Three straight days of sun and fun at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds translated to the second largest Corvettes at Carlisle show car turnout of all time.  After a challenging 2020, 2021 offered renewed hope and interest for so many.  From August 26-28, Carlisle became THE epicenter of America’s Sports Car; the Corvette.  With nearly 2,800 cars on the Fun Field, mixed with over 2,000 more in general parking, there were nearly 5,000 Corvettes to see spanning every corner of the 82-acre fairgrounds. 

There were many “must-see” elements to Corvettes at Carlisle presented by Top Flight Automotive, but none more impressive than Saturday’s Salute to Law Enforcement.  The theme was event-long, including a display of nearly a dozen cars as part of Chip’s Choice that are owned or maintained by active/retired law enforcement.  Further, thanks to HJ Towing, a 36” x 24” foot America Flag served as the backdrop for photos and proved to be a symbol of freedom throughout the day.  Finally, at 12:30 p.m., local, regional, and federal law enforcement converged on the stage to be recognized by Carlisle Events staff and Corvettes at Carlisle showgoers.  All of this was…. powerful to say the least.

The aforementioned Chip’s Choice display wasn’t the only one turning heads.  Along with a Fun Field hosting thousands of Corvettes, attendees made a point to check out the 50-year reunion of 1971 Corvettes.  This display was supported by the C3 Corvette Registry.  In addition, the NCRS Gallery returned, as did the NCCC judged concours.  There was a 25^th anniversary of the 1996 Grand Sport, a gathering of Solid Axle Corvette owners, and even a nice mix of Aero Body Corvettes.  Thank goodness for digital photos, otherwise, many rolls of film would have been needed.

Another important element of the event was its special guests.  Guests included the father of the Grand Sport, John Heinricy, Team Chevrolet, Paul Koerner, Ken Lingenfelter, retired FBI agent Wes Wong and more.  Each played a special role in Corvettes at Carlisle, either from walk around sessions, special speeches, or tech sessions. 

Cars in motion are always a popular draw, regardless of where, when, or how.  For 2021, Corvettes at Carlisle put the wheels in motion with a law enforcement parade around the grounds Friday and the return of the Downtown Carlisle Corvette Parade and Street Party Saturday night.  Further, those looking to fulfill their need for speed could do so with the King of X autocross shootout or the rolling exhaust contest throughout the event.  Standing room only crowds could be found around each of these events.

The event wrapped with an awards parade and the return of long-time Carlisle Events staff member Diane Vaughn serving as the parade emcee.  There were hundreds of awards offered, including ones for largest club (Grand Sport Registry) and coolest club (also the GSR).  The Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation, in conjunction with the Lancaster County Corvette Club, awarded a beautiful C8 Corvette to a local enthusiast and the Spring Mountain Motor Resort also offered a prize associated with its Ron Fellows Driving school in Nevada. 

Many were also making plans for 2022, as over 200 cars pre-registered for the event; happening August 25-27, 2022.  Chip’s Choice also plans to feature the ultra-rare Pratt-Miller Corvettes.  To secure a vending spot or be part of the Fun Field, call Carlisle Events at 717-243-7855 or visit CarlisleEvents.com to learn more about the return of Corvettes at Carlisle presented by Top Flight Automotive.      

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Corvette has been “America’s sports car” since 1953. Through 68 years and eight generations, more than 1.75 million Corvettes have been sold. From 1953 to 2019, the street celebrity was front-engined, and since 2020, it has been mid-engined. Along the way, it has teched up, safetied up, powered up and comforted up. As with any work of art, Corvette has had to be maintained, touched up, and in some cases repaired or tweaked to maintain its perfection. One of those top techs who keeps Corvettes humming, is Paul Koerner, “The Corvette Mechanic.”

Koerner, who will be host and featured speaker at nine tech/repair/information seminars (seven different topics) at the 2021 Corvettes at Carlisle (Aug. 26-28) at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, has been a GM service technician since 1997 and a Corvette specialist since 1999. He said that there are challenges that come with advanced technology, but that Corvette engineers listen and respond quickly to field input.

Koerner  has obtained the classification of GM World Class Certified Service Technician. That means that he is fully tested and trained by GM to repair any system in any GM vehicle (except for Saab and medium-duty trucks). His passion and knowledge run deep, as does his drive to help those in need of automotive help. As a case in point, at the 2019 Winter AutoFest event, Koerner was found in the parking lot helping a patron whose car had broken down. He is ready at all times with his GM knowledge and skill.
Koerner started his tech career working at a Chevy dealership in 1997. He said, “It was the first year of the 5th Generation and I saw problems from the tech side. I was just a car shop repair guy and had to earn a level of trust from the pros to get to work on the important cars.”

