Year over year, Mopar enthusiasts have a pretty good idea of WHAT they’ll experience at the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals, but it’s usually a little closer to showtime (July 12-14, 2024) when they get to learn about WHO they’ll have the opportunity to interact with at the show.  While the displays this year are a home run at every turn, the gallery of guests is more like a grand slam. 

Gates open at 7 AM each day and as showgoers flock to the largest all-Mopar themed automotive flea market and Showfield, they’ll want to carve out time to mix and mingle with some of their favorite guests too.  Guests include Dave Rea, from MotorTrend TV, Mark “Fletch” Fletcher, host of Australian based TV show Classic Restos, Claudia Abel, Ms. Direct Connection 1984, Buddy Martin, of the legendary Sox & Martin drag racing team, Herb McCandless, legendary drag racer and Mopar genius, Paul Rossi, drag racer and Mr. Direct Connection, and Nick Panaritis, host of Nick’s Garage on YouTube.

Each guest brings a unique perspective and diverse resume to Carlisle.

Dave Rea:  Dave Rea was featured on five seasons of a popular Mopar restoration show on MotorTrend TV and you can meet him at the show this year. Dave has a couple of autograph sessions scheduled in the Autograph Tent and he’ll be part of the panel in the Restorers’ Roundtable seminar on Friday. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet one of the nicest and most knowledgeable Mopar guys around!

Mark Fletcher:  Decades-long TV host of Classic Restos.  Fletch is a true car guy and has traveled the world in search of great content and stories.  This isn’t his first time at Carlisle, but it’s his first in many years.  Fletch will roam the show all weekend looking for individual vehicles to feature as well as covering the overall event. 

Claudia:  It's been 40 years since Claudia was Ms. Direct Connection, but for those who had “the poster” in the ‘80s, it’s fair to say that she’s just as popular today as she was when MTV was cool.  This year’s autograph session with Claudia features a photo of her doing a split across two Superbird wings!  Not bad for a woman with six kids who also has about 10 years of life on the cars she’s posed with. 

Ronnie Martin:  Courtesy of the McCandless Collection, Buddy Martin will appear at the show on Friday and Saturday. Buddy will spend most of his time in the McCandless Collection on the Midway (space IG 109-126). Buddy and Herb McCandless will be there most of the weekend to meet fans, sign autographs, and more. In addition, guests can expect some Sox & Martin merchandise in the McCandless Collection display, too.

Herb McCandless:  Herb has been coming to Carlisle for decades, and not necessarily as a celebrity. Herb comes as an enthusiast as much as anyone. He shares his cars, his stories and his knowledge at the show.  Herb is planning to bring some cars to showcase, ranging from race cars to street cars and from the ‘70s back to the ‘50s.

Paul Rossi:  Paul is one of the few racers who has had a successful career in more than one form of motorsports.  He spent the first part of his career going fast in a straight line then switched to road racing, which is an entirely different discipline.  Beyond his time in the seat, Paul also did a lot for racing and the automotive industry behind the scenes.  Meet Paul at Carlisle and see his latest version of his famous Direct Connection 1970 Challenger.

Nick Panaritis:  Watching Nick’s YouTube channel is kind of like hanging out in his garage on a Saturday night. Instead of two or three guys learning from a smart guy, more than 250,000 people are following Nick’s Garage, making him able to share his knowledge with a lot more people.  He’ll have six display cars and an engine with him too. 

Each guest is easily accessible and open to posing for photos, signing autographs, or answering any and all questions related to the automotive hobby and their respective careers.  In each instance, the interaction and experience is FREE once on grounds.  Spectator admission tickets are discounted online in advance and Showfield registration is available online through Monday, July 8, and in person thereafter.  To learn more and make plans to attend, visit CarlisleEvents.com or call 717-243-7855 today.  

A successful event requires many pieces to truly be a success and for 2024, every piece of the Carlisle Ford Nationals puzzle came together perfectly to showcase the largest car show ever held at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds. For three amazing days, May 31-June 2, over 3,500 cars sat front and center with more than 60,000 guests looking on. In the end, this final total of 3,572 made this year's Ford offering the biggest car show ever at Carlisle, topping the 2022 mark, also set by the Carlisle Ford Nationals.

