One of the most popular parts of the annual Carlisle Chrysler Nationals car show is being able to check out special vehicles and visit with the top players in the hobby, be it celebrity guests or special guests who come directly from Detroit to represent the brand and meet their customers.  This year’s event, July 10-12 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, has both.  First, guests can meet Joe Zolper from TV's Garage Squad, plus industry guests like the Ramchargers, Herb McCandless, Buddy Martin, Claudia – Miss Direct Connection 1984, Paul Rossi, and Nick Panaritis of Nick’s Garage.  Showgoers will also have the chance to experience in-depth walk-around presentations on new gas engine SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger models and the newly refreshed 2027 Chrysler Pacifica by Dodge and Chrysler representatives, respectively, as they showcase the vehicles, including some being shown at an enthusiast event for the first time ever!

From the time the gates open on Friday, guests will have a chance to see some of the latest products from Dodge, including a twin-turbo SIXPACK-powered Dodge Charger Scat Pack in new Purple Haze exterior color parked in Building T and making its worldwide public debut at Carlisle, while also helping to celebrate 60 years of the Charger.  Attendees will learn more about the gas engine SIXPACK-powered 550-horsepower Charger Scat Pack and 420-horsepower Charger R/T, including info on performance features such as Line Lock, Launch Control and a RWD mode that sends 100% of torque to the rear wheels, during a walk-around hosted at the stage by Ashton Munoz, Dodge Charger Product Manager.

The refreshed 2027 Chrysler Pacifica will also be highlighted at the stage, with Pacifica standout features like a bold new design, available all-wheel drive and segment-exclusive Stow ’n Go seating and storage system detailed during a walk-around by Emily Pehling, Chrysler Pacifica Product Manager.  Guests will want to have their cameras ready and be paying close attention as the minds behind the machines host these very special show-and-tell events.

Displays are a hot draw this summer too and for 2026, that means 50 Years of the Aspen and Volare, 55 Years of the 1971 Plymouth Duster 340, 60 Years of the Charger, 60 Years of Hemi Cars, 100 Years of the Chrysler Imperial, 50 Years of the Dodge Adult Toys program, the annual Mopar Survivors tent, a showcase of Mopars spanning generations, and a 50th Birthday celebration with the Northeast Hemi Owners Association.

In addition, the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals also hosts a massive automotive flea market, perfect for parts shopping, a car corral, Manufacturer's Midway, and the Showfield itself, featuring 3,000+ cars spanning the history of the brand.   There are wheels-in-motion activities too, with the Real Street Shootout (autocross) on Friday evening, a rolling exhaust contest, rolling burnout and donut contest, open autocross runs and even pop-up parades around the grounds.   Mix that in with the aforementioned special displays and guests, and this year marks another can't-miss Carlisle Chrysler Nationals.   Gates open at 7 AM each day for the show, including early bird access on Thursday, July 9.   Kids 12 and under are admitted free, while adult spectator admission is available at a discount online.   Call 717-243-7855 with any registration questions or visit CarlisleEvents.com for discounts and details.

The 2021 Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals wasn’t exactly a record-breaking show but, in some ways, it did make history.  While the 1,800+ show cars weren’t quite a record, it was the third largest turnout in the event’s six-year history. The weekend was also filled with more activities than ever, spectacular weather and a crowd that was arguably more enthusiastic than ever. For the first time since the two unique shows (Performance & Style and Import & Kit Nationals) were combined six years ago, it truly felt like one event.

Those who come to Carlisle run the gamut, offering new imports and domestics, mixing perfectly with classic, rare and unique rides, also spanning the globe.  In fact, the “world” is showcased on the Showfield, as cars are parked by country of origin, parsed by country specific flags, passport checkpoints and ambassadors dressed in country specific apparel.  The best part about it might not be the cars themselves, but the car clubs and car lovers who come together to share a mutual admiration for these automotive works of art…and that’s exactly what happened at Carlisle.