As a Corvette service tech, Koerner said the most fun part of his job is the people. “I get to meet the enthusiastic people who own the Corvettes. I can look them in the eyes and share their experiences,” he said. He also gains fun from the challenges. Koerner said, “The advancement in tech is the most significant challenge in automotive professions. You look at Corvette and it is state-of-the-art, and the tech keeps improving, so keeping up with it is the single biggest challenge.”

Koerner said Corvette really has a handle on shape and performance. He said, “The way they shape the car to be everything enthusiasts want it to be is what is so right about Corvette. It is a car for any enthusiast, tailored for looks and performance, and designed so you can cruise in it all day in comfort, or race it on the track. Anything you’d like a powerful car to be is what makes up Corvette.”

As nothing is perfect, Koerner also noted that improvements could be made. He said, “From a service tech standpoint, we can always use more resources and more ways to educate techs on the latest technology.” However, Koerner praised GM saying, “Corvette improvements are constant and ongoing. They are constantly working on improvements and we techs receive daily updates on service information. Additionally, we can file feedback on repairs if we see something wrong. GM looks at each repair product feedback form and they quickly respond to the field product reports. I often get a response in an hour or two. They never stop trying to improve Corvette.”

Koerner said that while each generation is different and requires different fixes, what he sees most often are tech issues rather than mechanical issues. He said, “There is a lot of computer programming and less about mechanical aspects or architecture.” Of those fixes, the most creative one he has made occurred at Cars at Carlisle. Koerner said, “In 2014, I saw someone on the field with a bad connector. At my next seminar, I asked if anyone had a Chevy rental car and I took a part off of a Chevy Cruze and put it on the troubled 2012 ZR-1. I diagnosed the condition and got the needed part from a local Chevy dealership. We fixed the problem and put the part back on the rental.”

Koerner’s first Corvettes at Carlisle was in 2000. “I was a fledgling tech,” he said, “and while I thought I knew it all, this event opened my eyes to what I didn’t know. I started doing seminars at the show in 2004 and it has been amazing to be a part of this event. The best aspect is being able to help customers and enthusiasts  and doing whatever is necessary to assist them or affect a repair to get them home safely.”

He praised his team and the Carlisle staff, adding, “What we are doing this year could not have been accomplished without my team. My service advisor will be there, techs who work with me and whom I train are all an important part of what we bring to the show, and all of those who plan and coordinate the show and our part of the show, are what brings it all to reality.”



The Middletown, CT resident will be on hand at Corvettes at Carlisle to instruct, entertain, discuss and help. For example, when you lift the hood of your prized Corvette, you see what makes it go, but do you really know how it works? What if something goes wrong? Can you troubleshoot the issue or know what to do next? At his seminars, Koerner, with his GM World Glass Certified Technician credentials will tell you everything you want to know about your Corvette (and then some). Koerner, along with his Corvette Mechanic Team will head seminars covering the following topics:

Thursday
Diagnostic Assistance: 9 am - 11:30 am 
The Corvette Mechanic Team will perform drive-up diagnostic assistance at The Corvette Mechanic tent behind Building T. There is no appointment necessary and first come/first served. Spectators are free to sit in and watch, listen and learn about all aspect of diagnostic process from 1984-2021 Corvette. Video feeds on screens with scan tool information along with diagnostic process from Chevrolet on Corvette. Questions may be asked during process from the audience.

Stump The Corvette Mechanic Team: 11 pm – 3 pm
Do you have a problem with your Corvette? Did someone tell you it can't be fixed? Do you have gremlins you might want to get rid of? The Corvette Mechanic Team can fix what ails your Corvette or at least point you in the right direction for an accurate resolution to your problems. In this grandstand seminar, they discuss with the Corvette owners what is the problem, how they would go about diagnosing this problem and what potential solutions they can offer. And if you stump them, you will receive a 2022 Fun Field Registration from Carlisle Events. Corvettes from 1984 to present will be covered. 

Friday: 
Corvette Information from 1984-2013, C4/C5/C6 Q & A: 9 am - 10:15 am  
The Corvette Mechanic Team will answer questions about Gen 4 through Gen 8 Corvette. Discontinued parts will be discussed, as will aftermarket solutions. Diagnostic process from the 1980s to present will be covered and much more.

