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.

 

Car guys love car shows, and when a car guy who stars on a televised car show guests at a live car show (event), it is the best of times in the car show world. Aaron Kaufman, TV host and car builder, is the former lead mechanic at Gas Monkey Garage and co-host of Fast N’ Loud filmed at the Gas Monkey Garage. Kaufman is the owner of Arclight Fabrication in Dallas, TX and he will be a guest celebrity for a meet-and-greet at the Carlisle GM Nationals, June 25 - 26, at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds.

The Texas-based Kaufman, who also starred in a one-season television show entitled Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman, is coming to Carlisle, fresh from his newest TV venture, Aaron Needs a Job, in which he toured America while featuring people doing jobs he found interesting and challenging. Of course, most of the jobs on the show relate in some way to the automotive industry, but he isn’t tied into that without the flexibility to investigate other exciting jobs and the people who work them.

More than a mechanic, fabricator, car builder, TV personality and “car guy,” Kaufman is also a competitive racer. In September 2015, Kaufman competed in the Speed Energy Formula Off-Road Stadium Super Trucks series, driving a Toyo Tires-sponsored truck at the Sand Sports Super Show in Costa Mesa, CA. He ran two rounds during the weekend, finishing fifth in both his heat races, followed by tenth- and eighth-place runs in the features. Things didn’t go Kaufman’s way during the event, including one incident in which his truck partially rode on a K-rail. After the race, fellow driver Robby Gordon joked that is was “some of the best, worst driving I have ever seen from the Toyo Tires driver.”

Kaufman got his automotive start working at a garage in Dallas, putting to use his talent for pulling things apart and putting them back together, a skill he recognized in himself as a child. Kaufman’s father was a passionate car guy and Kaufman helped his dad work on multiple projects.

Originally, Kaufman pictured himself becoming a park ranger, but when he found he had a skill and a thirst for disassembling cars and putting them back together with tweaks to make them better than ever, his focus went to all things automotive. As a young man, he ventured into hot rods as a self-taught fabricator, mechanic, and hot-rodder. At his garage, he met Richard Rawlings, the entrepreneur who was also a reality show (Fast N’ Loud) and media personality. Rawlings recognized Kaufman’s skill and hired him as a mechanic, eventually promoting him to lead mechanic at Gas Monkey Garage, both at the garage business and in the Fast N’ Loud TV show based on the enterprise.

As Kaufman became a media personality, he never lost focus of his passion for building, tweaking and creating automotive projects. After 14 years at the Gas Monkey Garage and four years with Fast N’ Loud, Kaufman felt boxed in as to the approach to what vehicles he could work on and how to fix them up, and left the relationship to allow him the flexibility to work on exciting projects of his own choosing.

This will be Kaufman’s first time at the Carlisle GM Nationals and he said he was “anxious to see the cars and meet the enthusiasts.”

The meet-and-greet and autograph sessions with Kaufman are free for Carlisle GM Nationals attendees, once through the gates. Following his Carlisle appearance, Kaufman is expected to compete in the Pikes Peak Hill Club the following day (Sunday). Kaufman will fly to Colorado after his Carlisle appearance and drive in the 99th offering of the “Race to the Clouds” at Pikes Peak in Cascade, Colorado. The peak is nearly three-miles high and Kaufman will be among those drivers to attack the climb. He has driven in the race multiple times, most often in a 1963 Ford Falcon race car he re-built on his show, until he sold it online.

The Carlisle GM Nationals is one of the largest GM featured event in the world, with more than 1000 vehicles on the field spanning more than a century and showcasing the many badges that have been under the General Motors badge (umbrella). The cars on-site will include vintage and classics to late-model automobiles and trucks, including the 6th Generation Camaro.

> 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 1970s was a decade filled with self-expression, breaking with tradition, experimentation with fashion, inventive color and style, and a drive to be unique. That determination was apparent in the automotive industry with colorful cars and the evolution of custom vans -- shaggin’ wagons.

While high-impact color muscle cars rolled down America’s highways, perhaps the vehicle that best illustrated America’s go-for-the-good-times lifestyle was the custom van. The muscle-car apartments on wheels were a canvas for creativity that cruised down Van Nuys Blvd. in California, Woodward Avenue in Detroit, and on various strips across all regions of America.

Several auto manufacturers built already “customized” vans to take advantage of the market, and many after-market companies served the movement by fully customizing the blank van canvas to the buyer’s own vision.

These were full-sized vans, as the minivan didn’t really hit the scene until 1984. They were not today’s soccer-mom transporters. They often had beds inside, lots of speakers, shag carpet, and personalized cosmetics and features. While their popularity waned by the end of the decade, the wild ’70s saw a genre in which the wilder was the better, and each unique interior take or creative exterior paintjob was in competition with the next customization to be king of the road.

A tricked out van could include shiny chrome, plush carpeting, extreme sound systems, amped-up horsepower and museum-worthy artwork that was hip, trendy, professional and exclusive to each van. On a single cruise strip you could see vans sporting robust color, flames, stripes, lettering, and images of monsters, dungeons and dragons, skulls, mermaids, princesses, fairies, pirates, space scenes, Western scenes, animals, giant insects, naked or nearly naked objects of desire, airbrushing, brushed-on portraits and so much more. Each van was a unique creation.

The 1970s van culture was a creative moment in time, but it still plays today, and Carlisle Events will pay homage to the era at the Carlisle Truck Nationals August 6 - 8, at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The display, called Vanarama IX welcomes vanners and all vans and enthusiasts. As part of the show, Carlisle Events has invited Kurk Collis of customvan.com to head the event, and the show features several of his works of automotive art as well as several from automotive artist Ed Beard Jr., who has 40 years of illustration and custom automotive airbrush work in his portfolio.

Collis builds his own parts and concentrates on interiors. He began by learning every aspect of the van conversion plant he worked for in the 1970s, working his way up to design engineer until forming his own custom van shop -- RV Doctor -- in Baltimore, in the late 1980s, specializing in vans and SUVs. Collis said, “In the 1970s I read car magazine articles showing shag-carpeted vans and the new breed of auto enthusiasts who expressed their individuality and took the delivery van to a new level. It changed my life and I envisioned helping them taking an old bread truck or mechanics truck and personalizing it to give it a personal meaning.”

