Corvettes at Carlisle is the cornerstone of all things automotive at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  The event, launched in 1982 by the late Chip Miller, honors America’s Sportscar each summer by welcoming over 5,000 Corvettes and 60,000+ guests to central Pennsylvania.  For 2019, Carlisle Events and Corvettes at Carlisle were honored by Team Chevrolet to host and spotlight the all-new mid-engine 2020 Corvette, also known as the C8.

The hype surrounding the car is real and now, instead of just looking at a 2020 C8 at a car show or on a showroom floor (if you can find one), you have a chance to WIN ONE!  The Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation is excited to announce that one lucky winner WILL drive home in a 2020 Mid-Engine C8 Z51 Corvette on May 1, 2020. 

Entry for the sweepstakes runs August 24, 2019 through May 1, 2020 and while there are many price points for entry into the sweepstakes, packages begin at $25 (3 tickets) and go as high as $2,500 (375 tickets + 150 bonus tickets).  In between the high- and low-end packages, tickets and bonus options span $50 through $1,500, making this a giveaway/sweepstakes priced for all who may want to own an instant classic!

With such anticipation, now is a great time to enter the sweepstakes; after all, the 2020 C8 Corvette is nearly sold out! Simply make a donation to the CMAF for sweepstakes tickets and a chance to win!  The prize isn’t just a Corvette, it’s a machine powered by the all-new 6.2L LT2 V8 engine with 495 hp, 470 lb.-ft. and a top speed of 194 m.p.h.  It also features continuously Variable Valve Timing which will further improve performance.

“We are extremely excited to work with Valley Chevrolet of Wilkes-Barre, PA to offer this all-new 2020 C8 Corvette as a prize for those who support the CMAF,” noted CMAF President Lance Miller.  “The wife of Valley’s owner was recently diagnosed with amyloidosis and that makes this partnership extra special for me and the foundation,” continued Miller.  “Much like the team at Valley Chevrolet, my father was very passionate about all things Corvette.  Unfortunately, amyloidosis took him from us in March of 2004,” added Miller.  “While it was too late for my dad, our goal since the launch of the CMAF is to help those afflicted with the disease and to raise awareness to offer the knowledge and understanding of amyloidosis for earlier detection.  In turn, we hope to ensure a better quality of life for those afflicted with the disease and to help science find a cure.”

The chance to donate and get tickets as well as details on all events supported by the CMAF can be found online at www.ChipMiller.org or via the CMAF Facebook page, www.facebook.com/AmyloidosisAwarenes.

Auction season concludes for Carlisle Auctions October 3-4 as America’s Automotive Hometown auction company hosts over a thousand guests, hundreds of bidders and over 500 consignments as part of its Fall Carlisle auction. The auction, powered by Carlisle Auctions popular FREE UNLESS SOLD guarantee (on consignments 25 years or older), runs in conjunction with Fall Carlisle (October 2-6), and takes place on Thursday and Friday (October 3-4) at the spacious Carlisle Expo Center (2 blocks west of the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds).

Annually this auction sees great success for buyers, sellers and the Carlisle Auctions team. This year expects to be no different with two full days filled with investments that accelerate! Carlisle Auctions anticipates 500+ consignments with a trio of star cars destined to steal the show. Via the Gary Gregory collection, buyers and sellers alike will be in awe of these rides, a 1951 Buick Roadmaster, a 1956 Ford F100 Restomod and a 1962 Ford Galaxie Restomod. These stunning pieces of work will be offered with reserve on Friday evening, October 4th, running consecutively starting at approximately 6 p.m.  

Gregory, a collector and long-time friend of Carlisle Events was eager to team up with Carlisle Auctions.  

“I’ve never met finer people than the staff at Carlisle Auctions,” noted Gregory.  “I have done business at Carlisle for years and that trust and their internationally recognized brand is why I’m happy to work with Carlisle Auctions to sell my three Resto Mods.  They’ll give you one on one service and get the job done,” concluded Gregory.

In addition to the three cars from Gregory, many more consignments come Carlisle Auctions way, including memorabilia and collectibles. Preview day for the auction is Wednesday throughout the day and Thursday morning leading up to the 12 p.m. start time.  Bidder registration is ongoing with consignments being taken daily.

With Carlisle Auctions, you never know what you’ll find crossing the block.  Much like its neighboring automotive flea market event, expect the unexpected with Carlisle Auctions.  The full lot of cars contain many hidden gems and are available at affordable price points.  Sales range from four figures to six and include decades of classics, select charity offerings and even themed blocks of cars.  For Fall 2019, the theme is an all ‘60s era hour.  That theme takes center stage on the 4th as well and its 5 p.m. lead-in is THE perfect appetizer for the Gary Gregory cars entrée.  

