Moms, dads and kids alike look forward to the first full weekend in August at Carlisle because they know a good time when they experience it! The Carlisle Truck Nationals presented by A&A Auto Stores ushered in the month with three days of cool displays, patriotic themes, family fun, live music and more.  Over 1,700 trucks adorned the showfield, each with their own unique look and style!  The 2019 total was also the highest since the 2003 event and ranks within the top 5 all-time turnouts for the event.  

It all started with load in on Thursday, August 1. That’s when everyone who arrived early had the chance to see and be seen.  It was also a great chance to take a first look at the trucks, rigs, vans and vendors without having to battle the bustling crowd that came to town for the weekend fun.  The snail’s pace of that day quickly gave way to a fast and furious weekend of all things truck.

Friday saw the first of many monster truck shows and rides, while the Showfield filled in with trucks of all shapes, sizes, styles and eras. Building Y welcomed the SyTys  (the 2019 Cool Club Challenge winners), the pavilion hosted Vanarama (the 2019 Large Club Challenge winners), Building T showcased some top of the line featured vehicles and the south side of the grounds from Gate 1 to Gate 7 anchored the Big Rig Show and Shine.

The red white and blue honors were also prevalent. Near the east side of Building T, Blackout, a military tribute rig drew onlookers, while trucks on the Showfield and indoors saluted both service members and first responders. One such truck, owned by Rick Beech of Florida, offered a canvass for military personnel to sign their names in remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Within the Big Rig Show & Shine, the U.S. Express fleet also brought a half a dozen rigs adorned with a military theme, while new class members of the neighboring U.S. Army War College walked the grounds enjoying those themes as well as the rest of the amazing trucks on display.

Music was also a part of the weekend. Friday saw multiple sets from the country/rock band Old School, while Saturday welcomed back Nashville recording artist and American Idol contestant Payton Taylor.  Their music, combined with the sounds of the show helped to propel the excitement of the event, while also offering a groove of fun for all at Carlisle.

Other great aspects of the weekend included competitions like drop and drag, burnouts, beauty, high truck, a low truck limbo, and Carlisle Elite.  Those looking to shop not only had the automotive flea market as an option, they also enjoyed a bustling midway with great partners like A&A, Ranch Hand Bumpers, American Force Wheels, Skyjacker, Amsoil, Eastwood Company, 4 Wheel Parts, Extang and more.  What made their presence even more fun was the fact that A&A hosted on-site installs, offering guests a chance to have truck work done, all while enjoying the show.  Atturo Tires, new to the truck show, even stepped up, sponsoring the aforementioned burnout contest.  

As the last of the vendors and trucks loaded out at Carlisle, everyone was making plans for 2020’s event.  Save the date, because the 2020 Carlisle Truck Nationals presented by A&A Auto Stores takes place August 7-9 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  Registration is now open for that event and would be attendees are welcome to call 717-243-7855 or visit www.CarlisleEvents.com to learn more.  

Fall Carlisle is shopping made easy...and there’s no charge for shipping!  Roll into the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds October 2-6, 2019 and enjoy the show that started it all; Fall Carlisle!  Get the ultimate sensory and social experience at the event as you see, feel, smell and touch all the automotive pieces and parts that you’re looking for.  Better than that, you’re talking directly with the seller and interacting in real life AND in real time with 90,000+ people that share the same interests as you.

Skip the online traffic and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the event as well as the thrill of hunt. If you’re shopping online, especially for used parts, you need to know exactly what you’re looking for. Then, if you find it, you have to hope it’s for sale…and still available. At Fall Carlisle, you can find things that you weren’t necessarily looking for, forgot you needed or are for a future project but the price is so good that you might as well buy it now. 

At a show like Fall Carlisle, expect the unexcepted because you just might be surprised who is shopping the same aisles alongside you.  TV hosts like Andy Cohen of Junkyard Empire and Lou Santiago of Car Fix shop at Carlisle. Chuck Cantwell, labeled by many in Ford circles (or ovals) as the godfather of the GT350, shops at Carlisle.  Get the point?  If automotive experts and those who represent the hobby on TV look at the automotive flea market at Fall Carlisle as the place to find parts, you should too.