The 7th Leads to the Next-Generation Corvette 2014-2021: 12 noon - 1:15 pm
Front engine, mid-engined, dual-clutched, auto, manual, modified or not, these vehicles are state-of-the-art technology, which requires a deep education that only GM can provide. The GM factory-trained team is knowledgeable in all aspects of the 7th and 8th-Gens and will answer any questions regarding these vehicles. 

Corvette for the New Owner or Enthusiast: 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm
Corvette is a wonder of modern technology and every generation ushered in new features and convenience. For someone who is just becoming an owner/enthusiast, it can be very overwhelming. In this simple seminar, we answer new owners’ questions about features, repairs and maintenance in a way that is easily understandable. How do you evaluate a vehicle you intend to purchase? Is there an APP for that? Our team will cover all the basics that YOU want to know in this question and answer format.

Saturday: 
The Grand Sport Corvette: 8:30 am - 9:45 am
From 1963 to 2019, Grand Sport has exemplified the “Racetrack Corvette”. Better cooling, larger brakes, wider tires, stiffer suspension all play a part in the capability of this wonderful vehicle. In this in-depth seminar, the team will cover the differences, years and reasons why Grand Sport was resurrected in 2010 and how it became a staple for the Corvette enthusiast when hitting the racetrack. 

Corvette Information from 1984-2013, C4/C5/C6 Q & A: 11 am - 12:15 pm
The Corvette Mechanic Team will answer questions about Gen 4 through Gen 8 Corvette. Discontinued parts will be discussed, as will aftermarket solutions. Diagnostic process from the 1980s to present will be covered and much more.

The 7th Leads to the Next-Generation Corvette 2014-2021: 2 pm – 4 pm 
Front engine, mid-engined, dual-clutched, auto, manual, modified or not, these vehicles are state-of-the-art technology, which requires a deep education that only GM can provide. The GM factory-trained team is knowledgeable in all aspects of the 7th and 8th-Gens and will answer all questions regarding these vehicles. 

Corvette Specialist Paul Koerner and Team will professionally advise Corvette owners on their Corvettes throughout the event weekend, at Corvettes at Carlisle, the largest Corvette show in the world, Aug. 26-28 at Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds.

> 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>

Corvettes at Carlisle presented by Top Flight Automotive (August 26-28) has always served as a beacon for the top names within the automotive hobby.  In some cases, the name belongs to a person, while other instances bring a popular brand name to the event. All new for 2021, Corvettes at Carlisle welcomes one of the top names in automotive dealerships to the event for the first-time; Ciocca Corvette, also recognized as the World’s Largest Corvette dealer.  The Ciocca name may be familiar to some, as it adorns multiple dealerships in the mid-Atlantic region.  While they have long-standing brand awareness to many, it’s their newest dealership that brings them to Carlisle.

Long-time guests of Corvettes at Carlisle may recall Kerbeck Corvette being on-site for years, hosting a tent with a nice array of the latest Corvettes near the stage and grandstand.  That display remains but will be rebranded with the Ciocca Corvette of Atlantic City name as the family of dealerships purchased not only Kerbeck Corvette, but all dealerships under its umbrella earlier this summer.

“I’ve always had a passion for cars.  I just love them, and I knew immediately that this was what I wanted to do,” said Gregg Ciocca, founder of the brand.   

Today, Gregg is the proud owner of 24 dealerships with 16 unique brands including Ford, Subaru, Mercedes, BMW, Honda and most recently the aforementioned Atlantic City market with the acquisition of Kerbeck in Atlantic City – which is currently celebrating its 27^th straight year as the world’s largest Corvette dealership.  Ciocca’s web page notes that they are “excited for the opportunity to be involved with the Corvette community and cites this as an iconic, once-in-a-lifetime acquisition.”

Along with Ciocca’s inclusion in Corvettes at Carlisle 2021, they’ll also offer registered Fun Field members a free shirt with joint branding of Corvettes at Carlisle and Ciocca on it.  This gift is a long-standing tradition, now carrying the Ciocca name. 

