All About Cars takes a weekly look at something automotive focused and tries to tie it into an experience or show at  Carlisle!  Some weeks you'll get words, some weeks photos, and other weeks it'll be video.  This week, we join our good friend Lou Costabile as he takes a closer look at a very special 1970 Dodge Charger! 

Check out the video and be sure you make your plans for the 2022 Carlisle Chrysler Nationals; July 15-17 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  Best of all, we offer you TWO different classes just for 1970 Chargers!  

My Car Story - 1970 Dodge Charger

Carlisle Chrysler Nationals - Learn More
Carlisle Chrysler Nationals - Register to Show

One of the best parts about a day out with friends and family is experiencing something, new, fun, or maybe even unique.  That mindset holds true in many walks of life, but none more so than the annual Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals (IPN) car show, May 13-14, 2022.  This event makes the rare commonplace and while that may sound oxymoronic, it’s fact.  The cars on display are from around the world and are as rare as they are commonplace at Carlisle.  The coolest part is that in most cases, guests see cars that they’ve never seen before…and its all in one place, the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.

IPN is the first specialty themed car show of the Carlisle Events season and brings an all-star cast of cars and displays.  This year, expect a 30-year tribute to the Subaru Impreza and a feature of Germany’s most popular ride, the BMW.  There are also many car clubs who gather, making Carlisle their singular meet-up spot for judged or non-judged car show fun.

Additional features include Eastern Bloc cars from Europe displayed just outside of Building R, a display of race prepared cars in the paddock under Pavilion’s roof, parades with the Z-Car and Volvos, dune buggies that will have most recently competed in the Baja 1,000 coming direct from Mexico to Carlisle, a tent with cars direct from the Rolls Royce Foundation, and a high-end Porsche display. 

We have a classic Citroen 2CV making a stop in Carlisle as it drives from California to New York to raise awareness for Kennedy’s Disease. Its final destination is Rome, Italy! If that isn’t enough, there are vending opportunities for those looking to buy or sell parts, a kids activity area, Toys 4 Tots toy drive in Building R, countless awards, and THE trip around the automotive world, the annual Passport Program.

Finally, cars don’t just show, they go too.  There are multiple competitions that put the wheels in motion.  This includes a rolling exhaust contest, low car limbo, drift limbo, autocross by way of NICOClub, and NICOFest. 

The Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals is actively taking registrations for the judged and non-judged Showfield, vendor registrations, and selling discounted spectator tickets in advance of the May offering.  Learn more about the competitions, special displays, and get involved today by calling 717-243-7855 or online at CarlisleEvents.com.

2022 isn’t just a new year by calendar standards, it’s a new auction season for Carlisle Auctions too.  Following a high-demand, highly successful 2021 campaign, Carlisle Auctions took its brand of excitement south to Lakeland, Florida for the Lakeland Winter Collector Car Auction, February 25-26 at the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus.  It did not take long to recognize that the success of 2021 was going to carry over and jump-start 2022 with ease!

Consignments (or lots) were loading into the facility for days leading up to the auction itself and when parked and staged, made for quite an impressive display for those attending the event, both as a spectator or bidder/buyer.  When the wheels were finally in motion on Friday and Saturday, attendees saw nearly 100 years of production cross the block, with the earliest consignment dating back to 1923 and many modern day/future collector cars available too.

All told, the Lakeland Winter Collector Car Auction garnered nearly $4 million in total sales, with a 1964 Corvette ($90,950) moving as the top selling collector car.  In addition, another popular feature of the auction was the all-truck hour, which spanned 60+ minutes and more than two-dozen lots on Friday, February 25 at 1:30 p.m.  Every available all-truck hour slot was sold out, with many of them finding new homes by the end of the afternoon. 

“Thank you to all of the buyers, sellers, and spectators who made the Lakeland Winter Collector Car Auction part of their late February plans,” noted Tony Cline, Director of Auction Operations.  “Our team is looking forward to our next event, the Spring Carlisle Collector Car Auction, April 21-22 in Carlisle.  We’re actively accepting consignments now and registering bidders for the event,” continued Cline. 

Select lots even sold for charity, as two donated vehicles, mixed with a motorcycle, and Porsche themed bicycle crossed the block at 12 p.m. on Saturday, February 26.  The lots came to the event by way of Steve Muschlitz and Wheels from the Heart.  The sale and subsequent donations raised $15,000.  Wheels from the Heart is a south Florida based organization that provides road-worthy transportation to single mothers in need and this sale offers a big boost for them and their cause.

