Car fans embrace performance, style, tech and many aspects of automobiles that fly under the radar. Among these fans are those who flock to displays of solid lifter cars … and for many of those fans, it is as much about the history and the cars, as the process and tech.

The dry tech answer to what solid lifters are is that they are solid pieces of metal between the cam lobe and pushrod. This type of valvetrain needs gaps between components to allow for thermal expansion. The lifter is the link between the camshaft and the pushrod. Because metal expands when it is heated, the link needs to be adjustable. Relating to lifters, the terms “hydraulic” and “solid” refer to the way the lifter handles this need for adjustment. Hydraulic Lifters, which are the norm today, automatically adjust. They have a spring-loaded plunger inside. As the engine runs, the body of the lifter fills with oil. The spring and oil allow the plunger to move up and down as needed.

Why is it a big deal? Brian Henderson, who began doing automotive restorations 30 years ago, and who is co-owner of Super Car Workshop, is a driving force behind the annual Solid Lifter Showroom, showcased in the Carlisle GM Nationals at Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. Henderson said, “Fans want to see the original cars that made horsepower history more than 50 years ago. They want to see the ’60s Camaros, the ’70 Chevelle and the grandpappies of muscle cars. These fans are the nostalgic older guys who had those cars in their heydays and the younger fans who understand the grandness of what made automotive history.”

What was the difference between solid lifter cars and hydraulic lifter cars and how does it tie in the General Motors? Henderson said, “A solid lifter cam rides on a film of oil, lets the rpms rev higher and generates more horsepower – or did, in the old days --  than a hydraulic that adjusts to work in more harmony and generates a lower rpm with less compression and lesser cam profile. Nostalgically, it was all about the horsepower – more with solid lifters – and the Hi-po cars that employed them. Today, hydraulic roller cam setups create less friction but carry spring pressure to provide all the horsepower you can imagine, putting today’s solid lifter programs in the dust. But historically and nostalgically, muscle car enthusiasts were all about solid lifters.”

How that fits into General Motors is that GM was in the forefront of the muscle car and pony car wars with solid lifter-endowed street beasts. Muscle cars were kings of the streets from 1964 through 1974, but the first muscle car might be traced back to the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 from GM. During the glory muscle years, GM was a solid lifter icon with such horsepower-heroes as the 1964 Pontiac Tempest GTO, followed by Impala SS 409, Pontiac Catalina 421, Olds Jetfire, Olds 442, Olds 455, Chevy Camaros, Pontiac Firebirds and GTOs, Chevy Novas and Chevelles, Buick GSX and Gran Sport, and more. 

Two hp heroes that were smoking then and have gained stature among fans today, are the Yenko Camaros and COPO Camaros.

COPO Camaros -- Central Office Production Order -- were specialty vehicles with low production volumes, initially created by finding a loophole to circumvent limitations GM placed on Chevy’s performance vehicles. The result was a powerful, street-legal machine that exceeded expectations and has become a coveted vehicle among collectors. These were Hi-po models without peer. 

Don Yenko a racer and owner of Yenko Chevrolet in Canonsburg, PA launched the program when he placed a factory order for 201 Camaros as he envisioned they should be built: with more powerful engines. In previous years, he had ordered Camaros and swapped out the engines himself, but in 1969, he began the COPO 9561 program, prompting other dealerships that caught on to the special ordering system to begin the COPO 9560 program. The Yenkos and COPOs will be among the vehicles on display at the Solid Lifter Showroom, in this year’s Carlisle GM Nationals. 

Henderson said, “After restoring cars and seeing how legit cars from the 1960s and ’70s fascinate the public, my partner, Joe Swezey and I approached Carlisle Events about 15 years ago to do a show spotlighting solid lifter cream of crop Chevelles, Novas and Camaros. Carlisle’s Event Manager at the time – Rick Markko – had me do a full pitch and when convinced, he gave me full reign, which included getting lifts to put cars in the air. We stuffed 32 cars in the building and grassroots support took off and gained following every year since.”

What does Henderson look for before reaching out to fill the building with exciting cars? He said, “I want rough, but legit cars. I want a real Yenko, not a clone. If it is rusty and banged up, that’s great. If it is shiny and restored, that’s OK too, as long as the parts are real. If it is legit … there’s room for your car. I am open to what I hear from fans and Carlisle has fans call them about cars they want to see displayed. And if I see an exciting car in a magazine, I seek them out. We reach out to collectors and contacts and we often hear from the public with treasure finds.”

This year’s display will showcase the legendary No. 11 first 4-speed ZL1 COPO Camaro, a 1969 Z28 Yenko Camaro, restored Z28s, rare Impalas, vintage drag cars and many more.

