From the Sentinal newspaper:

Carlisle to Car Shows: Oh no! Don’t leave!

By John Hilton, Sentinel Reporter, June 14, 2006

Business and political leaders in Carlisle are not ready to concede the loss of Carlisle Productions and its signature car shows just yet.

Still, most who spoke to The Sentinel Tuesday were not surprised by the company’s announcement that it has a buyer for the 82-acre Carlisle Fairgrounds and is prepared to pack up its lucrative car show business and start over somewhere else.

Carlisle Productions CEO John Detrick says the company cannot co-exist with a $6 million "Readiness Center" proposed by the Pennsylvania Army National Guard unit land is owns adjacent to the east side of the fairgrounds.

The company has taken the first step towards liquidating its assets — listing its Carlisle Expo Center at the intersection of North West and K streets with Landmark Realty for $3.5 million.

Tremendous loss

While borough observers differ on how serious the threat is, they all agree that Carlisle Productions would be a tremendous loss.

"The car shows have put Carlisle on the map," says Nick Mallios, who owns Sunnyside Restaurant with his wife Linda."We travel quite a bit and it’s amazing how many people know about Carlisle because of the car shows."

Located on North Hanover Street, Sunnyside is within walking distance of the fairgrounds and the Mallios’ have gotten to know many car show customers over the years.

"If you take the entire car show season, I would say the shows themselves contribute about 25 percent of our business for the year," Nick Mallios says. "It would have a real impact on us."

One hearing held

North Middleton Township Supervisors held one public hearing on the Pennsylvania Army National Guard unit’s conditional use application for a 38,749-square-foot readiness center to be built on the armory’s 45 acres.

The Army National Guard then asked for the hearing to be continued.

What has Carlisle Productions ready to pack up and leave is the unit’s transformation into a Stryker brigade.

The armored combat Stryker, the Army’s newest troop transport vehicle, moves quickly and quietly on wheels rather than tracks.

The vehicle features new cannons, digitized and automated equipment, a tactical intranet to communicate on the battlefield and artillery computers.

Pennsylvania is the only state whose National Guard has been commissioned to house a Stryker brigade, officials have said.

The five other Stryker brigades in the country are part of the active Army.

Since the transformation is still under way at Carlisle Armory, officials say the unit has not been deployed to fight yet — but its members are being prepared for that.

Carlisle Productions is worried that security will be tightened, which would cripple a big car show, as well as liability issues.

Relies on guard

The company relies on the Army National Guard site to provide much needed parking.

Detrick says Carlisle Productions wants to stay and Carlisle Mayor Kirk Wilson believes him.

"They have a true desire to stay where they’re located. They’re feeling some frustration and justifiably so," Wilson says. "I don’t think the issue is finalized yet and I’m not sure that it’s close to being finalized."

Chamber may take stand

Michelle Crowley, president of the Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce, says she believes the company could bolt. The chamber board meets this week and may take a position on the issue.

"We don’t want to see them go," Crowley says. "I think the hoteliers are going to be most adamant about keeping them."

Dee Fegan, owner of Pheasant Field Bed and Breakfast in Middlesex Township, says her rooms are full "every car show weekend."

"Because they’ve been coming for so many years they’re doing other things now besides just the car shows," she adds.

"For example, my Corvette people took one day off from the car show last year to do a tour of the covered bridges in Perry County."

‘Mixed emotions’

Still, Crowley says there may be "mixed emotions" within the community about the car shows leaving Carlisle.

Residents often complain about the traffic associated with the shows.

In recent years, a compact car show aimed at the younger crowd resulted in petty crime incidents and several arrests by area police.

500,000 visitors annually

Carlisle Productions conducts 11 shows annually and brings 500,000 visitors per year. The events bring in $97 million annually to the local economy, company officials said last year.

"From both an economic development and tourism marketing perspective, we recognize the enormous value of their presence as well as the benefits of their investment in marketing the Carlisle area nationally and internationally," says Douglas Wendt, executive director of Cumberland County Economic Development and the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau.
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I don't know about anyone else but this would be a real bummer!

 

would be a bummer... hope they move it to northern jersey!!!

 

THis would be ver disappointing! Chip would never let this happen! Hopefully, Lance will do the same!

 

Please SAVE IT and please don't move to jersey

 

Please refer to our home page for further updates: http://carlisleevents.com - we absolutely want to stay in Carlisle, but need to look for alternatives because of what the National Guard is proposing.

Thanks for your concerns!

Lance

 

if its a good scare for the locals serves em right for whining


best not to bite the hand that feeds it!

 

Lance - Thx for clarifying what's going on in Carlisle! Good Luck with seeking a resolution. Let me know if there is anything I can do!

 

clearly this is the ricer's fault...... lol

 

the "ricers" ****ed that place up. They vandalized, it, they superglued toilet paper dispensers, messed up everything. That's why they moved the import show to Harrisburgh. Better security. Jerks.

However, Carlisle is a cute town, but I never got the feeling they did jack to support or grow the shows.

When was the last hotel built? I don't like the idea of spending that kinda coin on a damned Super 8...

What about access? You have to drive on some 2 lane country road, through a small town to reach the fair grounds... it's cwazy! If you all have never been, it's adorable, but not ready to deal with 20k+ event attendees.

My thought would be to relocate to the north side of town, near the turnpike and the I81 interchange areas. This would provide much better traffic control and more flow.

I have done carlisle twice... and both times, I was floored by the shear craziness of the place... and I can't beleive the other events (judging from the photos I have seen) are any better.

 

I hope this matter gets resolved in favor of the event staying where it is. I like Carlisle just fine, it's a great excuse to get away for a long weekend and it's a nice town. It seems that govt. always finds a way of f-ing things up. Also seems like another example of ricers p-off Vette owners and the general public. I heard that was the worst event ever held in Carlisle.

Besides, there is a shortcut to the fairgrounds that cuts out a lot of sitting in traffic.

 

Our intentions are to stay in Carlisle - we'll keep you updated on our website: http://carlisleevents.com.

Thanks,

Lance

 

Well if you have to move come up I 81 around Grantville area. You will have 81 and 78 to get there. Plus there are hotels and you are close to Harrisburg and Hershey.

 

Lance, I orginally posted this topic. Didn't mean to start a panic but I thought since so many of us really look forward to the event, people should be aware of what may happen. I understand the Government's position, but why Carlisle of all posts? Don't they know they're messing with the best site for car events on the East Coast, possibly in the country? Heck, at least Bill Clinton was a car guy - he would've understood! Thanks for taking the time to respond and keeping us updated. Here's keeping our fingers and toes crossed for 'ya!

 

Vetdude-

No sweat bud, I'm glad we can clear it all up. Look for some promising news in the near future We are in the process of negotiations and look for a positive outcome - stay tuned!

Lance

 

I have been going 13 years and it gets better every year.The C3 racers reunion was my favorite year.Lance i hope everthing works out, and lets get them C3 RACERS back....JERRY

 

Good luck Lance. I have enjoyed the show for three years now. Don

 

Here's the latest info (after our last meeting): http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2...ews/news21.txt

Enjoy!

Lance