Exterior art is what you see from the road, and while Collis continues the exterior story inside, Ed Beard Jr. creates it on the outside. Beard did his first airbrush automotive job in 1982 and moved from vans to hot rods, then to Harleys; hand-painting high fantasy, warlords, creatures and monsters, from murals to close-up work. He moved to illustrating books, calendars and novelty products, then returned to van art creation in 2010.

Regarding van exteriors, Beard said, “The art tells a story … I use different techniques for the art at hand, from airbrushing to hand brush work and fine line work. I specialize in lettering and portrait work, and I hand-draw. You can see individual hairs on my portraits and I follow a creative-theme storyline with hidden objects that you have to search out to see.”

Beard believes that the exterior and interior work together. He said, “A successful van customization has a synergy between the exterior and interior. The style and theme on exterior front doors has to be carried on inside. Kurk carries the theme with sound, collectable and fun objects, cloth, stitching, colors and panel lighting, and I add theme painting to complete the package.”

Carlisle got into the act in 2010. Collis said, “I came to the Spring Carlisle Swap Meet to sell inventory and we got a few vans together to show off and sell. Visitors and Carlisle staff saw the excitement and next year we brought – or contacted vanners to bring – 30 vans to Building T. Soon, van campers were allowed in to make Vanarama a van party. This year we will see more than 100 vans attend and display.”

There is no typical design, but common interior themes from Collis include “Two chairs in front that swivel, a bed in back, and such unique themes as Superman, or a railroad narrative, or we did one with a ‘Stairway to Heaven’ song storyline.” Collis’ playbook includes high-shine waxed wood inside, lighting that changes to the music played, lighted logos in wall (in the Superman van), center wheel logos, and what creative additions the conversion suggests to him. “We build a fluid, living thing,” said Collis.

Collis said, today’s crowd is similar to that of 50 years ago. “Today is the same as always,” he said. “It is about what the 60-year-old vanner was driving 40 or 50 years ago and nostalgia that makes older vanners feel young again. Maybe he wants to recapture the van he had or one he saw, but couldn’t have in those days. And it is about the young vanners who want edgy and not mainstream art on wheels, with navi, electronics, Bluetooth, music, lights, fuel injection and high-tech. In the end, it is as it has always been … it is about self-expression.”

Beard said, “Today’s exterior focus is not much different, stressing military, history super heroes, Marvel comic heroes or sports. And it is often personal, My ‘Orange Krate’ creation carries a family’s story in a Bermuda Triangle-pirate theme; ‘Dragonlord’ is a wizards and dragons theme and ‘Shanna Marie’ is a pirate-themed tribute to a family.”

Collis added, “At Vanarama you can see the evolution of it all. What remains the same is the company we keep. The vanner community cares about each other. We stick together as a family … the vanner family.”

Beard and Collis will show off some of their work, along with more than 100 other vanners, at this year’s Carlisle Truck Nationals, which hosts around 2,000 trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs. Attendees can take in some action with a burnout contest, low truck limbo, high truck contest, frame-dragging contest, 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.

 

In 1909, Henry Ford was quoted as saying about the Model T, “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants, so long as it is black.” When the quote was delivered, the Model T only came in black because the production line required compromise so that efficiency and improved quality could be achieved.

But for many car enthusiasts then and now, while black can be dynamic, cool colors really speak to and attract crowds of fans. Car color has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of the automobile and while some early cars were unpainted, even what was arguably the first motor vehicle, the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, was green, with its fully exposed engine finished in bright red. By 1910, cars were offered in red, green, gray, and black, and even the Model T was sold in various colors. 

By the 1920s, cream and tan were added to the color mix and the 1930s and 1940s saw metallic paints added. In the 1950s, two-tone paint jobs along with generous amounts of chrome set the tone. Car colors went bright in many shades of blue, red, green, gold, and turquoise, as well as white and black. One bright example was the Dodge “LaFemme,” a model marketed as a “women’s car” with pink paint, and special umbrella and lipstick holders.

The 1960s ushered in an era of self-expression and cars were in step as many sports cars and coupes featured more exuberant, less conventional shades of colors such as red, green, and blue. In addition, colors such as bright yellow, and violet found their first mainstream automotive applications during this decade. Power-plus muscle cars, such as the Plymouth Barracuda featured nontraditional colors. 

The 1970s saw a greater popularity of “Earth tones,” which included shades of olive green, brown, and tan or cream, and colors were more restrained. Except that in the summer of 1969 and lasting into 1973, Chrysler’s Dodge and Plymouth motor divisions both began offering bright and vibrant paint colors -- known as Mopar High Impact Colors -- on their muscle car models. While competitors tried keeping up with Chrysler’s fresh new look with their own bold blends, their imitations couldn’t compete with Chrysler’s sharp new shades. These eye-popping paint colors had one purpose: attracting young buyers looking to make a statement with their muscle car.

Dodge categorized its paint colors as High-Performance Colors, while Plymouth labeled them High Impact Colors, but through time, both paint groups are often referred to as High Impact Colors. And in today’s world, some displays are called “Kool Colors” and “Old Skool Paint.”

Dodge and Plymouth both used different names for the same colors, however, they shared the same paint codes and isn’t uncommon for a paint color name from one motor division to incorrectly identify another motor division’s color name, as often car enthusiasts refer to the color of a Plymouth ‘Cuda as “Hemi Orange” when technically that was a name Dodge used.

Some of the most vibrant impact colors include:

Plum Crazy
In 1970 and 1971, Dodge labeled its regal purple paint color Plum Crazy while Plymouth used In Violet. It isn’t uncommon to hear car show folk refer to this color as Plum Crazy, regardless if it’s on a Charger or a Road Runner.

Hemi Orange
The Hemi Orange at Dodge or Tor Red at Plymouth was available from 1969 through 1972. Both Dodge and Plymouth eventually came to a consensus by using the term “Hemi Orange” to identify the color. 

Bahama Yellow
From 1969 to 1971, a vibrant yellow was part of the Mopar color palette. Dodge called it Butterscotch while Plymouth named it Bahama Yellow. 

Go Mango
In 1969 and 1970, a stunning EK2 orange paint color was available in two fruit-inspired names: Go-Mango at Dodge and Vitamin C at Plymouth. 

