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Ive been going to Carlisle since the 80s, and while Bloomington Gold will always be the Grandaddy of All Corvette Shows in my heart, the fact is Carlisle has always been the biggest mecca of parts and cars imaginable. I absolutely love swap meets, particularly Corvette swap meets and in the heyday of the hobby, Carlisle was always the champ for this. Unfortunately it has dialed back quite a bit over recent years, but they are still the #1 source for Corvette parts. All the events are down for a number of reasons, but Carlisle is still king.
That said, whats hurt me is that in my old age Ive settled into the 2 Corvette models I like the best and as of recently I just dont need any parts. I used to ALWAYS need parts based on whatever car(s) I had at the time but now Ive been holding onto the cars a lot longer as I figured out what I really want. 2 years ago I got a swap space and sold an SUV full of extra parts I piled up. Last year I walked around for days and enjoyed myself, but I didnt need anything and it took a bit out of it for me. Carlisle is a different show if you dont need parts. Theres an awful lot of new cars there.
These days, Ill alternate going to Carlisle, Hershey and Monterey/Pebble Beach for late Summer/early Fall car trips to keep them fresh.
If you decide to go it’s best to reserve your hotel room 1 year in advance otherwise you will only find something a half hour or more away from Carlisle. Also since you have a C1, you may want to join the solid axel club while there. They have a good magazine and many knowledgeable members willing to help with almost any problem encountered.
You will love it especially your first time, there’s much to see, lots of early generation parts and great people to meet. Be sure to bring an umbrella or rain gear. There’s been many years we have been caught in the rain at Carlisle.
While this forum is a spectacular resource, as is the internet, at Carlisle I find a lot of knowledgeable C1 owners who love to talk, know a ton, but still have flipphones and are not aware of the Corvette Forum (I try to recruit them). It's a great place with a lot of great people (as Trump might say, lol).
I always wondered what the big deal was about Carlisle, and went in 2017 for the first due to picking up a removable hard top for my '65 (Thanks, Pancho).
In the future when not on official travel or otherwise occupied I intend to be there. There is so much to see and not enough time. And next time I'm taking much, much more cash and a wagon to haul parts I find.
Last edited by Easy Rhino; 08-25-2018 at 11:22 AM.
Started going in the eighties myself and as others have said it's become a tradition. Living close by makes it easy and to gather with thousands of other like minded wackos is all good !
FWIW I thought there was a noticeable downturn this year in cars for sale
Been a regular since the '70's. Very few reproductions then, so you spent countless hours crawling around on sopping wet blue tarps looking for the right bolts. There are tons of neat things to do at Carlisle, but that's still my favorite. Spent 9 hours at it yesterday.
I think the main problem is, those of us who got used to Carlisle and Bloomington in “the old days,” cannot help but look at either event now with some disappointment. I don’t see any way around that.
From a different perspective, there’s no other Corvette event around anywhere now that’s as good as Carlisle today.
I think the main problem is, those of us who got used to Carlisle and Bloomington in “the old days,” cannot help but look at either event now with some disappointment. I don’t see any way around that.
From a different perspective, there’s no other Corvette event around anywhere now that’s as good as Carlisle today.
Never been , little too far!
Pomona Swap Meet gets tons of vettes, takes all day to walk it. Have to get there at dark thirty wiht lots of cash and energy
Used to go everytime in the 80s/90s but the crowd went to chit. Gangbangers. lowriders, LA traffic put a stop to it all.
Now that repop parts are out its just easier. Miss the interaction, just not enough to go though.
To the guy who wants a charger nows a good time. Prices on musclecars are going in the toilet in comarison to 4-5 yrs ago, young people arent buying these. Think they will continue to drop, same wiht most old toys...we are the last of the dinosaurs.
Its also worth stating that the reproduction parts "back in the day" were awful - I mean just junk....many (most?) from Taiwan and ill-fitting pieces of thinner metal that were embarrassing. If you wanted the 'good stuff' you went to Carlisle -- of course back then you could go to junkyards too and score decent used parts for cheap....
The world has changed for sure...have to say -- I also avoid the Mecum side-show down here in Florida too....just driving by the event is tedious with the traffic and morons... But I'm older now and less tolerant of big ruckuses...
We go because it is the largest Corvette event in the world. True there are not as many vendors as in previous years. You can thank FleaBay for that. But there are still so many there to checkout. The hunt for those parts that you need or the bargain that is too good to pass up. Like a nice set of original '63 rims and hubcaps with a $500 asking price You can't find that on Fleabay. Also the huge crowds. I ran into Forum members who know me. Met others who only know me by name here on the forum. Caught up with some old friends and made some new ones. That is the draw!
Do you do Cars & Coffee? This is C & C on steroids! And it is all Corvettes: every kind of Corvette. Do you like to talk Corvette with other enthusiasts. Oh hell yes!
Do you like to crawl swap meets? If you within a days drive or even two, you must be there. No ifs, ands or butts. OK, it used to be better. Lots of things used to be better. You used to be better. You're not as good now, but you're still alive aren't you! Get to Carlise in 2019, dammit!
Do you do Cars & Coffee? This is C & C on steroids! And it is all Corvettes: every kind of Corvette. Do you like to talk Corvette with other enthusiasts. Oh hell yes!
Do you like to crawl swap meets? If you within a days drive or even two, you must be there. No ifs, ands or butts. OK, it used to be better. Lots of things used to be better. You used to be better. You're not as good now, but you're still alive aren't you! Get to Carlise in 2019, dammit!
738 miles. Worth it. Even in the crappy hotels where we stay, right, Don?
Two star on a good day. But the Diner right across the highway makes up for it. Can't be beat. Reservation is already made for next year, lord willing and the creek don't rise.
Two star on a good day. But the Diner right across the highway makes up for it. Can't be beat. Reservation is already made for next year, lord willing and the creek don't rise.
I like the sign telling people not to cross the street to the diner.
There definitely was a downturn in vendors this year, and perhaps other recent years.
I also noticed that many vendors were packing up and heading out by 2 PM Saturday.
But, I did see a number of interesting Corvette related things that I have never seen before (how about a NOS 1958 only Corvette trunk lid).
But the best part is always meeting up with your Corvette brothers and sisters.
The Vetteheads group always throws a big party, and they are some of the best, and most knowledgeable Corvette people I have ever had the privilege to call my friends.
08-24-2018, 02:17 PM
You can't find that on Fleabay. Also the huge crowds. I ran into Forum members who know me. Met others who only know me by name here on the forum. Caught up with some old friends and made some new ones. That is the draw!
