Fresh off its best auction of all-time, Spring Carlisle, Carlisle Auctions returns to the Carlisle Expo Center to host its third event of the year, the Carlisle Auctions Summer Sale. This event is ALL NEW and runs June 16 only, starting at 11 a.m. The Summer Sale is a little different from the other events that Carlisle Auctions offers. While it still has cars, people, excitement and the FREE UNLESS SOLD GUARENTEE, there are new features connected to the Summer Sale, making it more of a festival atmosphere than ever before.

The core of the day of course, is cars and trucks crossing the auction block. There are 200+ slated. These rides span nearly 100 years of automotive history and many will cross the block without a reserve price. While others will carry a reserve, they are also the high-end, high-caliber cars. Showcased for sale in June is a 2006, low mileage Ford GT. In addition, another sexy Ford comes to Carlisle; a 1966 Shelby GT350H. Yet another gem is a 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible. Any of those cars would be THE perfect way to cruise into summer!

What makes it more of a festival and community event are the add-ons. While generations of classics are slated, future collectibles will be on-site too. The new products showcase is anchored by a trio of local dealers. Those dealers, Family Ford of Carlisle, Carlisle Cadillac/Buick/GMC of Carlisle and Lawrence Chevrolet of Mechanicsburg aim to bring some of their hot new rides for guests to experience firsthand. Also, spectator admission is FREE! Come one, come all and enjoy the Summer Sale.

Further, via a local vendor, there will be food trucks available too, serving up great fare that is quite different from your standard burgers and hot dogs. And…what would great food be without a cool beverage? The local flavor continues with samples from local breweries and wineries.

Complete details on Carlisle Auctions can be found at www.CarlisleAuctions.com or by calling 717-960-6400. On the web are links and information for consigning a vehicle, becoming a bidder and a photo gallery of most of the vehicles that are consigned to the auction. Finally, a run list and link to watch a live stream of the auction will also be available during each day of the auction. Reach out today to be involved and don’t miss out!

Walking the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds as part of the 2018 Ford Nationals presented by Meguiars, one could almost literally suffer a neck injury due to the amount of “look here,” “look there,” “wow what’s that” moments on the National Parts Depot Showfield. The cars, the people, the excitement; it could be felt across the grounds, in the community and at the Carlisle Expo Center where Ford hosted its annual free ride and drives!
Special anniversary displays, guests and great weather helped make this Ford event one of the best in recent memory. Dave Kindig of Bitchin’ Rides on Velocity was the star attraction on Saturday and was flanked all weekend by the likes of racer Al Joniec, authors Don Farr, Marci Cipriani, “GT Joey” Limongelli and many more. If people at the show weren’t walking the grounds looking at the cars, they were in line picking up an autograph from their favorite celebrity or test driving, FOR FREE, the latest rides from Ford.

Of course, the event is about more than special guests. Awesome showcase displays anchored all corners of the grounds. Building T welcomed the Cobra Jets, the GT500KR, Focus, Torino, Bullitt Mustang, while Building Y hosted the Ford Nationals select display. Between the two buildings, even more Bullitt Mustangs were featured, all while the NEW Bullitt was being showcased by Ford at the Expo Center.

One other great showcase was featured near the crossroads of the grounds; that being Ford Tractors. Tractors of various colors and eras drew guests in like moths to a flame and were, hands down, one of the most photographed displays of the show.

What would the show be without product walkarounds and installs? New and unique rides where featured by Ford, Roush, Shelby American and Saleen, while A&A Auto Stores and Ford Performance helped upgrade rides via installs.

The midway and swap meet were hopping too. Jam-packed, the swap and shop aisles hosted some of the top names in the hobby, plus with collectibles, OEM and NOS items available, there was no reason not to stop and buy.

Competitions wise, hundreds of awards were handed out Sunday as part of the awards parade, while Friday hosted the Real Street Shootout and Saturday hosted burnouts, beauty and more. As the weekend wrapped with 200+ cars hitting the street of Downtown Carlisle for the annual Ford Parade and Street Party, many guests were already making plans for 2019. Save the date, because Fox Bodies, Mach 1s, the Boss, Eliminators and more will be featured as part of the May 31-June 2 event. Registration is now open by calling 717-243-7855 or online at www.CarlisleEvents.com.

For many years at Chip Miller’s baby, Corvettes at Carlisle, a car was given away. In most cases, the car was purchased, names were drawn and a lucky guest snagged the car with the only cost associated being the admission ticket purchased to attend. While the process has changed over the years, a Corvette continues to be given away, only this time proceeds benefit Miller’s namesake foundation and raises funds and awareness for Amyloidosis.

Corvettes at Carlisle 2018 is powered by Corvette America and it’s at this event, August 23-26, where the winning name will be drawn. The contest is up and running now and hopeful winners are encouraged to purchase tickets early so as not to miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

1,000 tickets are available and sold on a first come, first served basis. The tickets are being sold via the Lancaster County (PA) Corvette Club and are $100 each. Tickets are numbered 000 through 999 and have a direct tie-in to the Pennsylvania Lottery’s Pick 3 game. With Pick 3 drawings taking place twice daily, anyone hoping to win will turn their attentions to Saturday evening, August 25. This is the date when the winning numbers will be pulled at random. At that point, the winner will be notified and subsequently recognized at the event.