Sublime Green
Dodge’s Sublime Green and Plymouth’s Limelight was a toxic yellow-green color available exclusively in 1970. It was one of the most radical and flamboyant High Impact colors ever offered. 

Pink Panther
One of the most vivid and polarizing Mopar colors ever was the Pink FM3 paint code available in the spring of 1970 and as a special-order option in 1971. At the time, some dealers repainted their cars because they didn’t think Pink would sell. Dodge named it Pink Panther, as a take on Peter Sellers’ 1963 Pink Panther movie. Plymouth opted for Moulin Rouge, referring to the infamous cabaret in Paris, France. 

Other High Impact colors include:
Top Banana in Dodge -- Lemon Twist in Plymouth; Citron Yella in Dodge -- Curious Yellow in Plymouth; Green Go in Dodge -- Sassy Grass Green in Plymouth; Bright Green in Dodge – Rallye Green in Plymouth.

Carlisle Events pays homage to “Old Skool” paint at the 2021 Carlisle Chrysler Nationals July 9 - 11, at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. Featuring retro colors, flake and original as well as recent paint artistry, the display brings the visitor back in time to psychedelic paintjobs. 

Ed Buczeskie, Carlisle Chrysler Nationals Events Manager said, “Our display reflects the custom style of a bygone era. What’s so cool about it is that some of these cars actually survived with the same paint for 50 +/- years. That allows us to see exactly how they looked back in the day. On the other side of the coin are the modern painters such as Travis Hess, who can replicate that style, but with modern materials and arguably better quality, as the standards are higher now.”

Buczeskie points to a few colors as the extreme kings of the day. “Panther Pink (Dodge) and Moulin Rouge (Plymouth) was possibly the wildest factory color ever. Also, the 1971 ‘Cuda “billboard’ stripe was pretty wild. So, while Chrysler had (and still has) some wild colors, the concept was and is about the personalization from the owners and custom painters.”

The old school (or old “skool”) paint still plays today, and Buczeskie said it is about two things. “One is that it’s very different and people like different – especially now that we’ve all seen every possible factory combination. The other is nostalgia. Most of these cars were lost to time. They were rare enough in the Chrysler world back in the day and even fewer remain today.”

Factory paint is the focus here, but old-school artists such as George Barris did extreme customization then, and this year’s show displays one of today’s artists who employs an old-school vibe – Travis Hess. Buczeskie said, “Travis Hess is one of the best custom painters around today, who creates old-school artistry. And he’s a Mopar guy – as is his dad, Bucky Hess. At least two of the cars in the display were painted by Travis Hess. One is the ’64 Dodge that he owns and the other is the ’71 Charger of John McCabe. Hess’ ‘High Anxiety’ 1964 Dodge 440 Race Hemi hardtop is a stunning NHRA Stock Eliminator car that made its debut in 2016. McCabe’s ’71 Charger is also being replicated as a collectible die-cast for the event by M2 Machines. McCabe is also an amazing custom painter, but he chose Hess for the Charger. Another standout is the ’70 ‘Cuda of Tommy Baker. Baker is not a custom painter by trade, but he did his car himself and it’s AMAZING.”

Buczeskie added, “All the cars on display were standouts then and are standouts now.”

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.

There was a time when “Pony Cars” ruled the automotive marketplace, and for a few years, Ford’s “Pony” became a Clydesdale with greater size, heft and power.

The Ford Mustang revolutionized the auto industry in 1964 when it hit the marketplace. Currently in its 6th Generation, the Lead Pony of all “Pony Cars” is Ford’s fifth-best-selling badge. Lee Iacocca, vice president and general manager of Ford in the early 1960s, sought to build and command America’s need for speed and style among young car driver-owners by developing a sporty youth-market car based on the compact Falcon. Developed in record time on a shoe-string budget, Ford introduced the 1965 Mustang at the World's Fair on April 17, 1964 and it was an instant hit. Ford planned for 100,000 first-year sales, but dealers sold 22,000 on the first day. From the get-go the Ford Mustang initiated a new genre of automobiles, known as “pony cars,” though horsepower assets didn’t quite make the muscle car scene.

Originally developed as a highly styled line of sporty coupes and convertibles derived from existing model lines, Mustang was distinguished by “long hood, short deck” proportions. Its immediate success inspired competition from its sibling badge – Mercury  with its Cougar, as well as from Chevrolet, Pontiac, AMC, Dodge and Chrysler, and impacted design cues from Toyota.

Named for the World War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane, though Ford chief Lee Iacocca took it as a wild horse “Mustang,” other names under consideration were Cougar, Torino, Allegro and Avventura.

Introduced as a 1964 ½ Ford Mustang, the original engine lineup consisted of a 101-hp 170-c.i. straight-six, 4.3-liter V-8, and the original mid-size engine was 260 c.i. (4.3 liters) V8’s 164 horses, and was replaced by the legendary 289-c.i. V-8 (4.7 liters) with 210 hp and up to 271 horsepower. For late 1965, the six was enlarged to 200 c.i. (3.3 liters) and 120hp, and the 260 was replaced by the 289 with a two-barrel carburetor and up to 271 horses. The Mustang galloped into 1966 with only minor changes, and on March 1 of that year, Ford built the millionth Mustang.

In 1967, Mustang grew in length, width, and weight, primarily to allow the installation of a big-block engine. The 390-c.i. (6.4L) V-8 produced 335 hp, displacing the 289 as the top performer. Interior and exterior trim was revised, and a new 302-c.i. (4.9L) V-8 replaced the higher-horsepower 289s. For drag racing, Ford offered a 428-c.i. (7.0L) Cobra Jet V-8 rated at 335 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque.

By 1969, Mustang was even larger -- 3.8-inches longer and half an inch wider, with no change in the 108-inch wheelbase. Ford dropped the 289 and added a new 351-c.i. (5.8L) V-8 with 250 or 290 hp. New models included the Mach 1 and the Boss models. The Boss 302 was built to meet Trans-Am racing production requirements, while the Boss 429 put the 375-hp, 429-c.i. (7.0L) engine into street use as required by NASCAR rules. But Mustang grew less feisty in 1970, with a less-aggressive restyling.

