s to present will be covered and much more.

The 7th Leads to the Next-Generation Corvette 2014-2021: 12 noon - 1:15 pm
Front engine, mid-engined, dual-clutched, auto, manual, modified or not, these vehicles are state-of-the-art technology, which requires a deep education that only GM can provide. The GM factory-trained team is knowledgeable in all aspects of the 7th and 8th-Gens and will answer any questions regarding these vehicles. 

Corvette for the New Owner or Enthusiast: 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm
Corvette is a wonder of modern technology and every generation ushered in new features and convenience. For someone who is just becoming an owner/enthusiast, it can be very overwhelming. In this simple seminar, we answer new owners’ questions about features, repairs and maintenance in a way that is easily understandable. How do you evaluate a vehicle you intend to purchase? Is there an APP for that? Our team will cover all the basics that YOU want to know in this question and answer format.

Saturday: 
The Grand Sport Corvette: 8:30 am - 9:45 am
From 1963 to 2019, Grand Sport has exemplified the “Racetrack Corvette”. Better cooling, larger brakes, wider tires, stiffer suspension all play a part in the capability of this wonderful vehicle. In this in-depth seminar, the team will cover the differences, years and reasons why Grand Sport was resurrected in 2010 and how it became a staple for the Corvette enthusiast when hitting the racetrack. 

Corvette Information from 1984-2013, C4/C5/C6 Q & A: 11 am - 12:15 pm
The Corvette Mechanic Team will answer questions about Gen 4 through Gen 8 Corvette. Discontinued parts will be discussed, as will aftermarket solutions. Diagnostic process from the 1980s to present will be covered and much more.

The 7th Leads to the Next-Generation Corvette 2014-2021: 2 pm – 4 pm 
Front engine, mid-engined, dual-clutched, auto, manual, modified or not, these vehicles are state-of-the-art technology, which requires a deep education that only GM can provide. The GM factory-trained team is knowledgeable in all aspects of the 7th and 8th-Gens and will answer all questions regarding these vehicles. 

Corvette Specialist Paul Koerner and Team will professionally advise Corvette owners on their Corvettes throughout the event weekend, at Corvettes at Carlisle, the largest Corvette show in the world, Aug. 26-28 at Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Corvette has been “America’s sports car” since it was introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953. The first mention of that sobriquet may have begun with an Automotive News article that commented on Corvette being the featured vehicle on the Route 66 TV show that ran from 1960 to 1964. The article reflected that Corvette became synonymous with freedom and adventure and was "the most successful concept car in history and the most popular sports car in history.”

Along the way, through 68 years and eight generations, Corvettes have become revered as works of automotive art, with vintage models worthy of restoration and preservation. To that end, organizations such as the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) have been established and have endured, carrying on the legacy of their vehicle of choice. The NCRS web site (https://www.ncrs.org/) proclaims, “The National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) is a community of dedicated Corvette lovers. Our objective is the restoration, preservation, history and enjoyment of all Corvette models and configurations.”

Regarded as “The world's largest community of Vette enthusiasts,” NCRS began in 1974, and today sponsors a national convention, more than 45 regional chapter meets, road tours, social gatherings, tech sessions, seminars, and much more for members, including a major presence and judged competition at this year’s Corvettes and Carlisle, August 26-28 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. At the event, NCRS will present “The Best of the Best from the NCRS,” showcasing “an ever-changing unique Corvette collection in a true gallery exhibit format.” The collection is made up of select Corvettes representing many NCRS Judging Classes, Duntov Mark of Excellence Award® winners, McLellan Mark of Excellence Award® winners, NCRS-Chevrolet Bowtie Award® recipients for Preservation Excellence, American Heritage Award® recipients, and Sportsman Award® Corvettes.

The 2021 Gallery will also pay tribute to a beloved NCRS member, Elaine Raisner.  Raisner, who passed away in 2019, had been an integral part of the NCRS Gallery and partner to Corvettes at Carlisle for many years. Press releases said, “Her dedication to the Gallery was the driving force behind some of the most incredible vehicles featured. The Corvette community has lost an incredible woman, and we are honored to pay tribute to her memory.” 

NCRS has gained recognition in the Corvette world for its Flight Judging, considered the standard in determining originality. The judging system educates members about their cars in addition to providing recognition for excellence in the areas of restoration, performance and preservation. Additionally, if an owner’s Corvette is not completely stock, NCRS has created an award for Corvettes that are not factory original. Even “restomods” with or without body modifications may be entered in NCRS Concours classes where items are judged solely on their condition, not whether Chevrolet installed them during that model year. Points are earned at each event toward an overall NCRS Concours Award. Also, NCRS members can avail themselves of mountains of technical information, with access to the combined knowledge of thousands of current and previous members. A group of 19 Technical Advisors, who are recognized as authorities in their fields, are also just a letter or email away.

Starting with “seven guys” in 1974, and now numbering more than 20,000 members, NCRS has been a fixture at Corvettes at Carlisle since event creator Chip Miller sat down with organization leaders Frank Stetch and Elaine Raisner at a regional meet in 2000 to discuss an NCRS presence at the show, and the trio came up with the concept of a Gallery.

Stetch joined NCRS in 1982, and has seen his membership “open a new world of friendships.” He was a muscle car enthusiast who was looking for a vintage 1963 split-window Corvette and learned of NCRS and its sophisticated resources of where to find models and experts. Stech became an active member and is the organizer of NCRS activities at Corvettes at Carlisle. He said, “When I go to shows I look for potential Gallery cars and try to find new people to display new cars and different color looks.  We encourage people send us applications and we vary the displays to showcase nice survivors, original and restored Corvettes, as long as they are Top Flight cars.”

Stech acknowledges Raisner, saying, “The Gallery concept was organized by Elaine, and this year we will pay tribute to her and her husband Tim.”

The event has grown each year, and Stech said, “In the early days of the NCRS, Bloomington Gold purists wanted everything original. However, today, we see and accept customization, and we realize that whether the member is 70-years-old or 30, they both share passion for Corvette. From front-engine to mid-engine, our judging sheets reflect the owner’s enthusiasm. From C1 to C8, all Corvettes are cherished by the NCRS.”

Stech said the older group members who loved Corvette as kids still love them today. “The passion is still there. Now they hang out in lawn chairs, but they still have fire for 1967 435hp Corvettes and 1969 L88s. They still look for parts for their restorations and most still drive their Corvettes; and if they revere their old car as a collector vehicle, most drive newer generations, staying with Corvette as their driver.”

