MoPars as far as the eye can see at the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals
Carlisle Events
Carlisle, PA – MoPar enthusiasts have a pretty good idea of what they’ll experience at the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals, but it’s usually a little closer to showtime (July 12-14, 2024) when they get to learn about who they’ll have the opportunity to interact with at the show. While the displays this year are a home run at every turn, the gallery of guests is more like a grand slam.
Gates open at 7 AM each day and as showgoers flock to the largest all-MoPar themed automotive flea market and Showfield, they’ll want to carve out time to mix and mingle with some of their favorite guests too. Guests include Dave Rea, from MotorTrend TV, Mark “Fletch” Fletcher, host of Australian based TV show Classic Restos, Claudia Abel, Ms. Direct Connection 1984, Buddy Martin, of the legendary Sox & Martin drag racing team, Herb McCandless, legendary drag racer and Mopar genius, Paul Rossi, drag racer and Mr. Direct Connection, and Nick Panaritis, host of Nick’s Garage on YouTube.
Each guest brings a unique perspective and diverse resume to Carlisle.
Dave Rea: Dave Rea was featured on five seasons of a popular MoPar restoration show on MotorTrend TV and you can meet him at the show this year. Dave has a couple of autograph sessions scheduled in the Autograph Tent and he’ll be part of the panel in the Restorers’ Roundtable seminar on Friday. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet one of the nicest and most knowledgeable Mopar guys around!
Mark Fletcher: Decades-long TV host of Classic Restos. Fletch is a true car guy and has traveled the world in search of great content and stories. This isn’t his first time at Carlisle, but it’s his first in many years. Fletch will roam the show all weekend looking for individual vehicles to feature as well as covering the overall event.
Claudia: It’s been 40 years since Claudia was Ms. Direct Connection, but for those who had “the poster” in the ‘80s, it’s fair to say that she’s just as popular today as she was when MTV was cool. This year’s autograph session with Claudia features a photo of her doing a split across two Superbird wings! Not bad for a woman with six kids who also has about 10 years of life on the cars she’s posed with.
Ronnie Martin: Courtesy of the McCandless Collection, Buddy Martin will appear at the show on Friday and Saturday. Buddy will spend most of his time in the McCandless Collection on the Midway (space IG 109-126). Buddy and Herb McCandless will be there most of the weekend to meet fans, sign autographs, and more. In addition, guests can expect some Sox & Martin merchandise in the McCandless Collection display, too.
Herb McCandless: Herb has been coming to Carlisle for decades, and not necessarily as a celebrity. Herb comes as an enthusiast as much as anyone. He shares his cars, his stories and his knowledge at the show. Herb is planning to bring some cars to showcase, ranging from race cars to street cars and from the ‘70s back to the ‘50s.
Paul Rossi: Paul is one of the few racers who has had a successful career in more than one form of motorsports. He spent the first part of his career going fast in a straight line then switched to road racing, which is an entirely different discipline. Beyond his time in the seat, Paul also did a lot for racing and the automotive industry behind the scenes. Meet Paul at Carlisle and see his latest version of his famous Direct Connection 1970 Challenger.
Nick Panaritis: Watching Nick’s YouTube channel is kind of like hanging out in his garage on a Saturday night. Instead of two or three guys learning from a smart guy, more than 250,000 people are following Nick’s Garage, making him able to share his knowledge with a lot more people. He’ll have six display cars and an engine with him too.
Each guest is easily accessible and open to posing for photos, signing autographs, or answering any and all questions related to the automotive hobby and their respective careers. In each instance, the interaction and experience is FREE once on grounds. Spectator admission tickets are discounted online in advance and Showfield registration is available online through Monday, July 8, and in person thereafter. To learn more and make plans to attend, visit CarlisleEvents.com or call 717-243-7855 today.
Carlisle Events, celebrating 50 years in 2024, 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), and the SUN ‘n FUN Expo Campus (Lakeland, FL). The season schedule includes automotive flea markets of varying sizes, multiple 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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