Could this be the line for...
Could this be the line for the restrooms, or maybe these people are patiently waiting for a chance to see some rare Ford drag racing iron? No, they're a bunch of hungry people at the Boss Cars National event, held within the All-Ford Carlisle show, waiting their turn for some good old-fashioned barbeque on Saturday evening. The Boss Nationals had more than 275 Boss 302 Mustangs and Cougars, and Boss 351 and 429 Mustangs in attendance of just about every color and model year built from low-mileage concours to tricked-out restomod.
It's been a few years since I've had the good fortune of attending the Carlisle All-Ford Nationals, and I'm here to tell you it was another great year at the Carlisle fairgrounds. Sure, there was a bit of rain, but as usual it was far from a deterrent for the Ford faithful that attended.
Going to the same show year after year can sometimes get a little old, but when it comes to the All-Ford Carlisle show, it never does. Every year we've attended there's been something new to see or do. Whether it's the interesting and rare vehicles found in Building T, the special invitational guests, the hundreds upon hundreds of Fun Field participants, or the rows and rows of new and used parts deals, you'll always have a great time.
Some people think attending the Carlisle show is only for people that are looking for hard-to-find parts. While it's true there are interesting and rare parts to be found walking the rows of vendors, there's also so much more offered amongst the Carlisle fairgrounds and surrounding communities that you owe it to yourself to attend the Carlisle All-Ford show if you've never been. The Women's Oasis tent has bingo, wine tasting, massages, and manicures for the ladies (and it's air conditioned too!). There are also seminars, drag racing, a beauty contest, children's activities, and more on the fairgrounds. Did we mention there are a lot of display cars and parts to be seen too?
Take a long weekend and spend a few days sightseeing in the area. There's much to offer in the area, such as Gettysburg, which is rich in civil war history. In Gettysburg you can visit the Gettysburg National Military Park, see the sight of the Gettysburg Address, and even General Robert E. Lee's headquarters. There's also Hershey Park in neighboring Hershey, where you can ride roller coasters and tour the Hershey chocolate factory. Maybe you'd like to take a ride on a riverboat cruise down the historic Susquehanna River. There's also plenty of antique districts and outlet shopping. There's truly something for everyone in the family. Check out our photos for a recap of this year's All-Ford show.
Each year Carlisle Events...
Each year Carlisle Events places emphasis on a certain marque or model, usually coinciding with an anniversary or other special circumstances. This year's highlight was the 50th anniversary of the Ford Thunderbird. A special "evolution" display was created showing one model from each year of production. It was really interesting to see the styling changes from year to year, and to see where the T-Bird started, and how it progressed through its build time.
The Merkur Club of America...
The Merkur Club of America (www.merkurclub.com) hoped for over 200 of the European built/U.S. sold cars, and they hit 236 XR4Ti and Scorpio models from every year. While the XR4Ti was originally powered by the 2.3 turbo engine from the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, this one had a nice small-block Ford transplant in it. The Merkur might be a bit too new for our magazine, but the oldest U.S. models are now hitting 20 years old.
If you're any sort of Torino...
If you're any sort of Torino fan you have to smile when you see the Starsky & Hutch models. There was well over a dozen on display this year, and many of the "Zebra Threes" looked like they were ready for their close-up.
If it's parts you're looking...
If it's parts you're looking for, there's no doubt you'll find it at Carlisle. I distinctly remember trying to stuff my '66 Mustang's woodgrain steering wheel in the airplane's overhead compartment after buying it at Carlisle one year. This vendor had small-block ford short-blocks in various displacements and options ready for your induction and heads. There's plenty of EFI stuff around the show grounds for anyone considering a conversion as well.
Revelation Racing Supplies...
Revelation Racing Supplies (RRS) spoke at one of Carlisle's technical seminars, sponsored by Mustang Monthly and Mustang & Fords magazines. Jeff Ford, past editor, now heads up the U.S. division of RRS and was the speaker at the seminar.
The silver hardtop on display...
The silver hardtop on display at the RRS booth features the full brace of RRS suspension goodies, trick paint and wheels, and more. Look for a full feature on this car in an upcoming issue.