Coker Group, parent company of Coker Tire, Zip Products, Corvette Central, and The Great Race, announced a new week-long touring event geared toward Corvette enthusiasts.  Participants will enjoy hundreds of miles of exciting roads and more than a dozen VIP experiences at private car collections, historic museums and more.  This seven-day adventure kicks off on Saturday, August 22nd at Corvette Central’s headquarters in Sawyer, Michigan and sends participants on a journey through Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, with a destination of Carlisle, Pennsylvania for the annual Corvettes at Carlisle, August 27-29 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.

Participants will enjoy the largest Corvette gathering in the world from Thursday through the end of the event on Saturday afternoon.  Event organizers have teamed up with Corvettes at Carlisle to provide a special parking area, as well as other fun activities throughout the event. 

This event marks the first touring event for Coker Group, but it certainly isn’t the first automotive experience hosted by the Chattanooga, Tennessee-based company.  One example of a wildly successful Coker Group event is called the Great Race, which is a time, speed, endurance rally for vintage vehicles.  The Great Race is a widely known event that covers a different route each year, and it carries an intense level of competition, as participants must drive a route with precise instructions, with intentions of matching a pre-determined time.  The Corvette Tour, on the other hand, is a more laid-back approach, as there is no competition element, but participants can count on lots of great roads and hosted VIP experiences along the way.

The Ultimate Corvette Tour has an entry fee of $7,999, which covers one hotel room in each overnight city, organized meals for two, VIP access to private collections, behind the scenes museum experiences, and other unique automotive adventures along our route! It also covers entry into the Corvettes at Carlisle event, your hotel only a half-mile from the Fun Field, and participation in other special access events.

“We’re excited to welcome the Coker Group and their Ultimate Corvette Road Tour to Corvettes at Carlisle this summer,” noted Carlisle Events co-owner Lance Miller.  “Coker has been a friend and partner of Carlisle Events, showcasing their brand and products to our guests for decades,” continued Miller.  “For our flagship car show, Corvettes at Carlisle, to be selected by them as the destination for this epic journey is a real honor and I’m looking forward to welcoming them to Carlisle in August.  Safe travels!”

The registration process is simple, and the staff at Coker Group offer excellent hospitality to ensure a great experience for everyone involved.  For more information on this event, visit www.cokertire.com/corvette-tour-2026 or email Coker Group’s Director of Events, Brad Phillips at brad.phillips@coker.com.  Further, for a complete rundown of what Corvettes at Carlisle is all about, including guests, special displays, activities, and more, visit CarlisleEvents.com. 

The Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and Carlisle Expo Center once again served as the epicenter of the automotive world; with Spring Carlisle and its accompanying two-day classic and collector car auction drawing the attention of thousands  Combined, the events, April 22-26 (Spring Carlisle) and the auction (April 23-24) welcomed nearly 100,000 guests from around the world as they bought, sold and traded all things automotive. 

As the traditional season opener since 1977, Spring Carlisle delivered in all the ways possible, including long lines of anxious shoppers well before the 7 AM daily start time at the fairgrounds and top-dollar sales at the auction.  The fairgrounds were filled with activity as vendors, collectors, and hobbyists converged to take part in one of the world’s premier automotive gatherings.

Great weather Wednesday through Saturday morning helped drive steady attendance and consistent traffic across the automotive flea market, car corral, and Manufacturers Midway.  Best of all, Carlisle vendors reported strong engagement as parts, memorabilia, collectibles, and vehicles moved throughout the weekend, while attendees continued to find everything from restoration necessities to one-of-a-kind automotive treasures.

The ARMO Hot Products Showcase by the stage was a popular destination for show-goers too, as some of the hottest and newest products coming to market were on display direct from the SEMA show in Las Vegas.  Making their East Coast debut, these products were the talk of the tent and are no-doubt part of someone’s “gotta have it” wish list.

A major feature of the week was the two-day collector car auction powered by Carlisle Auctions, which saw a 63% sell through rate and totaled $5.3 million in total sales.  The top-4 selling cars totaled $431.920 and beyond that, nearly $43,000 in charitable dollars came in, including just over $36,000 for the Fund the Firehouse program. 