Some of the best deals are found at the most unsuspecting of times and that’s why everyone who comes to Carlisle is encouraged to do so early.  The early bird gets the worm, right?  Gates open at 7 a.m. daily, but if you register to be a VIP Power Picker, you gain on grounds access as early as Monday AND you get on grounds parking, too.  Registered vendors have the added perk of B2B commerce, given that they are generally on grounds the weekend before Fall Carlisle officially kicks off.  However you choose to be part of the fun, know that the options are nearly limitless.   

Unlike an online marketplace, you aren’t getting a “stock image” when shopping for the part or car you’re looking for.  You also aren’t trading emails and money with someone you’ve never met.  In person commerce at Fall Carlisle guarantees you’re buying the exact thing you’re looking at and holding.  It also offers peace of mind in knowing that if there is an issue, Carlisle Events knows (in nearly every instance) who the vendor was that was selling.  Just take note of the space number when making your purchase.

Some added perks to the weekend to make shopping that much easier – free taxi and parts hauling services.  See, we really don’t charge for shipping.  When you’re making a purchase within the automotive flea market or on the midway and the item you’ve bought is too cumbersome to carry, simply connect with a Carlisle Events staff member and a FREE shuttle will arrive to help you out.  While the service is offered at no charge, donations are graciously accepted with dollars benefiting the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation.

Other fun aspects of Fall Carlisle include trivia for everyone on-site Friday night as well as a FREE vendor appreciation dinner on Saturday evening.  Fall Carlisle also plays host to a two-day collector car auction powered by Carlisle Auctions.  The auction takes place at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center on October 3rd and 4th and gives attendees the chance to experience live auction entertainment, while also offering a chance to pick up a first or next classic at affordable prices.  

With over 100 years of automotive history available in one place, there’s no reason to log on…well, maybe just a few reasons.  Save money today by buying single day admission tickets for Fall Carlisle online at www.CarlisleEvents.com.  The web page also offers an outlet to purchase weekend passes and details on how to become a vendor or be part of the auction as a buyer or seller.  All in on the no web mentality?  Call 717-243-7855 to learn more.

Jaguar earned its rep for creating sleek, catlike, powerful race-worthy sportscars. For nearly a century (founded as Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922), Jaguar has produced luxury street vehicles and track-winning racers. With its new 2019 I-PACE Jaguar moved into a new arena … the electric car niche, as I-PACE is the company’s first all-electric vehicle, and an EV SUV/crossover to boot.  Oh, and it is also fun to drive.

With all-wheel-drive, two electric motors and Jag’s iconic sleekness outside and luxury inside I-PACE still shows off Jaguar muscle with 394 horsepower and 512 lb-ft of torque while attaining an EPA-rated driving range of 234 miles – the X trim can get up to 295 miles. The combination of style, performance and environmental friendliness has made I-PACE an award star, winning 55 awards globally since its launch. 

The first Jaguar to use the highly intuitive Touch Pro Duo infotainment system and artificial intelligence to identify driver preferences to tailor the driving experience, I-PACE uses technology to identify and automate some of the routine tasks that can distract or inconvenience the driver. Also onboard I-PACE are:

• New EV Navigation that factors in route topography, driving style and more to optimize range
• Pre-conditioning of I-PACE’s battery and cabin temperature while plugged in to maximize range 
• Settings for home charging times to match best electricity pricing  
• I-PACE continuous tech improvement with wireless over-the-air updates ensuring customers always have the latest software 
• Rapid public charging from 0-80 percent in less than 40-minutes, with 15-minutes charge giving a 60-mile range
• Zero tailpipe emissions
• Customer peace of mind from eight-year battery warranty and 21,000-mile / two-year servicing

And above all, I-PACE embodies the Jaguar legacy of luxury and performance.

