Each year, The Carlisle GM Nationals offers something for every fan of the General, and this year will not be any different. This is the show’s fifteenth year, and they folks at Carlisle events are pulling out all the stops to give attendees a special show that is shaping up to be the best ever.
The show will run from June 17 through 19, 2016, with gates opening at 7:00 am. Spectatot admission is $10.00 on Thursday through Saturday, and $7.00 on Sunday. There is also a multi-day pass available for $15.00. The Carlisle GM Nationals will be held at the Carlisle Pennsylvania Fairgrounds, and if you have a car you want to enter, Register it for the show!
See The General’s History In Multiple Venues
While walking through the National Parts Depot show field, young and old alike will find everything from classic muscle to modern GM offerings, all organized by make, model, and year. The Carlisle GM Nationals will even host a special showcase for Hurst/Olds cars and some excellent renditions of the Olds Toronado in Building T. On the other side of Building T, there will also be an eclectic mix of vehicles from GM’s other branches, like Buick, Pontiac, and Cadillac.
Also in building T will be a display of Aluminum Monsters. Since 1997, the LS engine has been used in an untold number of classic swaps, and the LSX has proven to be a solid power plant. The design was so good that even iron-blocked versions were used in trucks and vans. This year’s event will feature a mini-display of some of the wildest LS-powered classic cars around.
Check Out the Solid-Lifter Showroom
Building Y is going to host the always-popular Solid Lifter Showroom (SLS), presented by our friends at the Super Car Workshop. The crew from Super Car Workshop always puts on a great display, usually with at least one recently-finished customer car taking center stage. Expect a building filled to capacity with exceptionally-rare and beautiful high-performance GM cars from the musclecar era. There will also be a good-sized Yenko and Nickey Performance of Chicago contingent on display.
Ready to Go Autocrossing?
UMI Performance, will be set up at the autocross track with a sampling of awesome GM vehicles they’ve helped design and build. Event attendees can even enjoy ride-alongs on the autocross track with professional drivers. The roster of cars they’re bringing will include a Fourth-Gen Camaro, and a G-Body Monte Carlo.
Get What You Need
If you’ve got a project you’re working on, you’ll need to make a point of hitting the huge swap meet area, and the Manufacturer’s Midway. Vendors come from all across the country to sell their used, new, and NOS parts at this great event. If you can’t find it here, you can’t find it. SLP is the primary sponsor of the Midway this year, and they, along with many other vendors, will bring a huge display of GM/Chevy-centric wares.
SLP is also sponsoring the Burnout Contest, that will be open to anybody with the desire to burn up their tires for everyone’s enjoyment. Winners will receive some special prizes from SLP. New for 2016 is the first-ever “Dads and Doughnuts” event to celebrate Father’s Day. Dads and their families will be welcome to enjoy free donuts and coffee, free souvenirs, and free rides in the Predator Monster Truck.
Late-Model Lessons
If you’re wanting to learn more about GM’s late-model drivetrains, you need to check out one of the seminars by Paul Koerner. One of the most knowledgeable mechanics in the GM world, Paul can offer trouble-shooting advice for many GM vehicles. He received his GM Service Technician status in 1997, and has been at it ever since. He also received the title of GM World Class Certified Technician in 2007, so he really does know his stuff. The first seminar “Generation-V Small-Blocks: Facts and Fiction” will take place on Friday and once Saturday, while his second seminar, “Generation III & IIII Small-Block Engines” takes place once on Friday and once on Saturday.
Finally, Sunday will see the show winners parade their cars in front of the grandstand to receive their awards in a culmination of a great event. So make your plans now to attend the 2016 Carlisle GM Nationals. Hopefully, we’ll see you there.