2015 Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals Start May 15

CARLISLE, Pa. - Feb. 17, 2015 - PRLog -- In late January and early February, Carlisle Events stepped onto a grand stage by presenting the Philly Face-Off at the Philadelphia Auto Show.  Half of the display was made of cars from “over the pond,” allowing imports of all backgrounds to be displayed in front of a large scale audience.  That part of the display in Philadelphia was just a small sampling of what guests should expect in May as part of the 2015 Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals.  This year’s show runs May 15-17 and features cars from more than a half a dozen different countries or regions.  As a special feature in 2015, Asian cars will be the focus as part of the Passport Program.

The Import and Kit Nationals have been a long standing staple at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, running annually since 1986.  This year’s show turns its spotlight on the Land of the Rising Sun with the Asian car feature, but will also host thousands of cars from European car makers.  Joining cars from abroad will be a unique selection of kit cars, as well as dune buggies.  Bruce Meyers, who is the originator of the dune buggy and also a loyal Carlisle fan, will be a part of this display.

Those who travel to Carlisle often find themselves cruising back out to enjoy a few hours within the scenic Cumberland Valley.  Between the onsite fun and off site options, car lovers drop the tops or roll down the windows of their ride to experience the covered bridges of Perry County, nearby apple country in Adams County, a drive along the Susquehanna River or a pass through the Gettysburg Battlefield.  The journey to the fairgrounds rival the destination.

When the cruising fun cools, cars at Carlisle are parked by country of origin and done so in a manner that best highlights each country’s automotive production.  There is a special indoor invitational display and a dozen car owners who chose to have their ride further evaluated and given the white glove treatment via the Standard of Excellence judged showfield.

In addition to the car displays are dozens of car clubs who bring an added level of enthusiasm to the show.  Those clubs, combined with more than a half dozen live music acts and hundreds of free prizes via the Passport Program make the event a true festival style weekend.  Club participation is growing in 2015, as a handful of new clubs plan on attending.  Of those new clubs, a handful back German car brands such as Porsche, VW and BMW.  With German cars being featured in 2016, this year’s show is a great way for the new group to get acclimated to such a fun filled event.

Carlisle even offers autocross which allows guests to push their rides to the limit on the custom-made course.  Further, a slew of swap meet vendors selling the pieces and parts needed to restore or enhance an imported classic give the weekend even more strength.  Joining them are some of the top vendors in the kit car hobby, making Carlisle THE go-to destination for parts and merchandise shopping.

Additional special guests can be found at Carlisle too.  Historically, they include significant contributors to the import and kit car hobbies and can be found at Carlisle presenting seminars, providing clinics, meeting fans and more.  In the coming weeks and months leading up to the show, those names will be announced via stand alone releases, the Carlisle Import & Kit Nationals web page or via Facebook.  Registration is also now open for those looking to secure a vending space, sell within the car corral or simply show as part of the always eclectic showfield layout.  As an added bonus, a 10% discount is available for anyone hoping to show a car and registers prior to the April 13 “Gate-N-Go” deadline.