The first day of summer, according to every calendar created for 2022, is June 21.  While that might officially usher in three months of shorts, vacations, and warm weather, at Carlisle, summer can’t officially start without the Carlisle GM Nationals.  This year’s showcase of all things GM is happening June 24-25 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and it’s fair to say that for two days in late June, summertime fun will be had by one and all who make the journey to Carlisle.

This event is one of the most diverse of its type, welcoming anything and everything that falls under what’s considered the General Motors umbrella.  This includes Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Pontiac, GMC, and more.  It’s also home to multiple shows within the show, as the Nova Nationals return to Carlisle as does Corvettes for Chip.  The Nova Nationals can be found on the east side of the grounds in and around the pavilion, while Corvettes for Chip is just east of the stage and showcases Corvettes, while raising money and awareness for the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation.    

The Carlisle GM Nationals also celebrate the history of some iconic rides with special displays and guests.  Planned displays for 2022 include the following:

• Celebrate 40 Years of the 3rd Gens
• 60 Years of the Nova/Chevy II
• Celebrate 40 Years of the S-10 - GM's Compact Pickup
• The Solid Lifer Showroom

In addition, the S-10 celebration spans two shows, with an additional feature of the beloved truck planned for the Carlisle Truck Nationals presented by A&A Auto Stores, August 5-7.

The Carlisle GM Nationals show cars and trucks don’t just park and shine, they roll, rev, and turn heads too!

There are multiple competitions that put the wheels in motion including a rolling exhaust contest, and the Real Street Shootout (autocross), open autocross runs, and track ride-alongs with UMI Performance.  There’s one other great way for a sensory experience at the event and that comes courtesy of drag racing legend Bruce Larson and Nitro Fest.

Cars and trucks on display and in motion aren’t the only draws, as the automotive flea market offers a mix of vendors selling items and buyers looking for a deal.  This is always a great outlet for original and after market parts shoppers, collectibles, and merchandise.  Finally, car clubs converge to socialize and recruit, while industry experts host seminars; sharing their expertise within the hobby.

The Carlisle GM Nationals is actively taking registrations for the Showfield, vendor registrations for the automotive flea market, and selling discounted spectator tickets in advance of the June 24-25 offering.  Learn more about the competitions, special displays, and get involved today by calling 717-243-7855 or online at CarlisleEvents.com.

Spring Carlisle presented by eBay Motors comes to the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds April 20-24 and while the event is powered by thousands of vendors, millions of items for sale, and nearly 100,000 guests from around the world, there’s one very special display of items that can ONLY be seen in person at the event. Each Spring, the ARMO Hot Products Showcase occupies a large footprint between the stage and grandstand and brings a little bit of the popular SEMA Show from Las Vegas direct to Carlisle.

For context, the SEMA Show is the largest automotive trade show in the world, spanning nearly a full week each fall and filling the Las Vegas Convention Center.  SEMA is the industry recognized acronym for the Specialty Equipment Market Association. This big event hosts top builders and designers, celebrities, the coolest of cool cars and trucks, tires, wheels, lift kits, chrome, lights, and any and all new and hot products coming onto the market. It is THE show of shows, but it’s also not open to the public, rather, it’s for vendors, dealers, retailers, etc. 

Carlisle brings the exclusiveness of SEMA to showgoers at Carlisle. We invite car lovers of all backgrounds to come and experience the ARMO Hot Products Showcase.  The ARMO display is unique, very inclusive, and it’s FREE to guests once through the gates of the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  As acronyms go, AMRO stands for the Automotive Restoration Market Organization and it’s a council of SEMA. ARMO's primary goals are to ensure the longevity and prosperity of the automotive restoration industry and to represent a unified voice on behalf of its members. 

Carlisle thanks those members who make their products available to the ARMO team for display at Spring Carlisle. In turn, the display is open to Spring Carlisle guests and spotlights many of the same cool items that they’d otherwise see at SEMA if they were able to attend. In short, these highly sought-after restoration products, regardless of vendor, come to Carlisle each spring and you should too. It’s all just in time for car show season at Carlisle and beyond.

Learn more about the ARMO Hot Products Showcase, Spring Carlisle 2022 and the entire Carlisle Events car show schedule at CarlisleEvents.com of by calling 717-243-7855.  Online options also include the ability to secure an automotive flea market vending space, purchase discounted spectator admission tickets online or even get details about the two-day Spring Carlisle Collector Car Auction (April 21-22) at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center.  

