2013 Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals Showcased International Cars, Guests, Seminars and More

CARLISLE, Pa. - May 19, 2013 - PRLog -- Step one to having a successful car-themed weekend for Carlisle Events, or any other company for that matter, is great weather.  With the 2013 Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals taking place during the weekend of May 17-19 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, the first and most important ingredient to a stellar weekend was in place!  Next, a good show needs a great array of cars and once more at Carlisle, some of the best import and kit cars from the mid-Atlantic and beyond converged on the region for the best event of its type.  Finally, with a combination of guests, seminars, special displays and live music, the weekend proved once again to be a hit; thrilling the nearly 20,000 patrons onsite.

Gates opened at 7 a.m. all three days and Friday started the weekend with a steady flow of traffic.  The showfield grew hourly as guests walked the grounds to visit some of the bigger groups like the Opel group, SAAB gathering and kit car locations.  In addition, seminars kept a bustling tent on the east side of the grounds filled hourly.  Music highlighted day one as well, with three bands playing on stage locations supported by the River 97.3.  The music filled the grounds with a certain ambience needed to best enjoy this unique automotive festival.  Swap meet vendors saw busy foot traffic too as aisle upon aisle of restoration and aftermarket merchandise was available to anyone who needed it.  Friday's fun continued downtown with a block party.  Live music emanated from the square of Carlisle and multiple local shops and restaurants saw a boom in business with visitors dining and shopping into the evening hours.

On Saturday, the morning arrival of cars seemed to last for hours.  Many of the same great activities and attractions from Friday continued, including autograph sessions with the legendary Peter Brock.  Brock's championship winning Datsun from the 1971 and 1972 was also there, coming directly from a museum in Tennessee.  Additional bands played the stage and the Susquehanna Region of the Sports Car Club of America presented its annual autocross offerings on Carlisle's six turn, 1/4 autocross track.  Saturday's highlight came at noon on the aforementioned autocross track.  Over 100 years of automotive history was in motion with parade laps from an 1897 De Dion Buton Trike as well as a 1998 Renault Sport-Spider.

Awards were doled out too with multiple car owners and groups recognized Sunday.  Awards went to the top three groups for kit and import clubs as well as a Coolest Club award.  There were Carlisle Elite selections issued based on Friday selections, a Kids Choice award and multiple cars earned a Standard of Excellence award following judging on Saturday.  Finally, the Passport Program returned and again exceeded expectations.  Grand prizes included weekend accommodations and grounds access for 2014 and via Great Country 107.7 WGTY, NASCAR tickets to the August Race at Pocono Speedway.

All of this import/kit fun returns to Carlisle next year with a return to the fairgrounds May 16-18, 2014.  British cars will be the primary feature and that means even more great displays.  Registration discounts will be available soon, including at Christmas with the annual Carlisle Events Holiday Sale.  For now, a post-event survey is available online as well as multiple event photos via the Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals Facebook page.