And then there was one!  Carlisle Events and its throngs of automotive enthusiasts are getting together one last time in central PA in 2023; this time for the Fall Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market and Corral.  Fall Carlisle, as it's otherwise known, takes place September 27-October 1 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and is the perfect opportunity for guests to buy, sell, and trade all things automotive.  There are 8,100 vending spaces filled with millions of items for sale.  It’s the thrill of the hunt and it’s the last chance to buy before the cooler temps of fall and winter set it.

Not only are there thousands of vending spaces but there are 90,000+ guests slated to visit Carlisle.  The event itself makes Carlisle (including the fairgrounds), the 5^th largest city in the state of Pennsylvania.  Hidden gems are always found too, plus rare, unique, and random items add to the mystique of Carlisle and the flea market footprint.  Items for sale include original or aftermarket restoration parts to support in-progress projects as well as collectibles for the garage, basement, or man cave, toys, literature, and even memorabilia.  Why else do folks flock to Carlisle?  How about a massive car corral where classics are for sale by owner or for Anymotive Vending, a type of vending that showcases and sells motorized items that are non-automotive in nature?

Further, along with the vendors who bring cars and parts to sell, Fall Carlisle features a massive Manufactures Midway that includes some of the biggest brand names within the hobby.  Confirmed to date for the midway are the AACA Museum, Adams Premium Car Care Products, Advantage Lifts, Airweld, Inc., American Collectors Insurance, AMSOIL, and more.  A complete list of midway partners is available on page 44 of the event guide.  The guide is digital and online at CarlisleEvents.com and handed out free in person to guests of Fall Carlisle. 

Other display features include the AACA Car Club with a stage display of classic and collector cars and Anymotive Vending, featuring items that have a motor but aren’t cars.  This includes motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles and more.  Plus join Carlisle Auctions for a two-day classic and collector car auction.  Fall Carlisle 2023 is also the 50^th offering of the event that started it all for the Miller families in 1974.  As such, there will be a mix of forward-facing recognitions and some private events too.  Guests can expect to see banners, flags, and signage recognizing 50 Years of Carlisle Events, plus have the option to purchase pins and shirts within the Carlisle store.  A photo slide show is planned for the food court TVs, while Bill Miller and Lance Miller will meet with vendors, including a handful of charter vendors from the year one/Post-War ’74 event.

The auction runs September 28-29 at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center.  Powering the fun is Carlisle Auction’s recent trend of top-dollar, rare/unique Corvettes.  Fresh off the sale of a ‘5­3 at the Spring Auction, Carlisle Auctions now boasts a ’54, ’55, and even a unique ’70.  In addition, there’s an all-truck hour on Friday, September 29 at 4 p.m.  During this date and time, only trucks will cross the block.  The trucks and aforementioned Corvettes are just some of the 400+ consignments planned.  Cars run the gambit of automotive history and there is something for everyone.

Finally, visit with Carlisle Area Lions Club team members and donate to support their Lions International Disaster Relief Efforts.  Team members will be positioned near Gates 1, 3, and 5 accepting donations.  There are multiple ways to be involved with Fall Carlisle and all of them start by calling 717-243-7855.  With that number, or via CarlisleEvents.com and the all-new CarlisleAuctions.com, enthusiasts can register as a bidder for the auction or consign a car, snag a swap meet space to sell, or pick up a car corral spot.  Carlisle Events is also offering its 2024 season pass for the first time at Fall Carlisle.  For just $89.99, the pass is good for all of 2024, plus bonus access to Fall Carlisle 2023.  Passes are for sale at all entry gates and Vendor Services too.  There is only one last show of the year and this is it.  Everyone is encouraged to get involved today!

It’s been a recording-setting year for Carlisle Events and its internationally recognized car shows and that trend continued for the THIRD consecutive event.  Before the gates opened on day two of Corvettes at Carlisle (August 24-26), the annual gathering of America’s Sports Car set an all-new Fun Field record.  Last year the new standard was 2,924 and for 2023, it was easily shattered by the close of Corvettes at Carlisle 2023.  The NEW record Fun Field total of 3,080 was set, thus making this the first-ever Corvettes at Carlisle with more than 3,000 registered show vehicles.  Mix that in with another 2,000+ Corvette owners who simply paid to park and bought an admission ticket, and you have 5,000+ Corvettes together in one place; the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds. 

At 7 a.m. on Thursday, August 24 those who had been hanging around for a few days merged in with day 1 attendees to get Corvettes at Carlisle up and running.  With special indoor and tent displays in place, droves of Corvettes streamed on grounds in a seemingly non-stop manner through mid-day Saturday.  Displays focused on 1973 Corvettes and Chip’s Choice honored some significant Corvettes that have raced at the famed Le Mans endurance race in France.  This included two of the three 1960 Cunningham Corvettes, plus a trio of Callaway Cars, an L88, and more.  For the Callaway entries, this was their first time EVER being shown in the same place at the same time. 

Along with the Le Mans cars, THE draw was the Corvette American Flag, built this year on Saturday, August 26.  150+ Corvettes came together to form the flag, with a special chat session at the stage focused on Vettes for Vets.  Hosted by Jason Dores, this session helped educate the Carlisle masses on how they can help our National Heroes.  It was a fitting and serious talk, while also showcasing the elegance of both the Corvette and the flag. 

Additional stage happenings included walkarounds by Team Chevrolet on the all-new E-Ray, a tribute to the late Reeves Callaway, walkarounds by the Cunningham Corvette team, a one-of-a-kind unveiling by Sigala Designs with an all-Carbon Fiber Z06, the People’s Choice Best of Show contest, an awards parade, plus a few other pop-up parades too.  Speaking of the E-Ray, Team Chevrolet and their amazing engineering group showcased at least six different E-Rays, including a cutaway car, giving guests a first-hand look behind the scenes of their latest C8 offering.

In addition to the 50-year 1973 Showcase and Chip’s Choice, displays also included the NCRS Gallery and NCCC Judged Concours too.  Here, some of the best Corvettes in the world were on display and welcomed thousands of showgoers past them to review, admire, and appreciate. 

Competitions were also a big part of the show, including People’s Choice/Best of Show presented by Aerolarri Wheels, King of the X autocross presented by Lingenfelter Performance, a rolling exhaust contest, and some club contests for both the largest and coolest club with support from Hemmings Marketplace.

Corvettes at Carlisle also hosted some charity elements by way of the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation (CMAF).  On Friday, the CMAF held its annual benefit dinner where nearly $45,000 was raised by way of donations, door prizes, and raffles.  In addition, via a partnership with the Lancaster County Corvette Club, a 2023 2LT Corvette C8 was awarded.  Dollars raised from that giveaway supported both the CMAF and Clare House.

It all wrapped up with an awards presentation at the stage on Saturday afternoon for contest winners, followed by the on-site awards parade.  From there, nearly 500 Corvettes roared off the grounds and into the community as part of the Downtown Carlisle Corvette Parade and Street Party.  Thousands of spectators, including many children, watched in amazement as they not only saw the wheels in motion, but were able to pose for photos in front of or sit in the cars too.

While Corvettes at Carlisle has concluded for 2023, plans are ongoing for the 2024 event.  The showcase returns August 22-24 and will feature a 50^th Anniversary of 1974 Corvettes, NCCC 7-Sanctions judging, the NCRS Gallery and a TBA Chip’s Choice display.  Registration is now open and complete info will be forthcoming online at CarlisleEvents.com.