Gates opened at 7 AM on Friday the 31st, but in truth, with sunny skies and temps in the 70s for nearly a week, cars, vendors, and spectators were milling around the grounds on Thursday, May 30. That early bird crowd set the table perfectly for a multi-day event that was filled with stage walkarounds, unveilings, special guests, track activities, and parades, including the Ford Downtown Parade, Park, and Paty Saturday night, and more.

Looking back at the event schedule, it’s easy to see what kept the guests going all day; what with a pair of 60th Anniversary Mustang displays, including a Mustang Legends showcase and another with 60 Mustangs spanning 60 years of production, a 50th display of Mustang II’s, a 40^th Birthday celebration of the SVO, Y-Blocks, and the Ford Nationals Select gallery in Building Y. In addition, special guests were eager to mix and mingle with enthusiasts. These guests included members of Ford Performance Racing Parts, RTR Vehicles, Duncan Brothers Customs, Saleen with Steve Saleen, Shelby American with Gary Patterson and Tracey Smith, Ford Motor Company with John Clor, Carl Widmann, and Joe Bellino, author Robert Kennedy, drivers Vaughn Gittin, Jr., @Morgan_Drifts, and Rhys Conklin, track fun with Gateway Mustang, monster truck rides with Virginia Giant and SO MUCH MORE.

As unveilings go, Duncan Brothers Customs unveiled their new partner, Bill Tumas, while Shelby American pulled the covers off a pair of Dragon Snakes. Rare and unique was also part of Building T as the Detroit Historical Society brought THE Bordinat Cobra concept and the 1963 Mustang II concept.

The stage walkarounds were non-stop too, with Roush, Saleen, KTL Restorations, JH Restorations, Ford Motor Company, Ford Performance Racing Parts, and RTR Vehicles, standing front and center to talk to throngs of enthusiasts.  Speaking of stage fun, Friday featured a Carlisle Events 50^th Anniversary celebration where staff recognized charter clubs, those who have been coming to the Carlisle Ford Nationals since 1995 and haven’t missed a single show over the years.

Track fun helped wind down Saturday and power Sunday too.  On Saturday, backed by Gittin and RTR, guests stood rows deep to watch the rolling burnout and donut contest, then Sunday, the track came to life with the Real Street Shootout.  Not long after, a 90-minute awards parade recognized many of the award winners from the show.

While 2024 is a wrap, plans are underway for 2025.  Save the dates, because the Carlisle Ford Nationals return June 6-8 and will feature a Ford GT Anniversary Reunion, Shelby GT350 60^th Anniversary, a Motorsport Capri Reunion, the 70^th Anniversary of the Thunderbird, the Galaxie Nationals make Carlisle their home in 2025, and there’s a planned national meet as part of a returning SVO Reunion.  Learn more about the continuation of the Carlisle Events 50^th Anniversary season and make your plans at CarlisleEvents.com. 

The car shows at Carlisle have the drawing power that entices stars of the automotive world to want to be onsite for events.  With Carlisle Events celebrating 50 years in 2024 combined with the 60^th celebration of the Mustang, it’s easy to see why the high-impact players in the Ford world want to be at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  That’s the case for this year’s Carlisle Ford Nationals (May 31-June 2) as multi-time Formula Drift Champion driver Vaughn Gittin, Jr. returns for a Saturday, June 1 appearance.

Vaughn is no stranger to Carlisle, as he was most recently at the Ford show in 2023.  In fact, his time last year was so exhilarating that as he left, he was immediately trying to find a way back in 2024.  That hope has become a reality for the self-proclaimed professional Fun-Haver! 

Vaughn is competing in more events than ever as he continues to grow his RTR and Fun-Haver brands. With countless wins on the track and two Formula Drift Championships to his name, along with Ultra4 off-road championships, Vaughn is at the top of his game.  When he rolls in for his Saturday, June 1 visit, he’ll be flanked by a fleet of RTR vehicles, including his RTR-X.   Better yet, the RTR-X will be one of the featured Mustangs showcased in the Mustang Legends showcase in Building T.  Vaughn will also put some wheels in motion by way of three thirty-minute-long drifting exhibitions/shows on the Carlisle track and host at least one walk-around at the stage too. 