That brings us to 50 years ago and the 1971 Mustangs, in which horses stampeded. In 1971, Mustang grew in size, weight (some models over 3500 lbs. – more than 1000 lbs heavier than in the 1964 launch. A new buttressed rear window gave the sedan a distinctly different profile than earlier Mustangs. Due to stringent emission rules, Muscle Car sales in America dropped, but Mustang went to market with an enlarged V6 to 250 c.i. (4.1L), the 351 and the 429, which was eliminated by 1972. However, from 1971 to 1973, Ford made a Clydesdale out of their once athletic pony car with additions in size and power.

Introduced in September 1970, the 1971 Mustang was green-lighted by Ford's new president, Semon “Bunkie” Knudsen. The revised model grew in size, gaining 3 inches in width in order to accommodate Ford's big block 429 cu in without need for an extensive suspension redesign.  

As before there were three body styles offered: Hardtop (available in base or Grande trim), SportsRoof (available in base or Mach 1 trim), and convertible (no specific trim packages available). Available engines were the Thriftpower I6 250 c.i. (4.1L), the Windsor V8 302 c.i. (4.9L), the Cleveland 351 c.i. V8 (5.8L) and the Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet 429 c.i. (7.0L) V8s.

Powerwise, in 1971, the best power figures in the group, the 250 put out 145bhp and 232 lb-ft of torque; the 302 was rated at 210 bhp and 296 lb-ft.; the 351 delivered from 240 bhp and 350 lb-ft. to 330 bhp and 370 lb-ft. depending on code and configuration; and the 429 went as high as 375 bhp and 475 lb-ft.

Among the most notable Big Horse Mustangs were:

1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 

Packing a high-output version of the 351 Cleveland V8 under its broad, tapered hood, the Ford Mustang Boss 351 was one of Fords last true muscle cars. Only 1,806 were built in 1971, their lone year of production, and they remain among the hottest performers in the world of small-block Fords. They were designed with twin, functional “NACA” hood ducts, Mach 1 honeycomb grille, lower body paint treatment, bodyside stripes and 351 decals.

1971-1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1

The Mach 1 returned to the line-up with a sleek fastback profile, and it was powered by everything from the standard 210-hp 302 two-barrel to the 240-hp 351 Cleveland two-barrel and 285-hp four-barrel engines, to the a 370-hp 429 CJ (Cobra Jet), 429 CJ-R (Ram Air), and a 375-hp 429 SCJ (Super Cobra Jet, when the Drag Pak was ordered). Its exterior featured a honeycomb-pattern grille, closed “NACA-type” hood scoops, honeycomb-pattern rear panel appliqué, pop-open gas cap, and "Mach 1" fender decals.



The 50th birthday of Mustang’s Big-Horse Clydesdales from 1971-1973 will be celebrated and the Ponies will be displayed on the Showfield and in Building T at this year’s Carlisle Ford Nationals on the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, June 4-6. These powerful street beasts were some of the biggest, heaviest and most “styled” Mustangs ever selling around 410,000 over their three years. The Carlisle Ford Nationals features more than 3200 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Euro Fords. Ford Cars, Trucks and performance products will be on-site with offerings ranging from installations to special displays. Cars, parts, tools, memorabilia, collectibles and more will be for sale in the world's largest Ford 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>

Car fans embrace performance, style, tech and many aspects of automobiles that fly under the radar. Among these fans are those who flock to displays of solid lifter cars … and for many of those fans, it is as much about the history and the cars, as the process and tech.

The dry tech answer to what solid lifters are is that they are solid pieces of metal between the cam lobe and pushrod. This type of valvetrain needs gaps between components to allow for thermal expansion. The lifter is the link between the camshaft and the pushrod. Because metal expands when it is heated, the link needs to be adjustable. Relating to lifters, the terms “hydraulic” and “solid” refer to the way the lifter handles this need for adjustment. Hydraulic Lifters, which are the norm today, automatically adjust. They have a spring-loaded plunger inside. As the engine runs, the body of the lifter fills with oil. The spring and oil allow the plunger to move up and down as needed.

Why is it a big deal? Brian Henderson, who began doing automotive restorations 30 years ago, and who is co-owner of Super Car Workshop, is a driving force behind the annual Solid Lifter Showroom, showcased in the Carlisle GM Nationals at Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. Henderson said, “Fans want to see the original cars that made horsepower history more than 50 years ago. They want to see the ’60s Camaros, the ’70 Chevelle and the grandpappies of muscle cars. These fans are the nostalgic older guys who had those cars in their heydays and the younger fans who understand the grandness of what made automotive history.”

What was the difference between solid lifter cars and hydraulic lifter cars and how does it tie in the General Motors? Henderson said, “A solid lifter cam rides on a film of oil, lets the rpms rev higher and generates more horsepower – or did, in the old days --  than a hydraulic that adjusts to work in more harmony and generates a lower rpm with less compression and lesser cam profile. Nostalgically, it was all about the horsepower – more with solid lifters – and the Hi-po cars that employed them. Today, hydraulic roller cam setups create less friction but carry spring pressure to provide all the horsepower you can imagine, putting today’s solid lifter programs in the dust. But historically and nostalgically, muscle car enthusiasts were all about solid lifters.”

How that fits into General Motors is that GM was in the forefront of the muscle car and pony car wars with solid lifter-endowed street beasts. Muscle cars were kings of the streets from 1964 through 1974, but the first muscle car might be traced back to the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 from GM. During the glory muscle years, GM was a solid lifter icon with such horsepower-heroes as the 1964 Pontiac Tempest GTO, followed by Impala SS 409, Pontiac Catalina 421, Olds Jetfire, Olds 442, Olds 455, Chevy Camaros, Pontiac Firebirds and GTOs, Chevy Novas and Chevelles, Buick GSX and Gran Sport, and more. 

Two hp heroes that were smoking then and have gained stature among fans today, are the Yenko Camaros and COPO Camaros.

COPO Camaros -- Central Office Production Order -- were specialty vehicles with low production volumes, initially created by finding a loophole to circumvent limitations GM placed on Chevy’s performance vehicles. The result was a powerful, street-legal machine that exceeded expectations and has become a coveted vehicle among collectors. These were Hi-po models without peer. 

