The weather may have been rainy, but there was sunshine over the kit car industry during three days of excitement at the '03 Kit Car Nationals at the Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Fairgrounds.
The largest kit car show in America, Carlisle, a picturesque rural hamlet in Central-Pennsylvania, brought in 17,500 spectators and was home to 48 kit car vendors and some 1,100 cars-105 of them, bona fide kits. While Cobras were in the majority (about 60 of them), 7 were 917Ks, 4 Healeys, 3 MGTDs, 1 Sebring, and 30 "miscellaneous" kits. It was under the miscellany that the industry really soared, as debuts were the order of the day.
Leading the excitement in the debut arena were the fabulous Noble of Noble of 1G Racing; the awesome and elegant new Lola T-70 of CanAm Exotics, formerly The Chassis Shop; K-1's exciting new Attack (represented by Euro-Works); the Spycar Stylus; the Indy Street Car; and the Power Performance Cobra. Also on hand for the first time were B&B's new '32 Ford, Regal Roadsters' '57 T-bird, and the unfinished Lanocha and Kokopelli.
The FFR Spyder GT made its second showing (the first was at the AHA Knott's Berry Farm show), as did the F-40 Motors S-40 Silhouette and the MG of Alternative Cars.
The KIT CAR Magazine Editor's Choice Car of the Show came down to the three most awesome debut cars at the event: the Noble, the Lola T-70, and the Attack. It was a tough choice and a narrow decision. However, based on the fact that the magnificent 1G Racing Noble would undergo a slight nose and headlight change and be offered as a turnkey or turnkey-minus rather than a component car and that the innovative K-1 Attack had some Honda interior that was sweet but not brand new, the trophy and honors went to the all-new, thrilling, stylish, and sleek Lola T-70 from CanAm Exotics. John Gyann, its developer, became the first person to win two KIT CAR Editor's Choice awards, as he also won one at the '02 Run and Gun for his Mustang GT350.
Among the clubs in attendance were the Avenger-Valkyrie Register, Bradley GT Car Club, Capital Area Cobra Club, Chesapeake Area Roadsters, and New Jersey Replicar Club.
The show field featured vintage and newer-model British, European, and Asian vehicles; kit and replica vehicles; a car corral featuring all sorts of imported vehicles for sale; new kit, specialty, and replicar manufacturers; and a vintage import swap meet. Carlisle Events teamed with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) to expand the driving activities that were introduced at the show last year. Attendees took part in the SCCA driving school, where advanced driving techniques were taught. Afterwards, guests were able to try out those techniques on the course.
The '04 edition of the Carlisle Import-Kit/Replicar Nationals takes place May 21-23, 2004. For more information, call the Carlisle Events Hotline at (717) 243-7855, or visit www.carsatcarlisle.com.
Rain or shine, it's a "sunshine" event with a bright future.