Mopar Madness Invades the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds in 2015

CARLISLE, Pa. - April 13, 2015 - PRLog -- There are 13 shows on the annual Carlisle Events schedule and each have a distinct personality.  The answer varies per staff member, but many will say that the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals is their favorite show of the year.  It’s not just the cars or the people, but the whole of the weekend that makes it so enjoyable.  This year’s show runs July 10-12 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and as it usually does, honors the past, present and future of the brand.  Chrysler weekend draws nearly 50,000 guests and some 2,500+ cars, while also serving as an outlet for an international audience to converge to buy, sell and trade all things Mopar.

When you’re talking big Mopar events, you’re talking Carlisle and the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals.  Biggest showfield?  Check!  Largest all-Mopar themed swap meet? Check!  A die-hard base of car crazies from around the world?  You got it!  As you can see, Chrysler weekend at Carlisle is about more than cars in a field, it is about a rich and storied history of cars, car owners, car parts and the minds behind the machines.  This year’s show will not only showcase some of the best new products available to consumers, it will honor Forward Look cars, the Dodge and Plymouth Neon twins, the 1970 AAR ‘Cudas & Challenger T/As and introduce guests to the next wave of Mopar Hall of Famers.

Though not officially a show day, the fun starts Thursday with a must-attend activity.  As the sun starts to set on the scenic Cumberland Valley, show goers will cruise to the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center for a kick-off party backed by the Mopar Rebellion Car Club.  While there, they can enjoy music, food and even some beer samples by nearby establishment, Market Cross Pub.  The pub also plays a key role in this year’s show, as beginning at 8 p.m. on the same Thursday night, guests can enjoy a special brew made just for the show.  This tapping takes place as the kick off is winding down and is a great way to start an evening on the town with friends and family.

Once the gates open at 7 a.m. Friday, thousands will pass through to check out a handful of highlights.  Friday hosts Collector Car Appreciation Day, a national day of recognition and also keeps the fun going into the night with the Autocross Real Street Shootout.  In between, attendees will turn back the clock to 1955 for the Forward Look Reunion. This display features cars that were designed by Virgil Exner and covers cars that were unique for their time and spanned from 1955-1961.  With Exner going into the aforementioned Mopar Hall of Fame, it’s only natural that his son represent him at Carlisle as part of this showcase.  These cars helped shape automotive history and a nice collection are gathering for the show.

Speaking of cars that helped shape the hobby, two other unique displays couldn’t be more different, yet still hold a historical place within the hobby.  The Carlisle Chrysler Nationals honor 45 years of the 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda and 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A.  Each was built for one year only to allow Dodge and Plymouth to compete in the Trans Am series and just over 2,000 of each rolled off the assembly line.  All cars were equipped with the 340 small block with the Six Pak (Dodge) and Six Barrel (Plymouth) induction system. The history of this car is well-known within the hobby, so seeing them in person will speak volumes more than lots of text. Catch the display in and around Building Y for some of the best examples of these cars, some rare optioned cars, rare colors and hopefully one or two of the original race cars.  In addition, Barry Washington of the T/A Registry and Jeff Bangert of the Cuda Registry will do several open discussions with Q&A throughout the weekend.

The other cool feature is a 20 year look back at the Dodge Neon.  What started as an economy car designed to be fuel efficient has turned into a cult following that will get much deserved recognition this summer.  Neons will be featured at the show as part of their dedicated Showfield and due to the fact almost all Neons are driven to the show, this display will be located under a tent in the Neon area of the Showfield.

Other popular draws are the Survivors tent, Ramchargers Race Team, Golden Commandos, Mopar Alley on the Midway, special ride and drive experiences, the big swap meet and more.  Complete event details, including how to register, can be found at www.CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.