Anyone who’s ever gone to a large-scale event where there’s guaranteed fun to be had can relate to spending three days at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds for the biggest all-truck-themed event in the region; the Carlisle Truck Nationals and Big Rig Show and Shine.  This year’s truck showcase (August 2-4) hit the 2,880 truck mark, meaning for the fourth consecutive year, the event set a NEW Showfield record for registered trucks.  That milestone continues a growth trend for a show that’s more than doubled in size over the past ten years.  Along the way, truck lovers of all ages hauled in with high hopes and rolled out with memories to last a lifetime.

Gates opened at 7 AM daily and offered countless smiles per hour from start to finish each day.  Guests were treated to four monster truck shows with Brutus and Avenger, a pair of Freestyle FMX stunt shows, monster truck rides, truck competitions, displays, and fun for the kids.  Kids fun included Oxford Power Wheels racing, kids bingo, a kids cash grab, free goody bag for kids 12 and under, the ability for kids to help pick an award-winning truck in Building T, and the overall experience of seeing their toy box come to life right before their very eyes!

As special displays go, 2024 showcased some amazing SyTys in Building Y.  The anchor trucks to the group included one that was dubbed the world’s fastest truck along with another that raced to the top of Pikes Peak.  Not far from Building Y were the pavilion and Building T.  Under the pavilion roof and neighboring tents were dozens of amazing works of art; cool custom vans that made up Vanarama.  From a mini Mystery Machine to one with a hockey theme, another adorned in Alice in Wonderland art, fantasy art, and more, this area always draws a crowd.  Finally, Building T hosted a Featured Truck Display filled with a variety of trucks, including antique Fire Trucks presented by the Old Fire Farts of York County and antique Trucks presented by the American Truck Historical Society.

Antique fire trucks weren’t the only rides from a bygone era.  As part of the rapidly growing Big Rig Show and Shine, supported by Bergey’s Truck Center and Kenworth of PA, the American Truck Historical Society brought antique rigs to Carlisle.  Those trucks perfectly complimented the nearly 250 rigs on the south side of the grounds.  There were dump trucks, haulers with tractors on the back, trucks pulling trucks, cement mixers, tow trucks, and more.  Carlisle truly has become a great overnight destination for truckers rolling through central PA and for those who are passionate about showing their heavy hauler.

Other great aspects of the event were the Redneck Games hosted by local radio station Red 102.3, the National Parts Depot judged Showfield, and contests like the high truck challenge, low truck limbo, drop and drag, and rolling burnout contest.  Plus, the fairgrounds came to life on Saturday night with the popular Big Rig glow show. 

The weekend wrapped up with a pair of awards parades and one final monster truck show, perfectly setting the table for next year and the continued pursuit of 3,000 trucks. 

Speaking of next year, while 2024 is a wrap, plans are underway for 2025.  Save the dates, because the Carlisle Truck Nationals return August 1-3.  Get ready for another great weekend of all things truck and edge-of-your-seat family fun!  Learn more about the continuation of the Carlisle Events 50^th Anniversary season and make your plans at CarlisleEvents.com. 

It seems that every year something amazing rolls out of the Corvette factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  For 2024, their “something amazing” is the jaw-dropping 2025 ZR1 Corvette; a vehicle that’s been hyped for years and on Thursday, July 25, was unveiled to the world.  That same ZR1 model has been confirmed for debut at Corvettes at Carlisle, August 22-24 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.

Gates open at 7 AM on Thursday the 22^nd and with Team Chevrolet’s popular presence at the event, they always draw a crowd, both in their display tent and at the stage as part of vehicle walkarounds.  With the ZR1 confirmed, there’s no doubt the collective eyes of the event will be focused on the car and its 5.5L, twin-turbocharged DOHC flat-plan crank V8 engine; an engine that’s capable of 1,064 horsepower as a factory option off the dealer lot.   

There are so many amazing specs on this car it’s hard to summarize them all on one page, but the Chevrolet media page breaks them down in detail, including details on the unique aluminum wheels, a newly designed carbon fiber roof, LT7 engine intake finished in Edge Blue, and more.  What’s easy to outline is that Team Chevrolet WILL BE at Corvettes at Carlisle with at least one, but likely more than one ZR1 Corvette.  New colors available for this highly sought-after ride include Competition Yellow, Hysteria Purple, and Sebring Orange. 

