After a red, white, and blue kaboom at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds celebrating the 4^th of July, the grounds transitions to another type of earth-shaking thunder; the roar of some of the coolest and most historically significant Mopars ever built.  The Carlisle Chrysler Nationals and its passionate flock of showgoers converge on Carlisle July 15-17 for an event that is just as much of a car show and automotive flea market as it is a family and social reunion.

The calendar may note three days for the car show and parts shopping extravaganza, but with a touch of mid-summer weather, the event becomes four days of fun with early load-ins and the annual Mopar Rebellion Car Club kick-off party at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center on July 14.

With everyone primed for the biggest and best show of its type in the world, gates open at 7 a.m. on the 15^th and from there, it’s non-stop action.  Not only will there be special displays (noted below) that are guaranteed to draw a crowd, Carlisle welcomes special guests, too.  These gusts include legendary racers like Paul Rossi, the Ramchargers, Golden Commandos, and Herb McCandless, while also making way for “as seen on TV” car experts.

The Carlisle Chrysler Nationals doesn’t just welcome legendary people associated with Mopar, it also celebrates the history of some iconic rides with special displays.  Planned displays for 2022 include the following:

1) Mopar Collectibles Display                 2) Mopars with a Family Connection
3) Plymouth Prowler 25th Display           4) 1972 Mopar 50th Anniversary Display
5) 1970 Charger 50th Anniversary Display (because 2020 was mean)

The Mopars with a Family Connection display is all-new and comes with a plethora of built-in feel-good opportunities.  There is no black and white to this display either, as the grey in it allows for any and all family ties within reason.  Another feature, the Mopar Collectibles Display, isn’t about the cars at all. Rather, this will be a building of Mopar-related items like bicycles, go-karts, Sno Runners, driving simulators, and more.

Something else we’re doing this year that’s totally new is the “State of the Hobby” address live at the stage. We’ve gathered some of the biggest names in the Mopar hobby from builders and restorers to business owners and collectors. The address will conclude with some incredible Mopar unveilings of all genres of the hobby.

In addition to new show elements, many great standards return, too.  This includes the Mopar Survivor display, Real Street Shootout (autocross), rolling exhaust contest, largest and coolest club contests, the Young Guns Showfield (25 and under), and of course the biggest and best all-Mopar themed automotive flea market.

The Carlisle Chrysler Nationals is actively taking registrations for the Showfield, vendor registrations for the automotive flea market, and selling discounted spectator tickets in advance of the July 15-17 offering.  Please note, vending space is LIMITED at this time due to demand.  Learn more about the competitions, special displays, and get involved today by calling 717-243-7855 or online at CarlisleEvents.com.

With every automotive event schedule generated by Carlisle Events, the Carlisle Auctions brand is represented.  America’s Automotive Hometown auction house presents four amazing annual options for its passionate customer base.  Two of those events take place in conjunction with Spring and Fall Carlisle respectively at the Carlisle Expo Center, while two other auctions are held in Lakeland, Florida at the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus.  Auctions have grown in size and have been enhanced in presentation, but at the end of the day, it’s an auction house working with sellers to offer buyers a variety of options for purchase.  This process is one of four elements: buyers, sellers, consignments, and the venue/logistics that goes into an event. 

Recently, Director of Auction Operations Tony Cline sat down with me and All About Cars to discuss what goes into the consignment and auction process and how his team goes about picking prime lots for their events.

Q:  Has your consignment process been the same since you started with Carlisle Auctions in 2012?
A:  No.  As our auctions continue to grow and gain traction, our consignment process has continued to evolve, much to the delight of everyone I’ve talked to over the years.

Q:  Do you have to be a certain age or have a certain credit limit/level of income to be able to bid and buy on a vehicle?
A:  There is nothing in the Vehicle Code which prohibits a minor individual from owning a motor vehicle.  Unfortunately, car finance isn't an option for anyone under 18, as you're not allowed to sign a credit agreement until the age of 18.

Q:  How many people does it take to staff an auction and what are some of their responsibilities?
A:  We have about 75-100 staffers working an auction.  Their jobs vary, but positions include checking in consignments and bidders, registering bidders in person, the title department, auction block staff, drivers, security, and those that handle post-sale.