The prize itself is indeed a Corvette. Coming direct from Kerbeck Corvette in New Jersey is a 2019 Corvette Stingray. The car retails for over $50,000 and is brand new. Each ticket sold is another $100 towards the Chip Miller Amyloidosis foundation, though the value of the car does come out of money raised. Once all the I’s are dotted and T’s crossed, the CMAF tallies about $50,000 which is earmarked for donation and research purposes. Monies also benefit Clare House, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania based organization serving homeless women and children in a caring environment. This is done through life skills training and support, leading to self-sufficiency.

“Working with the Lancaster County Corvette Club has been amazing, this group of people are awesome,” said Corvettes at Carlisle event manager Lance Miller. “Their passion to help two wonderful charitable organizations by selling tickets, promoting the raffle and being so energetic about their efforts is great to see,” continued Miller. “The CMAF can’t thank them enough for all of their efforts. Of course we’re grateful for the many supporters that purchase raffle tickets to help the CMAF too. We really enjoy being one of the lucky charities behind the effort, plus who wouldn’t want to win a BRAND NEW CORVETTE?”

Tickets for this cool car and great cause are available now! They can be obtained a few different ways. Tickets can be ordered by downloading the raffle form at http://www.carlisleevents.com/pdf/Wina2019Corvette.pdf, by calling the CMAF at 717-243-7855 x113 or in person at Corvettes at Carlisle in August.

Complete details about Corvettes at Carlisle, including links to buy single day or weekend tickets as well as register for the event itself can be found at www.CarlisleEvents.com. Get involved today and good luck, we’ll see you at the show in August!

The Ford Escape is the No.2-selling vehicle in the Blue Oval arsenal, and after being significantly updated for the 2017 model year, the 2018 Escape adds a new trim level, but remains essentially the same as last year.

Six years into its third generation, Escape, a small SUV that debuted for the 2001 model year, offers a new SEL trim level that features leather-trimmed seating, power liftgate, heated exterior mirrors, signature LED lighting, SYNC® 3 with a SYNC Connect eight-inch display and reverse sensing system. The SE trim series gets front heated cloth seats, roof side rails and perimeter alarm. Escape Titanium (my test vehicle) gets a 2.0-liter EcoBoost® engine, navigation system, enhanced active park assist and high-intensity discharge headlamps.

Packed with standard amenities, all Escapes come with infotainment, power systems and tech. Among the standard installed items are an Easy Fuel® capless fuel filler, LED taillamps, power sideview mirrors with integrated blind spot mirrors, MyKey®, power windows and door locks, steering wheel-mounted cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering column, six-speed SelectShift® automatic transmission and intermittent front and two-speed rear wipers.

The 2018 Escape continues in its compact crossover footprint at 178.1 inches in length, 66.3 inches in height and 72.4 inches in width on a 105.9-inch wheelbase. Minimum running ground clearance is 7.9 inches and Escape has a curb weight of 3755 lbs. for its 2.0-liter powerplant and 4WD. When properly equipped, Escape can tow 3500 lbs.

Escape’s engine choices include the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter iVCT inline-4 engine that delivers 168hp and 170 lbs-ft of torque with sequential multiport electronic fuel injection. For the economy minded, a direct-injection 1.5-liter EcoBoost® I-4 with Auto Start-Stop is available, rated at 179hp, with 177-lbs-ft of torque. My test Escape Titanium was powered by a turbocharged direct injection 2.0-liter Twin-Scroll EcoBoost® inline-4 with Auto Start-Stop that supplied 245hp and 275 lbs.-ft. of torque on premium fuel. EPA ratings are 21mpg in city driving and 29mpg on the highway for the 2.5 in FWD configuration; the 1.5-liter EcoBoost® is estimated at 23/30 in FWD and 22/28 in AWD; and my test 2.0 liter EcoBoost® was rated at 20/27 in AWD. A week of mixed-use tests including long interstate drives, and a few soft-road excursions, averaged 24.9mpg.

Escape is a small SUV that acts like a car on the road. Steering, balance and acceleration are carlike. The rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assist is attentive and dependable and the MacPherson front struts with stabilizer bar and twin-tube hydraulic gas-pressurized shocks work well with an independent double lateral link rear suspension with semi-trailing arms, stabilizer bar, linear-rate springs and monotube hydraulic gas-pressurized shocks to level road imperfections. The ride is not a luxury-smooth experience and the cabin can be noisy at times, but for the niche and for soft-road activities, Escape presents a gentle driving experience.

My 2.0-liter engine was muscular at all shift points in all ranges. Passing at speed is predictable and uphill grades are easy play. In Autocross maneuvers, quick acceleration and anticipated soft turning angles make for a fun ride. In speed tests, a zero-to-60mph dash was completed in 7.6 seconds, and a quarter-mile took 15.8 seconds.