Don Yenko a racer and owner of Yenko Chevrolet in Canonsburg, PA launched the program when he placed a factory order for 201 Camaros as he envisioned they should be built: with more powerful engines. In previous years, he had ordered Camaros and swapped out the engines himself, but in 1969, he began the COPO 9561 program, prompting other dealerships that caught on to the special ordering system to begin the COPO 9560 program. The Yenkos and COPOs will be among the vehicles on display at the Solid Lifter Showroom, in this year’s Carlisle GM Nationals. 

Henderson said, “After restoring cars and seeing how legit cars from the 1960s and ’70s fascinate the public, my partner, Joe Swezey and I approached Carlisle Events about 15 years ago to do a show spotlighting solid lifter cream of crop Chevelles, Novas and Camaros. Carlisle’s Event Manager at the time – Rick Markko – had me do a full pitch and when convinced, he gave me full reign, which included getting lifts to put cars in the air. We stuffed 32 cars in the building and grassroots support took off and gained following every year since.”

What does Henderson look for before reaching out to fill the building with exciting cars? He said, “I want rough, but legit cars. I want a real Yenko, not a clone. If it is rusty and banged up, that’s great. If it is shiny and restored, that’s OK too, as long as the parts are real. If it is legit … there’s room for your car. I am open to what I hear from fans and Carlisle has fans call them about cars they want to see displayed. And if I see an exciting car in a magazine, I seek them out. We reach out to collectors and contacts and we often hear from the public with treasure finds.”

This year’s display will showcase the legendary No. 11 first 4-speed ZL1 COPO Camaro, a 1969 Z28 Yenko Camaro, restored Z28s, rare Impalas, vintage drag cars and many more.

You can see the Solid Lifter Showroom in Building Y at the 2021 GM Nationals, June 25-26, as well as more than 1000 vehicles of all GM badges past and present, from classics to the modern 6th Generation Camaro.

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.

So your in the market for a classic car.  Like any major purchase, doing your homework is imperative, but just in case your buddy with a killer set of tools gives you a hot tip about a cool car sitting on a lot or just waiting to be scooped up on line, here's a short list to help you understand exactly what you'll likely hear.



Barn find = Needs more money thrown at it than it’s worth to us.

Matching numbers = The vin matches the title. Does it match the car?

100% Original and restored = huh?

Great floors = ridiculously applied amount of undercoat.

Investment grade = If you buy it for this price, your grade is “F”.

1 of (insert single digit here) = OK, so there were thousands of these made, but this is the only brown mustard colored, bench seat and radio delete car we have.

Completely documented = Reproduction owner’s manual included.

Stored in a private display for years = someone’s garage.

Less than XXXX miles on the odometer = since it seized up the last time.

Exceptionally original = we threw dirt on it.

Refreshed = power washed engine bay and added new pine tree air freshener.

Completely gone through = We couldn’t find the leak.

Factory correct = Every body panel has been replaced at least once but the paint color looks like something from the era.

The mileage on the clock is believed to be original = Probably not, but that’s what we’re saying.

Meticulously maintained by previous owner = They changed the oil once before listing for sale, never in the five years prior though.

Comes with service history = We found a receipt.

Undoubtedly = we don’t know. Trust us.

Two owner car = None of the previous brokers titled it over the last six years.

Original patina = as opposed to new patina?

Believed original = See “undoubtedly”.

Complete concours restoration last year by a famous restorer. = Don’t ask us who, we have no idea.

Frame off = quite an accomplishment with unibody cars.

Long history = We found more than one receipt.

NO RESERVE = What they meant was reservoir.. The car rolls but won’t stop.

Priced to move = It’s been on our lot for years and still no interest.

Photos (except for the one within the story) and text courtesy of JP Emerson and JPEmerson.com, automotive writer and host of the JP Emerson Show podcast.  That photo...a Google image from a Muppet Movie.     

About the Author:  JP Emerson is an award winning author & journalist whose bylines appeared in many of the most popular automotive magazines in the country. JP covers classic muscle cars and the people who own them with real stories from real owners relating everything from ownership, car shows, music, road trips and what everyone has in common regardless of brand.

On the surface, motorsports appears to be a male-dominated domain, but there have been plenty of women who have made their marks on the scene and behind the scenes, especially within the Ford sphere (or oval) of influence.

Often left unreported, women have been involved in automobile racing from the beginning of racing’s early days -- on the track, in the pits, and behind the scenes. From Detroit to Daytona, and from Indy to Le Mans and Sebring, women have earned their stripes and checkered flags, and the list reads like a motorsports who’s-who regardless of gender. Drivers such as Michele Mouton – World Rally Championship and Le Mans; Vicki Wood -- The first female to ever to drive in NASCAR; Maria Teresa de Filippis – Formula One; Sara Christian – NASCAR; Janet Guthrie – Indy and NASCAR; Sarah Fisher – Indy car driver and team owner; Donna Mae Mims – SCCA; Brittany, Courtney, and Ashley Force – NHRA; and many more.

Among those women who have been pioneers and winners on the track are a slew of Blue Oval drivers who brought thrills and skills to races while driving Fords.

There are many Blue Oval racing women who have earned due respect, but a few of the most memorable and skillful drivers include the following.

Danica Patrick -- Arguably one of the faces of motorsports in the first two decades of this century, Danica Patrick drove Formula Fords and NASCAR Fords, was 2005 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and raced in 191 NASCAR races. She was the first female to win an Indy Car series race, first female to win a pole position in both Indy Car and NASCAR series, and one of only 14 racers, male or female to lead a both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500. She got her start with Ford backing in the United Kingdom, racing Formula Fords, and drove Ford Fusions in NASCAR races, including the No. 10  Ford Warriors Pink Fusion NASCAR racecar for Breast Cancer Awareness month, marking Ford’s decades-long commitment to raising awareness and funds in the fight against the disease.

Lyn St. James – The first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the year Award, Lyn St. James raced SCCA TransAm, IMSA GT, CART and Indy Racing League races and won at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours at Sebring. She is the only woman to win an IMSA GT race driving solo, when she won in 1988 at Watkins Glen, and she became the first woman driver to reach over 200 mph on a racetrack. For the majority of her career she drove a Ford Mustang, and she used a Ford Thunderbird to break a closed course record for women with 227.32 mph. She often raced driving Mercury Capris Ford Cosworths, and Ford Mustangs.

