One of the best parts about a car show at Carlisle is being able to see real life versions of cars we played with as kids.  For one car owner, that real life car spawned an actual toy that Hot Wheels produced and can literally be played with by adults and kids alike.  That car, its toy, plus another unique gem are coming to the 2021 Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals May 14-15, 2021.

Built and owned by Luis Rodriguez, the car is powered by a 2JZ engine, popularized by the Toyota Supra.  Of course, Luis loved the engine, but wanted something a little more unique.  There’s one seat and its in the middle of what can best be described as a cockpit.  The car is light by car standards, weighing in at 1,600 pounds and powerful…very powerful.  According to comedian and TV star Jay Leno (who has driven it), there’s nearly 630 horses in motion when it’s in full-on performance mode, but when Luis drives it to shows like the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals, it’s a highway friendly 525 horsepower.  The exhaust even looks like that of a jet turbine, although it’s actually a stainless-steel veggie steamer. 

If this car isn’t cool enough, it gets bonus points after having been made into a Hot Wheels 1:64 die-cast.  The 2 Jet Z toured the country a few years back and after 15 stops with other cars that were unique in and of their own design, it was selected to earn the toy honor.  Hand built, industry tested and enthusiast approved, the 2 Jet Z, Luis and its little toy buddy will be part of the 2JZ display in May.

But wait…there’s more!  Luis’ mental wheels of innovation kept spinning and in addition to the 2 Jet Z, he’ll be bringing his latest creation, Scorp*Ion.  This ride kind of resembles something from Tron, which is very fitting because Luis says he was inspired by Syd Mead. Mead designed the Light Cycles and several other vehicles and objects for Tron. Scorp*Ion is powered by a 510 horsepower, turbocharged Mitsubishi four-cylinder engine and with its carbon fiber body, it weighs a mere 1,500 pounds.  Scorp*Ion will join 2 Jet Z in Building T. These are two more reasons to check out the most unique and diverse show on the Carlisle Events schedule.

In addition to these two (or is it three) vehicles, guests will enjoy a big Volvo celebration, 20 years of the Honda K-Series and 30 years of the Toyota 2JZ engine.  Additionally, the Opel Manta turns 50, the club, Opels at Carlisle, celebrates 25 years of attending the show AND the 15^th annual Opel Nationals meet, which rotates locations annually, has rotated its way to Carlisle for 2021!

Carlisle Events is COVID-19 compliant and follows current guidelines suggested by state officials as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  A detailed Health/Safety Measures summary is available on CarlisleEvents.com.  While on the web, be sure to learn more about Spring Carlisle, register to become a vendor, sell in the car corral, or purchase discounted spectator tickets in advance of the event or call 717-243-7855 to learn more today.

Annually, Ford lovers flock to the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds to enjoy the past, present and future of the brand.  That timeline not only includes cars and car parts, but guests too.  This year’s event, presented by Meguiar's, runs June 4-6 and welcomes for the first time, pro racer Hailie Deegan.

Deegan is coming to Carlisle on Saturday, June 5 only.  Her appearance times and on-grounds meet and greet location is TBD at this time, but details will be posted to the Carlisle Ford Nationals page in the days/weeks leading up to the event. 

Once at Carlisle, she’ll bring with her an impressive resume for someone who will be just a few weeks shy of turning 20.  A Ford Racing Development driver, the Deegan name might sound familiar.  Her dad Brian is a famous professional racer himself, as he’s active in freestyle motocross, car and truck racing and was a founding member of the Metal Mulisha.

While the younger Deegan might share her dad’s last name, she’s successfully carved out a name of her own since 2012.  Deegan started racing at the age of eight and to date, she 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.  With Ford Performance, she’s full-time in the ARCA Menards Series and also select events in the Mustang GT4 with Multimatic Motorsports in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge!  In the pandemic riddled 2020 season, she started with a bang, finishing second in the Daytona ARCA race in February.

During her one-day appearance at Carlisle, she’ll host a meet & greet with fans, sign autographs and even take pictures.  Meeting Deegan at Carlisle is FREE with admission to the event itself either as a vendor, spectator or National Parts Depot Showfield participant.  Discounted single day admission tickets are available online now through event weekend and those looking to show can save 10% by registering now through May 3.  After that date, registration shifts to full price and is still available online through event week, but relevant materials must be picked up versus being mailed with an early registration and savings.