For nearly two full days there were displays, seminars and even a marriage proposal (she said yes, by the way).  The cars didn’t just show, they were in motion with competitions, drifting, and autocross, too.  Friday saw the first cars in motion, as NICOClub.com hosted its annual NICOFest.  From 8 a.m. through the end of the day, cars were carving corners and sliding sideways.  Meanwhile, mid-afternoon Friday also saw 25 cars zip up the hill on the east side of the grounds with round one of the rolling exhaust contest. 

At 4 p.m. Friday the Manx Club put their Dune Buggies in motion with a parade lap around the grounds and even helped wrap up the day with a touching tribute to Dune Buggy inventor, Bruce Meyers.  Bruce’s wife, Winnie, joined the club as they came together to honor his legacy by way of a special video presentation, food, drinks and more.  The Manx crew even rallied the largest-ever Dune Buggy turnout, with over 40 converging on Carlisle.

On Saturday, it was non-stop automotive thrills and culinary treats.  Cars were rolling on and off grounds all day, plus many food vendors offered a taste of the world by way of a dish or two specific to a country represented on grounds.  Round two of rolling exhaust and the finals happened, as did drift limbo and the low car limbo.  The buggies weren’t the only group to enjoy a parade lap, as the Opel Club, hosting their national meet at the event, rolled around grounds around 11 a.m.  Additional awards were doled out over the course of the weekend too, including coolest club, largest club and a handful of Carlisle Elite awards.

As the final day of the 2021 offering concluded, awards were posted for those who participated in professional judging.  eJudged.com was back at it this year, offering their expertise to a few hundred car owners.  Those who didn’t win still had the chance to talk with the judges to better their chances for future considerations.

The 2022 version of the event is happening May 13-14 and registration for it is now open.  Up next for Carlisle Events is the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar’s June 4-6.  For details on this event, advanced arrival/COVID-19 compliance information or to check out the winner’s list and photos from Import & Performance weekend, visit CarlisleEvents.com.

The 2026 Carlisle GM Nationals car show took place at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds June 19-20, and not only were the show cars on the National Parts Depot Showfield amazing, so was the weather.  Approximately 1,000 show cars adorned the grounds, flanked by temperatures in the upper 70s with a slight breeze both days.  Between the cars on display, the vendors within the automotive flea market and car corral, plus the spectators who purchased tickets to walk the grounds and enjoy the event, it was yet another amazing all-GM-themed weekend.

The gates opened at 7 AM each day, and as guests rolled onto the grounds, they were immediately met with special displays, including the Novas at Carlisle, Solid Lifter Showroom, Third Generation Camaro and Firebird Nationals, T-Bodies at Carlisle and X-Bodies at Carlisle, and special featured displays in 2026, including those highlighting GM Pace Cars, C10s and Squarebodies, and the 100 Years of Pontiac celebration.  Each display gallery had guests taking pictures, stopping and staring with admiration, and engaging in conversation with like-minded enthusiasts, friends, and total strangers.  The draw was the cars; the staying power was the camaraderie.

Beyond the cars, the Carlisle GM Nationals welcomed special guests as well.  On site were the original TV car guy, Stacey David; GM Designer and Director of the General Motors Advanced Concept Center, John Schinella; and General Motors Field Service Engineer, Paul Koerner.  Each held court for their respective groups of enthusiasts.  David signed autographs for hours each day, Koerner hosted how-to seminars and tech sessions, while Schinella signed autographs and spent upwards of an hour each day on stage as part of a question-and-answer session.  During those discussions, he covered topics such as breaking into the automotive industry, designing the Fiero and the alternative names that were considered (Fiamma by the way), sketching K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider on a napkin while helping a friend build a deck, and even designing what we now know as the A-Team van.

Beyond the guests, the wheels were in motion as well, with parades and activities throughout the weekend.  Saturday parades included those focused on GM Pace Cars, Pontiacs, and third-generation Camaros and Firebirds.  Beyond those wheels in motion, there was a rolling exhaust contest that included three qualifying rounds and a championship, autocross rides with UMI Performance, open track time for enthusiasts looking to push their cars to the limit, the Real Street Autocross Shootout, and the rolling burnout and donut contest.