Shirley Muldowney – “The First Lady of Drag Racing” in the NHRA, Shirley “Cha-Cha” Muldowney began street racing in New York as a teen-ager and competed in Top Gas dragsters before switching to Funny Cars. She won the International Hot Rod Association Southern Nationals in 1971, and she was a three-time NHRA Top Fuel Dragster Champion in 1977, 1980 and 1982. Her first nitro car was a Mustang-bodied, Chrysler-powered Funny Car she bought from Connie Kalitta and raced Mustangs and Mustang bodies for most of her career.

Denise McCluggage – A driver who fought for equality in motorsports and automotive journalism as well, Denise McCluggage, wearing her iconic polka-dot helmet won her class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1961, driving a Ferrari 250 GT SWB. McCluggage also scored another class win at the Monte Carlo Rally in a Ford Falcon in 1964 with her teammate, English rally driver, Anne Hall. She also helped launch Autoweek magazine and won the Ken W. Purdy Award for excellence in automotive journalism, among other journalism awards.

Hailie Deegan --  One of the new faces of racing is female driving phenom Hailie Deegan, who was signed by Ford Performance for ARCA racing. The 19-year-old Deegan is currently driving Ford F-150s in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, piloting the No. 1 Ford F-150 for David Gilliland Racing. Deegan grew up racing off-road and on dirt, but transitioned to competing on asphalt in 2016 to pursue a career in stock car racing. She began her career in NASCAR in 2018 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, and she became the first female driver to win races in the West Series, doing so in 2018 and 2019. To date, Hailie Deegan is the ONLY female ever to compete in the Lucas Oil Off Road Series and in 2016, she was named the circuit's Driver of the Year.

Deegan, will be making an appearance at Carlisle Ford Nationals on Saturday, June 5. You can meet Deegan and get her autograph at the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar's.  As noted, she's at the event on June 5, while the full event itself runs June 4-6 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The Carlisle Ford Nationals is the largest all-Ford show in the world, and features more than 3,200 cars – Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Euro Fords -- on National Parts Depot Showfield. Deegan is scheduled to appear Saturday, June 5.

> 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 automotive industry lost another icon, and Carlisle Events had to say goodbye to another friend, when Bruce Meyers, father of the modern-day dune buggy, passed away Feb. 19 at his San Diego-area home at the age of 94.


 
Meyers built thousands of dune buggies in his lifetime, and as an artist, designed boats and surfboards. He worked as a commercial artist and a lifeguard, traveled the world surfing and sailing, built a trading post in Tahiti and survived a World War II Japanese kamikaze attack on his Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Bunker Hill. “He had a life that nobody else has ever lived,” his wife, Winnie Meyers said.

Growing up near such popular Southern California surfing spots as Newport, Hermosa and Manhattan beaches, it was wave riding, not cars or sand surfing, that initially captivated Meyers, who liked to refer to himself as an original beach bum. Following his WWII service, Meyers served in the Merchant Marine and attended the Chouinard Art Institute, now part of the California Institute of the Arts. 



His experience designing lightweight boats out of fiberglass drove him to improve early versions of dune buggies. These “water pumpers” were crude and heavy so Meyers took it upon himself to design a lightweight version that would be fun on the beach or in the wilds of Baja. After modifying a VW Kombi bus with wide rims (called “Little Red Riding Bus”), he used his expertise in boat building to design the first fiberglass-bodied dune buggy, the Meyers Manx, created in his garage in 1964.

Meyers borrowed the "Manx" name for the shortened, taller-wheeled, more maneuverable VW Beetle mods and is derived from the comparably stubby Manx cat breed. The tailless cat in the logo, as featured on the hood ornament, is stylized after a passant heraldic lion, its right forepaw brandishing a sword. 

Featured on the April 1967 cover of Car & Driver magazine, the buggy drew national attention, but proved too expensive to be profitable, and only 12 kits of the monocoque Manx were produced. So Meyers went off-road racing, and he and a buddy off-roaded the Ensenada run and their 39-hour run broke the existing record by four hours. 

Buggies became such a hot seller in Southern California that they spawned “The Buggy Boom” of 1969, and while Meyers, over the years, put out some 7,000 buggies, perhaps as many of 250,000 look-alikes may have been created by others. 



During the 1970s, Meyers and his company built the Manx 2, Meyers Tow’d, Manx SR and Resorter/Turista. His company also built two utility buggies for the LA County Life Guard contingent and one for the California Forest Service. 

In 1976, Road and Track Magazine called the dune buggy “a genuine sculpture, a piece of art.” Meyers reflected on the honor saying, “Its form was fun. Big wheels on small cars, no doors.”

In the 1990s, dune buggies enjoyed resurgence and by 2000, Bruce Meyers was back in business with a new series of vehicles, including the Kick Out Manx SS, a direct descendent of the original Manx, the new Manxter, and its sibling the Manxter 2+2.



A frequent guest star at Carlisle Events shows Meyers made his Carlisle debut at the 2008 Carlisle Import-Kit/Replicar Nationals and was such a hit that the Carlisle Team insisted he come back in 2009 and many shows thereafter. He was an annual celebrity guest who also displayed his legendary work nearly every year after.

Some of his most memorable appearances include:

2008 – Carlisle Import-Kit/Replicar Nationals  -- Appearing with his 2006 Meyers Maxter 2+2 Dune Buggy with Manx builder John Denmat. The two conducted the final assembly of the very first Manx Kick Out SS.

2009 – Carlisle Import-Kit/Replicar Nationals -- Showcasing his Meyers Manx fiberglass dune buggy

2010 -- Carlisle Import-Kit/Replicar Nationals -- Present weekend to sign autographs and pose for pictures along with his works

2012 -- Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals -- A meet and greet and part of the show’s “Living Legends” presentation …lines around Building T to get his autograph

2015 – Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals -- After more than fifty years in the business, Meyers appeared as part of his “51 Years and Counting” tour, swapped stories signed autographs, interacted with Manx owners and offered kit and car building advice.

2016 – Carlisle Performance and Style Show -- Presented history, gave autographs and brought a slew of his creations with him.



