The Carlisle Chevrolet Nationals, in some form or the other, has been taking place at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds since 2001 and its most recent offering, June 23-25, 2017 offered up an event that rivaled those over the past five years at Carlisle. With guests traveling from the region over to attend, combined with a renewed excitement about the Chevrolet brand, the cars, people and excitement were on full display this year, with even more momentum building for next year’s show. Before we look too far ahead to 2018, let’s look back at the 2017 Carlisle Chevrolet Nationals.
Every show at Carlisle is supported by its amazing vending base and invitational displays and those two arms of the Chevrolet Nationals came together nicely as event set up day came and went on Thursday, June 22. As the sun set on Thursday, the third day of summer (Friday) saw gates open at 7 a.m. and offer a full array of displays, guests and action. Top draws included Chevrolet! For the first time in a long time Chevrolet came to Carlisle for this show along with their engineers and a new product showcase, including the amazing ZL1 1LE Camaro and their Auto X concept.

While Chevrolet hosted walk-arounds all weekend, Friday really got going with an early morning Nitrofest session with Bruce Larson, his USA-1 Corvette and the Time Bomb Vega. Everyone loves to go fast, so the day also featured autocross rides with UMI Performance, open autocross hosted by the Cumberland Valley Corvette Club and even the Real Street Shootout autocross race Friday evening. Before the day wrapped though, TV stars Lou Santiago (Car Fix on Velocity) and Kevin Tetz (Trucks on Spike) hosted seminars, signed autographs and more.

Saturday saw some of the nicest cars and weather at Carlisle in some time. History was on display with nearly 100 years of Chevrolet (and Chevrolet family) products on-site. The oldest known car was a 1922 Oakland, owned by the same man since 1944, with a wide array of modern-day machines showcased too. In between even more history came to town with the first-ever Camaro produced and sitting innocently beside it was the 5,000,000 Camaro produced too. A special V-12 custom built 1967 Camaro sat across the aisle from the original ’67 and all around those cars were some of the best ever produced rides to come out of Detroit.

With displays decided to the 50th Anniversary of the Camaro and Firebird, combined with a pace car display, general invitational display, Solid Lifter Showroom and the National Parts Depot Showfield laced with nothing but the best from Cadillac, Pontiac, General Motors, Chevrolet, Buick, Cosworth Vega, Monza Mirage and more, the weekend really had it all. If the spotlight cars weren’t enough, there were multiple awards and competitions too, from Carlisle Elite picks on Friday, to the Historic Vehicle Association honors Saturday, burnouts, beauty and the overall showfield awards Sunday, tens of thousands of guests walked away with memories to last a life time.

Chevrolet is planning on returning for 2018 and guests and enthusiasts should consider doing the same. The 2018 Carlisle Chevrolet Nationals run June 22-24 and will feature even more of the best cars of their type in the region and across the country. Registration is open now at www.CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.

As the Carlisle Auctions team annually showcases its unique brand of collector car entertainment, its reputation within the hobby continues to grow too. Carlisle Auctions continues to welcome more bidders to its four annual events, more high-end classic and collector cars, more rare and unique rides. The demand to be part of Carlisle Auctions led to an expansion from two days to three in 2017 and in advance of the Fall Carlisle auction (Sept. 28-30, 2017), the Carlisle Auctions reputation has led to the consignment of a 2006 Ford GT with the expectation that when it sells, it will become the all-time top-selling car in Carlisle Auctions history.

The GT, which officially joined the fall event in June during the Carlisle Ford Nationals, is Speed Yellow with a black interior. It’s just one of 75 produced in this color and is presented this fall just as it would have looked when it left the factory more than 10 years ago. In addition to being a limited run for its particular color and style, the car has just 1,900 miles on its odometer and is in impeccable condition, having been garage kept since day 1. The GT is powered by 5.4-liter supercharged V8 producing 550 HP and is equipped with a 6-speed transmission. When it crosses the block on Friday evening, September 29 at around 6 p.m., it will be a super rare opportunity for one enthusiast to take home this highly collectible piece of Ford craftsmanship.