Borrowing its outward demeanor from Jaguar’s innovative C-X75 concept car, which was featured in the James Bond flick “Spectre”, I-PACE is not the know-slung McLarensque coupe that appeared in the film, but as a Crossover, it displays a short, low bonnet (hood), low aero-dynamic roof, roof scoop and hatch-raked rear screen. This is NOT a boxy SUV, even with a squared-off rear, the front is enhanced by a prominent rectangular grille, hood vent and slim eyelike headlights … making it more sedan-like than Crossover-looking.

Weighing in at a robust 4784 lbs (curbweight), the sporty I-PACE fits its midsize crossover niche with dimensions of 184.3 inches long, 61.3 inches high and 74.6 inches wide on a 117.7-inch wheelbase. 

Inside, the luxurious and well-appointed cabin is advanced and trendy, accentuated by high-quality materials, three information displays and touch-capacitive controls. The floating-bridge design for the center console is bold, cockpit-like and not traditional SUV bland. With seating for 5, front headroom is a bit tight at 39.9 inches; legroom is 40.9 and shoulder room is 57.6. In row two, you get a tighter 38.1 inches of headroom, only 35 inches of legroom and 54.6 inches of shoulder room.

As is typical with an electric vehicle, the cabin is quiet, though you do get some tire and road noise on the highway, and the touchscreen takes a beat to respond. Sightlines are good up front and on the sides, but the small rear window and rear shoulders create a blind zone.

I-PACE introduces the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system to Jaguar. Utilizing an innovative combination of touchscreens, capacitive sensors and tactile physical controls, Touch Pro Duo is intuitive to use. A new EV navigation system assesses the topography of the route to destination and insights from previous journeys, including driving style, to calculate personalized range and charging status with exceptional accuracy for maximum driver confidence. And to ensure owners always have access to the latest infotainment, telematics and battery energy control software, I-PACE is the first Jaguar to provide software over-the-air -- providing seamless updates. 

I-PACE power come from its state-of-the-art 2-electric-motor powertrain and its vanguard 90kWh Lithium-ion battery using 432 pouch cells, to deliver an expected range of .234 miles on a full charge – though I would plan for less than that. Owners will be able to achieve a 0-80 per cent battery charge in less than 40 minutes using DC rapid charging (100kW). Home charging with an AC wall box (7kW) will achieve the same state of charge in just over 10 hours – ideal for overnight charging. The high torque density and high-energy efficiency characteristics of the motors deliver sports car performance, launching the I-PACE from a standing start to 60mph in just 4.6 seconds (hand-timed) in tests. My fun-to-test quarter-mile was accomplished in an un-crossover-like 13.2 seconds (hand-timed), accelerating easily and handling like a sedan.

The 2019 Jaguar E-PACE starts at $69,500 for the Base model and tops at the First Edition trim at $85,900. My I-PACE in SE trim based at $75,850. Firenze Red exterior paint added $575 and came with 20-inch 6-spoke wheels, Ebony grained leather sport seats with Ebony/Ebony interior, 10-way electric memory front seats, soft grain leather sport steering wheel and 11-speaker/12-amp channel Meridian sound system. A high-res Head-up information display added $970; a 360-degree surround camera and adaptive cruise control added $1300; four-zone climate control added $800; and delivery and destination charges added $1025 for a sticker-as-tested of $80,520.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Carlisle Events and its staff have won numerous awards since its inception in 1974.  Founded by Bill Miller and the late Elliot “Chip” Miller, the events at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds entertain over a half a million guests annually, plus draw over ten thousand classic and collector cars to America’s Automotive Hometown each season.  None of this would have been possible without the passionate efforts of two men who shared more than just the same last name.  Their efforts and decades of work/contributions within the collector car hobby have earned them a VERY special honor – being named 2019 Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum Automotive Heritage Award recipients.  The ceremony takes place at the AACA Museum’s “Night at the Museum” gala and silent charity auction on October 9 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

There’s a bit of irony surrounding this award for Bill and Chip, as the October 9, Hershey based ceremony is also home to where it all started for the Miller’s (not related) more than 45 years ago.  It was 1973 and Chip was selling a ‘50s era Corvette at the AACA’s big event in Chocolate town.  What the young men didn’t realize at the time, was that while the Corvette in question seemed “old” to them, it did not classify as a classic car.  As such, they were asked to remove the car from the grounds. 