About the event at hand, Stech added, “Corvettes at Carlisle is the show I go to first. It is the biggest one out there and it is filled with the most fun and nicest people in the sport, from the Millers (who own Carlisle Events) and Jodi Morrison (who runs the show for Carlisle Events) on down. Lance Miller (Chip’s son), who is the driving force behind the show, even named his daughter, Ella Corvette. That shows love for what we love. If anyone wants to pick one show a year, go to this one.”

You can see the NCRS Gallery at the 2021 Corvettes at Carlisle, August 26-28 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. Corvettes at Carlisle is the largest Corvette car show in the world., featuring thousands of Corvettes representing all generations of America’s classic sports car, from year one in 1953 to the modern day C8. 

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Following a year of uncertainty and pandemic-related encumbrances, Carlisle Events headed into 2021 with dedication, preparation and anticipation. The collector car/truck event producer presents more than a dozen shows annually, and after an impacted 2020 show season, they were greeted by eager enthusiasts and vendors for this year of rebirth.

As we near the end of the 2021 show season, with two more events on the schedule in Pennsylvania – Corvettes at Carlisle (Aug. 26-28) and Fall Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market, Corral and Auction (Sept. 29-Oct. 3) – and one in Lakeland, Florida -- Lakeland Fall Collector Car Auction (Nov. 12-13) – Carlisle Events’ results have far exceeded expected numbers in participation and in “smiles per hour”.

Mike Garland, Public Relations Manager for Carlisle Events said, “What an incredible ride we have had in 2021. We anticipated a good year, but we didn’t expect it to be as good as it has been. Shows broke records in attendance, vendor interest and car participation, and we had the highest turnouts in more than a decade. The demand for what we do – automotive entertainment, vehicle displays and products – was quite strong for our vendors at our swap meets, and we have seen favorable numbers driven partially by pent-up energy and a return to fun. Additionally, the vendor turnout was amazing. They came back after many were away last year.”

The automotive show industry has historically performed with peaks and valleys from year to year, but it never saw a valley like the one America experienced last year.

Garland said, “Returning and first-time visitors were rewarded with a larger vendor turn out, more entertainment and more bang for their buck. They came out to see the cars, the clubs, the vendors’ wares, and such special guests as Aaron Kaufman (TV host and car builder) at the GM Nationals, Hailie Deegan (one of the new faces of racing) at the Ford Nationals and Herb McCandless (racing legend) at the Chrysler Nationals. They attended to enjoy such special events as movie sound effects from “Ford vs. Ferrari,” a Comic-car Con, and an axe throwing exhibition. Carlisle Events continues to attract and bring out top names from the auto industry, while showing off top cars from vintage and classic to the newest and most innovative. We have emphasized clubs, current culture and families, and our visitors have spun the wheel with us and have given us a chance for their entertainment dollar. We responded and so have they.”

This year’s highlights thus far include:

Auto Mania -- January 15-17 -- For decades, Auto Mania has started the Carlisle Events car show and swap meet season in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The three-day event gives car lovers from the mid-Atlantic a chance to re-connect, shop and otherwise enjoy all things automotive. In 2021, the only difference from the historical norm is that Auto Mania was held at the Carlisle Expo Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Vendors and guests made great use of their one-year-only temporary home by offering an eclectic mix of auto parts, collectibles, merchandise, tools, practical use items and more for sale. Vendors saw a constant flow of attendees coming to them for deals, advice and conversation. Auto Mania 2022 returns to the Allentown Fairgrounds and its customary home of Ag Hall January 14-16, 2022.  Next year’s first Carlisle Fairgrounds Event will be the inaugural Winter Carlisle Auto Expo Collector Flea Market and Car Corral held Jan. 28-29,  2022 at the Carlisle Expo Center, across from the Carlisle Fairgrounds. Winter Carlisle a two-day flea market sale of collector car automotive parts, collectibles, and car corral.

Lakeland Winter Collector Car Auction – February 19-20 – Held at the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus in Lakeland, FL -- The two-day Lakeland Winter Collector Car Auction brought car lovers from around the Sunshine State together to bid and buy on nearly 100 years of automotive history. Carlisle Auctions, resulted in a show record of more than $4 million in total sales and a better than 60 percent sell through rate of its 400-plus confirmed lots. Next year’s Lakeland Winter Collector Car Auction is scheduled for February 25-26, 2022. 

Spring Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Auction -- April 21-25 -- Spring Carlisle presented by eBay motors was a five-day destination for car lovers to buy, sell and trade all things automotive. Coming back to cars after a challenging 2020, thousands of enthusiasts and vendors (with an abundance of inventory) created a stream of energy unlike anything in recent memory. Day one deals and swaps led to Day two auctions previews at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center. The Carlisle Spring Collector Car Auction saw more than 400 vehicles on the block, ranging from a 1910 truck to 2020 vehicles. Charity lots and private sellers brought in a total of more than $6 million in sales, led by a 1957 Ford Skyliner, selling for $136,425 and a 1967 Corvette for $121,500. Next year’s Spring Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Auction is scheduled for April 20-24 2022.

Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals – May 14-15 – More than 1,800 show cars on the field marked the event’s third largest turnout in the event’s six-year history. The weekend was also filled with more activities than ever, showcased new and vintage imports and domestics, and welcomed car clubs and kit cars. A tribute to Bruce Myers and the Myers Manx dune buggy ended with a 40-vehicle parade lap. There were drifting, autocross, seminars, vehicle judging and awards, and even a marriage proposal – she said, “Yes.” Next year, Carlisle’s Import & Performance nationals is set for May 13-14, 2022.

Carlisle Ford Nationals – June 4-6 -- Fans of Ford and the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar’s were eager to return to the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds to showcase and celebrate their prized rides in 2021. Following a later-than-usual (due to the pandemic), revised  2020 event, showgoers only had to wait 10 months to reunite in Carlisle for the biggest Carlisle Ford Nationals of all time, welcoming a NEW RECORD 3,241 registered show cars. This total topped the previous mark of 3,194 set in 2019 and was the second highest total for any car show ever hosted by Carlisle Events. Highlights included a display of the NEW Ford Bronco, the 2021 Mustang Mach 1, classic Broncos, how the GT40s got their sound in the movie “Ford vs. Ferrari,” autograph sessions with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Hailie Deegan and the return of the downtown Carlisle Ford Parade and Street Party. The Ford family of fun returns June 3-5, 2022 in Carlisle.