Not only can guests see the ZR1 in person, but they can hear all about it from Team Chevrolet.  Their minds behind the machines will be easily accessible at the Team Chevrolet tent, with stage walkarounds likely too.  There, attendees can not only see the car under the bright Carlisle sun, but see it in motion AND hear its engine rev.  There are also planned tech sessions on the ZR1 with certified GM Technician Paul Koerner.  Koerner will discuss its 1970 humble beginnings through the boom of its rage and power in 2025.  Learn about the technology, balance, and luxury that make the ZR1 so amazing to drive and own. 

Team Chevrolet is just one amazing element of Corvettes at Carlisle 2024.  There’s a planned Challenge Car reunion, including nearly a dozen drivers from the original series, a 50-year display of 1974 Corvettes, Chip’s Choice which is focusing on “Mean Corvettes” this year, plus some fun with C4s, the NCRS Gallery, NCCC Judging, and more.  Finally, as guests enjoy all that 2024 has to offer, including the ZR1, they should quickly make plans for next year, as it’s been confirmed that Chip’s Choice 2025 will make the ZR1 its central focus.

Online registration for the Aerolarri Fun Field is open now through Monday, August 19, with in-person registration available thereafter.  Meanwhile, discounted spectator admission tickets are available online and in advance of the show, with kids 12 and under always admitted free.  Call 717-243-7855 today or visit CarlisleEvents.com to learn more!

In recent years, Corvettes at Carlisle has become a Thursday-Saturday car show, but every five years, Sundays show signs of life due to an outside event that’s popular within the Corvette community.  With 2024 being the 50^th anniversary season of Carlisle Events combined with that popular event, the National Corvette Caravan to Bowling Green, Kentucky, Corvettes at Carlisle and Carlisle Events went to wrap up car show season in style with a FREE Cars & Coffee Cruise-In. 

While there may be 300+ Corvette owners on-site in advance of their roll out to Kentucky, this free Cruise-In is open to vehicles of all types.  From 8 AM to 11 AM on the 25^th, guests can enjoy the sights and sounds of automotive excellence on display, enjoy some music played by a DJ, and visit the Carlisle concession stand for a variety of items, including coffee and breakfast foods.

The fun is fairly cut and dry…it’s a bonus day of car show fun with a tri-fold purpose; welcome car owners of all makes to Carlisle while sending off hundreds of Corvette owners as they trek south to Kentucky, wrapping up specialty car show season, and as a way to say thanks to everyone who made the 50^th Anniversary Carlisle Events season-long celebrations so special in 2024.

Gates will be open in advance of the 8 AM start time, all elements of the show are free, though there is a cost associated with concessions.  Don’t miss out on this special Sunday-funday with Carlisle Events and Corvettes at Carlisle.  Learn more about Corvettes at Carlisle 2024, including this Cruise-In online at CarlisleEvents.com or call 717-243-7855 today. 

When the 2024 dates for the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals were announced in 2022, many were circling them on their calendar, asking off from work, and planning for their July 12-14 car party vacation.  With a little patience from those who consider this Christmas in July, the dates came and went; and what a fun few days it was at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and Carlisle Expo Center. 

Gates opened at 7 AM each day for the event, but the fun actually started as early as Wednesday, July 10.  Seriously, showgoers are so excited to be part of the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals that they roll in early to soak in the summer sun, meet up with friends, visit some early-arriving vendors, and on Thursday, July 11, enjoy the annual Mopar Rebellion Car Club kick-off party and cruise in.  More than 400 rides and even more enthusiasts invaded the Expo Center lot for nearly four hours.  During that window, they took the time to socialize, enjoy music, and indulge in some tasty eats too.  There was even a Mopar-powered jet boat that was fired up, bringing the west side of Carlisle to life on a sleepy Thursday evening.

From there, it was full speed ahead with the car show itself.  Friday started with a special ceremony on the stage.  This included guests from the Walter P. Chrysler car club which announced a big Chrysler 100^th celebration for 2025 in Carlisle, members of the Ramchargers, Herb McCandless, Buddy Martin, Paul Rossi, Claudia (Miss Direct Connection from the 1980s), and more.  There was even an unveiling of a 1958 Plymouth Fury that had been completely restored to better than new and was powered by a 1,025 horsepower Demon 170 engine.  This is the first known Demon 170 swap on the planet! The unveiling was hosted by Herb McCandless, Jr.

