2020’s changes didn’t hinder success of Corvettes at Carlisle

Carlisle, PA – Corvettes at Carlisle presented by Top Flight Automotive (www.topflightautomotive.com) did what it always does, showcased the past, present and future of the Corvette brand. For 2020, while things looked and felt a little different, the reality was that for everyone who came to Carlisle, it was status quo and three-plus days of Corvette themed fun. To put it a different way, even during the worst of times, the event was still the biggest all-Corvette themed offering in the world. The first Corvette on the Fun Field arrived three days before the event started, but once things officially got up and running (August 27-30), many, many more joined.

Thursday ushered in the cars, the people and the excitement plus a nice mix of automotive flea market vendors. Day one afforded guests the chance to see special displays like the 50-year 1970 feature and Chip’s Choice in Building T. For the 2020 Chip’s Choice display, Bloomington Gold took the lead, populating the building with cars that were previous Benchmark award winners, while also promoting their upcoming September event at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This impeccable Corvette gallery was one of the most photographed aspects of the weekend. In fact, between Chip’s Choice and the nice array of C8’s onsite, guests had plenty of photo options.

The C8 wasn’t the only generation of Corvette to turn heads. From early era solid axle production to a bevy of C7s, the packages, styles and look of each and every ride was worth the price of admission. Decades of excellence didn’t just show, they were also in motion. Friday and Saturday hosted a Corvette cruise around the grounds, there were open autocross runs with the Cumberland Valley Corvette Club, Lingenfelter Performance backed the King of the X autocross shootout Saturday and 14 Corvette owners took part in the first-ever rolling exhaust contest.

Another key element to event weekend was support for the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation. Every day saw Judy Miller, wife of the late Chip Miller, and various family members staffing the CMAF tent. Here, they took donations and shared information on the foundation. In addition, the C8 Corvette that would be given away on August 29 was on display too. Further, on stage Friday and Saturday at 11 a.m. each day, Dr. Joe Abal, long time CMAF supporter, held court as an auctioneer as the CMAF auctioned off over a dozen items; all in the name of charity.

Finally, Saturday wrapped with an afternoon medley of awards and recognition. Beginning at 4 p.m. various winners throughout the weekend were honored, including the largest club, King of the X, People’s Choice, Spring Mountain Motor Resort giveaway and the CMAF Sweepstakes C8 giveaway. Further, the day fully concluded with an awards parade. Here, a few dozen car owners who stuck around after the rains picked up their plaque, posted for photos and more.

While 2020 is a wrap, 2021 is already in the planning stages. Chip’s Choice is planning a salute to first-responders, there will be a 1971/50-year reunion showcase, Paul Koerner returns with more amazing diagnostic sessions, parts shopping on the midway, within the automotive flea market and more. Save the date, because Corvettes at Carlisle runs August 26-28 (Thursday-Saturday), 2021. Learn more at www.CarlisleEvents.com.

Carlisle Events is a partner or producer of over a dozen annual collector car/truck events. Events are held at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds (Carlisle, PA), Allentown Fairgrounds (Allentown, PA), the Sunset Auction Facility (Sarasota, FL) and the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus (Lakeland, FL). The season schedule includes four automotive flea markets of varying size, five auctions, as well as individual specialty shows featuring Corvettes, Fords, GMs, Chryslers, trucks, imports, tuners and performance sport compacts. Founded in 1974 by friends Bill Miller and Chip Miller, events hosted at Carlisle attract enthusiasts annually from all corners of the globe. More information is available at www.CarlisleEvents.com or www.CarlisleAuctions.com.

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