Regardless of how or when you make a commitment to attend, doing so yields access to thousands of cars and trucks spanning the history of the brand, thousands of vendors and midway partners selling millions of automotive pieces and parts, special displays and so much more.

As an added bonus, if you attend the show on Friday or Saturday, you can return on Sunday for FREE with your previous day’s event ticket.  This is a great way to enjoy the final hours of the event without larger crowds, watch the awards parade, shop for last minute deals within the automotive flea market or snap some great unobstructed pics of the special indoor displays.  Save your ticket stub from your initial visit and enjoy the final day FREE with Carlisle Events and the 2021 Carlisle Ford Nationals.

Carlisle Events is COVID-19 compliant and follows current guidelines suggested by state officials as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  A detailed Health/Safety Measures summary is available on CarlisleEvents.com.  While on the web, be sure to apply, register, or purchase discounted spectator tickets in advance of all events or call 717-243-7855 to learn more today.

The Carlisle GM Nationals (June 25-26) has always celebrated all things GM, including the iconic Corvette.  With Corvettes at Carlisle taking place just a few months later (August 26-28), Corvette owners and enthusiasts tend to wait until August to bring their Vette to Carlisle.  For 2021, however; guests at the GM Nationals will see the best of both worlds via the York County Corvette Club and the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation. 

Corvettes for Chip is officially transitioning from a fall event at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center to a mid-summer showcase on the National Parts Depot Showfield and the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  The pairing of the two events benefits all involved, offering over 100 more vehicles for showgoers to enjoy, while also supporting the CMAF and its efforts to raise money and awareness for Amyloidosis.  Amyloidosis is the disease that took the life of Carlisle Events co-owner Chip Miller in 2004.

Corvettes for Chip is THE perfect way for Corvettes to be part of the Carlisle GM Nationals, while also offering a dedicated location for Corvettes and their owners.  Many of the same aspects of the familiar Corvettes for Chip event will be part of the Carlisle GM Nationals, including vending both days and judging on June 26 for eight classes, awards, goody bags, prize raffles, a 50/50 drawing, the ability to pre-register and of course support the CMAF.  Corvettes for Chip is a non-sanctioned event hosted by the York County Corvette Club, long-time friends of the CMAF. 

For those who partake in the fun, this is a chance to access two additional entertainment options.  Mentioned already is the Carlisle GM Nationals.  For 2021, the show spotlights pop culture rides by way of Comic-Car Con, there’s a 50^h celebration of the Vega and H-Platform, plus a GM Swaps display, a GM Nationals Showcase display, the annual Solid Lifter Showroom in Building Y and a June 26 appearance by TV host and builder Mike Finnegan. 

Further, less than a five-minute walk west of the fairgrounds is the aforementioned Carlisle Expo Center.  Within this facility, Carlisle Auctions hosts a one day, 200+ consignment classic and collector car auction known as the Summer Sale.  The auction provides guests a chance to add to their collection or start a new one and do so as part of an auction that rivals its “as seen on TV” counterparts.

An auction, a car show, a Corvette showcase, parts shopping AND a charitable venture, all for one price and all part of the Carlisle GM Nationals.  Carlisle Events is COVID-19 compliant and follows current guidelines suggested by state officials as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  A detailed Health/Safety Measures summary is available on CarlisleEvents.com.  While on the web, be sure to learn more about Spring Carlisle, register to become a vendor, sell in the car corral, or purchase discounted spectator tickets in advance of the event or call 717-243-7855 to learn more today.

Every year spanning the final days of October and the early days of November, the automotive universe converges on Las Vegas for the pinnacle event of the hobby, the Specialty Equipment Market Association show, also known as SEMA.  While SEMA isn’t “open” to the general public, it serves to showcase some of the best vehicles in the world as well as showcasing hot or new products coming onto the market.  Before many of those items end up on a retailer’s shelf, they make an east coast appearance by way of Spring Carlisle (April 21-25) at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds as part of the ARMO Hot Products Showcase.

Unlike SEMA, Spring Carlisle is open to the public and has been an annual destination event for car lovers since 1977.  One of the marquee features of the spring show is the aforementioned ARMO display, centrally positioned on grounds near the stage.  ARMO is short for the Automotive Restoration Market Organization and is a council of SEMA itself.  ARMO directs its efforts toward preserving and promoting the automotive restoration industry and annually at Spring Carlisle, offers its showcase for the nearly 100,000 guests and thousands of vendors who converge on fairgrounds for the days-long automotive spectacular.