Q:  What kinds of lots are accepted?  Is it just classic muscle or are there more options than that?
A:  Our auction house considers and accepts a variety of options.  This includes American classics, European sports cars, Detroit muscle, hot rods, and even customs.

Q:  When do vehicles start arriving for the auction and what are the steps for preparing them to run across the block?
A:  We start to accept consignments the Monday of auction week.  Owners who have consigned vehicles to our auction are responsible for having their consignments cleaned and details.  We also have detailers on-site who can be contracted for their services if need be.

Q:  So, is it only cars that you accept as a consignment?
A:  No.  We have accepted non-automotive consignments, but more so, we do accept Jeeps, SUVs, Vans, and trucks.  We’ve found that trucks are incredibly popular and as such, have incorporated an all-Truck hour into the first day of each of our auctions. 

Q:  Ok, so Carlisle Auctions takes consignments and sells cars in person, on the phone, or online.  Is there anything about your auction house that makes it unique?
A:  Absolutely!  We are the ONLY auction house to offer a FREE UNLESS SOLD guarantee on lots 25 years or older.  This guarantee means that if a particular consignment of that vintage does not sell after our marketing and promotional efforts, the consignor gets their consignment fees refunded to them.  We are also family oriented, in that we are family owned and operated.  That means in turn, we do our best to treat everyone as family, not just a number on a run sheet.

Q:  Are there any “must have’s” on your end from a consignor to better their odds of selling at a Carlisle Auction?
A:  Photos and details!  When a seller makes the commitment to consign with us, we urge them to offer multiple quality photos and as much detail as possible on their consignment.  In conjunction with our marketing team, we actively work to promote every consignment by way of social media, video, and advertising on the pages of some of the largest and most popular trades magazines and websites.  These photos and details help tell the complete story of the car to prospective bidders/buyers.

Q:  Is there a warranty or anything similar if a vehicle leaves the lot and there’s an unexpected issue with the vehicle?
A:  All vehicle are sold AS IS - WHERE IS!

Q:  What happens if a vehicle doesn’t sell?
A:  All unsold vehicles return home with their owners.

Q:  Does the vehicle have to be moved immediately following the auction, and does Carlisle Auctions assist with any arrangements?
A:  Vehicles need to be picked up within four (4) days of the final sale day.  Carlisle Auctions will recommend professional transport companies.

So…there you have it.  Obviously, there’s a lot that goes into putting together a classic and collector car auction, but Tony Cline and his Carlisle Auctions team are seasoned pros in their field and are ready to talk with you today!  Call Carlisle Auctions at 717-960-6400 to make your commitment for an upcoming auction and be sure to visit CarlisleAuctions.com to review consignments, register to bid, and more!

Finally, remaining 2022 auction dates are as follows:  Spring Carlisle Collector Car Auction (April 21-22), Fall Carlisle Collector Car Auction (September 29-30), and the Lakeland Fall Collector Car Auction (November 11-12).

Coming up this summer, Tony and I connect again on how he and his team slot confirmed consignments so that each day runs and flows smoothly for his staff as well as those who are buying, selling, or simply watching the event in person. 

One of the best parts about the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals car show presented by eBay Motors annually is the eclectic mix of past, present, and future classics that pop up on the Showfield.  This year’s event is May 13-14 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and JUST announced, guests can see for the first time, a car that’s sure to be in high demand in the coming months.

As part of this year’s East Coast Z Nationals, a show within the show, guests can get their first up close look at the stylish and sleek 2023 Nissan Z.  This will be THE first time that the 2023 Nissan Z is appearing at an enthusiast event in the northeast region.  For a car that was officially unveiled last summer and is highly sought after by its fan base, the chance to see it in person and up close has been sparse.  It’s all happening at Carlisle within Building Y and the aforementioned East Coast Z Nationals.

The Seiran Blue Nissan Z will be flanked by nearly a dozen classic and modified Zs and just outside of Building Y will be 50-100 more, plus Skylines and GTRs too.  In addition to the Seiran Blue color, the 2023 Z comes with blue-trimmed interior and a manual transmission.  Art imitates life, too, as a blue Nissan Z just like it adorns this year’s event t-shirts, commemorative pint glasses, decals, and more.

“I grew up with an older brother who collects, restores and races Z cars and I’ve owned and built a couple of them myself,” said event manager Ed Buczeskie.  “This is huge to have the ALL-NEW 2023 Nissan Z coming to Carlisle for its first enthusiast event in the northeast.”