To celebrate Bruce Meyers’s life, this year’s Carlisle Import Performance Nationals, May 14-15 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds has teamed up with The Manx Club for a tribute. Meyers’ wife, Winnie Meyers will be in attendance for the weekend and a special display of Manx dune buggies will be displayed in Building T all weekend as well as a banner that guests can sign and which will be presented to Winnie Meyers after the show. There will be a parade of dune buggies around the show on Friday at 4pm, and at 8pm on Friday, there will be a presentation with a video at the Grandstand. A wide variety of dune buggies will be parked around the stage.

> 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 long-time friend of Carlisle Events, and a beloved icon in the automotive industry has passed away. Norm Kraus, affectionately known industry-wide as “Mr. Norm” and “The High Performance King” died on February 26, 2021 at the age of 87.

Known for his sales and promotion of Dodge muscle cars and his nationally popular club, his legendary status ranged from high-performance Mopars to funny cars, to die-cast cars, to his co-ownership of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago from 1962 through 1977, which became the No.1 Dodge dealership in the world.

His dedication to high-performance Dodges was embodied in his efforts in bringing Dodge vehicles to another level. He got his start and his nickname, in the 1950s, when he and his brother Lenny began specializing in selling used performance cars. They employed the tagline "Call Mr. Norm" in their classified ads, and the name stuck. Soon, Dodge offered the brothers an opportunity to open a new car dealership. Promoting muscle cars and exploiting his nickname, Kraus explained, “’Mr. Norm’ was an image that was built into the dealership. When I walked out at the end of the day, I wasn't ‘Mr. Norm’ anymore; I was Norm Kraus. I learned to be a humble winner on the track and a gracious loser. I'm just glad I didn't have to be gracious too much."

According to Kraus, one of his proudest accomplishments, was when he sought to install a 383ci V8 engine in a compact Dodge Dart body. He was positive that this combo would be a great sell, since a lightweight Dart with a powerful 383ci would be competitively fast. However, Dodge's engineering team turned him down; saying it placing a 383ci V8 in Dart’s engine bay couldn't be done. Undeterred, in 1967, he ordered a new Dart and a crate 383 V8 engine, and after a few days' work, the Dodge Dart Grand Spaulding Special (GSS) was born. Soon, the dealership was offering GSS conversions involving larger 440ci engines. With this focus on performance and ingenuity, Kraus was able to make Grand Spaulding Dodge the largest Dodge dealership by 1972.

Kraus took his car work racing, and after a minor sponsorship one weekend turned into five sales by Wednesday, he was ready to go racing in a big way. Not wanting to compete against his customers, he decided to build a match-race car. He recalled that his first 1964 supercharged car “became one of the first Funny Cars in the country, because when we went out racing, we were running against all the gassers and the rails. There weren't any other Funny Cars to run." A 1965 ex-factory lightweight car allowed them to run well into the eights when the competition was in the nines, putting ‘Mr. Norm’ on the map nationwide.

The Kraus brothers grew their dealership selling trucks, vans and standard cars along with the high-performance models. And when others were turning away the younger crowd, Grand Spaulding courted them. In 1977, Norm sold his share of the dealership, which closed within a couple of years. Still in his forties, he wanted to spend more time with his family, something not possible when on the showroom floor from Monday through Friday and then at the race track all weekend. He later had a furniture business on the site of one of the dealership buildings and then sold used cars again. He followed that up with two decades of marketing products in his name under license and he continued to appear at shows, promote Mopar and keep his hand in funny cars.

Recognized for his efforts, Kraus was inducted into the Mopar Hall of Fame in 1989, and then in 1996, was inducted into the A/FX Funny Car Hall of Fame

A celebrity guest and supporter at many Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals over the years, some of his more memorable appearances at Carlisle include:

1998 – He was the featured guest celebrity of the event.

1999 – The return of Mr. Norm's Sport Club, after nearly a 30-year hiatus. Launched at the Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals, the gathering saw support from hundreds of loyal fans from around the United States and Canada. Kraus signed limited-edition lithographs of the legendary Mr. Norm's Grand Spaulding Dodge dealership circa 1970, at the height of the muscle car era. The artwork was created by David Snyder.

2007 – Kraus’ 1968 GSS Hemi Dart was displayed at the event.

2008 -- Mr. Norm’s Dodge Ram Super Truck was displayed with Kraus at the show.

2010 – A dozen of Kraus’ high-performance Dodges were displayed and he was on-hand at the Mr. Norm’s Garage exhibit.

2011 – Kraus oversaw a Sport Club exhibit featuring his 2011 GSS Super Charger, the Mr. Norm’s Ram Red Xpress Truck and two Super Challengers.

2012 – A full display of fully equipped current-day vehicles from Kraus’ stable were shown, with ‘The High Performance King’ on hand to answer questions and sign autographs.

Norm Kraus … Mr. Norm …“The High Performance King – 1934-2021. He is already missed.  He will be remembered at this year’s Carlisle Chrysler Nationals, July 9 – 11 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The largest Mopar event in the world, it features 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.

> 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>

 

Tip # 1: Purchase or download a color wheel.

Using the color wheel, locate the closest primary color to your car. Directly across will be complementing colors in varying shades. These colors will give your car a much stronger presence in your photo when used as a background. Which color background contrast your car better?

Tip # 2: DE-CLUTTER!


We want to see your car, not the dumpster behind it. Pay attention to the background. Are there trees or mailboxes growing out of your car? It's a great car, but a cactus riding shotgun?

Tip # 3: Don't forget a tripod!

Raise tripod legs so your camera is at, or just above door level for more dramatic shots. Keep height the same and shoot from many angles and distances.

No radical turn here, a slight adjustment makes a big difference!

Tip # 5: It's a great shot, but something's missing...

Don't lose a keeper by cutting off part of your car.

Tip # 6: Ever wonder how to see through glass and avoid harsh glare like below?

Always use a polarizing filter to reduce harsh glare. Don't have one? Buy a pair of cheap polarized sunglasses and shoot through the lens!

Tip # 7: Cars with three wheels.
If you can't see them all, move a foot to either side.

Tip # 8: Know your subject!

Muscle cars were made for the street! Save the grass for the brass! You be the judge.