With the showcase at Spring Carlisle, show-goers can see in person the latest and greatest products coming on to the market, and with the 2020 SEMA show canceled, this will also serve as the first-time many of these items are seen in person by retailers and consumers alike.  Best of all, the product experts are available within the ARMO display to talk person to person about each item.  Having these kinds of conversations best helps everyone understand what is being displayed and how the products can work for any vehicle, regardless of its era.

New for 2021, products will also appear in an online Showcase display and guests will vote for Best New Product Awards electronically. In addition to those New Product awards, a special “People’s Choice” award is reserved for only products onsite in the Showcase tent at Spring Carlisle and will be chosen only by guests onsite.

“ARMO members look forward to participating in Spring Carlisle each year,” said SEMA’s ARMO Council Director Jim Skelly. “As the largest restoration event of the year, it’s the perfect way to kick off the car show season and showcase products. We’re especially excited for our members to show off their hot new products and connect with the industry at this year’s event.”    

Carlisle Events is COVID-19 compliant and follows current guidelines suggested by state officials as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  A detailed Health/Safety Measures summary is available on CarlisleEvents.com.  While on the web, be sure to learn more about Spring Carlisle, register to become a vendor, sell in the car corral, or purchase discounted spectator tickets in advance of the event or call 717-243-7855 to learn more today.

Since its inception in 1974, Carlisle Events has held automotive get togethers in Carlisle outdoors and during a timeframe spanning April through early October.  Beginning in 2022, however; a new era of early season car themed fun commences.  Following a successful one-time showing of Auto Mania at the Carlisle Expo Center and after discussions with vendors and guests alike, Carlisle Events is excited to announce the addition of the Carlisle Winter Auto Expo, January 28-29.

While Auto Mania will return to Allentown for 2022, the Carlisle Expo Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania will still bring car enthusiasts together with this brand-new event.  With a spacious parking lot for car corral and outdoor vending, mixed with a 30,000 square foot indoor footprint, the two-day showcase should prove to be a great way for central PA locals as well as regional car buffs to get out during an otherwise dull time of year to have some fun.

Those looking to book vending spaces can do so beginning May 4 online or by phone.  In addition, spectator admission tickets will be available for purchase in advance of the show at a discount at CarlisleTickets.com.  With an increased interest in collectibles, car parts and all things automobilia, the new Winter Auto Expo allows enthusiasts yet another opportunity to buy, sell and trade all things automotive.  This may include items to continue a winter project, gift giving ideas for the gear-head in the family, hard to find items or even a car itself.

“We had the opportunity to run the Auto Mania show on our home turf at the Carlisle Expo Center in January,” noted Carlisle Events General Manager Scott Amig.  “The show went quite well and we heard a lot of positive feedback from guests and vendors alike,” continued Amig.  “That trial run provided us with a real-feel understanding of how hosting a similar event at the expo center would go.  As such, we are excited to bring this type of automotive flea market to the venue during the winter months,” continued Amig.   “It allows us and car enthusiasts in and around the south-central Pennsylvania region to pursue their passions during a time when not a lot of other car themed events are happening.”

“With the addition of this event, we’re easily covering the bases of quick, easy and convenient as it relates to buying and selling of automotive parts for enthusiasts in central Pennsylvania and its surrounding area,” said event manager Tim Demark.  “Don’t let your items collect dust.  Everyone is welcome and we’re here to help you make things happen and make you happy,” continued Demark.  “Vendors always want to keep you stocked up during this time of year, so make your plans today to be part of this all-new event.”

2022 will start with a trio of events that span three cities and two states for Carlisle Events.  As previously noted, Auto Mania returns to the Allentown Fairgrounds and takes place January 14-16.  Two weeks later, Winter Auto Expo debuts at the Carlisle Expo Center (January 28-29) and less than one month after that, Carlisle Events travels to Lakeland, Florida for Winter AutoFest (February 25-27).  Winter AutoFest also features a two-day classic and collector car auction (February 25-26) powered by Carlisle Auctions.

Details on this and all other events backed by Carlisle Events are available at CarlisleEvents.com.  While there, pre-purchase event spectator tickets at a discount, sign up to be a vendor at the events or, where applicable, register to show a vehicle as part of the brand specific specialty events.  The inaugural Winter Auto Expo 2022…don’t miss out!