“We are thrilled to be offering this Ford GT at our Fall Carlisle Collector Car Auction,” noted Tony Cline, Director of Auction Operations. “As Carlisle Auctions continues to move forward, the quality of consignments continues to rise. We are looking forward to this upcoming three-day auction and anticipate that it will be our most successful one ever.“

The Fall Carlisle auction commences mid-afternoon on Thursday, September 28 and sees over 500 consignments cross the block along with merchandise and memorabilia too. Powered by its FREE UNLESS SOLD guarantee, Carlisle Auctions offers competitive buyers and sellers fees too and getting involved is super easy and affordable. Connect with Carlisle auctions at 717-960-6400 or visit the web at www.CarlisleAuctions.com for details on the Fall Carlisle event or any of the other Carlisle Auctions dates on the season schedule.

In today’s world of demanding things you can depend on, Chevrolet’s Malibu fills that requirement and adds style and performance to the mix, as for the third year in a row, Malibu topped the Midsize Car category in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study.

Perhaps that is why Malibu largely stands pat for 2017, relying, for the most part on the revises made for 2016 when Malibu was offered as all-new from the ground up. For 2017, Malibu adds a nine-speed automatic transmission as standard on its Premier trim -- with 2.0-liter Turbo engine. Malibu also adds new exterior colors: Arctic Blue Metallic, Pepperdust Metallic and Cajun Red Tintcoat; and includes Android Auto and Apple Car Play on its LS and base LT trim radios, while adding Teen Driver to the LS and base LT radios.

Packed with standard extras, the Base Malibu L comes with a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder DOHC engine with turbocharger, direct injection and variable valve timing – the system hums out 163 hp and 184 lbs.-ft of torque. The Base Malibu also gets a 6-speed automatic transmission and engine control, stop-start system; 4-wheel disc antilock brakes with high-performance brake lining; and road emergency toolkit; and such interior amenities as a 6-speaker audio system, 6-way manual driver and front passenger seat, 3-spoke steering wheel with mounted controls for audio, phone and cruise, a tilt and telescopic
steering column, a Driver Information Center, a theft-deterrent system, power programmable windows, passive entry system including remote keyless entry, keyless start, cruise control, single-zone manual climate control, air filter, cabin defogger, interior overhead courtesy lamp, dual reading lamps and illuminated trunk area.

With styling influenced by the 2014 Impala, the 4-door, 5-passenger front-engine transaxle mid-size sedan advances Chevrolet’s global design language with features such as slim, sweeping headlamps, a dual-port grille a wavelike group of body-side creases and a rear spoiler. Constructed with a classic mid-size configuration, Malibu measures 193.8 inches in length; 73.0 inches in width and 57.6 inches in height. Curbweight for my test Malibu 1LT was 3152 lbs., but some trims run as much as 3300 lbs.

Malibu offers three engine choices: the 1.5-liter DOHC inline-4 direct injection turbo engine (standard on the L, LS and 1LT trims); an Ecotec 2.0-liter I-4 turbo (standard on the Premier trim) and an Ecotec 1.8-liter hybrid engine (for the Hybrid version). The 2.0 is estimated at 250hp and 260 lbs.-ft. for 22/city and 33/highway, and the hybrid gets 122hp and 129 lbs.-ft. for 48mpg/city and 45mpg/highway.

My test Malibu’s 1.5-liter liter I-4 turbo was estimated at 27mpg/city and 36mpg/highway and I averaged 29.3mpg in mixed-use testing. While it was not muscle-car brawny, it was solid as a family car though long uphill grades and passing at speed takes some strategy at times.

On the track, Malibu was quiet and steady, with the 1.5-liter plant finishing off a zero-to-60mph sprint in 8.4 seconds while completing a quarter-mile in 16.5.

The MacPherson strut-type front suspension with dual-path mountings, specifically tuned coil springs, direct-acting stabilizer bar (hollow); hydraulic ride bushings and its four-link independent rear with hollow stabilizer bar and all-speed traction control using engine torque reduction and brake intervention is gentle for passengers, and handling is normal for the niche.

The cabin is comfortable and with seating for five, and it is borderline entry-luxury, packed with soft-touch materials, a touchscreen, generous seats, and lots of infotainment. Malibu’s cabin is on the low-mid-size scale with headroom of 39.1 inches, with 37.5 for row two. Legroom goes 42.0 in front and 38.1 in row two; and there is a wide-body 58.5 inches of front shoulder room with 57.1 inches in row two.

Malibu’s attention to safety includes dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags, pelvic/thorax side-impact air bags for all outboard occupants, front and rear, driver and passenger knee air bags, roof rail air bags with rollover protection, available second-row head/thorax side-impact air bags and available lane departure warning system with forward collision alert.