“We decided we needed a place for guys like us who liked the kinds of cars that we did,” said Bill Miller.  With a rented fairground and some loan money, Bill and Chip set out to make history, and they most certainly did.  Over the years, their efforts have resulted in billions of local economic impact dollars, countless jobs, thousands of dollars in charitable monies, dozens of cars given away, proposals, marriages, babies, generations of guests and a mecca for car lovers from around the world to converge and “talk shop” for a weekend.

After many years of hard work, the duo receives this amazing honor, albeit posthumously for Chip.  The Automotive Heritage Award is designed to honor and provide public recognition for an individual(s) who made an exceptional contribution to the hobby by preserving antique automobiles and motorsports vehicles, exhibiting their vehicles, promoting the hobby, engaging in sustained, noteworthy activities that have positively impacted the hobby and using his/her position in the hobby for philanthropy and service to others.  This is the third annual offering of the award.  Past award recipients include race car driver Bobby Rahal and Gale Halderman, the man who sketched the first Ford Mustang. 

This recognition is the latest in a line of honors for Bill and Chip since the inception of Carlisle Events.  Past honors include the Meguiars Award, Central Penn Business Journal Persons of the Year (with Lance Miller), the Others Award from the Salvation Army and many more local and regional honors.  In addition, Chip was posthumously inducted into the National Corvette Hall of fame in 2013.

Lance Miller, Chip’s son, will accept on his behalf, while Bill Miller will join Lance on the stage for this amazing recognition.  Complete event information is available at www.aacamuseum.org/events or by calling the AACA direct at 717-566-7100.

Redesigned and all-new from the ground-up, the Next Generation Sierra is differentiating itself from its sibling, the Chevrolet Silverado, after years of badge engineering and shared body panels with new styling, performance enhancements, a GMC-exclusive, industry-first MultiPro Tailgate, segment-first Multi-Color Head-Up Display, six engine set-ups, three cab sizes, and six trim levels that are all GMC.

New for 2019 is a reconfigured footprint that is larger in almost every dimension, including a longer wheelbase and longer crew cab body that offers about 3 inches more rear legroom than the previous model, yet the new model is lighter than the previous version, thanks to a mixed materials approach — including aluminum for the doors, hood and tailgate, with steel for the fenders, roof and standard cargo box. Also onboard is a GMC-exclusive, industry-first CarbonPro carbon fiber cargo box, developed to increase durability, efficiency and functionality, while offering best-in-class dent, scratch and corrosion resistance. The innovations don’t stop there as Sierra gets a segment-first Rear Camera Mirror that can function as a traditional mirror or as a camera screen, helping to eliminate obstructions such as rear seat passengers and head restraints while providing a wider, less obstructed rear field of view. And the 2019 Sierra offers a ProGrade Trailering System with Trailering App for a connected and comprehensive suite of trailering technologies, enhanced front and rear suspensions and an improved brake system featuring electro-hydraulic power assist, larger-diameter Duralife brake rotors and larger brake pads.

Of the six trims, I tested the top-of-the line Sierra Denali, the luxury flagship of the next-generation Sierra lineup, distinguished by iconic design cues, more upscale appointments, purposeful technologies and capability in a professional grade truck. Along with its bold design and premium features, the new Sierra Denali ups the ante in the segment with the most powerful V-8 engine in its class, and exclusive ride, handling and performance technologies designed for comfort, control and capability.

Denali stands tall, with a strong, purposeful stance, bold bodywork, chiseled shoulders and a tall, powerful hood, which is capped with a grille that’s bigger and bolder than any prior Sierra. New “light blade” signature lighting elements within Sierra Denali’s headlamps help accentuate the pickup truck’s exterior design, providing a distinctive appearance.