Carlisle GM Nationals -- June 25-26 – GM passion was on display by attendees and by the show, as more than 20,000 guests and 1,026 show cars -- the best car count at the GM Nationals since 2014 – attended the GM fest. Event highlights included open autocross runs and ride, the Solid Lifter Showroom, GM Engine Swaps, the H-Platform and Vega feature, Comic-Car Con and Corvettes for Chip (charity car show within the show). One of the biggest surprises of the weekend was the turnout of Fieros at the show. There were so many in one place that guest celebrity Aaron Kaufman (Gas Monkey Garage, Aaron Needs a Job, Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman) remarked that he’d never seen so many together in one place…and he’s been to a lot of car shows. Next year’s event is set for June 24-25, 2022.

Carlisle Chrysler Nationals -- July 9-11 – Mopar Madness propelled a record turnout of 2927 vehicles at Carlisle’s Chrysler Nationals as well as a sold-out swap meet of vendors. Energy throttled out along with Demons, 50-years of 1971 Mopars, Roadrunners, muscle cars, vintage autos and trucks, ‘Old Skool’ Paint, and even Dirty ‘Birds, as Carlisle welcomed “Mr. 4-Speed,” Herb McCandless, the Golden Commandos, Ramchargers, Joe Zolper and Dave Rea. From car parades, competitions including rolling exhaust, real street shootout and open autocross runs, to award judging vendor sales, food and fun, the sold-out crowd was mad for Mopar. Next year’s fun runs July 15-17, 2022.

Carlisle Truck Nationals -- Aug 6-8 – The Carlisle Truck Nationals continued the trending toward record-breaking events. More than 2,500 trucks registered for the event, shattering the old mark of 2,109 (set in 2002). For three days, truck lovers converged on Carlisle to enjoy trucks of all shapes, sizes, styles and eras and included tractors, big rigs, and heavy equipment. Truck weekend 2021 also welcomed the return of monster truck rides and shows, plus freestyle FMX stunt riders. New for 2021 were more lowered trucks, family fun with a wildlife show and the aforementioned tractors.  Next year’s Carlisle Truck Nationals is set for August 5-7, 2022. 

Completing the season are Corvettes at Carlisle -- Aug 26-28 -- and the Fall Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Auction -- Sept. 29-Oct 3 – as well as the CARLISLE AUCTIONS Lakeland Fall Collector Car Auction in Lakeland, FL – Nov. 12-13. All indications are that 2021 will continue to roll at full-speed for those shows. The fun, the fans, the cars and the excitement keep running throughout 2021.

Garland summed up the year so far, adding, “The smiles per hour we put on people’s faces, increased measurably. We provide opportunities for families, particularly the kids – the next generation of automotive enthusiasts – to see in real life, the vehicles they play with at home or on their computer games.”

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

America moves on its highways, and Big Rigs are what moves America. The semi-trucks also called 18-wheelers, Big Rigs, semi-tractor trailers, transport trucks, transfer trucks, flatbeds, low boys and by many other names, move about 71 percent of the nation’s freight by weight.

Big Rigs have been celebrated in song, on TV, and on film, and they will have three days in the sun at this weekend’s Carlisle Truck Nationals at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds (August 6-8), at a special event called: The Carlisle Truck Nationals Big Rig Show and Shine.

Big Rigs, are seen and heard 24 hours a day on the nation’s highways, and they became an American lynchpin industry not long after the concept was introduced with the invention of the semi-truck in 1898, by Cleveland horseless carriage maker Alexander Winton. Winton conceived the idea to help him move his horseless carriages to different car lot locations in Ohio. The concept was improved upon in 1914, by August Charles Fruehauf, who needed a large carrier to transport a friend’s boat. He invented the semi-trailer, which he then hitched to the back of a Ford.

A semi-truck refers to a truck or tractor that has an engine, meaning it can run on its own. However, the trailer or tractor-trailer portion cannot run on its own, as you can only use a tractor-trailer when it’s connected to the truck because it doesn’t have front wheels or power. When you join a trailer to your truck via a hitch or fifth-wheel coupling, the engine-powered air pump releases the brakes. From there, the semi can pull the trailer. If you’re driving a tractor without a trailer, you’re bobtailing

Arguably the first industry to embrace the semi-truck was the logging industry, which originally transported logs by river, or by horse-and-carriage. The truck evolved mightily in the first half of the 20th century and the trucking industry expanded with it for long hauls when Freightliner created the first overhead sleeper cab in 1953. Engines caught up with industry need and direct-injection turbo-charged diesel engines became standard during the 1950s, as trucks began the conversion from standard gasoline engines.

Today, there are about 37 million registered business-use trucks in America, with more than 3.7 million Class 8 trucks driven by 3.5 million employed Big Rig drivers and many more uncounted who work for themselves. Together, they haul 11.5 billion tons of cargo, and with tech advances and increased safety rules in effect for drivers, tractor-trailers and their freight runs continue to increase their efficient grip on delivering everything America and Americans need. On average, Class 8 trucks each travel more than 65,000 business-related miles a year

While every truck driver and Big Rig fan has their favorite 18-wheeler, the top manufacturers today include Freightliner -- a division of Daimler Trucks North America, Kenworth, Peterbilt, International – from Navistar International Corporation (formerly International Harvester Co.), Volvo and Mack. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz has already released promotional material for their “Future Truck 2025”. This self-driving truck will use radar senses, including top-of-the-line blind-spot detection to drive autonomously, leaving the driver’s hands free to communicate with the dispatcher and schedule pickups and drop-offs.

The celebration of Big Rigs at the Carlisle Truck Nationals includes club attendance and judging the best of the best. Judging the entrants is Greg Grifana, co-owner (with his wife) of GS Grifana Car Shows Inc. Grifana is a trucker who has been judging truck shows – 419 of them in the last 29 years. He has been a CDL-Class-A truck driver for 39 years. Grifana said, “I used to run oversize loads and moved houses, buildings and loads of 300,000 lbs. in my Mack truck.

Grifana has seen the trucking industry change since the 1970s. He said, “The old ‘cowboy’ image of the trucker is gone. The longer non-stop under-the-table runs are gone as CDL licensing and elog (electronic log) now monitors time and whereabouts. Back when I started, many drivers ran two or three logbooks to keep running, and ran without sleep. Today it is much safer and full-time truckers can easily earn six figures. Some drivers run seven days a week – regs say they can run 70 hours in seven days, before a 34-hour rest/restart.  Some drivers drive 11 hours in a day and work 14 hours including loading, then take a 10-hour reset. Some drivers run four days a week, and some run four months at a time. When I started, I ran East Coast to West Coat and never stopped. A lot has changed.”