“I’ve been fortunate to grow up in Ocean City, New Jersey for many reasons, but most of all because of the friendships I’ve forged,” noted Lance Miller, co-owner of Carlisle Events.  “I’m privileged to call the Kerbeck brothers my friends.  In fact, I’ve known them all for many years, having lived a few houses down from George initially, and now my family lives a few houses from Charlie and Frank – small world,” continued Miller.  “I’m eager to create a friendship with the Ciocca family.  After all… anyone that loves cars as much as I do, how could we not become fast friends?  We are excited to have the Ciocca Chevrolet group with us as part of Corvettes at Carlisle weekend.  By the way, be sure to stop by their tent and grab a complimentary poster for you or your friends!”

Corvettes at Carlisle starts at 7 a.m. on August 26 and runs through the evening hours of August 28, culminating with the return of the Downtown Carlisle Corvette parade and street party.  In between, over 5,000 Corvettes will converge on the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  In addition to the show cars, there are special guests, seminars, unique displays and plenty of options to put the wheels in motion via parades, competitions and more.  Discounted spectator tickets are available online at CarlisleEvents.com.  In addition, online Fun Field registration is available through Sunday, August 22 (in person from 8/23-8/28).  In the meanwhile, interested enthusiasts can review the event guide, now available online or by way of the Carlisle Events app (available on iTunes or Google Play).

Corvette has been “America’s sports car” since it was introduced at the GM Motorama in 1953. The first mention of that sobriquet may have begun with an Automotive News article that commented on Corvette being the featured vehicle on the Route 66 TV show that ran from 1960 to 1964. The article reflected that Corvette became synonymous with freedom and adventure and was "the most successful concept car in history and the most popular sports car in history.”

Along the way, through 68 years and eight generations, Corvettes have become revered as works of automotive art, with vintage models worthy of restoration and preservation. To that end, organizations such as the National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) have been established and have endured, carrying on the legacy of their vehicle of choice. The NCRS web site (https://www.ncrs.org/) proclaims, “The National Corvette Restorers Society (NCRS) is a community of dedicated Corvette lovers. Our objective is the restoration, preservation, history and enjoyment of all Corvette models and configurations.”

Regarded as “The world's largest community of Vette enthusiasts,” NCRS began in 1974, and today sponsors a national convention, more than 45 regional chapter meets, road tours, social gatherings, tech sessions, seminars, and much more for members, including a major presence and judged competition at this year’s Corvettes and Carlisle, August 26-28 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. At the event, NCRS will present “The Best of the Best from the NCRS,” showcasing “an ever-changing unique Corvette collection in a true gallery exhibit format.” The collection is made up of select Corvettes representing many NCRS Judging Classes, Duntov Mark of Excellence Award® winners, McLellan Mark of Excellence Award® winners, NCRS-Chevrolet Bowtie Award® recipients for Preservation Excellence, American Heritage Award® recipients, and Sportsman Award® Corvettes.

The 2021 Gallery will also pay tribute to a beloved NCRS member, Elaine Raisner.  Raisner, who passed away in 2019, had been an integral part of the NCRS Gallery and partner to Corvettes at Carlisle for many years. Press releases said, “Her dedication to the Gallery was the driving force behind some of the most incredible vehicles featured. The Corvette community has lost an incredible woman, and we are honored to pay tribute to her memory.” 

NCRS has gained recognition in the Corvette world for its Flight Judging, considered the standard in determining originality. The judging system educates members about their cars in addition to providing recognition for excellence in the areas of restoration, performance and preservation. Additionally, if an owner’s Corvette is not completely stock, NCRS has created an award for Corvettes that are not factory original. Even “restomods” with or without body modifications may be entered in NCRS Concours classes where items are judged solely on their condition, not whether Chevrolet installed them during that model year. Points are earned at each event toward an overall NCRS Concours Award. Also, NCRS members can avail themselves of mountains of technical information, with access to the combined knowledge of thousands of current and previous members. A group of 19 Technical Advisors, who are recognized as authorities in their fields, are also just a letter or email away.

Starting with “seven guys” in 1974, and now numbering more than 20,000 members, NCRS has been a fixture at Corvettes at Carlisle since event creator Chip Miller sat down with organization leaders Frank Stetch and Elaine Raisner at a regional meet in 2000 to discuss an NCRS presence at the show, and the trio came up with the concept of a Gallery.

Stetch joined NCRS in 1982, and has seen his membership “open a new world of friendships.” He was a muscle car enthusiast who was looking for a vintage 1963 split-window Corvette and learned of NCRS and its sophisticated resources of where to find models and experts. Stech became an active member and is the organizer of NCRS activities at Corvettes at Carlisle. He said, “When I go to shows I look for potential Gallery cars and try to find new people to display new cars and different color looks.  We encourage people send us applications and we vary the displays to showcase nice survivors, original and restored Corvettes, as long as they are Top Flight cars.”