The drift exhibitions aren’t the only time enthusiasts can see Vaughn on the Carlisle track, as RTR presents the rolling burnout and drifting contest.  Vaughn will jump-start that fun and usher in a handful of participants, all eager to show their stuff in front of a modern-day racing legend. 

Showgoers can meet Vaughn as part of a planned autograph session, while also connecting with him and his RTR team on the midway.  The RTR setup will be in place all three days of the Ford Nationals, while Vaughn is scheduled for June 1 only.

In addition, there’s the likelihood of involvement in some private events fostered by Ford, and the possibility of rides for select attendees of the Carlisle Ford Nationals. 

A full rundown of Vaughn Gittin, Jr.’s return to Carlisle is outlined (and will be updated) by way of the Carlisle Ford Nationals page of CarlisleEvents.com.  Speaking of the web, online Showfield pre-registration is available now through May 27 (in person only starting May 30), with discounted spectator admission tickets also available online now through event weekend.  There are also opportunities to confirm event involvement by way of the automotive flea market, midway, and/or car corral.  Learn more about the 2024 Carlisle Ford Nationals online or call 717-243-7855 today.

The first offering of what’s now known as the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals took place in 1986.  38 years later, the most diverse mix of show cars on the East Coast set a new standard with 2,195 show cars registered for the May 10-11 event.  Best of all, this total tops last year’s then-record-setting mark by nearly 100 cars and puts in motion the prospect of a third straight banger of an event in 2025.

Before there’s too much talk about next May’s car show, let’s look back at the 2024 happenings at Carlisle that drew in a record turnout.  The power of this event, and the hobby were on full display as a great turnout of guests showed up to enjoy drifting, the rolling exhaust contest, the Showfield, and featured vehicle displays (more on them soon).  The show opened on Friday morning to a full schedule of events plus the selection of the Carlisle Elite Awards, which go to ten vehicles selected by the Carlisle Events staff.

With guests traveling to Carlisle from as far away as the Czech Republic, the international flavor was in full bloom.  It was a real sensory experience, allowing the sights and sounds of the car show to be on full display.  There wasn’t just one thing that kept guests busy, there were many things.  This included special guests like automotive designer and author Steve Saxty, social media influencers Modded Motors, a variety of track activities including drifting powered by NICO Club, low car limbo, drift limbo, rolling burnouts and donuts, and rolling exhaust, too.  There was even a brew mixer on Saturday, giving guests a chance to enjoy live music and buy into a pour from some of central PA’s finest establishments.

Featured display cars were also a hit in 2024.  This included the 50^th Anniversary of the VW Rabbit/Golf, the Ratty Kool Display, Freak Show, Vehicles from Around the World, and the Race Paddock.  As anniversaries go, as a nod to the Carlisle Events 50^th celebration, Saturday morning also showcased 38 years of the event and included a special stage ceremony where Brad and Anna May Nauss, original participants in 1986, shared their memories of their time at Carlisle and even replicated a photo that was taken in front of the stage with their 1950 Citroen Traction Avant.  

The weekend ended with awards, including recognition of the largest and coolest clubs and thoughts of next year and doing it all over again! Saabs @ Carlisle was the largest club once again followed by Volvos at Carlisle, NVUS, The Audi Club and BMW CCA/Nittany Bimmers. The competition is really heating up. Several clubs really stepped up their game for the Coolest Club award this year. Each year, the Carlisle Events staff looks for the club tent where they would want to hang out, if they weren’t busy working, of course. This year the Rolls-Royce Foundation went a totally different direction to take home the hardware with silver serving trays and China as well as linens and candelabras on every table.

While the fun has concluded in 2024, the 2025 offering will be here before we know it.  Save the date because the 2025 Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals takes place May 16-17.  Planned featured displays include 50 years of the Triumph TR7 and a throwback to cars of the early 2000s.  In addition, the Race Paddock will return, the Passport Program, plus all the wheels in motion fun that gives this international automotive showcase its edge!  Call 717-243-7855 today to register for 2025, or visit CarlisleEvents.com for details, discounted spectator admission tickets, and more.