All told, this year's event satisfied the automotive tastes of many along the Atlantic Seaboard, as well as guests who traveled to Carlisle from afar.  While the 2026 event is now in the books, planning is already underway for 2027.  Mark your calendars for June 25-26, 2027, as the Carlisle GM Nationals returns with even more of what enthusiasts’ love—GM vehicles, track activities, parades, special displays, and much more.  Featured displays and anniversaries include those focused on Oldsmobile, a 60th Anniversary showcase of Camaros and Firebirds (a.k.a. F-Bodies), plus shows within the show like Corvettes for Chip, the Novas at Carlisle, Solid Lifter Showroom, 3rd Gen Nationals, and more.  To register for the 2027 Carlisle GM Nationals, call 717-243-7855 or visit CarlisleEvents.com for event details, spectator admission information, and more.

Since automotive swap meets began in the late 1940s or early ’50s, they have been a treasure chest of items for collectors, enthusiasts, project builders, professional auto shops, amateur “car people”, the curious, and families who embark on a bonding “car history day.” For many attendees, automotive swap meets are a bargain hunters’ paradise, but they are more than that. Swap meets offer the bargains, the collector pieces and hard-to-find parts, and they are also family events, networking hubs and can be annual can’t-miss experiences for car and car-part lovers.

The Spring Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market and Corral at the Carlisle Fairgrounds, in Carlisle, PA, is an evolution of the Fall Carlisle Collector Swap Meet & Car Corral in 1974, which led to a similar Spring event in 1977. Held on an 82-acre cornucopia of everything automotive, Spring Carlisle showcases 8,200 vending spaces, each filled with items from aftermarket to reconditioned parts to original parts to car care products. Event-experience motives aside, the primary goal of most who attend automotive swap meets, is finding the right part or parts … and finding them at the right price.

Tim Demark, Carlisle Events Vendors Manager said, “Vendors show classic used parts from tires to the top of the car, new parts for currents to antique parts for classics. They encompass all projects and needs. These parts can be had for the right price…if you understand the process.”

To be successful in swap meet shopping, have fun and be prepared. Demark said, “Swap meets are a picker’s haven if you adhere to these five Golden Rules:

1. Be methodical. Always write down the space marker of a vendor space at which you see an item you want to buy. If you see it and temporarily pass it up, you might not remember where it is.  

2. Work the field in quadrants and sections and take notes on maps or directories.  Break the field up using landmarks (e.g. the stage and grandstand; the infield and car corral; the north hill, etc.).

3. Wear comfortable shoes … it’s a large field.

4. You may need two three days to get it right. At Carlisle, we have 8,200 vendor spaces. Take your time or take a few days to see it all. And wear comfortable shoes … it’s a large field. Have fun seeing it all.

5. Bring something to haul your purchases, or remember that at Carlisle, we have free parts hauling that covers our 82 acres.

Demark added, “When shopping, the best tip is: Be aggressive. You can always ask, ‘is that the best you can do?’  The more aggressive you are, while being respectful and not low-balling too low, the better you can do. Don’t start a battle, but look for the truth … a true fair price.

Demark added, “Have fun and be flexible. Look hard and don’t be afraid to talk to the guy across from you – vendor or fellow shopper – he may have the answer or part you are looking for, or know where to find it.

Ed Buczeskie, Carlisle Spring and Fall and Imports Manager added, “ANY item can be had for a bargain. However, large items are typically the best for bargaining because they take up space and space is important. If someone sells a large item, it makes more space in the truck/trailer for the trip home.”

Buczeskie cautioned, “I would NOT recommend trying to bargain on something that’s already priced well. It’s already a deal. Take it and walk away. Why risk offending the seller if it’s already a good deal? But if you’re planning to negotiate, it helps to ‘read’ the seller before trying to bargain. Before even talking to the seller, try to watch how he/she deals with other potential buyers first if possible. Once you have a read on the seller, try to ‘match’ the seller’s demeanor. No matter what, BE RESPECTFUL. Respect can get you a better deal … sellers like giving deals to nice people. But in the end, it never hurts to try to negotiate if you are reasonable.”

Some of Buczeskie’s tips for buyers include:

1. If you find a deal, or it’s something you really need and you’re not likely to find another one, BUY IT NOW. If it’s a deal to you, it’s probably a deal to others, so someone else WILL buy it if you don’t.