The 2017 Chevrolet Malibu is offered in five trims, with the base L starting at $22,555; the LS bases at $24,100; 1LT starts at $26,000; the 2LT starts at $29,495; and the loaded, upscale Premier starts at $31,805. The Hybrid version bases at $28,750.

My Malibu 1LT test vehicle with Arctic Blue Metallic paint, Jet Black Premium Cloth seat trim, and 17-inch aluminum wheels, added a Convenience Technology Package for $995 (remote vehicle starter system, inside rearview auto-dimming mirror, 120-volt power outlet, Color Driver Information Center, Chevrolet MyLink® Radio with 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen, wireless charging, dual USB charging-only ports in rear of center console and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob).

The Driver Confidence Package added $1195 for low-speed front automatic braking, front pedestrian braking, IntelliBeam® automatic high-beam headlamps, front and rear Park Assist, Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert, Lane Keep Assist, Following Distance Indicator, Forward Collision Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

A dual pane sliding sunroof added $1150 and Front and Rear Carpeted Replacement Floor Mats added $100. As destination freight charges of $875 were already included in the base price, my Malibu-as-tested stickered at $29,340, but incentives and cash offers may be available from your dealer.


> 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.

One of the best parts of the Carlisle Truck Nationals and Big Rig Show and Shine is that the event itself hosts a wide array of unique designs, builds and creations. From custom vans to mini trucks, monster trucks to big rigs and just about everything in between, this show is arguably the most diverse of its type in the mid-Atlantic region. The 2017 edition runs August 4-6 and as special showcases go this year, Carlisle Events is pleased to announce the addition of Hauk Designs to the weekend.

Hauk Designs is local to Carlisle, calling Chambersburg, Pennsylvania home, but for as local as they are to the truck show and the region, they are nationally and internationally known too. Since early in 2017, the Hauk team has been featured on the History Channel program Road Hauks. Led by lead designer Kenny Hauk, his team works to build and fabricate ultra-powerful, one-of-a-kind vehicles that can go anywhere and do anything!

According to the History Channel page on the program, the designs from Kenny and his team “take inspiration from iconic styles and designs throughout American history and transform America’s right past into modern, drivable and show-stopping creations.” That show-stopping factor is bound to come true once more as the team brings at least two creations to Carlisle, one a rig and the other an off-road truck known as the Hauk Willys ’48.
In addition to the trucks on display, the team from Hauk will be at Carlisle to sign autographs, meet fans and discuss their creations. Aside from their scheduled time with fans, they’ll be enjoying the show just like everyone else, meaning that guests who walk the grounds at the 2017 Carlisle Truck Nationals will do so alongside stars from a hit TV show seen by millions each week.

“We are super proud to be a part of the Carlisle Truck Nationals event,” said Kenny Hauk. “We look forward to meeting up with fans of the Road Hauks TV show and checking out some amazing trucks from all across the country!"

With the addition of Hauk Designs, the Carlisle Truck Nationals lineup is nearly complete. The weekend includes the Phantom Fun Zone for kids and families, monster truck rides via the Virginia Giant, a monster truck show with Big Foot and Snake Bite, frisbee dog excitement via the Disc-Connected K9s, live music and more. Registration is open now for the judged or non-judged truck and big rig showfield as well as single day and weekend passes too. Complete details, including links to register can be found at www.CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.

Looking great and performing young for being 50 years old, the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro continues to make history. Launched in 1967 to compete in the “Pony” car segment, the Camaro offered sporty performance at a competitive price … and the “Pony Wars” had begun. Playing off Chevy’s line-up of “C-named” cars that included Corvair, Chevelle, Chevy II and Corvette, GM product managers, said, the made-up name “Camaro” was “French in origin,” and was “… a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs.”

I owned a Red 1967 Camaro 4-speed stick, with a standard 327 V-8 (5.4-liters) and the beast weighed 3227 pounds. I thought its 210 hp and 320 lb.-ft. were really something back then -- I had a 2bbl, though the 4bbl was rated at 275 hp and 355 lbs.-ft. Well get a load of the 2017 model …with a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that produces 455 hp and 455 lbs.-ft.

In the second year of its sixth generation, the 2017 Camaro builds on its legacy as the top-selling car in the segment for the past six years, with styling, performance, tech and infotainment to keep it atop the leaderboard.

