Being first is always kind of cool.  You get noticed.  People talk about you.  They appreciate your accomplishments a little bit more.  With that in mind, showgoers planning to come to the 2022 Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar’s (June 3-5) have a chance to meet a trailblazer in her field; designer Emeline King.

King is more than a designer, she notched a quarter century of work with Ford and most important, became the first black woman ever within Ford to be tapped as Transportation Designer.  In that position, she became the primary designer on the fourth-gen SN-95 Mustang’s dual-cockpit interior.  In addition, her talents can be associated with a variety of components on other Fords, including the iconic Thunderbird.

Being a trailblazer means that her voice matters and that people respect and listen to what she brings to the table.  Those experiences are outlined in her book, “What Do You Mean a Black Girl Can’t Design Cars? Emeline King, She Did It!”  That book, along with Ms. King will be at Carlisle to meet fans, sign autographs, and host seminars/Q&A sessions regarding her background and career.

The seminars and book signing will be hosted in Building R.  There are two seminars planned per day (June 3 and June 4) and the interactions are free once on-site at the event.  Books will be available for sale for a fee, but much like meeting Ms. King, the autograph will be free.

Gates open at 7 a.m. daily and kids 12 and under are admitted FREE.  Spectator admission tickets are just $15 at the door, or cheaper online in advance or in person with a valid military ID.  Finally, registration for the National Parts Depot Showfield is available in person through the end of the event or online from now through event week.  Learn more about Emeline King and the Ford Nationals online at CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.    

A summit means many things, including conference, meeting, peak, and top just to name a few.  It’s fair to say that since its re-launch, the Ford Bronco has been the top (or summit) of SUV options for consumers.  That reality will play out in Carlisle, Pennsylvania June 3-5 as part of the 2022 Carlisle Ford National presented by Meguiar’s.

Flanked by a National Parts Depot Showfield with decades of Ford branded vehicles, the 6^th Generation of the Ford Bronco takes center station.  Not only will the 6^th Gen Bronco be turning heads, the Bronco Sport will too.  Of course the 6^th Gen is the latest offering and it will be the one showcased within this display, but with Bronco history dating back to the 1966 model year, there will many represented throughout the grounds, plus vendors selling Bronco parts within the automotive flea market and midway too.

The featured vehicle display tent is the perfect complement to Ford’s corporate display tent, located not too far away.  With Ford at Carlisle, their representatives will not only have a handful of 6^th Gens within their display, but will have walkarounds at the stage focused on them and be able to offer first-hand feedback for showgoers.

Broncos aren’t the only ride getting featured display treatment.  Additional features include a 60^th Anniversary of the Shelby, 40 years of the SSP, a Lightweight Reunion, EVs, and the Ford Nationals Select display in Building Y. 

Not showing but still want to attend?  Spectator admission tickets are discounted online in advance of the event and kids 12 and under are admitted free.  The gates open at 7 a.m. daily and though the fun concludes on Sunday, June 5 with an on-site awards parade, the crescendo is Saturday night as the Fords cruise into the streets of downtown Carlisle for the annual Ford Parade and Street party.

Details on the Bronco Summit as well as all other special displays, ticket information, and more are available at CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.

Since 1982 Corvettes at Carlisle has been THE destination for Corvette lovers from around the world.  This year’s event will be no different and will offer new displays, special guests and partners to the mix.  For 2022, Corvettes at Carlisle is not only celebrating its 40^th anniversary, it is being presented by eBay Motors.  The event (August 25-27) at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds will bring together ONE iconic Corvette Racing Crew Chief and nearly a dozen amazing Pratt Miller Factory Corvette Race cars.

The man (Dan Binks) and the display (Chip’s Choice) will greet Corvette enthusiasts of all ages within Building T and for Binks, this will be the first time in many years that he’s seen some of these cars.  Chip’s Choice always showcases cars that embody the best-of-the-best within the Corvette hobby and this first-of-its-kind display does just that and then some.