2. Be prepared. Make a list of what you need before you come to the event. This will help you to remember what you’re looking for. You can share your needs with your buddies so they can also be on the lookout, and you can share with a vendor who might have similar item or know where to get it.

3. Do your homework on the parts you are looking for before you come to the event – what’s it worth, how hard is it to find, etc. This way you’ll know if you find a good deal.

In short, the top shopping tips to consider include:

1. Be prepared. Do your due diligence … research what you want to obtain.

2. Arrive early and look at everything you can, you might find a treasure you aren’t looking for. Also, by arriving early, you may get the deal before someone else does.

3. Haggle. Get the best respectful deal you can.

4. Network and talk to others. That’s part of the fun, part of the experience, and it could lead to the best deal or best item you can find.

5. Have fun. It is an event, after all. Enjoy the location, the conversations and the experience.

Next month, we’ll talk about how to make a deal (Swaps), after all, Spring Carlisle itself starts on April 21 and runs five days at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  To learn more about the event, purchase spectator tickets, secure vending space and more, call Carlisle Events at 717-243-7855 or visit them online at 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.

Welcoming generations of automotive enthusiasts to the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds has been commonplace since 1974, when Bill Miller and Chip Miller (no relation) hosted their first-ever automotive event.  Over the years, millions of guests have passed through the gates at Carlisle.  For nearly a decade, however, a growing emphasis has been placed on inspiring the next generation of enthusiasts through a special partnership between Carlisle Events, Ford Motor Company, and local educational programs.

That commitment was once again on display during the 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals, as students from the Carlisle Area School District's Auto Tech and Engineering programs were invited to a special VIP gathering of event partners on Friday, June 5.

The experience may have been one of the students' final activities of the 2025-2026 academic year, but it was certainly one they won't soon forget.  Nearly two dozen students attended, accompanied by faculty members including Andrea Groller, Director of Carlisle's Center for Careers and Technology, and Automotive Instructor Ed Rios.  As educators, they expected their students to learn throughout the day.  What they may not have anticipated was how much they would learn themselves.

From the moment they arrived, the group was immersed in the automotive world.  Carlisle Events co-owner Lance Miller and Carlisle Ford Nationals Event Manager Ken Appell guided the students through a series of unique interactions with some of the industry's most accomplished professionals.



(Ben Hobson, a Formula Drift competitor, speaks with students about the career path that led him to RTR Vehicles and its motorsports team)


(Rich Whitworth of the Ford ASSET program speaks with students about career opportunities available through Ford Motor Company and its dealer network for those interested in pursuing automotive careers)


(Ford Racing's Mike Goodwin showcases the latest technology from Ford Racing while sharing insights into his journey through the automotive industry)


(Ford Racing Chief Engineer Carl Widmann explains the development and testing process behind the all-new Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC)


(Cruise for a Cause founder Dan Neve discusses how his passion for Ford vehicles led to annual cross-country adventures with a new Ford build each year)


(Shelby American President Gary Patterson connects with students while sharing his career path within the automotive industry and his passion for racing)


(Students had the opportunity to hear from David Marchioni of the Detroit Historical Society, who shared how his career progressed from working for race teams and Ford performance vehicle testing to becoming curator of the Society's automotive collection, including the Cougar II Concept shown below)


(KTL Restorations' Kurt and Crystal Lawrance discuss how the restoration and customization industry has evolved over the years and how the demand for skilled technicians and engineers continues to shape modern vehicle builds)


(Students also toured Carlisle Events Co-Owner Lance Miller's private vehicle collection and gathered for a group photo outside the facility)

For a group of students considering their next steps, the experience served as a reminder that exciting opportunities can exist closer to home than they might realize.  In fact, for these aspiring automotive professionals, the road to a future in the hobby was just 2.3 miles east of their campus in Carlisle.

To see even more fun-filled photos of the Carlisle students at the 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals, click/tap here.  To learn more about Carlisle Events Youth Initiatives, visit CarlisleEvents.com/Youth or contact Ken Appell at 717-243-7855, ext. 116.