The fall auction will be here in no time!  Complete details about this auction, including the run list when available, details on committed consignments, a video link for the live stream and more is available online at www.CarlisleAuctions.com or by calling 717-960-6400.  

Moms, dads and kids alike look forward to the first full weekend in August at Carlisle because they know a good time when they experience it! The Carlisle Truck Nationals presented by A&A Auto Stores ushered in the month with three days of cool displays, patriotic themes, family fun, live music and more.  Over 1,700 trucks adorned the showfield, each with their own unique look and style!  The 2019 total was also the highest since the 2003 event and ranks within the top 5 all-time turnouts for the event.  

It all started with load in on Thursday, August 1. That’s when everyone who arrived early had the chance to see and be seen.  It was also a great chance to take a first look at the trucks, rigs, vans and vendors without having to battle the bustling crowd that came to town for the weekend fun.  The snail’s pace of that day quickly gave way to a fast and furious weekend of all things truck.

Friday saw the first of many monster truck shows and rides, while the Showfield filled in with trucks of all shapes, sizes, styles and eras. Building Y welcomed the SyTys  (the 2019 Cool Club Challenge winners), the pavilion hosted Vanarama (the 2019 Large Club Challenge winners), Building T showcased some top of the line featured vehicles and the south side of the grounds from Gate 1 to Gate 7 anchored the Big Rig Show and Shine.

The red white and blue honors were also prevalent. Near the east side of Building T, Blackout, a military tribute rig drew onlookers, while trucks on the Showfield and indoors saluted both service members and first responders. One such truck, owned by Rick Beech of Florida, offered a canvass for military personnel to sign their names in remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Within the Big Rig Show & Shine, the U.S. Express fleet also brought a half a dozen rigs adorned with a military theme, while new class members of the neighboring U.S. Army War College walked the grounds enjoying those themes as well as the rest of the amazing trucks on display.

Music was also a part of the weekend. Friday saw multiple sets from the country/rock band Old School, while Saturday welcomed back Nashville recording artist and American Idol contestant Payton Taylor.  Their music, combined with the sounds of the show helped to propel the excitement of the event, while also offering a groove of fun for all at Carlisle.

Other great aspects of the weekend included competitions like drop and drag, burnouts, beauty, high truck, a low truck limbo, and Carlisle Elite.  Those looking to shop not only had the automotive flea market as an option, they also enjoyed a bustling midway with great partners like A&A, Ranch Hand Bumpers, American Force Wheels, Skyjacker, Amsoil, Eastwood Company, 4 Wheel Parts, Extang and more.  What made their presence even more fun was the fact that A&A hosted on-site installs, offering guests a chance to have truck work done, all while enjoying the show.  Atturo Tires, new to the truck show, even stepped up, sponsoring the aforementioned burnout contest.  

As the last of the vendors and trucks loaded out at Carlisle, everyone was making plans for 2020’s event.  Save the date, because the 2020 Carlisle Truck Nationals presented by A&A Auto Stores takes place August 7-9 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  Registration is now open for that event and would be attendees are welcome to call 717-243-7855 or visit www.CarlisleEvents.com to learn more.  

Fall Carlisle is shopping made easy...and there’s no charge for shipping!  Roll into the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds October 2-6, 2019 and enjoy the show that started it all; Fall Carlisle!  Get the ultimate sensory and social experience at the event as you see, feel, smell and touch all the automotive pieces and parts that you’re looking for.  Better than that, you’re talking directly with the seller and interacting in real life AND in real time with 90,000+ people that share the same interests as you.

Skip the online traffic and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the event as well as the thrill of hunt. If you’re shopping online, especially for used parts, you need to know exactly what you’re looking for. Then, if you find it, you have to hope it’s for sale…and still available. At Fall Carlisle, you can find things that you weren’t necessarily looking for, forgot you needed or are for a future project but the price is so good that you might as well buy it now. 

At a show like Fall Carlisle, expect the unexcepted because you just might be surprised who is shopping the same aisles alongside you.  TV hosts like Andy Cohen of Junkyard Empire and Lou Santiago of Car Fix shop at Carlisle. Chuck Cantwell, labeled by many in Ford circles (or ovals) as the godfather of the GT350, shops at Carlisle.  Get the point?  If automotive experts and those who represent the hobby on TV look at the automotive flea market at Fall Carlisle as the place to find parts, you should too.