Stech acknowledges Raisner, saying, “The Gallery concept was organized by Elaine, and this year we will pay tribute to her and her husband Tim.”

The event has grown each year, and Stech said, “In the early days of the NCRS, Bloomington Gold purists wanted everything original. However, today, we see and accept customization, and we realize that whether the member is 70-years-old or 30, they both share passion for Corvette. From front-engine to mid-engine, our judging sheets reflect the owner’s enthusiasm. From C1 to C8, all Corvettes are cherished by the NCRS.”

Stech said the older group members who loved Corvette as kids still love them today. “The passion is still there. Now they hang out in lawn chairs, but they still have fire for 1967 435hp Corvettes and 1969 L88s. They still look for parts for their restorations and most still drive their Corvettes; and if they revere their old car as a collector vehicle, most drive newer generations, staying with Corvette as their driver.”

About the event at hand, Stech added, “Corvettes at Carlisle is the show I go to first. It is the biggest one out there and it is filled with the most fun and nicest people in the sport, from the Millers (who own Carlisle Events) and Jodi Morrison (who runs the show for Carlisle Events) on down. Lance Miller (Chip’s son), who is the driving force behind the show, even named his daughter, Ella Corvette. That shows love for what we love. If anyone wants to pick one show a year, go to this one.”

You can see the NCRS Gallery at the 2021 Corvettes at Carlisle, August 26-28 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. Corvettes at Carlisle is the largest Corvette car show in the world., featuring thousands of Corvettes representing all generations of America’s classic sports car, from year one in 1953 to the modern day C8. 

> 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>

Records are made to be broken, or so it’s said.  For the 2021 Carlisle Truck Nationals presented by A&A Auto Stores, not only was a new record for show truck turnout achieved, but it was also SHATTERED.  2,513 trucks toppled the previous mark of 2,109 (set in 2002) and gave the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and those within its fence line a look like never before.

August 6-8 were dates that for weeks were targeted as a potential outlet for yet another Showfield record in 2021 for Carlisle Events.  After all, in the hours before the show opened, the pre-registration total nearly matched all of 2020’s turnout.  This, combined with the fact that multiple Showfield records have been broken in Carlisle throughout the 2021 season, gave everyone a reasonable expectation that it would indeed happen again.

As the sun rose over the grounds on day one, an anxious group of truck clubs, truck enthusiasts and truck owners converged for one of the largest truck shows in the mid-Atlantic.  Special displays included fire trucks, Syclones and Typhoons (SyTys), cool custom vans, big rigs, lowered trucks and even tractors.  These eye-catching pieces of production offered the perfect backdrop for photos, smiles and memories to last a lifetime.  In addition, guests were treated to special entertainment activities like monster truck rides and shows, axe throwing, FMX stunt jumps, a Motocross skills and demo show, and more. 

As Friday transitioned to Saturday guests were again treated to a jam-packed event with truck fun and competitions.  The fun started at 7 a.m., with the record-breaking truck entering the grounds sometime before 10 a.m.  From there, a steady stream of trucks and truck lovers rode their wave of fun throughout the day and into the night.  The crescendo of the night, the big rig glow show, lasted nearly 2 hours, from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.  Monster truck fun continued with the rides and shows from Shockwave and Be Aware, plus the grandstands were packed for low truck limbo and the high truck competition, The night also kept the party going with drop and drag, and the aforementioned glow show. 

As records go, the big rig area also welcomed a record of sorts, as nearly 200 rigs hauled in to line the south side of the grounds between Gates 7 and 1 with haulers, rigs, wreckers, and heavy machinery.  Big rigs were such a part of the weekend that many trucking companies were on-site recruiting, while dozens more owner/operators were judged for awards consideration, with many hauling out with trophies.

It all wrapped on Sunday with two awards parades, one for the rigs and another for the standard trucks.  There was also one last go around for the monster trucks, stunt riders and the Bwana Jim wildlife show, before everyone hit the road for home.  As guests left, many pre-registered for next year, saving a little money off their costs along the way.  2022 dates are firmed up and plans are ongoing now for the event, taking place August 5-7. Details can be found at www.CarlisleEvents.com.