From there, guests enjoyed three full days of amazing cars, cool designs, original classics, parts shopping, and track competitions.  There were three buildings with special displays and two tents; giving showgoers ample opportunities to see some of the best vehicles of their type.  This included a 55-year reunion of A12 cars in Building Y, dozens of High Impact and Old Skool Paint cars in Building T, a 100 Years of Chrysler teaser showcase in Building R, the Survivor Tent hosted by the Major brothers in honor of their dad Mel, and a tent of trucks, but not just any trucks, this was a 20-year gathering of Viper-powered SRT10 Trucks. 

The wheels were in motion at Carlisle throughout the weekend as well.  There was a rolling exhaust contest, a rolling burnout and donut contest, open autocross runs, and even an autocross contest known as the Real Street Shootout.  In each instance, the overlook at the Carlisle track was packed with spectators who fluttered over like moths to a flame when they heard the roar of the engines and the squeal of the tires.

Parts shopping is also a VERY important part of this event.  The Manufacturers Midway was populated with some of the top companies in the automotive industry, while the automotive flea market was SOLD OUT, making it the largest of its type for Mopar enthusiasts.  Big car show, big parts swap…big time fun at Carlisle in 2024!

Finally, the camaraderie amongst car clubs is one of the most personal elements one can experience at the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals.  The clubs, while individual, congregate at Carlisle as a community.  They each have their own interests day to day, but at an event like this, what really drives their passion is their mutual love and respect for not only each other but for the cars and trucks in front of them.  It makes looking forward to next year that much more special for everyone.

Speaking of next year, while 2024 is a wrap, plans are underway for 2025.  Save the dates, because the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals return July 11-13 and will feature a big Chrysler 100^th celebration, known as the Chrysler 100, the 55^th anniversary of the 1970 AAR ‘Cuda and Challenger T/A, and more.  Learn more about the continuation of the Carlisle Events 50^th Anniversary season and make your plans at CarlisleEvents.com. 

The Aerolarri Wheels Fun Field at Corvettes at Carlisle is always populated with a great mix of Corvettes.  In fact, this year’s event, August 22-24 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, can confirm at least one Corvette from every generation of production.  Of those generations, some will be stock, some will be modified, and some…will be iconic!  As icons go, it doesn’t get more otherworldly to Corvette enthusiasts than the Corvette Challenge Series and at this year’s event, many of the popular cars from the series will be on display, and just confirmed, a group of drivers will be on-site too.

Of the drivers, some names stand out over others, but each played a role in the success of the series, while also being a champion for the Corvette brand in the ‘80s as well.  Below is a brief synopsis of each driver; with each planning to be part of a Racer’s Roundtable Q&A Session, sign autographs, pose for photos, and maybe…just maybe, get behind the wheel of a Challenge Car one more time for laps on the Carlisle track.

Bill Cooper:  Cooper was a steady driver during the 1988 season and series champion in 1989.  During the '88 season, Cooper managed four top-5 starting spots, including a pole at Riverside.  Starting good is one thing, but being consistent and finishing good is even better.  He parlayed those starting grid spots into five top-5's, including three top-3's spanning consecutive weeks.  During the '89 championship season, he only finished one race out of the top-5 and did so because the car broke down.  Otherwise, he finished no worse than fourth.

Peter Cunningham:  Cunningham is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin native who has nearly 100 wins under his belt dating back to 1990.  His racing portfolio is diverse, having raced in a variety of series, but the Corvettes at Carlisle spotlight shines on him due to his Challenge Car resume.  During the 1988 season, Cunningham earned eight top-10 finishes, including a podium spot at Road America.  In addition to his success at Road America in the Challenge Car Series, he’s seen success on tracks like Sebring, Daytona, Watkins Glenn, and more.