Grifana said that when he started, Mack and Peterbilt were the stars and $80,000 could get you all the truck you needed, plus whatever it took to customize and personalize the rig with graphics, entertainment, sound and comforts. “Today, you can get into a rod-tractor for from $100,000-$200,000 without a trailer. Some have a standard sleeper or a king condo and some have a longer wheel base,” he said.

Judging this year’s Carlisle Big Rig show, Grifana expects to see uptweaked aftermarket and performance items. Grifana said, “There are more accessories available than ever. I often see 12-speed automatic transmissions with two-speed reverse, and cool graphics, sleeper compartments and creative upgrades.”

In judging, what makes a winner in Grifana’s eyes? Grifana said, “A working truck that’s clean with add-ons and details. I like polished rims, tanks, doorjambs, chrome buttons and caps, and a clean engine. Standouts would include custom interiors, top to bottom. Once I saw a Jacuzzi in the back of a sleeper, and music from molded interior speakers. I prefer working trucks, but we also see tricked out show-only trucks.”

The advice Grifana gives his fellow truckers is “Take pride in what you do. Look forward to your success and enjoy your journey. Above all, keep the shiny side up, the rubber side down and the pedal to the metal.”

You can see Big Rigs galore at the Carlisle Truck Nationals, this weekend, Aug. 6-8 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. One of the largest and most action-packed truck events in the world, the Carlisle Truck Nationals features new and vintage trucks, lifted, lowered, monster trucks, vans, fire trucks, classics, antiques, modern, and a special big rig event: Carlisle Truck Nationals Big Rig Show and Shine. It is a showcase of Rigs, Wreckers, Carriers, Dumps, Antiques and Heavy Trucks of all kinds.- or four-wheel drive, jeep, big rig or mini truck.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

 

Despite government fuel regulations that bit into horsepower, the 1971 Corvette was built for performance with a focus on trouble-free cars.

For 1971, the St. Louis Corvette Plant built 21,801 C3s – 7,121 Convertibles and 14,680 Coupes – and they may have looked like 1970 Corvettes, but they had their own quirks and personality changes. Virtually the same externally, the 1971 Corvettes can be differentiated from 1970  by the chrome trim strip surrounding the front grill, and ’71s have a 9.0 or lower compression ratio compared to the 10.25 or higher ratios in 1970. Engine changes were done to reduce the octane requirements from previous years as mandated by the government. For 1971, all Corvette engines were designed to operate efficiently on the new no-lead or low-lead gasoline mixtures. The engine tweaks took priority over cosmetic changes, though parking light lenses were switched from clear to amber in most ’71s. 

There were minor advances made, such as an easier-to-open fuel filler door, and an automatic transmission selector quadrant that illuminated during night-time operation. The resin process used to form body parts was updated to increase quality and 1971 was the last year for the M22 “Rock Crusher” heavy-duty transmission – named for the throaty and guttural sounds made during shifting. Additionally, the 1971 Corvette was the last Corvette model to feature the fiber-optics light monitoring system, and it is believed that many late-model 1971 Corvettes were manufactured without the fiber optics.

The lack of major changes in design allowed the GM production line in St. Louis to focus on producing “a more trouble-free car,” and plant workers took pride in building better overall machines. Vince Shanks, the plant manager of the St. Louis Corvette Manufacturing Plant, was quoted as saying, “When you ask a GM guy where he works in St. Louis, he’ll tell you ‘Corvette’ rather than ‘Chevrolet.’  Every Corvette he sees on the road is one he’s worked on. That’s quite an incentive for perfection.”

The 1970 through 1972 Corvettes were purpose-built. Zora Arkus-Duntov, often called “The Father of the Corvette,” was the Director of High Performance Vehicles at Chevrolet and Chief Engineer for Corvette. He specifically engineered the 1970-’72 Corvette’s suspension, tires and aerodynamics for the car’s safe performance at 140mph. Designed for speed and stability at speed, the 1971 Corvette incorporated specific design specs. Every facet of its design, from the front and rear door handles, was wind-tunnel tested and refined. The N44 nylon cord tires were designed specifically for the Corvette for sustained 140 mph driving, and were used on no other American car. The suspension was built with more “travel” than any other American-built car, for the softest ride of any US-performance vehicle. Brakes, steering, aerodynamics and horsepower were all designed for top-speed performance. Even airflow was special-built as the air entered by way of a spoiler below and behind the grille through two slots in the bodywork, rather than through the grille and radiator.

Base priced at $5,496 (Coupe), $5,259 (Convertible), and available with a 3-speed manual (standard), 4-speed manual (optional) or 3-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic (optional), power dropped from the 1970 version to comply with  regs. 1971 Corvette muscle ratings ranged from 270hp to 425hp and from 360 lb-ft to 475 lb-ft of torque from 10 different engine/trans set-ups. The previous base engine produced 300hp, and hp drops were seen in the LT1, 454 LS5 and 454 LS6 engines. The base 350ci base engine was rated at 270hp, while a beefier LT1 350 got 330hp; the 454ci LS5 was rated at 365hp and the 454ci LS6 was good for 425hp – down as much as 50hp from 1970, as it was developed to operate on low-lead, lower-octane fuel.  

The top acceleration was still formidable despite the power drop, as the Stingray ZR2 was touted as dashing from zero to 60mph in 5.3 seconds, while polishing off a quarter-mile drag time in 13.7 seconds.

Standard colors for 1971 were Nevada Silver, Sunflower Yellow, Classic White, Mille Miglia Red, Mulsanne Blue, Bridgehampton Blue, Brands Hatch Green, Ontario Orange, Steel Cities Gray, and War Bonnet Yellow.

Built on a 98-inch wheelbase, he 1971 Corvette had a height of 47.8 inched, length of 182.5 inches, width of 69.0 inches and ground clearance of 4.8 inches, for a curb weight of about 3300 lbs. Inside, driver and passenger were afforded headroom of 37.2 inches, legroom as much as 43 inches, shoulder room of 46.9 inched and hip room of 48.4 inches.

The 1971 Corvette also included an optional custom interior trim package made up of leather seat trim, wood-grain accents, lower carpet trim on interior door panels, wood grain accents on the console and special cut-pile carpeting.