As mentioned, the display welcomes Pratt Miller Factory Corvette Race Cars.  These cars span decades of Corvette Racing and were conceived, designed, constructed, developed, and campaigned by Pratt Miller Engineering.  Per the Pratt Miller web page, they’ve helped Corvette Racing dominate Ground Touring (GT) racing around the world for more than 30 years.  Some of their most iconic Corvette works of art will be part of this display, including the legendary #3 Corvette racer that was co-piloted by Andy Pilgrim, Kelly Collins, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Dale Earnhardt, Sr.  In fact, the aforementioned #3 is, unfortunately, the last car in which Dale Sr. ever finished a race, having passed just weeks later in the 2001 Daytona 500. 

The display will also host a C5.R (Chassis #001) which achieved its biggest accomplishment by racing the 2000 24 hours of Le Mans where it marked the first Le Mans race for a factory-backed Corvette team, a 2013 ALMS winning C6.R GT2 (Chassis #005), and a C7.R (Chassis #004) which won both the 2016 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.

With the Kings of GT Racing converging on Carlisle, it just made sense to also welcome the man who helped guide Corvette Racing during its dominance.  In addition to the Pratt Miller cars in Building T, Corvettes at Carlisle welcomes retired Corvette Racing Crew Chief Dan Binks to the event.  Binks career spans more than 40 years including his time with Corvette Racing from 2002 until his 2020 retirement.  Binks will be part of Q&A sessions, photo ops, and more, all while enjoying the event just like the 50,000+ Corvette enthusiasts who call Carlisle home during the final days of August.

“We’ve all heard and seen these amazing vehicles throughout the many racetracks they’ve competed on and continue to compete at year in and year out,” noted Carlisle Events co-owner Lance Miller.  “One evening I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about how amazing it would be to have some of these incredible cars hosted together in one location - better yet, imagine hearing these monsters all at one time,” continued Miller.  “We’ve reached out to a few owners and already have some amazing cars that will be on display for 2022 Chip’s Choice.”

Complete event information, links to register for the Fun Field, register to be a vendor, or purchase discounted spectator admission tickets in advance can all be found at CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.  Kids 12 and under are admitted FREE and gates open at 7 a.m. daily for the grandest Corvette show of them all!

In the days leading up to the 2022 Spring Carlisle Collector Car Auction, there was optimism by many that this event just might be the best Spring auction ever.  That hope became a reality and then some as hundreds of bidders converged online and in-person for the auction, helping send 72% of all available lots home to new owners, while tallying $6.5 million in sales (includes fees). 

For two days (April 21-22, 2022), plus multiple preview opportunities leading up to it, the Carlisle Expo Center became a mecca for those looking for their first or next classic.  400+ lots were anticipated, which included enough trucks to fill a themed hour on Thursday, April 21; plus 100 years of confirmed consignments.  With rides spanning 1923 to 2022, there was literally something for everyone and just about everyone at the event were able to find what they needed.

From the first smack of the gavel on April 21 to the final hammer to fall on April 22, the interior of the Expo Center and its adjoining parking lot were hopping.  The roar of the engines, the smell of car care products; it was a true sensory experience.

In addition to all the senses that were piqued throughout, the auction benefitted charity too.  According to Tony Cline, Director of Auction Operations, “several thousand dollars were raised for veterans at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, Pennsylvania.”

It turns out that not only was this auction fun for all involved, it goes down as THE BEST Carlisle Auctions event of all-time – not just an all-timer for Spring, but for any Carlisle auction.  The 72% sell-through rate and $6.5 million in sales (with fees) are the best numbers to ever come out of an auction.  Along with the in-person sales, at least 30 cars sold online too, meaning the fun was not only available to those at Carlisle, but to those on a PC around the world.

The top five (5) selling cars totaled nearly $360,000, with Thursday’s top seller being the ’67 Corvette, while the Oldsmobile 442 convertible was tops for Friday.  The top five (5) are as follows:

1. 1971 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible - $100,440
2. 1969 Camaro - $85,320
3. 1934 Ford 5 Window - $83,160
4. 1967 Corvette - $81,500
5. 1965 Tiger Sunbeam - $81,000
   (click to view results/e-mail address required)

If the cars were hot, trucks were even hotter.  On April 21 starting at about 4 p.m. an all-truck hour took over the Expo Center.  This 60-minute window of time saw dozens of trucks cross the block, with 80% of them selling.

