CARLISLE, PA – As spring makes its way through the mountains of Central Pennsylvania with it comes the typical sights, sounds, aromas and tastes of the season. The first vision of spring in the area is the abundance of people making their way through the Carlisle Fairgrounds in search of one of the biggest collector car shows in the country.
Last weekend, April 23-27, the 95,000 visitors migrated to the region for the annual The Spring Carlisle Event for the cars, the food, the atmosphere and the overall experience.
Whether they are Carlisle veterans, who have been coming to the Spring Carlisle Collector Car Swap meet for 31 years since its inauguration in 1977, or they are the sons and daughters who are walking through the gates holding their father’s hand for the first time, when you walk onto the fairgrounds it “all” hits you at once.
The “all” is the smell of exhaust fumes from antique cars, fresh food from the 16 food vendors and the sounds of automotive hobbyists and car collectors engaging in conversation about their latest automotive projects around the 82-acre fairgrounds. The “all” is the aroma of Philly cheese steaks, Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Corn Soup and Funnel Cakes wafting through the air drawing guest to the 16 plus food vendors across the 82-acre fairgrounds. Once you filled up on the not so diet friendly food, it’s time to hit the pavement. More than 3,000 vendors come from across the country with parts, accessories, memorabilia, and cars to sell.
Original and rare auto parts and beautiful vintage gas pumps glistened in the warm spring sunshine; the temperature was in the mid-seventies all weekend long, which provided the ideal atmosphere for buyers and sellers of everything automotive. The price tag of the antique pumps mentioned was not one for the amateur collector at around $2,500, but two are sold to a man who says he plans on adding them to his 10 car collector garage for “ambiance”. By his French-Canadian accent, one can assume he has traveled from Québec, the Montreal Canadians jersey he wears make his origin a good assumption.
The sounds that surround the fairgrounds are distinct and inviting. Conversations between old friends who meet at the same time every year are similar to what you might hear at a car lover’s class reunion. “What’s in the garage this year, what parts do you need to finish the restoration and where are you staying next year?” are the more common conversation starters. The sounds of vendors and customers bargaining and haggling make the scene sound like a foreign marketplace. Price seems to be much more of a suggestion than a solid deal maker.
After just a few hours spent at the Spring Carlisle event, all of your senses will be reached in such a way that the “all” is no longer a mystery and more of a sense that comes with being part of an event that brings together a large group of people, from around the country, with a similar passion and mission: to talk cars, find parts and enjoy their weekend.
Don’t worry if you missed this year’s extravaganza Carlisle Events, hosts 10 annual collector car, truck and motorcycle events, which attracts more than half a million people to its 82-acre fairgrounds in Carlisle, Pennsylvania each year.
Included in the annual events schedule are two huge automotive swap meets and auctions – in the spring and fall – and individual specialty shows featuring Corvettes, Fords, GMs, Chryslers, trucks, motorcycles, sport compacts and imports. Founded in 1974 by friends Bill Miller and Chip Miller, the “Cars at Carlisle” shows attract automotive enthusiasts from around the world.
For more information about this and other Carlisle Events, visit:
www.CarlisleEvents.com
www.CarlisleAuctions.com
or call (717) 243-7855.
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