Standard security, safety and accident prevention items included an audio alarm system, gas cap lock, child safety seat, fire extinguisher, seat belts and shoulder belts (except convertible) with pushbutton buckles and retractors for driver and passenger, built-in head restraints, energy-absorbing steering column, passenger-guard door locks, safety door latches and hinges, folding seat back latches, energy-absorbing padded instrument panel, thick-laminate windshield, padded sun visors, safety armrests, and safety steering wheel.

At 50 years old, the 1971 Corvette is a classic, and while some in good condition can be purchased for under $20,000, one auctioned ’71 ZR2 convertible – only two were produced -- hammered for $550,000.

You can see the 1971 Corvette and thousands of “America’s Sports Car” representing all generations of Corvette at Corvettes at Carlisle, August 26-28 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. Corvettes at Carlisle is the largest and most fun-filled Corvette event in the world. 

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Remember those World II movies in which the G.I.s traveled around battlefields and countrysides in Jeeps, or on the TV show, “M.A.S.H.” when Radar O’Reilly mailed one of vehicles home to Iowa piece by piece? Well, the Jeep has come a long way since then. While the Jeep brand heralds that it is the original sport-utility vehicle beginning in 1941, today’s Jeeps are trendy, powerful, wide-functioning, and can perform off-road with the best of them.

Nostalgic Americans and car-lovers alike have held a warm spot in their hearts for Jeep since WWII. The general purpose vehicle that could go anywhere and determinedly complete its missions, even under fire, bombardment or on the most challenging terrain, served the U.S. military steadfastly, before being marketed to the public in 1945 as the first Civilian Jeep (“CJ”) vehicles – the Willys-Overland CJ-2A.

While many believe that “Jeep” is a phonetic pronunciation of the abbreviation GP, from “General Purpose,” that was used as part of the official Army nomenclature, the first documented use of the word “Jeep” was the name of a character, “Eugene the Jeep,” in Popeye cartoons. Eugene gained his rep for supernatural abilities such as walking through walls. Automotively, Jeep was also the name of a small tractor made by Minneapolis-Moline prior to WW II. Either way, the name was a hit with servicemen, and after the war, Willys filed a successful trademark claim for the name

Jeep lays claim as a sports-utility vehicle ground-breaker beginning with its General Purpose military transport in 1941, built by the Willys-Overland car company. After the war, Willys did not resume production of its passenger-car models, choosing instead to concentrate on Jeeps and Jeep-branded vehicles, launching the Jeep Station Wagon in 1946, the Jeep Truck in 1947, and the Jeepster in 1948. An attempt to re-enter the passenger-car market in 1952 with the Willys Aero sedan proved unsuccessful, and ended with the company's acquisition by Kaiser Motors in 1953, for $60 million. Kaiser initially called the merged company “Willys Motors”, but renamed itself Kaiser-Jeep in 1963.

American Motors Corp. (AMC) purchased Kaiser in 1970 for $70 million and in 1976, introduced the CJ-7. Chrysler bought AMC in 1987, and soon replaced the CJ-7 with the Wrangler YJ. In 1992, Grand Cherokee became the first Chrysler-badged Jeep product and was launched when then-Chrysler president Robert Lutz made a grand entrance at the Detroit Auto Show by driving the vehicle through a plate glass window to debut the SUV. In the 29 years since, Grand Cherokee has been an award-winning off-road and around-town luxury sports-utility vehicle that performs equally well at upscale occasions, off-road and while towing boats, toys and workloads.

The 80-year history of Jeeps is the focus of the PA Jeeps, Inc. 25th Annual All Breeds Jeep Show, July 24-25 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. One of the longest and largest Jeep shows in the world the event spotlights fun, family events including:

• Show 'n Shine with trophies in 17 different classes
• Trophies for the longest distance traveled and the biggest club participation
• Obstacle course (from stock to buggy level)
• CTI Ramp
• Huge raffle with over $20,000 in prizes
• Off-road adventure (off-site)
• Activities for kids
• On-site camping
• Food vendors
• Goodie bags with dash plaques and a raffle ticket for the first 300 registered Jeeps
• Over 100 different vendors of Jeep-related products
• Jeep parade on Saturday

Award categories include Best Military Display, Best Overland Equipped, Best After-Market Equipped and Best “Lit” Jeep.

Jennifer Watson, Jeep Show Chairman for PA Jeeps bought her first Jeep soon after high school. It was a 1989 Jeep Wrangler YJ, and she still owns it.  After nearly 30 years of wheeling and Jeep culture in her blood, she has added a 1947 Willys CJ-2A and a 2003 Wrangler TJ to her collection. Watson said, “I believe the Jeep culture has sustained since its military beginning because Jeeps are just fun. You can take the top off most of them, let your hair blow in the wind and let all your troubles blow out with it. They are the most versatile off-pavement vehicle and daily vehicle for any weather condition. The Jeep brand has the distinction of having one of the highest proportions of original vehicles still in running condition. The longevity of the vehicle aids in sustaining the brand.”

Watson believes the current devotion to Jeeps started “with ‘M*A*S*H’ and ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ along with their appearance in ‘Jurassic Park’. It all began with the G.I.s returning from WW2, who had access to inexpensive surplus Jeeps that helped foster their popularity in the civilian world. Many of the returning G.I.s had fond memories of a Jeep that got them through some difficult times during the war.”

Since the start of model-year, when 4-door Wranglers were introduced, the brand boomed in its following and appeals to those who want to experience the Jeep lifestyle. High residual values for used Wranglers have also helped.

According to Watson, “Today's culture is much different than when I started in the Jeep world. Many of the old-school Jeepers would pack up to go camping and trail riding for a weekend with a group of friends. It seemed like a smaller close-knit group, if you happened to run into other Jeepers, they were just part of the group and were added in. Back in the day, you carried everything with you in your Jeep, from extra parts and emergency gear, to extra clothes. You were always prepared for anything and if you didn't have it someone else did.”

Part of the culture phenomenon is “The Jeep Wave.” According to Watson, it began soon after WWII. According to Watson, “After the soldiers returned home, the Jeeps that were not destroyed were purchased by returning soldiers. Soldiers riding around in their Jeeps would wave to fellow Jeepers to greet their fellow soldiers. During WWII, the wave was said to be a form of communication with allies or fellow soldiers with supplies, or with wounded soldiers. The wave continued with civilians who purchased Jeeps and saw others wave. There are rules to the Jeep wave as well. As you approach another Jeep the lesser of the two waves first.”