Recently we shared how the unique and rare find their way to Carlisle each May for the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals.  The cars and trucks that adorn the Showfield were primarily manufactured overseas and once state-side, rarely go back.  For 2022; however, one French made Citroën is coming to the states, traversing many of them, then going back to Europe as part of its journey of a lifetime.

The Citroën 2CV was introduced to the world as part of the 1948 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile (Auto Show) and had lasting impacts on French car culture for 40 more years.  Of course, its impact reaches beyond its years of production and each spring in Carlisle, the Citroën’s are celebrated as part of the French Showfield and hosted by the Citroën’s at Carlisle club. 

This particular 2CV is powered by a 29-horsepower engine and is 35 years old.  Fully refurbished, the fun commences in LA in April and heads east, crossing southern states like Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas before angling north and east through Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio.  After a quick pass through of Michigan, the journey enters western Ontario before dropping down stateside again in New York.  From a pass by Niagara Falls, the drive continues through Pennsylvania to Washington D.C., before coming back into PA for a visit to Carlisle on May 14.  After all the pomp and circumstance in Carlisle, the journey continues towards Philly, then north through New Jersey and into New York City.

But wait…there’s more.  A 6,000+ mile journey isn’t complete without its final 2,300 miles in Europe.  After boarding a ship in New York City, the 2CV floats its way to Land’s End in the Southwest of the United Kingdom.  Once rolling again, the trip winds through both city and countryside in England and France before entering Nice, Italy on July 24.  With a day of rest in Nice, the trip forges on to its July 28 destination of Rome.

The journey isn’t just about some people driving a classic car from LA to Rome, it actually has a real purpose; raising awareness and support of Kennedy’s Disease.  Per the Kennedy’s Disease web page, the disease “is a rare X-linked recessive genetic progressive neuro-muscular disease. Both the spinal and bulbar neurons are affected causing muscle weakness and wasting (atrophy) throughout the body which is most noticeable in the extremities (legs/arms), it is especially noticeable in the face and throat, and causes speech and swallowing difficulties, major muscle cramps as well as other symptoms.”

Be at Carlisle for the grand entrance at Carlisle, meet the group associated with the road trip and support their cause along the way.  The Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals is actively taking registrations for the judged and non-judged Showfield, vendor registrations, and selling discounted spectator tickets in advance of the May offering.  Learn more about the special displays and get involved today by calling 717-243-7855 or online at CarlisleEvents.com.

The Trip - Learn More: https://kd-uk.com/2cv/
Kennedy's Disease - Learn More: https://www.kennedysdisease.org/

One of the best parts about a day out with friends and family is experiencing something, new, fun, or maybe even unique.  That mindset holds true in many walks of life, but none more so than the annual Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals (IPN) car show, May 13-14, 2022.  This event makes the rare commonplace and while that may sound oxymoronic, it’s fact.  The cars on display are from around the world and are as rare as they are commonplace at Carlisle.  The coolest part is that in most cases, guests see cars that they’ve never seen before…and its all in one place, the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.

IPN is the first specialty themed car show of the Carlisle Events season and brings an all-star cast of cars and displays.  This year, expect a 30-year tribute to the Subaru Impreza and a feature of Germany’s most popular ride, the BMW.  There are also many car clubs who gather, making Carlisle their singular meet-up spot for judged or non-judged car show fun.

Additional features include Eastern Bloc cars from Europe displayed just outside of Building R, a display of race prepared cars in the paddock under Pavilion’s roof, parades with the Z-Car and Volvos, dune buggies that will have most recently competed in the Baja 1,000 coming direct from Mexico to Carlisle, a tent with cars direct from the Rolls Royce Foundation, and a high-end Porsche display. 

We have a classic Citroen 2CV making a stop in Carlisle as it drives from California to New York to raise awareness for Kennedy’s Disease. Its final destination is Rome, Italy! If that isn’t enough, there are vending opportunities for those looking to buy or sell parts, a kids activity area, Toys 4 Tots toy drive in Building R, countless awards, and THE trip around the automotive world, the annual Passport Program.

Finally, cars don’t just show, they go too.  There are multiple competitions that put the wheels in motion.  This includes a rolling exhaust contest, low car limbo, drift limbo, autocross by way of NICOClub, and NICOFest. 

The Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals is actively taking registrations for the judged and non-judged Showfield, vendor registrations, and selling discounted spectator tickets in advance of the May offering.  Learn more about the competitions, special displays, and get involved today by calling 717-243-7855 or online at CarlisleEvents.com.