by Yankee Lady
Corvettes @ Carlisle is a major show and swap meet held each August in Carlisle, PA. Thousands of Corvette vendors come from all across the US and Canada to sell parts, accessories, models and toys, full-sized Vettes, and anything Vette-related. Many clubs and registries hold gatherings at this show, which also features a fun-judging with celebrity judges. Even kids get into the action by participating in special activities, including a guided "road tour" up and down the aisles in kid-sized Vettes. Corvette experts and celebrities are everywhere, conducting seminars, holding autograph sessions, and often, just walking around browsing the parts and goodies for sale. If you've never been to Corvettes @ Carlisle, mark your calendar for August 28-30, 1998 and start planning to attend next year's show. Hotel rooms book a year in advance for this major event, so you've got to organize early.
This year, the show officially started on Friday but vendors were already setting up Thursday. By Friday morning, most of the vendor spots were occupied--and there were bunches of them. The weather was sunny and cool, with a few fluffy clouds in the sky--more like an early fall day, which was perfect for walking around. Keeping with the "it always rains during car shows" tradition, two sudden, heavy, but brief rainshowers drenched everyone and everything during the afternoon. But the breeze picked up after the showers, so things dried out quickly. Saturday was a busier day, with even more vendors setting up and oodles of Corvetters parking their cars in the specially reserved Corvette parking area. Again, the weather was spectacular. Sorry, but I can't fill you in on Sunday because I had to drive home--but it sure looked like the weather was going to be great and the majority of folks stayed to attend the last day of the show.
Highlights from this year's Corvettes @ Carlisle included:
Seminars by Gordon Killebrew, Jim Schefter, Reeves Callaway, and Tom Christmann. Special celebrity guests including Larry Shinoda and Elfi Duntov. A benefit auction for Shinoda, with many vendors donating great stuff to help with Larry's medical expenses. The Bob Gold Auction, featuring all vintages of Vettes. The Fun Display and Celebrity Judging--where your car can win no matter what it looks like as long as one of the judges thinks it's neat. The downtown parade. The Give-Away drawing, featuring a 1977 Vette.
There were
oodles of 1997 C5's on the fairgrounds and quite a few 1998 models. The new 1998 purple
was exactly as described--gunmetal purple and nasty to photograph. That's it to the left.
Now, I'd been forewarned that folks either love or hate the color--there's no middle ground on this one. Personally, I like the color because it's a subtle purple caste over a mostly gray-toned exterior. My pal Jack, of Corvette Surfing fame, didn't like the color.
I also got to see the
new Light Oak interior on a C5 with a red exterior.
Caught up in the excitement, I almost forgot one of my personal missions--to at least sit in a C5. I finally remembered to hop into a black one parked just outside the NCM tent. Admittedly, I'm short, but the C5 fit me nicely. The seat adjusted plenty far forward so that I could reach the pedals and the steering wheel adjusted down so that I could easily see out the front. In many ways, the view from the driver's seat reminded me of sitting in my '73 and looking over its long swoopy nose. Looking out the rear, the back deck was definitely higher than my '73's. The seat itself was also very different. Though it was comfortable, it reminded me of sitting in one of those canvas swing seats you find on kids' playgrounds. Its shape is such that I felt snugged into it.
The VetteNet
attended in force as did several other cyber-Corvette groups. Once again, VetteNet
meetings were scheduled throughout the show so that folks could put faces to names. Per
usual, more folks showed up at the meetings than signed the sign-up sheet. And, we didn't
take photos at every meeting. Heck, at one meeting only four VetteNetters showed up and
one had a coupon for a free beer to any VetteNetter who showed up at a different booth.
Naturally, we immediately moved that meeting to the "correct" booth and
collected on the coupon.
The first
meeting took place Friday at noon, at M.F. Dobbins booth. That's Dobbins on the far left,
inadvertently showing off his "Betty Grable" legs. Two of the meetings took
place at Jim Prather's booth. In photo #2, Jim's the fourth from the left. In photo #3,
Jim's at the far right. Jim was an early supporter and promoter of the VetteNet--even
though he personally has never seen the Internet.
Walking around
the aisles, there was lots of buying, selling, and swapping going on--much more it seemed
than in recent years. Hmmm, maybe the recent UPS strike encouraged folks to cash-and-carry
their purchases?
The Callaway Sportster, with its uniquely cropped roof, was also on display. Promoter Chip Miller drove that beauty in the Saturday night parade from the fairground into the center of town. Wouldn't mind putting one of those in the garage.
Tidbits and rumours floated freely. According to several reliable sources, Bloomington Gold either just has or is about to file Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. The hope is that Carlisle Productions will buy the rights to that famous show, then move it back to Bloomington onto the new fairgrounds.
Many online groups held meetings at the show, allowing folks to finally put faces to names. Lots of clubs and registeries had booths, making it easy to join NCRS, NCOA, and the 40th Anniversary Registry--to name just a few.
Overall, the food was great, the weather mostly cooperated, there were lots of sore feet and smiling faces, and everyone from vendors to visitors seemed to agree that a good time was had by all. Now, if you're thinking about attending Corvettes @ Carlisle 1998, mark your calendar now and make your hotel reservations soon. The dates for next year's show are August 28-30.
Copyright 1996 Barbara Spear
