Are we living in the “golden age” of Corvette?
Chalk it up to our deep-seated love of nostalgia, but we often think of the golden age as somewhere in our distant past. But, if you go by Corvettes at Carlisle’s record-breaking attendance numbers, you might think differently.
Granted, the Corvette faithful has trekked to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in solid numbers in the past. Usually, though, it’s when a new generation is debuting, such as the seventh & eighth generation offerings from Bowling Green.
We could pull up a bar stool and speculate for hours about why this was a year for record attendance. But at the end of the day, the chart-topping numbers speak for themselves.
The official Fun Field attendance reached 2,926 Corvettes, which beat out 2019’s record year.
Gates opened at 7 a.m. on Thursday the 25th for the three-day celebration, and you could already see the signs that this would be something special. An anxious line of Vettes was forming to get into the fairgrounds before the morning sun’s first rays peaked over the horizon.
Judging by the license plates, Corvette enthusiasts from nearly 40 states made the journey. Also in the attendance tally were some adventurous souls from Canada and the Netherlands.
So, combining that many Vette lovers with three full days of activities give you a proven recipe for fun.
Autographs & Autocross
If you are an autograph hound, Corvettes of Carlisle has historically been ground-zero for you. This year was no exception. Among the legends of Corvette in attendance included Tadge Juechter, Pete Callaway and his dad Reeves, and Ken Lingenfelter, just to drop a few names.
On the knowledge front, seminars seemed to go constantly throughout the day. GM Master Technician Paul Koerner and his Corvette Mechanic team shared their knowledge with in-depth discussions for eager attendees.
Team Chevrolet was there in force, disseminating nuggets of wisdom and valuable insights from their General Motors tent. The not-to-be-missed walk-around presentation of the new C8 Z06 and 70th Anniversary C8 Corvette were well-attended affairs as you would expect.
Competitions were also a big part of the show, including People’s Choice & Best of Show awards presented by Aerolarri Wheels. For those with more motion in mind, there was a King of the X autocross presented by Lingenfelter Performance with awards presented by Ken Lingenfelter.
On a more raucous note, a rolling exhaust contest got everyone’s attention and turned many a head.
Chip’s Choice collection this year held six Pratt & Miller Factory Racing Corvettes for racing history buffs. Also not to be missed was a beautiful 35th gathering of Callaway cars with Pete Callaway and his father Reeves Callaway on hand sharing stories and answering questions.
The National Corvette Restoration Society and the National Corvette Council of Clubs parked some of the finest examples of classic Corvettes under their tents.
Fund Raising & Parade
While Corvettes of Carlisle is a celebration of the Corvette lifestyle, it’s also a chance to come together in support of the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation. Amyloidosis is a rare disease that occurs when a protein called amyloid builds up in organs.
This disease ultimately took Chip’s life in March of 2004. On Friday, the foundation held its annual benefit dinner to remember Chip, the creator of Corvettes of Carlisle, and raise funds to help science find a cure.
All told, their efforts raised nearly $40,000 through donations, door prizes, and raffles. In addition, via a partnership with the Lancaster County Corvette Club, a 2022 2LT Corvette C8 was awarded.
On Saturday afternoon, everything wrapped up with an awards presentation on the main stage. From there, nearly 500 Corvettes made their way to downtown Carlisle for the always-fun Corvette parade and street party.
An estimated crowd of nearly 5,000 spectators, including many children, watched in wide-eyed wonderment as these rolling works of art slowly filed by them.
Planning For The 2023 Event
We can only imagine the work and coordination it takes to host the largest Corvette gathering in the world. But, not surprisingly, the planning for the 2023 event has already commenced.
For 2023 this event will run from August 24th to the 26th. The show will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of 1973 Corvettes and have NCCC 7-Sanctions judging, the NCRS Gallery, and a TBA Chip’s Choice display.
Registration is now open, and complete info will be forthcoming online at CarlisleEvents.com.
We suggest that if you want to stay close to the action, you should book your rooms early. 2023 could easily be another record-breaking event at Corvettes at Carlisle.
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