You can see the Solid Lifter Showroom in Building Y at the 2021 GM Nationals, June 25-26, as well as more than 1000 vehicles of all GM badges past and present, from classics to the modern 6th Generation Camaro.

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.

So your in the market for a classic car.  Like any major purchase, doing your homework is imperative, but just in case your buddy with a killer set of tools gives you a hot tip about a cool car sitting on a lot or just waiting to be scooped up on line, here's a short list to help you understand exactly what you'll likely hear.



Barn find = Needs more money thrown at it than it’s worth to us.

Matching numbers = The vin matches the title. Does it match the car?

100% Original and restored = huh?

Great floors = ridiculously applied amount of undercoat.

Investment grade = If you buy it for this price, your grade is “F”.

1 of (insert single digit here) = OK, so there were thousands of these made, but this is the only brown mustard colored, bench seat and radio delete car we have.

Completely documented = Reproduction owner’s manual included.

Stored in a private display for years = someone’s garage.

Less than XXXX miles on the odometer = since it seized up the last time.

Exceptionally original = we threw dirt on it.

Refreshed = power washed engine bay and added new pine tree air freshener.

Completely gone through = We couldn’t find the leak.

Factory correct = Every body panel has been replaced at least once but the paint color looks like something from the era.

The mileage on the clock is believed to be original = Probably not, but that’s what we’re saying.

Meticulously maintained by previous owner = They changed the oil once before listing for sale, never in the five years prior though.

Comes with service history = We found a receipt.

Undoubtedly = we don’t know. Trust us.

Two owner car = None of the previous brokers titled it over the last six years.

Original patina = as opposed to new patina?

Believed original = See “undoubtedly”.

Complete concours restoration last year by a famous restorer. = Don’t ask us who, we have no idea.

Frame off = quite an accomplishment with unibody cars.

Long history = We found more than one receipt.

NO RESERVE = What they meant was reservoir.. The car rolls but won’t stop.

Priced to move = It’s been on our lot for years and still no interest.

Photos (except for the one within the story) and text courtesy of JP Emerson and JPEmerson.com, automotive writer and host of the JP Emerson Show podcast.  That photo...a Google image from a Muppet Movie.     

About the Author:  JP Emerson is an award winning author & journalist whose bylines appeared in many of the most popular automotive magazines in the country. JP covers classic muscle cars and the people who own them with real stories from real owners relating everything from ownership, car shows, music, road trips and what everyone has in common regardless of brand.

Cars bring people together!  It doesn’t matter if it’s a large-scale car show, parking lot cruise in, or a drive down Main Street U.S.A., when automotive art is present, people pay attention.  For 2021, Carlisle Events is proud to share that in conjunction with the Downtown Carlisle Association, two marquee events return to the main streets of America’s Automotive Hometown, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. 

Those events; the Ford Parade and Street Party and Chip Miller Memorial Corvette Parade happen June 5 and August 28 at 7 p.m. respectively and are back after a one-year COVID hiatus.  Parades in 2021 are presented by M&T Bank.  The premise of both see registered participants from the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar’s and Corvettes at Carlisle presented by Top Flight Automotive cruise from the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds into the streets and square of downtown Carlisle.  The best spots for parade viewing are from the intersection of Carlisle Springs Rd./Route 34 and North Hanover St. through downtown and along Main St. near the Courthouse.  From there, parade participants park, while the community mixes and mingles with them and their show cars.

In addition, bringing cars and people into the downtown area has historically been an economic boom for the businesses that line North Hanover St., Pomfret St. and High St.  Part of the mixing and mingling process means shopping in stores that may not otherwise be open later on a Saturday or checking out a restaurant that might not be a common stop for those who attend.  The parades are also a large fundraising source for the DCA itself, so much so that after years of hosting the Corvette parade (launched in 1988), the Ford parade commenced in 2011.  Each have occurred annually since (other than 2020).

“The Downtown Carlisle Association/LoveCarlisle is happy to have these parades returning to our wonderful downtown again,” noted DCA President Glenn White.  “This partnership brings millions of dollars into downtown every year and it shows commitment from our regional stakeholders, like Bill Miller and Lance Miller of Carlisle Events who champion support in the community annually,” continued White.  “This is a time where you can see great American engineering and re-live personal memories through these great cars in a historic downtown.  Come down early and stay late!  Sip, shop and stroll to visit your favorite store or explore a new restaurant.  Plus enjoy the sounds of downtown and this amazing tradition that has become an annual part of the downtown.  These are all reasons why you will LoveCarlisle!”