Some of the best deals are found at the most unsuspecting of times and that’s why everyone who comes to Carlisle is encouraged to do so early.  The early bird gets the worm, right?  Gates open at 7 a.m. daily, but if you register to be a VIP Power Picker, you gain on grounds access as early as Monday AND you get on grounds parking, too.  Registered vendors have the added perk of B2B commerce, given that they are generally on grounds the weekend before Fall Carlisle officially kicks off.  However you choose to be part of the fun, know that the options are nearly limitless.   

Unlike an online marketplace, you aren’t getting a “stock image” when shopping for the part or car you’re looking for.  You also aren’t trading emails and money with someone you’ve never met.  In person commerce at Fall Carlisle guarantees you’re buying the exact thing you’re looking at and holding.  It also offers peace of mind in knowing that if there is an issue, Carlisle Events knows (in nearly every instance) who the vendor was that was selling.  Just take note of the space number when making your purchase.

Some added perks to the weekend to make shopping that much easier – free taxi and parts hauling services.  See, we really don’t charge for shipping.  When you’re making a purchase within the automotive flea market or on the midway and the item you’ve bought is too cumbersome to carry, simply connect with a Carlisle Events staff member and a FREE shuttle will arrive to help you out.  While the service is offered at no charge, donations are graciously accepted with dollars benefiting the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation.

Other fun aspects of Fall Carlisle include trivia for everyone on-site Friday night as well as a FREE vendor appreciation dinner on Saturday evening.  Fall Carlisle also plays host to a two-day collector car auction powered by Carlisle Auctions.  The auction takes place at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center on October 3rd and 4th and gives attendees the chance to experience live auction entertainment, while also offering a chance to pick up a first or next classic at affordable prices.  

With over 100 years of automotive history available in one place, there’s no reason to log on…well, maybe just a few reasons.  Save money today by buying single day admission tickets for Fall Carlisle online at www.CarlisleEvents.com.  The web page also offers an outlet to purchase weekend passes and details on how to become a vendor or be part of the auction as a buyer or seller.  All in on the no web mentality?  Call 717-243-7855 to learn more.

Carlisle Events and its staff have won numerous awards since its inception in 1974.  Founded by Bill Miller and the late Elliot “Chip” Miller, the events at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds entertain over a half a million guests annually, plus draw over ten thousand classic and collector cars to America’s Automotive Hometown each season.  None of this would have been possible without the passionate efforts of two men who shared more than just the same last name.  Their efforts and decades of work/contributions within the collector car hobby have earned them a VERY special honor – being named 2019 Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum Automotive Heritage Award recipients.  The ceremony takes place at the AACA Museum’s “Night at the Museum” gala and silent charity auction on October 9 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

There’s a bit of irony surrounding this award for Bill and Chip, as the October 9, Hershey based ceremony is also home to where it all started for the Miller’s (not related) more than 45 years ago.  It was 1973 and Chip was selling a ‘50s era Corvette at the AACA’s big event in Chocolate town.  What the young men didn’t realize at the time, was that while the Corvette in question seemed “old” to them, it did not classify as a classic car.  As such, they were asked to remove the car from the grounds. 

“We decided we needed a place for guys like us who liked the kinds of cars that we did,” said Bill Miller.  With a rented fairground and some loan money, Bill and Chip set out to make history, and they most certainly did.  Over the years, their efforts have resulted in billions of local economic impact dollars, countless jobs, thousands of dollars in charitable monies, dozens of cars given away, proposals, marriages, babies, generations of guests and a mecca for car lovers from around the world to converge and “talk shop” for a weekend.

After many years of hard work, the duo receives this amazing honor, albeit posthumously for Chip.  The Automotive Heritage Award is designed to honor and provide public recognition for an individual(s) who made an exceptional contribution to the hobby by preserving antique automobiles and motorsports vehicles, exhibiting their vehicles, promoting the hobby, engaging in sustained, noteworthy activities that have positively impacted the hobby and using his/her position in the hobby for philanthropy and service to others.  This is the third annual offering of the award.  Past award recipients include race car driver Bobby Rahal and Gale Halderman, the man who sketched the first Ford Mustang. 

This recognition is the latest in a line of honors for Bill and Chip since the inception of Carlisle Events.  Past honors include the Meguiars Award, Central Penn Business Journal Persons of the Year (with Lance Miller), the Others Award from the Salvation Army and many more local and regional honors.  In addition, Chip was posthumously inducted into the National Corvette Hall of fame in 2013.

Lance Miller, Chip’s son, will accept on his behalf, while Bill Miller will join Lance on the stage for this amazing recognition.  Complete event information is available at www.aacamuseum.org/events or by calling the AACA direct at 717-566-7100.