In addition to the 2023 Nissan Z, guests coming to the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals can see cars and trucks from around the world, some of which they’ve never seen before.  This international automotive showcase also offers a passport program with checkpoints, further encouraging guests to “travel the world,” all while getting their booklet stamped, with some prizes available at the end of their journey. 

Unique displays include the Z, the BMW, 30 years of the Subaru Impreza, a French display spotlighting the collective works of Robert Opron, and more.  There’s family fun, including dune buggies on display, valve cover races, on grounds parades, and track activities.  Best of all, kids 12 and under are admitted FREE!

To learn more about the 2022 Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals, register to be part of the Showfield, sell within the automotive flea market, or purchase discounted spectator tickets, visit CarlisleEvents.com or call 717-243-7855.

When you come to a car show at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds or an auction for that matter at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center, things appear to be ready to go once you get there, right?  If only it were that simple.  While car events primarily span April through October in Carlisle, there is day to day prep work that goes into making everything look as ready as possible for you when you arrive.  Recently, I had the chance to connect with Carlisle Events General Manager and Director of Facilities, Scott Amig.  Our conversation was brief, but as part of it, Scott explained what goes into prepping the grounds and making them “show ready” for you!

Q:  When do you start getting ready for a show season?
A:  Car show season prep starts in January and moves fast through March for the maintenance staff.

Q:  What do you do during that three month span leading up to April and Spring Carlisle?
A:  At the start of each year we begin the preventive maintenance on all our equipment. We bring it (the equipment) to the maintenance shop and begin pre-season service.  This includes 50+ golf carts, nine vehicles, mowers of various size, tractors, pressure washers, blowers, weed whackers, a back hoe, skid loader, etc.  We do this so they are all ready to go for the season.

Q:  There has to be more to it than just prepping the gear?  What else do you do?
A:  The maintenance team also starts on projects for the year.  For 2022, this included, building a shed for Gate 3, building the new EMS station, adding a cool down room to Building T, correcting lighting issues, updating lighting in areas, and repairing and painting bleachers.

Q:  Not every day is so cold in the winter that your team can’t be outside.  On those days, what do they do?
A:  You’re right.  So…as winter progresses, the guys are on the grounds on warmer days.  When they can be outside, they are checking space markers, fixing bad spots on the grounds, checking buildings for roof leaks, painting space marks, fixing roadways, hanging signs, and much more to prepare the grounds for show season.

Q:  After the first three months and once you know the equipment is functional, then what?
A:  Once we roll into March and April, it is full blown show prep. The entire fairgrounds get all the water turned back on, which means putting all hardware back together and addressing any leaks. We turn off water heaters and boilers when it’s cold, so we fire those back up too and start getting ready to go for the food stand cleanings and inspections.

Q:  There are more than a few buildings on grounds.  What does your team do with them?
A:  All the buildings get cleaned and prepped for the shows.  Our staff and friends of Carlisle sometimes use our indoor space to store items in the winter months.  All of those items must come out as we work to prepare the buildings.

Q:  What other things does your team work on or work with?
A:  Benches, bleachers, bike rack, ticket booths, picnic tables are all items they work with and work on.  They spend days on end placing them for the season.  They prepare the bathrooms by cleaning them and painting them where needed.  Supplies are also inventoried, ordered, and then stocked throughout the fairgrounds.

Q:  The grounds itself has a bunch of permanent fence line, but isn’t there a bunch of temporary fencing used for events too?
A:  Yes!  Fencing will be put up for the Spring show as well as at the Carlisle Expo Center as part of the auction.  We also check out all grounds lighting, roadways, showers, and electric lines/outlets.  It’s our goal to view and review every aspect of the grounds and its inner workings so that when our valued customers show up, it feels like they never left.  We hope this yields a pleasant experience this year and for every future visit to Carlisle too! 

Scott and his crew are the backbone of everything that happens at Carlisle.  You may not notice first-hand what they do, but if you do see them in action, be sure to take a second and thank them for all their hard work!  Be sure to check out CarlisleEvents.com to learn more about upcoming events, register for a show, become a vendor, or purchase discounted spectator admission tickets.

Register to Show at Carlisle
Purchase Discounted Spectator Admission Tickets
Become a Vendor (click and scroll)