Some say Carlisle wouldn't be Carlisle without wind, rain, and cold temperatures. Having covered the event the last two years, we can't assert this is so for the entire 23 years that the Carlisle Import-Kit/Replicar Nationals has taken place. However, we're two for two in terms of delighting in the vagaries of what Mother Nature has to throw at us intrepid handbuilt and import automotive enthusiasts.
On the eve of the event, driving south on Route 81 to our hotel, we realized we weren't lost when we saw a parade of Porsche Speedster and Spyder replicas just ahead of us. Though it was 9 p.m., these roadster owners thought nothing of bombing down the highway at 60-plus mph, some without the benefit of a top, side curtains, or a heater. Seeing these spectacular creations at speed reminded us that kits and replicars are built for driving, showing, and enjoying. Other factions of the old car hobby don't necessarily subscribe to such a point of view. Many vintage custom trucks don't have freshly replaced odometers that ever show four digits traveled. The same can be said for show street rods, muscle machines, concours museum pieces, and exotic sports cars.
What we're getting at is that even though Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is situated at just the right longitude and latitude to facilitate moment-by-moment changes in temperature and weather, these conditions don't seem to detract from this venerable kit/replicar and import show. We reckon the manufacturers would want to exhibit regardless. Pretty much all the companies want to show off new cars and components, whether they're premiering brand-new models or bringing out freshly finished existing kits. Car owners, some of whom have been feverishly fabricating their four-wheeled works of art over the winter, are anxious to get their cars out on the open road and make it to the Carlisle Nats. Let's face it, premiering a new build or restoration at an indoor show isn't the same as exhibiting for the first time in the great outdoors.
Kit car aficionados make the...
Kit car aficionados make the pilgrimage to the Carlisle Nats each year. Like this club of dune buggy owners, they're grouped together by the Carlisle show team, which makes the viewing of these homebuilt machines all the more enjoyable for spectators and participants.
For those automotive designers and engineers who have dreamed of developing a new kit from the ground up and may have manufactured a working prototype, Carlisle is the place to see if these car builder dreams can become a viable business, either as a supplier to existing companies, or as a fledgling manufacturer. In fact, we were approached by several starry-eyed entrepreneurs who wanted to show KIT CAR their creations. Some of what we saw confirmed a positive impression we'd made from seeing press releases and vehicle prototype photos. In a few cases, we looked at new vehicles for the first time that also appeared to have good fit and finish and to be well engineered. We look forward to learning whether these new vehicles will earn a place in the kit and replicar realm. Rest assured, we'll supply all the information on these new projects at the appropriate time.
The Carlisle show may not at this point encompass the largest gathering of kit and replicars. But it still offers the most variety of kit and replicars on hand. It's also the only show that has an expansive representation of import cars on exhibit, from vintage Citroens, to exotic Lamborghinis, to everything in between, with the possible exception of the generally disreputable Yugo (thank goodness). What's more, the swap-meet section of the show is the kind of vintage and new auto component nirvana many of us remember rummaging through with our dads when we were miniature gearheads in training. Each and every Carlisle swap meet aisle holds the prospect of treasure discovery for vintage or kit/replicar enthusiasts from here to the round ends of the earth. Many of us could spend the entire event on this sort of automotive treasure hunt, and all of our life savings if we're not careful.
The last thing that makes Carlisle so special simply can't be experienced by reading this article or by viewing all the photos. It's the food. The fairgrounds food is to die for. If you haven't had those tasty little ham sandwiches with the ham that's so thinly sliced and fresh it dissolves in your mouth, you haven't lived. And if you're a strict vegetarian, you could still make a meal out of the Shoe Fly Pie, which is a delectable concoction of brown sugar and butter. But then, that wouldn't necessarily be a healthy choice for every meal (maybe every other).
Feast your eyes on what makes the Carlisle Nats the place to be in May right here in KC. Also, be sure to check out the expanded coverage on our Web site, www.kitcarmag.com. If you simply have to try those sandwiches and the chicken corn soup for yourself, the 2009 Carlisle Import-Kit/Replicar Nationals will be held May 15 through May 17. For still more information on this year's shindig and all the Carlisle events, visit www.carlisle.com.