The 25th Annual All Breeds Jeep Show at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds this weekend is hosted by PA Jeeps Inc. The family-oriented club has been in existence for 26 years and promotes the safe and fun use of Jeeps on- and off-road. Watson said, “The membership is made up of people all walks of life with the common goal of enjoying their Jeep and promoting the brand with like-minded people. We expect up to 500 Jeeps to register for the Show n’ Shine event, with judging split into 13 classes spanning the 80 years of Jeep. Many of the owners will then take their Jeep on the show’s obstacle course. We came to Carlisle this year to expand the future of the Jeep show.”

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

If you are a truck guy or truck woman, the look of your truck is part of your truck world. Whether it is a big rig, half-ton, off-road, or family-grocery store ride, the looks of trucks have driven the truck scene as much as work performance and utility.

For many, it is the low truck that floats their boat … or drives their truck; and while the term “low truck” today, is often associated with skateboards, with the wheels sitting closer to the board, creating a tighter center of gravity, there is a real low truck culture on the truck scene, that many believe began with minitrucks or lowriders decades ago.

The “Lowrider” car culture began in Los Angeles, California, in the 1930s, gained following in the mid-to-late 1940s and flourished in the 1950s, as some trend-setting Mexican-American youths lowered blocks, cut spring coils, z'ed (zig-zag to lower the body) the frames and dropped spindles on their rides. Their goal was to show off their work and their style while cruising as slowly as possible for maximum show value: “Low and Slow” was their motto. Many early lowriders (who called themselves pachucos), didn't customize their cars and trucks for nights at the drag strip. Instead, they wanted cars to look good and be comfortable as they cruised the streets, hoping to gain local cred, and to impress girls. By redesigning these cars and trucks in ways that go against their intended performance purposes, and in painting their cars to reflect and hold meanings from their culture, lowriders created cultural and political statements that stood out then, and that hold over today in terms of style and lifestyle. Low truck enthusiasts have transcended single cultures, and have mainstreamed with continued growth and excitement burgeoning today.

Typically, a lowrider (also called a minitruck) is a customized car or truck with a lowered body. These customized vehicles generally feature individual paintjobs with bright, glossy paint, intricate, colorful designs, and roll on wire-spoke wheels with whitewall tires. Low truck owners often trick out their interiors with vibrant fabrics and finishes. The lowrider or low truck term describes a class of vehicle, not simply the height from ground to chassis, and one of the popular canvases of early low trucks were 1950s Chevy trucks.

This year’s Carlisle Truck Nationals, August 6-8 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, pays homage to the low truck culture with “The Low Show at Carlisle”, spotlighting minitrucks, truck clubs, style and creativity. Among the low truck festivities scheduled are a Low Show Skating Parade, open drag runs, Low Truck Limbo Contest, showfield judging, tailgate parties and more.

Shannon Hipple, one of the driving forces behind “The Low Show” hasn’t missed a Carlisle Truck Nationals show since 1999. He got into minitrucks when he was 10 years old, when his parents bought a brand new 1990 Chevy S-10 longbed powered by a 4.3-liter V-6 with a manual 5-speed transmission. His mom’s daily ride, it became Hipple’s first car when he turned 16. Hipple said, “Right about that time, I worked with a kid named Scott, who had a Jeep Cherokee with 2-inch-x-12-inch JL Audio subwoofers, a set of 15-inch American Racing wheels and a neon kit. That is what got me into custom vehicles. So, like many of us in the mid-’90s, I put on just about every possible bolt-on accessory you could get at Pep Boys, the biggest amp I could afford from Radio Shack, and a set of 10-inch truck boxes. Next, I got a set of split 3-spoke 15-inch American Racing wheels and a set of fog lights for the truck.  At one point, I probably had a mile of chrome pinstriping tape on it.”

Lowering his truck was next. Hipple said, “I started to notice lowered trucks, and a guy at my high school with a lowered truck put me in contact with his mechanic. After the mechanic installed a 3-inch/4-inch lowering kit on my S-10, I was hooked.” Since then, Hipple rebuilt it, tore it apart, rebuilt it again and began taking the truck to shows including the Carlisle Truck Nationals.

For Hipple, the show and the genre are about hanging out with his friends and the people he has met at shows over the years. He said, “It's the trucks that bring us together, but it's the people that make the scene what it is.” 

The club scene at the show is also Hipple’s focus. He said, “I remember walking the field at Carlisle back in 1999 and the early 2000s, and saw trucks lined up all with the same logo on the front or back windows -- I thought it was the coolest thing. In my local area, there were only a handful of minitrucks, so it was awesome to see so many clubs all come together for the shows. My friends and I joined a local car club and in April 2004, we thought about starting our own club. At the local diner, we gathered all of our friends who had minitrucks and had our first club meeting, where we discussed rules and club names. After voting, we decided to name our club ‘Diverse Rides Truck Club’, which was ironic, because at the time, we all owned Chevy S-10s. Our vehicle tastes have changed, so in 2014, we dropped ‘Truck Club’ from our club name and open it to cars as well. We are now ‘Diverse Rides’ and we have about 15 members, just a small part of the Minitruckin Family.” 
 
In the 22 years that Hipple has been coming to Carlisle for the Truck Nationals, Hipple, has seen relationships grow, dedication to the genre increase and creativity expand. This year's Carlisle Truck Nationals will feature trucks from about 20 clubs from all over the country, including such clubs as Acrophobia/East Coast Minis/Evil, Banzai Cruisers, Diverse Rides, Exceeding Limits, Freaks of Nature, Groundscrapers/Visual Reality, Grounded 4 Life, Local Finesse/Low Standards, Low on Air, Sunset, and Time-N-Money. 
 
Low trucks and four-wheeled icons of all kinds are among thousands of trucks presented at the Carlisle Truck Nationals, Aug. 6-8 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. Visitors can enjoy or actively be a part of one of the largest and most action-packed truck events in the world. They can see of show off lifted, lowered, classic, antique, modern, two- or four-wheel drive, jeeps, monster trucks, vans, big rigs or mini trucks, and discover trucks that span the decades, from original classics to the newest, latest and greatest models.

Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

Herb McCandless, known during his racing days as “Mr. 4-Speed,” is returning to the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals this weekend (where he has been a frequent guest), along with an exciting assortment of his race-winning cars that are now in the McCandless Collection. Additionally, the long-anticipated documentary on McCandless’ life and career is complete, and its world premiere will take place at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds event. The full four-part series will play on a loop throughout the event, and it will be possible to watch the entire documentary or just segments, as it pleases the viewer. The film, to be shown on a large screen in a huge tent will be accompanied by the McCandless Collection display, making it possible to see the cars in action on screen and up close in person. Additionally, the man about whom the documentary was produced will be at his display, and available for autographs and conversation.