“It was great to once again work with Carlisle Auctions and their passionate bidder base in Lakeland,” noted Muschlitz.  “The lots we sold combined with donations accepted on-site tallied enough money to purchase two vehicles for our program, which we can donate in the near future to a single mother in need,” continued Muschlitz.  “I look forward to working with the Carlisle Auctions team in the near future and appreciate all of their help and support for our great organization.”

Finally, Carlisle Auctions reminds everyone that its next offering is in just over one month as part of the Spring Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market and Corral.  Spring Carlisle itself runs April 20-24, while the auction is April 21-22.  As noted by Cline, the opportunity to get involved with the auction is open and ongoing.  Call 717-960-6400 or visit CarlisleAuctions.com to learn more. 

Corvettes at Carlisle is celebrating its 40^th anniversary August 25-27 and for one vendor, it’s a coming out party of sorts.  Aerolarri Wheels is an Illinois based company that specializes in custom wheels, but it was Corvettes at Carlisle 2021 that served as a launchpad for Chet Baigh and his company.

Chet and Aerolarri Wheels began with original concepts dating back to his engineering classes in the late ‘90s.  If it’s a wheel, he’s reinvented it, from bicycle wheels to car wheels and everything in between. Now he’s also reinventing HOW wheels are sold. AEROLARRI combines unbeatable prices for true forged wheels, unique styles developed in-house, factory-direct logistics and even an augmented reality visualizer smartphone app. His forged creations aren’t specific to ONLY the Corvette, but for his presentation at Corvettes at Carlisle, the event audience will see a great mix of Corvette wheel options brought by the actual customers. In fact, Aerolarri can produce the largest range of sizes available for the Corvette with proven perfect fitment. Aerolarri will also be the NEW presenting sponsor for the popular People’s Choice contest (details forthcoming).

Aerolarri is more than wheels, as aero parts and exhaust systems are available, but wheels make the cars go and for one special Corvettes at Carlisle guest, a BRAND-NEW set of Monoblock Aerolarri Wheels.  As part of the annual People’s Choice contest, entrants will be judged and advance via votes on social media in the months leading up to Corvettes at Carlisle (starts May 1).  The monthly winners will appear in person at the event, with a top three announced, including a Best-of-Show.  Trophies are available for the top three, with the winner not only snagging the wheels, being featured in the 2023 event guide, and a FREE reserved Fun Field pass for 2023. The monoblock wheels will be made with the winner’s choice of style and to fit the specific winning Corvette, or car of the winner’s choice.

“I’ve been a Corvette guy my entire life, owning three, including building a Pro Touring C3 from a dragster,” noted Chet.  “My passions have driven me to found and support the largest C8 Corvette Facebook group and I’ve met so many great people along the way,” continued Chet.  “Last year, it was an honor to see the first set of C8 wheels I ever produced adorn the car of Carlton Phillips, who placed third in the People’s Choice contest.  This year, I look forward to meeting the new winner and gifting him with a set of our Monoblock Aerolarri Wheels.”

Corvettes at Carlisle is actively taking Fun Field registrations, vendor registrations, and selling discounted spectator tickets in advance of the August offering.  Planned displays include a 50-year look back at 1972 Corvettes, Chip’s Choice with a theme of Pratt & Miller Factory Corvette Race Cars, 35 years of Callaway Corvettes, the NCRS Gallery, and NCCC 7 Sanctions judging.  Learn more about the People’s Choice Contest, special displays, and get involved today by calling 717-243-7855 or online at CarlisleEvents.com.

In 2021, the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals showcased a team of female racers who, with the help of central Pennsylvania builder John Mickle, were planning to race at Baja in 2022!  That race is rapidly approaching and so is the 2022 iteration of the Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals.  Let's take a closer look at these ladies and their crew courtesy of Lyndsay Barna and WPMT FOX 43!  

Best of all, at least one of these cars and its race team will RETURN to Carlisle direct from Baja in time for the May 13-14 event.  Check out the video from Lyndsay and be sure to cruise to Carlisle in May to see the race car and its drivers in person!

Ladies of Baja - Watch the Story
Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals - Learn More
Register for the Showfield
Purchase Discounted Spectator Admission Tickets