 A Grand Sport Coupe, a Grand...  A Grand Sport Coupe, a Grand Sport roadster, two GTPs, and a Grand Sport chassis made up the impressive Mongoose Motorsports' outdoor display. |  KC first introduced readers...  KC first introduced readers to the EM578 sports/racing machine in the Replicar Scene section of the May '08 issue. As promised by EM Motors founder Eric Barge, the phenomenal-looking road burner premiered at the '08 Nats. For more information on EM Motors, visit www.emmotorsllc.com. |  The oldest Cobra replica company...  The oldest Cobra replica company in the universe, Unique Motorcars, had a cadre of impeccable 427SC and 289FIA roadsters on hand, including the Le Mans hardtop-equipped 289FIA in the foreground. |
 One happy Carlisle show attendee...  One happy Carlisle show attendee tried on a Super Stalker V-6 for size. He was a perfect fit. |  Regal Roadsters had a couple...  Regal Roadsters had a couple of its true-to-the-original '55 through '57 T-birds at Carlisle, an original-style cruiser in red and a hot rod in black (not shown). |  Talk about a time warp: the...  Talk about a time warp: the July 1983 issue of KIT CAR magazine ran a feature article on Jack Bretall's V-6 powered, mid-engine Aquila GT. |
 Especially on show Saturday,...  Especially on show Saturday, the Shell Valley exhibit of automotive enthusiast finery was a madhouse. Shell Valley exhibited several Cobras and a couple Daytona Coupe replicas. It also showed several more vehicles just outside the main exhibit hall and used one of its 18-wheel vehicle transporters as a backdrop. |  The B&B Manufacturing booth...  The B&B Manufacturing booth had a multitude of visitors the entire show. Both B&B's '66 Roadster and its '34 Coupe were big hits at Carlisle '08. |  KC's ace advertising sales...  KC's ace advertising sales guru, Brenda Frias, and Angela Schoof, KC's brilliant associate publisher, answered questions about the magazine at the KIT CAR new subscription booth. Thanks to their expertise and the efforts of the new subscription sales team, kit and replicar enthusiasts signed up for the magazine in droves. We appreciate your business. |
 At the outdoor Easy Rods exhibit,...  At the outdoor Easy Rods exhibit, the company was showing off its new Belaro, which emulates a '57 Bel Air. Easy Rods' fiberglass body panels fit on a '93 through '02 Chevy Camaro, producing the Belaro. The company also produces '49-51 Ford fiberglass body panels for transforming an '89-97 Thunderbird or Cougar into the looks of a shoebox Ford. |  There's always a large contingent...  There's always a large contingent of Speedster and Spyder replicas on display at the Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Nats. When KC's editor arrived in Carlisle the night before the show, he followed a caravan of the Porsche-inspired copies at around 9 p.m. The Porsche-philes must have been cruising back to the fairgrounds from enjoying dinner together. |  Ron Fish owns this outlaw-bodied...  Ron Fish owns this outlaw-bodied 356 Speedster. We bet it's even faster than it looks. |
 |  Colorado residents Dusty and...  Colorado residents Dusty and Sharon Johnson showed up in their scintillating 356 Speedster replica. Dusty was so interested in having his Speedster appear original, he replaced the alternator with an original-style generator and fashioned genuine-looking air cleaners out of truck air cleaners. If you didn't know his Speedster was a copy, you'd think it came from Stuttgart, circa 1957. |  Members of the Ohio Cobra...  Members of the Ohio Cobra Club brought out the Superformance Mk III roadster that's the 2008 London Cobra Show raffle car. Money raised from the show goes to research for finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. OCC members on hand included: Nate, Bill Dyer's granddaughter, Bill Dyer, and Rob (left to right). Gordon was selling too many raffle tickets to take a timeout and be in the photo. |
 We were impressed with what...  We were impressed with what Dragon Motor Cars showed. It's developed a state-of-the-art IFS and IRS Corvette C5- and C6-based chassis for interchangeable sports car bodies, including a Cobra, a T-bucket, a '50s-era sports car shell, and a Type 65 Coupe body that's in the works. Word on the street is that it's collaborating with Shell Valley for the various sports car bodies. Cool stuff. |  Apart from all the kits, replicas,...  Apart from all the kits, replicas, and kit car manufacturers displaying, the Carlisle show also fields imports. We lusted over a line-up of Rootes Group cars, specifically Sunbeam Tigers and Alpines. |  Including this bright orange...  Including this bright orange roadster, the Backdraft Racing booth had some stunning cars on display. Reg Dodd reparked the roadster after taking it out for a spin around the fairgrounds, while Craig (the taller gentleman) and Frank Dodd guided Reg into the appropriate spot of the BDR exhibit. |
 There was also a huge contingent...  There was also a huge contingent of Saabs on display, both old and recent. Named after Saab's fighter jet, the Viggen, this limited-production, 230hp Saab caught our attention. What a great daily driver it would be. |  Under the pavilion roof, Race...  Under the pavilion roof, Race Car Replicas showed off a freshly finished jet black RCR Superlite Coupe that sported an LS7 powerplant. Stay tuned. |  Part of the Dynamic Motorsports/...  Part of the Dynamic Motorsports/ Superformance exhibit, Dynatek Racing proudly displayed its new Weber-style EFI system. Readers will enjoy learning more about this new EFI system in this very issue of KC. |
 Within the immense swap meet...  Within the immense swap meet section of the show, vendors like TNT Engineering, a Ford crate engine builder in Pennsylvania, displayed some must-have components. |  KC's editor barely avoided...  KC's editor barely avoided purchasing this '58 DKW grille. Who knows what those four circles stand for? We know. |  Factory Five Racing had several...  Factory Five Racing had several sweet Mk III roadsters, a Type 65 Coupe, a GTM, and a couple rolling chassis on exhibit for the kit-car-hungry crowd. The FFR booth was well-attended the entire show. |