“Thank you to all of the buyers and sellers that helped make the Spring Carlisle Auction the most successful auction that we’ve ever produced,” noted Tony Cline.  “We could not do what we do without our buyers and sellers in person and online.  I can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Carlisle for our next car auction, September 29-30, 2022 as part of Fall Carlisle,” continued Cline.  We are actively taking consignments today and registering bidders for the event.”

For the first time since 2019, the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and Spring Carlisle welcomed automotive enthusiasts from around the world with the return of international event attendees.  This year’s event, presented by eBay Motors, did just that and then some as guests and vendors alike flocked to Carlisle between April 20-24, 2022 to buy, sell and trade all things automotive.  Spring Carlisle was one part commerce and one part social gathering; as has been the case since 1977.  It once again served as THE event to jump-start the outdoor events season in Carlisle!

What was obvious early was the amount of vendors eager to re-connect with one another and the demand that their offerings have within the hobby.  Cruising the grounds in advance of the April 20 start date, vendors were mixing and mingling with one another, catching up, buying and selling amongst each other, and otherwise getting ready for the big event.  When the gates opened at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, their advanced planning and hard work paid off, as throngs of enthusiasts converged on Carlisle.

Car parts, merchandise, memorabilia, collectibles, and more were coming and going all day, every day.  Cars and trucks were even finding new garages to call home as business was booming in all corners of the 82-acre facility.  In 2022, there were more vendors, more tickets sold, and more people at Carlisle than there were in 2021; a year that was record-breaking for Carlisle Events. 

As noted in the opening headline, the automotive world did indeed return to Carlisle.  Canadian guests were back in full force, so were those trekking to the Cumberland Valley from “across the pond.”  Every face had a smile on it at Carlisle and the next generation of the hobby was also on-site in full force, especially on Saturday where kids were out of school and families were off work.

Speaking of kids, Spring Carlisle welcomed the York County School of Technology to the stage area as they hosted exhibition runs in front of their Hot Rodders of Tomorrow championship competition in the days following event weekend.  Multiple teams of school-aged enthusiasts tore down and re-built a Chevy small block engine.  The competition is done against the clock and per certain criteria put in place by the Hot Rodders organization.  From their first run to their last, they had a crowd cheering them on, asking questions, and taking photos of them in action.

The stage area was actually a popular spot for guests throughout Spring Carlisle.  On it were members of the AACA Car Club.  They returned to Carlisle to showcase cool cars from the club, solicit for new members, and promote their upcoming fall meet in Hershey.  While the AACA was on the stage, the ARMO Hot Products Showcase was in front of it.  ARMO brought some of the hottest NEW products on the market to the masses at Carlisle.  ARMO is a council of SEMA, which is a private industry trade event held each fall in November.  For most guests, this ARMO display gives them a first-hand/in-person look at ways to better their prized ride.

One of the best parts about Spring Carlisle 2022 was the giving nature of those who walked through the gates.  Through a joint effort between Carlisle Events, the Salvation Army, and multiple local Lions Clubs, over $3,000 was raised for Ukrainian Humanitarian relief efforts.  That total includes a company donation made by Carlisle Events, plus in person donations by those attending Spring Carlisle.  Best of all, at least two generous attendees dropped $100 in the bin.  That kind of support goes a long way to helping those in need and will continue throughout the 2022 season.

Another great element of Spring Carlisle was the two-day classic and collector car auction hosted by Carlisle Auctions (more soon).  The Spring Carlisle Collector Car Auction tallied $6.5 million in sales (including fees) and can boast a 72% sell-through rate.  The auction even had its own charitable venture, with several thousand dollars raised for veterans at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

While Spring Carlisle is a wrap for 2022, Carlisle Events sets its sights on the next event, plus next year’s spring show.  Up next at the fairgrounds is the annual international showcase of cars and trucks as part of the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals (May 13-14).  As Spring Carlisle 2023 goes, the event is planned for April 19-23, with the auction happening April 20-21.  Complete details on all things car show related, including the ability to buy spectator tickets in advance at a discounted rate can be found at CarlisleEvents.com.