The Sierra1500 trims fill out their muscular demeanor with three cabs styles: regular, double cab and crew cab and run in length from 210.8 inches with a regular cab and 6-foot-6-inch box, to 231.7 inches with either a double cab and 6-6 box or the crew cab and a 5-foot-8 box. This represents a gain of from 2 inches to 6 inches depending on configuration. The Denali I tested, with Crew Cab and short box, sat on a 147.4-inch wheelbase (regular cab models are on a 16.5-inch wheelbase). Width goes 81.2 inches and height is 75.5 inches. Curbweight for the 4WD Crew Cab is a confident 5015 lbs. (regular cabs go as low as 4531), and the max trailering rate is 12,100 lbs.

In a you-want-it-we’ve-got-it-for-you approach to power, GMC trims comes with six different engine choices: 4.3-liter V-6 or 5.3-liter V-8 mated to a 6-speed automatic; 2.7-liter turbo or 5.3-liter V-8 coupled with an 8-speed automatic; and a 6.2-liter V-8 or a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel matched with a 10-speed automatic. Fuel economy runs from 15 to 20mpg in city driving and from 19 to 23 mpg on the highway. Powerwise, the 4.3 gets you 285hp and 305 lb-ft; the 5.3 rates at 355hp/383 lb-ft; the 2.7 turbo runs 310hp/348lb-ft; and the 6.2 delivers 420hp/460 lb-ft.

My 6.2-liter Denali was an upgrade over the standard 5.3 and was rated at 15mpg/city and 20mpg/highway -- I averaged 17.7 mpg in my heavy-footed tests. But the 6.2 really came alive when asked. While handling was big-truck loose, and steering was a bit vague, power was king. The 6.2 gave me a 6.2-second zero-to-sprint during a 14.6 second quarter-mile. Acceleration at speed took a beat, then exploded with power. At slow speed and around town, acceleration was a bit hesitant. Firm suspension feel was exhibited through an independent front with coil-over-shock with twin-tube shock absorbers working well with a solid axle rear with semi-elliptic, variable-rate, two-stage multileaf springs and splayed twin-tube shock absorbers. 

Inside, Denali is luxuriously appointed and is augmented with advanced connectivity, 
an 8-inch-diagonal GMC Premium Infotainment System with a high-resolution color touchscreen, and a seven-speaker Bose® Premium Sound System with Richbass® Woofer in the center console personalization features. Sierra Denali’s crafted cabin is spacious with 43 inches of front headroom in the crew cab version and 40.1 in the rear. Legroom is a comfortable 44.5 inches up front and 43.4 in the cab, and shoulder room is 66 and 65.2. 

The base regular cab, standard box 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 starts at $29,000 for 2WD and moves through multiple trims, cabs, beds and engines, topping out with the Denali basing at $54,700 and apexing at $66,590 for the Denali Yukon. My test Denali was the Yukon, so that I could try out the 6.2-liter engine. The 2WD setup was upgraded to 4WD for an additional $3000. Onyx Black exterior paint actually discounted the price by $1095 from the Summit White price, and Denali in Black looked powerful and luxurious. Jet Black perforated leather appointed seats were at no charge; The Denali Ultimate Package of power sunroof, power retractable assist steps, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, 22-inch bright aluminum wheels with Midnight Silver premium paint, 22-inch all-season tires, inclination sensor, Enhanced Security Package with self-powered horn, interior movement sensor and vehicle inclination sensor, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Advanced with Forward Automatic Braking added another $7055 to the price. Roof rack cross rails added $265; premium all-weather floormats added $235; and destination and freight added $1295, for a stick-as-tested of $79,550, but package discounts and cash allowances trimmed the MSRP-as-tested to $76,050.
  
You can see GMC trucks through the decades, and more than 2,000 trucks of all eras, at the Carlisle Truck Nationals, August 2-4 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. This event and has been one of the world’s largest truck shows since 1991. This celebration of trucks features Pick-ups, Heavy-duty trucks, Big Rigs, Mini Trucks, Antiques, Custom Vans, 4x4s, Jeeps, SUVs, Vintage Fire Trucks, Monster trucks and more.


> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>