Tip # 9: Angles grab attention!
Shoot your car at a 5 degree angle and watch it jump off the frame. How do you measure 5 degrees? Angle your camera about the width of you pinky!

Tip # 10: When using a digital camera, always shoot in RAW format if so equipped.

This will allow you to produce higher quality images, as well as correct problem images that would be unrecoverable if shot in the JPEG format.

Photos and text courtesy of JP Emerson and JPEmerson.com, automotive writer and host of the JP Emerson Show podcast.  

About the Author:  JP Emerson is an award winning author & journalist whose bylines appeared in many of the most popular automotive magazines in the country. JP covers classic muscle cars and the people who own them with real stories from real owners relating everything from ownership, car shows, music, road trips and what everyone has in common regardless of brand.

Good things happen when you follow your instincts and follow the signs…especially when the sign is a blue oval with the word “Ford” inside it.

It took only three years for Bill Miller Jr. and Chip Miller (no relation), founders of Carlisle Events, to expand a new genre – car shows celebrating all cars, rather than simply pre-World War II vehicles – from one show to two. The two friends were enthusiasts of all cars from all eras, and brought their joy to thousands of like-minded car fans, beginning with the “Post War '74” swap meet at the Carlisle Fairgrounds. By 1977, the pair jumped on their success and brought the “Spring Carlisle” swap meet to the Fairgrounds.

As their family of vendors and visitors grew with each show, the Millers quickly sold vendor spaces on their 82-acre display site, and in 1995, the pair expanded again, launching the inaugural Carlisle All-Ford Nationals.

The Ford show has become the largest all-Ford show in the world, and it has expanded to accommodate more than 3200 display and for-sale vehicles encompassing Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Euro Fords. Blue Oval-umbrella cars, trucks, performance parts, tools, memorabilia, collectibles and more are on-hand and for sale in the world's largest Ford Automotive Flea Market, as well as the latest and greatest products on display within the Manufacturers Midway. Carlisle Events Ford Nationals Event Manager Ken Appell proudly affirms, “This is the world’s largest Ford show and swap meet. There is nothing bigger in the Ford world than this show.” 

Bill Miller Jr., Co-Founder and Co-Owner Carlisle Events said that he and his partner, Chip Miller recognized the need for a Ford-focused event. Bill Miller was steered in that direction by his background and contacts. Miller said, “I was a Ford dealer when we started the All-Ford Nationals. My Ford dealership representative was an old-car guy too, so the Ford Show was a natural for me. Not many big Ford shows were around at that time, so it became a hit from the start. Once Ford Motor Co. became involved, they helped us to make it the world’s largest All-Ford event, including not only Ford, but Mercury and Lincoln, too.” 

The Millers also found a fan and supporter in John Clor, Enthusiast Communications Manager / Ford Performance. Clor has been involved since the beginning in helping Ford embrace the show while he has helped grow the Carlisle experience for Ford clubs around the nation. According to Appell, “it is the clubs, the vendors and the Carlisle visitors who are the backbone of this event.”

Clor said there are currently more than 100 clubs active with Carlisle Events. (Here is a link to the list of Carlisle’s recognized clubs.  Carlisle Ford Nationals - Clubs (carlisleevents.com). He has seen the support grow from the beginning. “In 1995, we saw a few 10x10 pop up tents. Each year, we saw bigger and bolder displays, more Ford celebrities, greater Ford brand involvement and increased Ford club activity,” said Clor. He added that due to aging of the original club members, and evolution of legacy clubs, “the club scene has grown younger and less sophisticated, perhaps. We see more Mustangs, and maybe fewer of the older badges, but it is even more of a party or festival, and a venue at which to show off a customized source of pride.”

Recalling that first show, Miller said, “Ford grew to understand what we were about, what we shared and what our concept was. Ford Motor Company is a family-owned business just like we are, and they value their history. So they realized that if you love your old Ford, you will buy their new products too. You certainly would not trailer your old Ford pickup to a show with a Brand-X pickup, now would you?”

As visitors and clubs are the lifeline of the All-Ford Nationals, Miller lauds loyal vendors, who are the life’s blood of the event. Over the past quarter-century of the show, Miller has watched the vendor family grow and remain loyal by displaying annually. He said, “Our vendors who supported us at our big Fall Carlisle events, followed us to our first Spring and Ford events. They were there to support us from the beginning and many continue today.”

Miller continued, “When we started the All-Ford Nationals it quickly became ‘the place’ for enthusiasts to bring their old Ford and show it off. Spring and Fall Carlisle were only cars and parts for sale with no show field, and with the All-Ford Nationals, the show field added a whole new dimension to Carlisle Events. Our visitors came with their cars, and vendors found that they were also looking for parts, while Ford recognized that our visitors loved Ford, old and new, and gained bonding with those who loved all things related to the Blue Oval.”

Over the years, Miller has seen an evolution of the event. “With each yearly Ford Show, Ford Motor Co. involvement has boosted the show to new heights. Each year they work with our staff to make it the biggest and best Ford event in the nation,” he said.

Miller added, “At that first event, three marketing staff members from the Ford Special Vehicle team arrived with a 1995 SVT Mustang Cobra, a Cobra R model and an SVT F-150 Lightning pickup packed with about 1,000 posters and a 10x10 tent. They were the first and only Ford Motor Company representatives in attendance. Now we get full Ford teams, engineers, executives, celebrities, full vehicle line-ups and full support.”

Clor credits added Ford involvement to the additions Carlisle Events makes to broaden the audience. Clor said, “Our club members now bring their families. What used to be a bunch of car guys getting together to talk about and show off their rides, is gaining more and more family attendance. Carlisle has added a women’s oasis, good food, Hot Wheels races for families, raffles, meetings, awards, activities, and it is more than simply a swap meet and a show. The clubs take it in as a family event, and Ford sees this as a means of family bonding with THEIR fans.”

You can see everything Ford at the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar's, held at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, June 4-6. Historically, more than 3,000 vehicles appear on the National Parts Depot Showfield and this year guests can see a celebration of 1971-’73 Mustangs, a display of comic, TV and movie themed Fords by way of Comic Car-Con, a 50th anniversary of the Pinto showcase, Broncos, trucks and Blue Oval icons across the decades.

> 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>