Parade registration is an available add-on when registering for the respective events online at CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.  Parade fees go directly to the DCA, who will also be on-site during Ford and Corvette weekend to sign guests up in person, while slots remain.  The Carlisle Ford Nationals run June 4-6, while Corvettes at Carlisle runs August 26-28.  Complete details about both events are available via the aforementioned web page.

On the surface, motorsports appears to be a male-dominated domain, but there have been plenty of women who have made their marks on the scene and behind the scenes, especially within the Ford sphere (or oval) of influence.

Often left unreported, women have been involved in automobile racing from the beginning of racing’s early days -- on the track, in the pits, and behind the scenes. From Detroit to Daytona, and from Indy to Le Mans and Sebring, women have earned their stripes and checkered flags, and the list reads like a motorsports who’s-who regardless of gender. Drivers such as Michele Mouton – World Rally Championship and Le Mans; Vicki Wood -- The first female to ever to drive in NASCAR; Maria Teresa de Filippis – Formula One; Sara Christian – NASCAR; Janet Guthrie – Indy and NASCAR; Sarah Fisher – Indy car driver and team owner; Donna Mae Mims – SCCA; Brittany, Courtney, and Ashley Force – NHRA; and many more.

Among those women who have been pioneers and winners on the track are a slew of Blue Oval drivers who brought thrills and skills to races while driving Fords.

There are many Blue Oval racing women who have earned due respect, but a few of the most memorable and skillful drivers include the following.

Danica Patrick -- Arguably one of the faces of motorsports in the first two decades of this century, Danica Patrick drove Formula Fords and NASCAR Fords, was 2005 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and raced in 191 NASCAR races. She was the first female to win an Indy Car series race, first female to win a pole position in both Indy Car and NASCAR series, and one of only 14 racers, male or female to lead a both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500. She got her start with Ford backing in the United Kingdom, racing Formula Fords, and drove Ford Fusions in NASCAR races, including the No. 10  Ford Warriors Pink Fusion NASCAR racecar for Breast Cancer Awareness month, marking Ford’s decades-long commitment to raising awareness and funds in the fight against the disease.

Lyn St. James – The first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the year Award, Lyn St. James raced SCCA TransAm, IMSA GT, CART and Indy Racing League races and won at the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours at Sebring. She is the only woman to win an IMSA GT race driving solo, when she won in 1988 at Watkins Glen, and she became the first woman driver to reach over 200 mph on a racetrack. For the majority of her career she drove a Ford Mustang, and she used a Ford Thunderbird to break a closed course record for women with 227.32 mph. She often raced driving Mercury Capris Ford Cosworths, and Ford Mustangs.

Shirley Muldowney – “The First Lady of Drag Racing” in the NHRA, Shirley “Cha-Cha” Muldowney began street racing in New York as a teen-ager and competed in Top Gas dragsters before switching to Funny Cars. She won the International Hot Rod Association Southern Nationals in 1971, and she was a three-time NHRA Top Fuel Dragster Champion in 1977, 1980 and 1982. Her first nitro car was a Mustang-bodied, Chrysler-powered Funny Car she bought from Connie Kalitta and raced Mustangs and Mustang bodies for most of her career.

Denise McCluggage – A driver who fought for equality in motorsports and automotive journalism as well, Denise McCluggage, wearing her iconic polka-dot helmet won her class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1961, driving a Ferrari 250 GT SWB. McCluggage also scored another class win at the Monte Carlo Rally in a Ford Falcon in 1964 with her teammate, English rally driver, Anne Hall. She also helped launch Autoweek magazine and won the Ken W. Purdy Award for excellence in automotive journalism, among other journalism awards.

Hailie Deegan --  One of the new faces of racing is female driving phenom Hailie Deegan, who was signed by Ford Performance for ARCA racing. The 19-year-old Deegan is currently driving Ford F-150s in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, piloting the No. 1 Ford F-150 for David Gilliland Racing. Deegan grew up racing off-road and on dirt, but transitioned to competing on asphalt in 2016 to pursue a career in stock car racing. She began her career in NASCAR in 2018 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, and she became the first female driver to win races in the West Series, doing so in 2018 and 2019. To date, Hailie Deegan is the ONLY female ever to compete in the Lucas Oil Off Road Series and in 2016, she was named the circuit's Driver of the Year.

Deegan, will be making an appearance at Carlisle Ford Nationals on Saturday, June 5. You can meet Deegan and get her autograph at the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar's.  As noted, she's at the event on June 5, while the full event itself runs June 4-6 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The Carlisle Ford Nationals is the largest all-Ford show in the world, and features more than 3,200 cars – Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Euro Fords -- on National Parts Depot Showfield. Deegan is scheduled to appear Saturday, June 5.

