Is Going to the Carlisle Kit Car Show Worth the Time??

Are you kidding??

- This is the LARGEST Kit car show on the East Coast for the entire season.

- Every year the Carlisle show attracts the top tier of kit and parts manufacturers/suppliers for the industry. Last year, for Speedsters and Spyders alone, we had owners or reps attending from JPS, Beck and Intermeccanica, as well as numerous parts vendors (like the Bug Shop). For the other kits we had people from Factory Five Racing, ERA, Gullwing Factory, V8 Archie, the Lambo Shop, Easy Rods, Unique Motorcars, Deman Motorsport - the list goes on and on.

The Speedster/Spyder Group has had the largest kit car group at the Carlisle show for the past fours and we expect to cop it again THIS year! Typically, we have in excess of 50 Speedsters/Spyders attend for a weekend full of fun and happenings. If you are thinking of doing something on your car and wish to see how someone else may have done it, THIS is the place to go and talk with others who are doing things on their cars like yours.

Here is the schedule for Speedsters Meet Spyders, 2008:

Thursday, May 15

Earl Bird arrival at the Ramada Limited, starting around noon
5:30PM Group Departure for Dinner Cruise
Cruise Leader:

Hotel Reservations:
We have reserved a block of rooms at the Ramada Limited in Carlisle. Reservation info is below:
You may cancel up until 6pm of the scheduled arrival date.

If you are arriving on Thursday, an $89.95 rate applies, although the show rate of $119.95 will apply for Friday and the weekend (weekends are always at a premium).

We are under the name "SPEEDSTER GROUP"

Is Going to the Carlisle Kit Car Show Worth the Time??

Gordon forgot to mention a big reason to come (or not to come) --- I and the Lovely Miss Sharon will be there ... just to help keep the peace around Jim Ignacio (MUSBJIM). Someone has to protect you all!!!

Happy Trails,
Dusty

Correction: The paltry sum for admission to the Carlisle Fairgrounds is $20.

Oops!

Bill's right, but those 20 Simolians will get you, your guest AND your car onto the show field for the entire weekend!

How can you beat THAT?!?!?!?!?

But Wait, There's MORE! Registrants also get a Carlisle Goodie Bag with a whole bunch of neat stuff, like car detailing stuff, tire black, chamois cloths and discount coupons, all worth more than the registration fee, so, in a way, registration is FREE!

And don't forget the "Speedsters Meet Spyders, Egg Sammich Eat-in!!" (other foods available, from Vegan to Southern...Come on down!!)

Not to mention the possibility of the Great Announcement by Cory and Teresa

Awwww. Crap. I was looking forward to the weekend.
Now I know I have to take another bag of freebie goodies? Not happening. I'll give it away if we come at all.

On a related note, we commissioned a ring set to be made last night at the local jeweler. We're not the typical off-the-shelf kind of kids; they balked a little when I asked if they could powdercoat the gold to orange and set a VW headlight into the engagement ring. ...

And believe this folks, I'll have a just completed speedster there that I will actually own and not..... be one that has the stealth For Sale Sign i.e the usual "Carlisle $pecial" ~Alan

Ceramic Coated Celtic Knots?

The best reason to go to the Carlisle show is...........the Carlisle show.

The second best reason is to talk up our second annual tour of the smokies, Oct 10-13 !! Let's go for 25 plus cars this fall !

The powder-coated orange clashes with my skin tone, so I'm having my left hand tatooed to a more olive shade.

But in all seriousness, I'm TOTALLY looking forward to everything at Carlisle.

OK, here's the list of sign-ups as of Tuesday, March 11'th:

Here's the list, as of Tuesday, March 11'th:
Anderson, Lane Mount Pleasant, SC
Billesbach, Greg Phoenixville, Pa.
Campbell, Gerry Ashburn, VA
Canty, Tom Kingston, MA
Chupp, Leon Gainsville, GA
Cimbrec, Rocky Budd Lake, NJ
Crosby Jack Hot Springs, AR
DeWalt, Tom Easton, PA
Drake, Cory Hanover, MD
Drayer, Bill Harrisburg, PA
Fish, Ron Hilton, NY
Frazer, Kelley Highland, MD
Hallstrand, John Loudon, TN
Haskins, Kevin Charleston, SC
Hines Carey Bremen, IN
Ignacio Jim and Ginny Los Angeles, CA
Johnson Dusty Colorado
Macklin Karl Silver Springs, MD
McKelvey, Mike Somewhere in Maryland
McQueen, Daniel Hannon, Ont.
Merklin Alan Chambersburg, PA
Nichols Chris Grafton, MA
Nichols, Gordon Beaufort, SC
Piperato Daniel Wallkill, NY 12589
Reisner Henry Vancouver, BC
Rich Paul Baltimore, MD
Rose Bob Reading, PA
Seitz Gregory (Wolfgang)
Shapiro Al New Jersey
Stumpp Bruce Phoenix, MD
Weyand John Carrollton, OH

I know that there are other Speedster owners in the Carolinas besides Kevin and me. C'mon, guys, you don't know what you're missing. Ya gotta come to this!

Hey, I didn't see Stacy Campbell, Jody Christianson, Dale Schumacher, to name a few, on the list. C'mon Mr. Cochrane, we need Monsieur Directeur to bring the movie camera AND the beautiful Josee!
I still see a lot of names missing. (JOE)!
Oh, and I sure would love a ride in a certain Kubelwagen this year

~WB

Stacey Campbell hasn't been on his email in over a year. I just forwarded Gordon's announcement email to his wife and they should respond in the next few days. I know they are registered at the hotel. We'll see them Sunday evening and will remind them then.