Inside, the cabin is a step below luxury, but well-appointed with seating for five. It could be a bit roomier, as tall drivers may feel cramped. Headroom measures 39.9 inches in front and 39.0 in row two. Legroom can be stretched to a maximum of 43.1 inches in row one, while second-row passengers have 37.3 inches. Shoulder room is 55.9 in row one and 55.2 for row two.

Safety is well-addressed with a number of active and passive inclusions. Among Escape’s standard safety and security items are: AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™; Airbags – Driver’s knee, front-seat side, and Safety Canopy® System with side-curtain airbags and rollover sensor; battery saver, four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-Lock Brake System; child-safety rear door locks; head restraints and three-point safety belts on all five seating positions; illuminated entry system; LATCH – Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children; perimeter alarm; Personal Safety System™ for driver and front passenger with dual-stage airbags; rear view camera; SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System; SOS Post-Crash Alert System™; tire pressure monitoring system (excludes spare) and traction control.

The 2018 Ford Escape starts at $23,940 in S trim with the 2.5-liter I-4 engine, and moves to $25,700 for the SE and its 1.5-liter EcoBoost®. The new SEL trim starts at $28,100 my test Escape Titanium in Cinnamon Glaze paint, started at $32,140 in FWD with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost® engine, Intelligent Access with push-button start, Leather-Trimmed 10-Way Heated, Power Driver and Front Passenger Seats, Remote Start System, Voice-Activated Touchscreen Navigation System and a 10-Speaker Audio System from Sony®. The Intelligent 4WD System added $1350 and The Ford Safe and Smart™ Package added $1295 for Driver-activated front rain-sensing windshield wipers, Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Warning with Brake Support, Auto high-beam headlamps, BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane-Keeping System, Rain-Sensing Wipers (Front Only) and Auto-dimming Rearview Mirror. Splash Guards added $210, and Destination charges of $995 put the sticker-as-tested at $35,990. Lease and purchase incentives are available depending on your region, so check with your dealer.


> 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.

The Hurst Nationals is one-of-a-kind and its fitting that Carlisle Events, a likewise one-of-a-kind company is backing it! The second annual Hurst Nationals runs concurrently with the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals and takes place at the Carlisle Expo Center July 13-14, 2018. Of course, there are unique cars slated to appear, but just announced; the men who made these machines – the guys behind Hurst!

It’s difficult to say “Hurst” without almost instinctively adding “Olds” when talking cars. Hurst/Olds production ran from 1968 through 1984 plus Hurst offered an “aero kit” in 1988 for owners to install on 1988 and older G-Body Oldsmobiles. Conveniently, 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the legendary Hurst/Olds. We’ll be celebrating with a display featuring one of each year of production as well as the “proposal” cars. These are the cars that Hurst built to show Oldsmobile brass their vision for that year but ultimately, regular sales were strong enough in those years that a limited-edition Hurst model was deemed unnecessary.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of two of the most famous factory drag cars ever produced, the 1968 Hemi Dart and Barracuda Super Stocks, also known as “LO” and “BO” respectively, based on the first two digits of the VIN. Chrysler partnered with Hurst to convert assembly line Darts and Barracudas to Hemi-powered Super Stock legal beasts by installing fiberglass fenders and hoods, thin Corning side glass, lightweight van seats, cut wheel wells on the Darts and more. These cars are still running today and the NHRA created a class just for them. See one of the largest gatherings of factory LO and BO cars.

Carlisle Events is excited to announce the return of Hurst engineers and employees to the show, including Don Glover and Jim Kerr. Not only are these guys guests of the event, they have each played major roles in the development of the event. Don Glover was a longtime Hurst engineer who was part of many of the Hurst vehicles built. He also worked on the Jaws of Life design and he developed the “Hurst Equipped” emblem. Jim Kerr was an important part of Hurst, performing many roles in the company. His most notable was probably his position in customer service where he was one of the earliest Hurst Shifty Doctors. As such, it was Jim’s job to go to the races and fix any problems the racers might have had with their Hurst Shifters.

2017 was received favorably by all of the Hurst employees who attended, and they are all planning to return in 2018. Further, Carlisle Events is working with at least three more legendary Hurst employees who couldn’t make it last year but are planning to attend this year. Once those guests are officially locked in, details will be shared via the Hurst Nationals web page of www.CarlisleEvents.com as well as via Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CarlisleHurstNationals.

Getting this many former Hurst employees together in one location is extremely rare. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear them speak about their time at Hurst and the projects they worked on as well as talking to them one-on-one and even having your specific questions answered. Don Glover can always be counted on to bring tons of photos, engineering drawings and more that he loves to show and talk about. These guys also have other rare items, prototypes and more. Rather than see these pieces in someone else’s collection, you’ll get to see them and learn about them directly from the guys who built them!

Guests will be talking shop Friday and Saturday of the 2nd annual Hurst Nationals and will also be joined by the legendary Linda Vaughn. The event itself features unique indoor display cars sporting Hurst branding as well as even more cars outdoors that fit the theme of the weekend. You’ve never seen this many Hurst vehicles together in one place so don’t miss out! Tickets are available online too, plus links to register for not only this event but the Chrysler Nationals, happening right down the street at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds from July 13-15.