> 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. </I>

 

The automotive industry lost another icon, and Carlisle Events had to say goodbye to another friend, when Bruce Meyers, father of the modern-day dune buggy, passed away Feb. 19 at his San Diego-area home at the age of 94.


 
Meyers built thousands of dune buggies in his lifetime, and as an artist, designed boats and surfboards. He worked as a commercial artist and a lifeguard, traveled the world surfing and sailing, built a trading post in Tahiti and survived a World War II Japanese kamikaze attack on his Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Bunker Hill. “He had a life that nobody else has ever lived,” his wife, Winnie Meyers said.

Growing up near such popular Southern California surfing spots as Newport, Hermosa and Manhattan beaches, it was wave riding, not cars or sand surfing, that initially captivated Meyers, who liked to refer to himself as an original beach bum. Following his WWII service, Meyers served in the Merchant Marine and attended the Chouinard Art Institute, now part of the California Institute of the Arts. 



His experience designing lightweight boats out of fiberglass drove him to improve early versions of dune buggies. These “water pumpers” were crude and heavy so Meyers took it upon himself to design a lightweight version that would be fun on the beach or in the wilds of Baja. After modifying a VW Kombi bus with wide rims (called “Little Red Riding Bus”), he used his expertise in boat building to design the first fiberglass-bodied dune buggy, the Meyers Manx, created in his garage in 1964.

Meyers borrowed the "Manx" name for the shortened, taller-wheeled, more maneuverable VW Beetle mods and is derived from the comparably stubby Manx cat breed. The tailless cat in the logo, as featured on the hood ornament, is stylized after a passant heraldic lion, its right forepaw brandishing a sword. 

Featured on the April 1967 cover of Car & Driver magazine, the buggy drew national attention, but proved too expensive to be profitable, and only 12 kits of the monocoque Manx were produced. So Meyers went off-road racing, and he and a buddy off-roaded the Ensenada run and their 39-hour run broke the existing record by four hours. 

Buggies became such a hot seller in Southern California that they spawned “The Buggy Boom” of 1969, and while Meyers, over the years, put out some 7,000 buggies, perhaps as many of 250,000 look-alikes may have been created by others. 



During the 1970s, Meyers and his company built the Manx 2, Meyers Tow’d, Manx SR and Resorter/Turista. His company also built two utility buggies for the LA County Life Guard contingent and one for the California Forest Service. 

In 1976, Road and Track Magazine called the dune buggy “a genuine sculpture, a piece of art.” Meyers reflected on the honor saying, “Its form was fun. Big wheels on small cars, no doors.”

In the 1990s, dune buggies enjoyed resurgence and by 2000, Bruce Meyers was back in business with a new series of vehicles, including the Kick Out Manx SS, a direct descendent of the original Manx, the new Manxter, and its sibling the Manxter 2+2.



A frequent guest star at Carlisle Events shows Meyers made his Carlisle debut at the 2008 Carlisle Import-Kit/Replicar Nationals and was such a hit that the Carlisle Team insisted he come back in 2009 and many shows thereafter. He was an annual celebrity guest who also displayed his legendary work nearly every year after.

Some of his most memorable appearances include:

2008 – Carlisle Import-Kit/Replicar Nationals  -- Appearing with his 2006 Meyers Maxter 2+2 Dune Buggy with Manx builder John Denmat. The two conducted the final assembly of the very first Manx Kick Out SS.

2009 – Carlisle Import-Kit/Replicar Nationals -- Showcasing his Meyers Manx fiberglass dune buggy

2010 -- Carlisle Import-Kit/Replicar Nationals -- Present weekend to sign autographs and pose for pictures along with his works

2012 -- Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals -- A meet and greet and part of the show’s “Living Legends” presentation …lines around Building T to get his autograph

2015 – Carlisle Import and Kit Nationals -- After more than fifty years in the business, Meyers appeared as part of his “51 Years and Counting” tour, swapped stories signed autographs, interacted with Manx owners and offered kit and car building advice.

2016 – Carlisle Performance and Style Show -- Presented history, gave autographs and brought a slew of his creations with him.



To celebrate Bruce Meyers’s life, this year’s Carlisle Import Performance Nationals, May 14-15 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds has teamed up with The Manx Club for a tribute. Meyers’ wife, Winnie Meyers will be in attendance for the weekend and a special display of Manx dune buggies will be displayed in Building T all weekend as well as a banner that guests can sign and which will be presented to Winnie Meyers after the show. There will be a parade of dune buggies around the show on Friday at 4pm, and at 8pm on Friday, there will be a presentation with a video at the Grandstand. A wide variety of dune buggies will be parked around the stage.

> 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. </I>