After last year’s revise, Camaro stands pat essentially, and new for 2017 are an available 50th Anniversary Edition; a “FIFTY” badge on the steering wheel of all models; a Teen Driver feature that allows parents to set controls, review driving habits and encourage safe driving habits even when they are not in the vehicle; and a new exterior color is being offered: Arctic Blue Metallic

Produced at GM’s Lansing Grand River assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan, Camaro is muscular and sporty with sculpted creases, a proud undergrille and a low and wide architecture that hugs the road and turns heads.

Camaro sits on the same critically acclaimed platform that Cadillac uses for the ATS and CTS sport sedans. Its lean, muscular appearance powerfully engulfs its dimensions of 188.3 inches in length, 74.7 inches in width and 53.1 inches in on a 110.7-inch wheelbase. My test Coupe weighed in at 3697 lbs – curb weight -- and the package is confident on the road and on the track.

Camaro’s exterior is enhanced with unique 20-inch wheels, Camaro-specific grille with satin chrome accents; body-color front splitter; orange front brake calipers; distinctive black leather interior with suede inserts and orange accent stitching; exclusive 50th Anniversary treatments on the instrument panel, headrests, steering wheel and illuminated sill plates; and standard HID headlamps and LED daytime running lamps.

The most powerful Camaro ever, its standard 6.2-liter LT1 direct-injected Small Block V-8 engine is responsive and muscular. While the original Camaro performed to the tune of a 10.7-second zero-to-60mph dash and an 18.2-second quarter-mile, this 50-Year celebration of automotive stallionism finished off the sprint in 4.5 seconds during a 12.8-second quarter-mile.

EPA rated at 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, I was not shy about flooring it and smoking tires during my weeklong test, yet I still averaged 21.6 mpg.

Camaro’s ZF rack-mounted electric, power-assisted and variable ratio rack-and-pinion steering was attentive and compliant, and the MacPherson-type front and rear struts with dual lower ball joints, twin-tube struts and direct-acting stabilizer bar gave a driver’s feel while smoothing out terrain for passengers.

Inside, my Coupe was packed with such standard items as a 6-speaker audio system, Chevrolet MyLink Radio with 7-inch diagonal color touch-screen, AM/FM stereo with seek-and-scan and digital clock that includes Bluetooth streaming audio for music and select phones, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability for compatible phone, On-Star, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, 8-way power sport bucket seats, leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, leather-wrapped shift knob, driver information center, compass display, power windows and programmable door locks, keyless access with push-button start, cruise control, power trunk release, manual rake and telescopic steering wheel and air conditioning with single-zone automatic climate control.

Interior room had its highs and lows with a cozy 38.5 inches of front headroom and legroom of 43.9 inches. Rear accommodations are cramped at 33.5 inches of headroom and only 29.9 inches of child-worthy legroom. Shoulder room is comfortable at 55 inches.

Standard safety items include a rear vision camera, dual-stage frontal, thorax side-impact and knee airbags, driver and front passenger airbags, and a head curtain side-impact set up as well as GM’s Passenger Sensing System.

2017 Camaro Coupes start at $26,900 for the 1LS (including $995 in destination freight charges) and 2017 Camaro Convertibles start at $32,900. The Coupe moves to the 1LT at $27,595; $31,400 for the 2LT; $37,900 for the 1SS and $42,900 for the 2SS.

My 1LS Coupe in Red Hot (I love Red Camaros) could have spiffed up with a number of cosmetic decals, stripes and ground effects packages, but it stayed stock-true except for a Body-color wing spoiler for $575; the Technology Package for $800 (Chevrolet MyLink® Radio with 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen and Bose® premium audio system); and On-Star Guidance with Turn-by-Turn Navigation and Stolen Vehicle Assistance for $349. That put the sticker-as-tested under $30k at $28,275.

And Camaro fans can celebrate 50 years of Camaro at the all-new Carlisle Chevrolet Nationals at Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, June 23-25. Home to a diverse group of General Motors vehicles, from vintage muscle to the modern 6th Generation Camaro, this event was formerly known as the GM Nationals. The name change was meant to reflect the ever-growing number of enthusiasts who buy and enjoy Chevrolet products. Of course the weekend isn’t limited to bow-tie branded cars and trucks either. The Chevrolet Nationals also includes any and all makes and models produced by General Motors. But for Camaro enthusiasts, check out the 2018 Camaro ZL1 display.


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.