A true Mopar living legend, the man in the documentary, Herb McCandless, was an American Pro Stock drag racer. With a long career in racing, McCandless won NHRA's Modified Eliminator title at the 1970 Gatornats in a Plymouth Barracuda. He also won the 1970 NHRA U.S. Nationals in Pro Stock driving a 426 ci. 1970 Plymouth Duster for the Sox & Martin team, and was on top of the drag racing world from 1970 through 1974. After retiring from driving, McCandless became a respected engine builder.

McCandless was a hired gun for some of the biggest Chrysler-backed drag racing teams. Billy Stepp recruited him to drive Strepp’s 1968 Hemi Barracuda in the Street Eliminator class at the NHRA Winternationals, and with the urging of Chrysler race boss Dick Maxwell, McCandless and Stepp joined forces. McCandless said, “Maxwell came to me and asked if I’d put my motor in Stepp’s Barracuda and drive it. We ran A/Modified Production, were 200-pounds too heavy and got killed in the class. I asked Billy if I could take the car back to Memphis with me and set it up to run B/Modified Production. After thrashing for a few weeks on both cars, I headed to Gainesville for the Gatornationals. I had a spare Hemi engine so I threw it in my ’68 Dart and entered it in Pro Stock, and entered Stepp’s ’68 Barracuda in B/Modified Production.” That is one driver with two different cars in two different classes.

“I swear I didn’t take my helmet off all day,” said McCandless, “and lived on a pit bike bouncing around from car to car. I won Modified Production and set the record in the class. I need to give personal thanks here to Billy Stepp, through the grace of him and his family, we have the ‘Wally’ from that race.” (The Wally is a prestigious trophy named in honor of late NHRA founder Wally Parks.) “It means a lot to me,’ said McCandless, “and I’ll always be thankful for that.”

Many fans misremember or believe that McCandless became known as “Mr. 4-Speed” following his NHRA Modified Eliminator title at the 1970 Gatornats or his 1970 NHRA U.S. Nationals Pro Stock championship. Others believe it was for his prowess in his 4-speed 1968 Dodge Dart or his 1972 Dodge Demon. But that wasn’t the case.

In his early days, McCandless drove in NHRA events for such teams as Sox & Martin and Dick Landy, and he was stellar on the AHRA circuit, which had a more liberal rules package. He also ran Super Stocks and he raced in 52 events in 1968, winning money in more than 40 of them – already racing with the nickname. McCandless said, “My 1965 Plymouth was what got me started, but that ’68 car was the first car I really traveled with and we won just about everywhere with it.  I didn’t have any bad days with that car.”

But about the nickname, "That ‘Mr. Four-Speed’ nickname was not my idea," McCandless said, "John Moore, from Chrysler's zone office in Memphis, wanted it painted on the car. They only built 10 factory four-speed Super Stock cars in 1965, and after three or four weeks, there were only a handful of those still racing around the country, so Mr. Moore wanted it painted on there on my ’65 car, and it just stuck.” He ran four-speeds to victory for several teams at many venues, and never looked back.

Mike McCandless, the son of legendary drag racer has accumulated one of the world's most prestigious collections of Chrysler corporation cars. The McCandless Collection is a comprehensive showcase of cars from the “Forward Look” Era (1955-1961), cars from the 1970s driven by McCandless, or tributes to his rides, as well, as other vintage cars and memorabilia from the time period. Among the vehicles scheduled to appear are: McCandless’ 1968 Dodge Dart L023 Mr. 4-Speed, 1965 Plymouth Belvedere A990 Mr. 4-Speed Tribute, 1970 Sox & Martin Plymouth Hemi Barracuda GT1, 1970 Sox & Martin Stock Plymouth Duster Tribute and the 1972 Sox & Martin Pro Stock Dodge Demon.

McCandless and his cars are scheduled to appear at The Carlisle Chrysler Nationals, July 9 – 11 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The event is the largest Mopar event in the world featuring more than 2,800 vehicles from all eras of the Chrysler brand. Classic, muscle cars and high performance new models are all showcased at this Mopar-lover's paradise. Cars, parts, tools, memorabilia, collectibles and more will be for sale in the Mopar Automotive Flea Market, as well as the latest and greatest products within the Manufacturers Midway.

 

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

A young boy saw a Corvette spotlighted on the cover of a magazine, immediately fell in love with America’s sportscar and devoted his focus toward owning one – even before he could drive. That love for the automotive icon culminated in his creation of an event that became the largest Corvette show in the world, Corvettes at Carlisle, which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary August 26-28 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds.

Corvettes at Carlisle has attracted attendees worldwide and has earned praise from Chevrolet, car engineers, race drivers and auto enthusiasts for its diversity, excitement, attention to history and its sheer grandness, even gaining a name-drop on the Jimmy Kimmel Live TV show in December, 2018. The event started as a dream by Chip Miller, and it has been a family affair ever since, from attracting families who shared Miller’s love for Corvette, to his passing the baton to his son, Lance, after Chip Miller passed away in 2004.

Lance Miller shared his father’s history and the evolution of the event. He said his father discovered the Corvette while relaxing. Miller said, “My father was a young child sitting on the curb, and right near him was a Popular Mechanics magazine. The magazine had a Corvette on the cover. He fell in love with the artwork/car right then and there.”

Moving forward, Chip Miller became a dedicated “car guy” and he and his “car guy” friend, Bill Miller (no relation) founded Carlisle Events in 1974, to produce events for “car guys and girls just like them.” The enterprise began with a swap meet and car show called “Post War ’74”, on the Carlisle Fairgrounds. The runaway success of what became known as Fall Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Car Corral led to a similar Spring event in 1977. In short order, they became complete sellouts for vendor and car sale (or “car corral”) spaces.

By 1982, Chip Miller brought his dedication to Corvettes to the mix and started Corvettes at Carlisle as a stand-alone event. According to Lance Miller, “My father’s passion and love for Corvettes wasn’t just about the car, it was truly about the people. He loved his friends and most were involved in the Corvette hobby. When he decided to host Corvettes at Carlisle, his list of friends grew exponentially due to the size of the event. The show started off with just a few rows of Corvettes, with some vendors sprinkled in, and the event quickly became one of the largest Corvette-only events in the world.”