Spring Carlisle 2026 once again proved why it remains a cornerstone of the automotive hobby calendar.  From first-time visitors to seasoned collectors, the event delivered on days of deals, discoveries, and shared passion.  Another great showcase for attendees to enjoy was a one-day only display by way of the America 250 PA experiential mobile unit.  This traveling museum offered photo ops, interactive trivia, prizes and more on Wednesday the 22^nd.

Carlisle Events now turns its attention to the remainder of its 2026 car specific events, including the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals car show (May 15-16).  The next Spring Carlisle offering is scheduled for April 21-25, 2027, with the auction happening April 22-23.  Details on all upcoming events, as well as the ability to purchase discounted spectator tickets in advance, are available at CarlisleEvents.com.

From April 22–26, the automotive world turns its attention to the Carlisle, PA Fairgrounds and Carlisle Expo Center for a pair of exciting events: Spring Carlisle, spanning April 22–26, and the Spring Carlisle Collector Car Auction, April 23–24.  While guests wheel and deal within the fairgrounds’ fenceline, it’s across the street at the Expo Center where a true sense of giving takes center stage just after 10 AM each day.

Thanks to generous donations, Carlisle Auctions will, in turn, donate sales dollars to five different local and regionally based fire companies through the Fund the Firehouse program, as well as support Carlisle Cares.

First, a 2007 Chevrolet Impala LT has been secured for Carlisle Cares, a non-profit organization in Cumberland County, PA, dedicated to serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness.  The organization provides emergency shelter (November–March), a daytime resource center, housing-focused case management, and street outreach to help residents achieve housing stability and independence.

Beyond that, the third annual Fund the Firehouse portion of the auction features vehicles and memorabilia donated by various individuals and groups, with 100% of proceeds benefiting fire companies within the communities where the donations originated.  Highlights include a 1984 Porsche 928S and a 1955 Jeep Ambulance for the Dauphin Middle Paxton Fire Company; a 2008 GMC Envoy, vintage Fire Chief pedal car, assorted sports memorabilia, a vintage John Deere Pedal Tractor, and an Interstate Battery metal sign for the Ickesburg Fire Company; a vintage tricycle for the Landisburg Fire Company; an autographed Hershey Bears First-Responder themed hockey jersey for the Hershey Volunteer Fire Company; and a 1951 Dodge Meadowbrook for the New Berlin Fire Company.

The last two items came to auction via Derry Township (Hershey, PA), with the jersey provided by the Hershey Bears and the ’51 Dodge from the AACA Museum, Inc.  Best of all, the Dodge has been given a new life by the automotive technology students of SUN Tech in New Berlin, PA, creating a natural tie-in with their local fire company.

Most of the Fund the Firehouse items and the Carlisle Cares car will cross the block on Thursday, April 23, during the 10 AM hour.  However, the 1951 Dodge from SUN Tech will cross on Friday morning, April 24.  In addition, SUN Tech has created unique wheelbarrow-style go-karts that will also cross the block on Friday.  Dollars raised from these builds go directly back to SUN Tech and the academic programs that supported the projects.

“Carlisle Events’ generosity in allowing Community CARES to receive proceeds from the upcoming Spring auction has a direct and meaningful impact on our ability to serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness,” noted Executive Director Beth Kempf.  “Partnerships like this help ensure that we can continue providing safe shelter, critical resources, and a path forward for our neighbors in need,” continued Kempf.”  We are deeply grateful for their support and commitment to our community.”

The Spring 2026 Collector Car Auction begins at 10 AM daily, with preview hours starting at 8 AM on April 22 and continuing through the conclusion of the event.  Advanced and online bidding opens April 20.  Every registered bidder is eligible to bring a guest to the auction and attend Spring Carlisle as well.  Finally, there are three great ways to bid: in person, by phone, or online.  The auction is open to the public, with admission just $13 per adult.  Learn more at CarlisleAuctions.com or call 717-960-6400.