When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Swap meet section at Bloomington Gold Corvettes is much smaller than Corvettes @ Carlisle. However Mecums Corvette auction is much larger at Bloomington Gold Corvettes than Corvettes @ Carlisle. Car corral section at both meets is similar, although slightly bigger at Corvettes @ Carlisle.
Swap meet section at Bloomington Gold Corvettes is much smaller than Corvettes @ Carlisle. However Mecums Corvette auction is much larger at Bloomington Gold Corvettes than Corvettes @ Carlisle. Car corral section at both meets is similar, although slightly bigger at Corvettes @ Carlisle.
If you can only go to 1, go to Carlisle if you want to buy parts. Go to Bloomington if you want to see cars.
Was wondering how it compares to Corvettes at Carlisle? Swap meet area and the Auction.thanks
Never been to Carlisle but have been to bloomington for the last 7 or 8 and find Bloomington going downhill fast as far as Im concerned. The auction is about all they care about and the shift to newer cars seems pretty apparent. Just my thoughts....................LT
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
I have been to Bloomington once; It's a long ride for me from Mass. I go to Carlisle every year. I enjoyed Bloomington, but it was not worth the long ride. If I lived closer I would return. Carlisle is bigger and more fun in my opinion. Bloomington seems to focus more on the judging process. There are fewer vendors than at Carlisle. The vendor area at Carlisle is enormous. Carlisle is my favorite weekend of the year. The other negative with Bloomington is the potential for extreme weather, like tornadoes. The year I went, there were tornadoes all around us. The Midwest in June is right in tornado alley.
I attended both last year and while Carlisle had a much larger flea market Bloomington Gold was still pretty good. I thought there were more nice cars at Bloomington than Carlisle. Letters were sent out by the principles of Bloomington Gold recently recognizing the need to revitalize the meet and said they are working on a plan to make it a better meet.
Question for you guys who have been to Carlisle..I live outside of Philly, so it is about 2 hour ride to Carlisel for me, but I have never been there. I wanted to know if the APRIL event 19-23 (sping event) is any good. I have heard that the August event is huge, but I know nothing about the spring event. I have to work Sat the 22nd, so I wouldn't be able to go until the last day, which is the 23rd, do you think it would be worth it?? I have been putting off buying parts for my 81, because I would like to see if I can find any deals at Carlisle first. What are your opinions???
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
I've been to the Spring Carlisle and it's a real good take. A wide variety of cars and alot of vendors. It is not Corvette specific and the variety of parts that remain on the last day will be sparse compared to the first couple of days. If it's only a two hour drive, I would go.
...I've been going to both Bloomington & Carlisle since '91 & '87 respectively and I love both. Most people responding have summed it up already. The swap meet at Bloomington is good, just not as great as Carlisle's. Bloomington is MORE focused on the auction cars and cars being judged. Since Bloomington is a corporation, it's more focused on this due to that is where most of their revenue comes from. I will still always go to Bloomington as I just love seeing the Corvettes being judged, especially the "Survivor" cars, the auction cars and the car corral cars.
...Carlisle seems to be the more "FUN" side of the hobby. "IF" I could only attend one out of the two, it'd be Carlisle, hands down.
Carlisle is awsome. Been going to the August show for the past 6 years. About 3 hours from Jersey. My pops and myself park in a grass lot near the 3# entrance (i think, near the big tire/rim discount tent) and camp out at night in our own tents. Great time. The guy who owns the lot is a war veteran with a prostetic leg and a dog that never leaves his side. He's a great guy and lets us stay over night since we pay for parking for the whole weekend. You can find anything at the swap meet...anything and get a great deal if your able to bargan. Car show is great too, friendly owners and highly modified cars. Food is decent, spicy sausages are awsome. Great weekend, highly recommended.