Chip Miller was enthralled by devotees and their interaction with the car. Lance Miller said, “My father enjoyed the people behind the wheel of their Corvettes more than anything. Bringing people together to enjoy what he loved so much wasn’t a job for him; it was something he really wanted to do because it allowed others to experience exactly what he loved so much – friendships. Many friendships were formed over the years because of each of our events, and Bill Miller and my father were all about those friendships and those people.”

According to Lance Miller, Chip Miller’s proudest moment each year was seeing all of his friends come to “his” Corvette party, as it became a true tradition for many. “My father’s goal of bringing like-minded individuals together became more and more of a success as years went on, and this success brought my father sincere joy each year,” said Lance Miller. “Today, Corvettes at Carlisle still generates new friendships each year, thanks largely to my father and Bill Miller, his partner and friend. That exemplifies true Corvette Camaraderie.”

After that first show in 1982, the event grew larger, more diversified and more sophisticated each year. In the beginning, the event focused on a showfield area where Corvettes were on display, a Corvette Corral where Corvettes were for sale, and as was true for all Carlisle Events, a large vendor area -- something that Chip Miller took great pride in, as “the heartbeat of the Carlisle Events organization.”

In the 1980s and ’90s, OEM Corvette parts were tough to come by, but during Corvettes at Carlisle, Chip Miller took great effort to make sure he had all the right vendors at the event. As the event continued to grow in each sector, so did the visitors’ excitement of owning and driving a Corvette. Chevrolet saw the advantages of this Corvette enthusiasts’ Mecca and Chip Miller succeeded in having Team Chevrolet attend Corvettes at Carlisle for the first time. Lance Miller recalled, “I’ll never forget how grateful my father was for having them come to the event. We’re fortunate to continue this tradition today”.

The vendors and parts have changed quite a bit in 40 years of the show. Many of the older cars have been restored -- some restored multiple times -- so original parts aren’t in as high demand as they were back in the day, and many have been remanufactured making them cheaper due to mass production. Lance Miller said, “We’ve seen a transformation of our attendees wanting to enhance and personalize their newer Corvettes. Sometimes they need an exhaust, sometimes it’s paint protection film, sometimes it’s different wheels and sometimes it’s an entire engine makeover.”

It seems apparent that Corvette passion is alive and well, and there is a current push towards Vette-Rods, as enthusiasts are converting older Corvettes with newer technology – brakes, transmission, AC, engine and suspension components. The vendors at Corvettes at Carlisle adapt to the times and trends, and supply what the audience and attendees demand. Lance Miller said, “I’m happy to say if you visit us at Carlisle, you’ll find what you need for your next project – whether you’d like to keep your restoration as close to factory as possible all the way to the Vette-Rod.”

When Chip Miller passed away in 2004 from amyloidosis, Carlisle Events management asked Lance Miller to manage Corvettes at Carlisle. “I accepted the challenge without hesitation,” he said. “In fact, my Mom needed help managing her ownership of the company so it ended up being a dual position. At the time I had my own web design and consulting business, which I sold quickly prior to accepting the job at hand.”

Lance Miller didn’t come in cold; he was involved with each of the company’s events at a very young age, from putting out paper plates on the field with vendor ID numbers, to selling tickets and driving the company tram. “My father was a true mentor for me,” he said, “and he would put me through the paces. I recall mowing the lawn, putting in the vendor ID disks and taking them out, emptying the trashcans, scrubbing the floors in the buildings, and everything my father wanted me to learn. As I got older, I learned quickly why he did what he did. It made me truly appreciate each position at Carlisle Events. I know how hard every team member works, and if it weren’t for my father forcing these jobs on me, I wouldn’t appreciate how hard each person works, nearly as much. To say I’m grateful is an understatement, he did well at his parenting and I’m thankful for it now I can pass that down to my daughter (I bet she’ll love it!).”

When Lance Miller took over the reins of the event, he quickly learned about the Corvette community. “They are amazing,” he said. “Everyone that was involved with helping my father reached out and said they’d handle different themes for the event. They were amazing and I quickly realized our events are ALL about the people – the passion behind the car is driven hard, but the people drive it home for our events. Whenever we have incredible displays there’s always a couple of people that really drive it home – typically one car owner of a specific theme will go out of their way to ensure it’s a great display. This spills over to the general public and makes for a great event.”

Lance Miller reflected, “Corvettes at Carlisle was my father’s baby, it meant the world to him. The event keeps him alive, and after I had taken over, a Corvette community friend mentioned to me at one of our events that he felt that we should conduct an Engine Rev tribute to my father. As feedback is essential to making any event better, we listen and we apply. I did just that… I broadened the scope a bit, and we do an Engine Rev for our loved ones at noon on Saturday each year during Corvettes at Carlisle. I typically have my Mom by my side, I say a few words and then following a moment of silence, everyone on the grounds revs their engines for our loved ones that can no longer join us. Each year I have tears in my eyes and I can feel my father’s presence with my Mom and me in the car. To me, this is something my father would be proud of and it is something I’m proud of.”

Lance Miller has seen the show grow, but the fans remain constant. He said, “The fans are still the same; some have aged, but their love and passion haven’t diminished. We also see that there are a LOT of new Corvette enthusiasts entering the market. We’re seeing a drastic increase in people enjoying their newer Corvettes -- C6-C8 cars -- due to the luxury of driving it compared to the early years. The vendor base is the heartbeat to our organization and I often tell people they can build a Corvette out of the parts that are available within our vendor area. If you’re looking for that hard to find part, you’ll most likely find it at Carlisle. We’re also seeing a spike in our Manufacturers Midway, where many of the exhaust manufactures and others do installs transforming your Corvette right before your eyes. It’s a lot of fun to watch and hear.”

Lance Miller added, “My father would often say… LIFE IS GOOD! For three words, it’s quite powerful. I do my best to live by these words and we do our best to apply this to each event we host. If you’ve never attended one of our events I’d encourage you to come out, in fact I’d love to hear your feedback as we put them on solely for you! Feedback is crucial for us to improve and the only way we can improve is by hearing how we can make it a better experience for you.”

Corvettes at Carlisle at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, August 26-28, is the largest and most diverse Corvette car show in the world.  The annual Corvettes at Carlisle event features thousands of Corvettes representing all generations of America’s classic sports car. Corvettes at Carlisle spotlights all aspects of the Corvette hobby, including different styles, packages and every generation of production, from year one in 1953 to the modern day C8.  

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.