Robert Carradine:  Maybe you have never seen Robert Carradine drive, but there’s a good chance you’ve heard him laugh.  Carradine comes from a long line of actors and is famous for his role as Lewis Skolnick in the Revenge of the Nerds comedy films, but according to him, his first love is auto racing.  It’s this passion that drove him to the Corvette Challenge series in the 1980s.  In fact, in 1988, Carradine drove Challenge Car #97, logging two top-fives (Dallas and Sears Point), while earning the pole at Brainerd.  He also raced the #65 car in 1989.   During that season, Carradine is credited with six top-10 finishes, including a season-best fourth at Sears Point.  He’s logged countless laps on tracks around the country, including at the famed Daytona International Speedway and the Rolex 24 in 2000.  Still active as an actor, Carradine was part of a 2024 film called The Night They Came Home, and is attached to a few more projects, all currently listed in pre-production.

Stu Hayner:  Stu Hayner was a force to be reckoned with during the 1988 and 1989 Challenge Car seasons.  During the 1988 season Hayner was the series champion in the #98 car, and in 1989, raced in the rebranded #1 car.  During the ’88 season, he notched nine top-10 finishes, including a victory, two second-place finishes, and a third-place finish.  The Yorba Linda, California native not only won the Challenge Series title in 1988, he also captured the SCCA Endurance Championship too.  Hayner has the distinction of being the first driver to win races in two different series, in two different types of race cars, in two different countries, within a single 24-hour period.  Things will be a little more low-key in August at Carlisle, but as he sits amongst his Challenge Car brethren, expect the competitive blood to still be flowing through his veins.

Kenny Wallace Sr. and Kenny Wallace Jr.:  The Wallace name is famous in racing for a variety of reasons.  For NASCAR fans, they know Rusty and his brother Kenny, but for Corvette Challenge Car fans, these Kenny Wallaces aren’t related to those Wallaces, though both have a tie-in to going fast.  Kenny Wallace Sr. and Kenny Wallace Jr. each played a role in the series, with Sr. owning Valley Chevrolet of Wilkes-Barre, PA, a dealership that helped secure ALL of the Challenge Cars, while, Jr. was a driver in the series.

Shawn Hendricks:  Shawn Hendricks of Piedmont, South Carolina was part of the ’88 and ’89 series.  The ’89 year saw Hendricks pilot the #7 Valley Chevrolet car and along the way, logged six top-5 finishes, eight top-10 finishes, and three poles.  When running, the car was so dominant that it completed 92% percent of its laps.  There were only two races in 1989 where the #7 had issues, crashing out at the Des Moines, Iowa race, and having differential issues at Road America course in Wisconsin.

Peter Lockhart:  Peter Lockhart is a Canadian Motorsports Hall of Famer who piloted the #11 Sony car, taking 2nd in 1989.  His success in 1989 only scratches the surface of his career accomplishments.  Lockhart has competed in and won in a variety of race cars and series, including SCCA Formula Ford, Firestone Firehawk Endurance Championship, along with the aforementioned Challenge Car Series just to name a few.  From short, sprint type races to longer, endurance based ones, Lockhart has done it all.  A team owner and operator as well, Lockhart worked in tandem with major companies such as Esso, Sony, Sunoco, and Magna. 

Lou Gigliotti:  Driver of the #12 car in 1988 and #2 car in 1989, Gigliotti earned four top-10s in ’88, with seven more in ’89.  Of those seven, three were top-5s, including a 2nd place finish at Mosport.  An educator and racer’s racer, Gigliotti has run all types of cars on all types of tracks.  It was in 1988 when his passion for driving and work truly blended.  In a 2014 interview with LSX Magazine, he explained how that series started and how it was such a great fit for him, that there were so many great drivers and when he got his car, truck, and trailer, he needed a shop.  That’s where LG Motorsports was born.  So, in addition to being a teacher and driver, Gigliotti is a businessman; a very successful one at that.    

Corvettes at Carlisle starts at 7 AM each day.  There are two conclusions to the event; first, the annual downtown Carlisle Corvette Parade, Park, and Party wraps up the Saturday fun and the event for many, but all-new in 2024 and as a way to send those off to Kentucky who are part of the Corvette Caravan, a FREE Sunday morning (August 25) Cars & Coffee Cruise-In.  The Cruise-In is open to all vehicles and owners who want to make Sunday morning at Carlisle part of their weekend fun. 

Overall, showgoers can enjoy the special guests, displays, activities, and parts shopping in the automotive flea market. Fun Field registration is available online through Monday of event week, while discounted spectator admission tickets are available throughout event weekend. Each can be secured at CarlisleEvents.com or call 717-243-7855 for details. As always, kids 12 and under are admitted FREE.