For anyone who owns a Speedster or is thinking about owning one - Carlisle is the can't miss event of the year. Come out and join us!

Gordon,
Add me to the list!
I am signed up for Thursday through Saturday night and will leave Sunday morning. Put me on the dinner list as well. Don't know if one of my sons is coming yet.
Still don't have a Speedster - was hoping to find my ride by now, but the job situation ( construction ) is tuff right now and I need to hold on to my speedster funds for a rainy day fund till things get better. So... you guys will have to put up w/ my MG TD for one more year - no yelling please. At least it is VW based - same underneath - just the shell is different.
I may try to hook up w/ the southern group ( Lane etc. ) out west VA if possible - will let you guys know. Otherwise maybe Wolfgang?
You going to have your car ready?
Looking forward to seeing you guys again.
Gordon - my email - dlschu42@comcast.net - I could not find yours
Dale

Gordan,
To late for the Harley tour?

Everyone: click on the highlighted "nichols1" near my profile info (next to this post) to get my email address (just remove the "ANTIVIRAL" letters and it'll be fine).

Might be too late on the Harley tour, but that's up to Kelly Frazer - He's keeping that list. I'm sure he'll be poking around here and may either have a spot or a waiting list (there is a limit of 20 so the tour guide doesn't need to use a bull horn to reach those at the back (ask me how I know....) His list is for FRIDAY morning. If you're an early bird and wish to do a Harley tour on Thursday, Kelly can tell you how to do that, too.

Dale: Glad to have you again this year. That's a sharp TD you have and you're more than welcome to join us. I have you down for a single at each dinner, so please let me know by May 1'st if you have any additions and I'll pop the lists.

You other Southwest or West fence-sitters (once called "Mug-Wumps" in one of the presidential elections in the 1800's) may want to come forward and let us know you're coming, as Jack Crosby and his wife are coming up from down in Arkansas and he's actively looking for someone to motor along with. I'm too far East, as is most of the Southeast Caravan and he'll be driving for a day before reaching the "Hoss Drive" out of Eastern Tennessee, so he's still looking...

Anybody out there coming in from East Texas/Arkansas or point Southwest?? He's a little South of Little Rock, AR close to I-40 or I-30 and wants company on his trip. He may drop out if he doesn't find someone to travel with....That would be a shame, as I've asked him to give us all a travelogue of his trip at the Saturday evening dinner =>(

Thanks, Gordon

Just a word of caution to anybody coming east on I-40: A section of this route will be closed in downtown Knoxville beginning May 1st and continuing until June of 2009....:-( The detour will be clearly marked, branching off I-40 / I-75 on to I-640 and then connecting to I-275 and back to I-40. This will bypass the closed section of the road.

Not a big deal, I hope.
Happy Motoring!
Hoss

OK folks, the count for Fri is at 20, so that might be about it. Believe there will be plenty of availability for a Thursday tour, done on your own. The HD website will tell you all about it. For a complete list of who I think is coming, pls see the HD tour thread, in Events.

All--I am wondering if anyone on the site has info as to what other car groups are attending carlisle. Such as the MG or Cobra or just whatever others that will be there. This might help some of us who live in the hinterlands to hook up with others who may be making the drive. I'll caravan with a Myers Manx if that's all I can arrange!!

So?---jack

Or even a Spyder!!-Jack

Jack: There is a bunch of different groups that attend. As this is the Import/Kit show, tons of import groups attend. Volvo, Saab, Citroen, Subaru, Mg, Triumph, Austin and a few others to name a few on the import side. I imagine if you google and lurk on some of these other forums you might get a bite. Carlisle's website has a forum also for each show.

Carlisle is worth going to just for the people on this site. The cars are just an added bonus...

angela (gonna go someday...)

Make someday this year. C'mon, you and Steve catch a flight and join us.

angela,

MUSBJIM is coming ALL THE WAY FROM CALIFORNIA. SWA -- bong -- you are now free to move about the country. You can do it.

Good friends, speedsters, more speedsters, egg sammiches, more sammiches, great dinners and .........BEER.

Mmmmmmm..... Beeeeeeer.......

"BBUUUURRRP!!!"

Alan -

I hope you're bringing your own bar-stool...

Jim - Are you towing the bar stool behind the Speedy?

Jim... at one time, I was going to build one of these !
I live just 35 minutes from Carlisle I usually commute over the weekend. However this year, I have the three day Ramada Special reserved in just case I should elect to over indulge :)

I think I will bring an extra set of luggage straps ... just to tie Jim and Alan together to keep them out of trouble !!! :-)

Dusty

Bwwwwaaaaa!

Wasn't going to show this just yet Jim....
1000cc 35 hp 5 speed Yamaha Virago Ciller Kart... full funny car style roll cage, independent suspension, disc brakes, R & P steering, most components were hand machined for this 5 year long project. It will have to sit until after I complete my speedster project for Carlisle to find the time to put the finishing touches into it.

Except for the yellow, that looks damningly familiar.

...HOLY CRAP!!!!! You'll need a G-suit to stay conscious when you're driving that beast!!

Geez, Alan, why not just mount a Speedster body on that? It sure looks like it could handle it. Love those exhaust pipes!

Looks like the "HOOPTY" has been sowing some wild oats........

WOW!!! Son Of Hoopty!!! I didn't think of that.