gp56

Here you go:

http://www.vetteworksintl.com/

ladder13

Yeah the weather was crappy, and less merchandise, but we made some new friends this year, a good thing. We met some folks from Ohio who we plan on meeting down in Myrtle Beach just after Memorial Day at another vette show.
Then there's my "coward of carlisle" thread, which thanks to the efforts of a few members here, especially Mike Furman, made CAC this year very worthwhile.
I'll be going back next year for # 32 and counting.

ladder13

For many years we used to go F-S-S, now we go T-F-S. Much more activity on T-F.

Bob K

This year was my 20th year. Never missed one yet. I was there Friday and Saturday. I just drive from home every day. I brought two different mules (brother and friend) to carry the stuff I bought.

The economy isn't getting any better and like everything else CaC is showing it. I will continue to go. I enjoy meeting new people, meeting old friends, seeing the cars and picking up stuff. I can load the trunk of my GS vert pretty good.

Bob K.

ZFORME

The Miller's have driven the vendors away making it difficult to justify setting up at Carlisle based on profit. So year by year it shrinks in terms of vendors.

corvetteronw

I have been fortunate to live in an area that is relatively close to Carlisle, Fun Fest and Bloomington Gold. In the past I have been able to attend all three shows most of the time.
Unfortunately my health has declined and I can no longer drive long distances and my wife thinks automobiles are only for transportation.
Each one of these shows have changed since I began attending over 10+ years ago. They are each unique in their own way but the best part was seeing all the cars and listening to the "war stories".
I wish I could still attend even though the show continues to change.
Be grateful that you don't live out West. They have nothing like it out there.

GS Diva

The Millers have driven the vendors away??? I'd like to know how you came to that opinion.

Lance has carried on what his father and Bill Miller began many years ago, and he continues to improve this event. He is extremely approachable and will listen to anyone who has suggestions. I don't know what your opinion is based on.

The vendors have been turned away because of the state of PA's new ruling on taxes which impacted all of the vendors. I don't see how that can be construed as the Millers turning them away.

I'm sure there are a lot of others who would like to hear your side.

My husband and I have been going to Corvettes at Carlisle for 16 years and wouldn't miss it for anything. It is more of a social thing for us and gives us time to spend with so many people we've met over the years. Ordering from catalogs has become a way of life for a lot of companies, and it sort of makes sense. How is one company supposed to bring a large variety of goods in every size?

Elaine

Chevy Guy

I've heard this a few times already but don't know what happened, what did PA do?

GS Diva

I don't know how it really works, but perhaps someone in the know will tell us the story.

Elaine

Ol'55

I'm a man of a FEW hobbies, and can tell you that the expos, and shows now are very much less participated by the vendors than in years past. From the business owners that I have asked they all tell me the same thing... that their share of net profit has declined over the years making transportation, salaries, lodging, and the like eating what profit they had enjoyed in earlier years. Forget about what the government has thrown at them.

redvetracr

I suppose the state is forcing the vendors to collect sales tax which no one wants to pay

C5kid

The deal is I paid the same as everyone else, so what gives them the right to save a spot?

ZFORME

Well all I know is what the vendor said when I asked why the show has shrank. He was a Tee shirt vendor, and this was maybe 4 years ago. Miller's are fine people I am sure and the bottom line is money. If I owned Carlisle I would not have set up a Tee shirt concession stand just as an example. Chip never had a T shirt stand. There were many more vendors for T shirts prior to the Carlisle Tee shirt store.
All I know is that the GM National and Corvette shows are shrinking. I have been going except for 2014 since 1997. No more Camaro Nationals included at GM Nationals as another example.
The shows are not as good as they were and that is my opinion. I would guess the overhead is astronomical. The staff is excellent no complaints whatsoever. The facilities are very good.
I would like it more if there were more vendors like it was in 2004.. There are plenty of cars and people. So whatever the reason I only need about 7 hrs to cover the Corvette show in 2013 and years before I was there Friday, Saturday and till noon on Sunday. Now I go down and come home in one day.

Chevy Guy

All car shows are shrinking, the economy went down and so did the market for expensive toys. I have gone to the Atlantic City car show and auction every year for the past 10 years or so, the last 3-4 years have been awful.

Last year (worst so far) there were more dealers with late model cars than classics, maybe half the vendors too. There was also a hundred plus empty spots on the floor, there used to be zero empty spots. Years back there was a line of dozen tow trucks outside waiting to tow cars home for people, this year there were none.

To boot, most of the classics looked like junk yard cars with fresh paint and $25,000 prices on them. People watched too much Texas car wars and overhaulin'.

Corvettes have been especially hard hit I think.

kcust62

You've nailed it! I understand they even do spot checks for a PA sales tax ID number and will shut down an operation for noncompliance. Just plain greedy...My buddies and I come to Spring and Fall Carlisle swap meets every year with a few items left over from build projects. We don't sell much, but, have fun with the people. That's what it's all about for us, plus, we spend money so it works for everyone. We know many small vendors personally and have seen several that have stopped attending because of the tax issue. Just don't understand the logic with the tax man.

ladder13

I wish they could bring back the car auction, that was always fun and drew lots of participants.

zipity

Not sure of their name, but they had a death in the family and could not attend. RPI had most of that vendors items under the RPI tent. Shoot RPI and email to find out the name of the vendor.

Dan H.

I found the show to be underwhelming. I was looking for a variety of random parts and found nothing except for things I could order or get at autozone. I live two hours from the show so it's a drive but not bad. If I had to travel a distance and needed a hotel I probably wouldn't go. I've gone the last 8-ish years, and have been going since I was a little kid with my folks. I think I will repurpose the days time and the $100-ish bucks the trip costs somewhere else next year.

Love the barn find exhibit a few years back. Race exhibit last year was cool. Not sure what this year was.....

My list
Late c3 test pipe
Hurst C2 "looks stock" shifter
C5 Z06 18 inch wheels
Z06 overkill poster
Mid America flannel cover

What I found
Battery tender
Clay bars

Best part of the trip was getting my growler filled at troeggs on the way home.

Vins

@Dan, that's exactly what saw there this year. Battery tender? Got it. Clay bars? Too many too mention. I wanted the stuff you CAN'T get at Auto Zone. All the custom painted under hood goodies that you see on many of the cars that are parked on the field. Like I said at the very beginning of this thread, as a new C6 owner, I expected more and I expected better. For many years I went to Carlisle and was just a spectator watching my buddies buy the Lloyds Mats, the exhaust plate filler and yes, painted f/r covers. Whatever. I don't exactly live around the corner ( my group drives about 3+ hours ). Who knows, I just may buy everything on line....

MITCH

I feel the same way Vin!! I am surprize the Lance has not chimed in on this thread. I wonder if there are any plans to correct the lack of vendors and parts at the event???
Mitch