[wacker77]

Anybody planning on going to GM Nationals in Carlisle, PA? I plan on being there with my 72 Lemans.

[67GTONUT]

I had a good time last year, my 1st time going..... I am planning to go this year again

[wacker77]

This will be my first year, really looking forward to it. Any recommendations on hotels?

[GTO JUDGE]

We'll be there under our tent as usual but we are not involved with the event this year.

[wacker77]

I just registered with my 72 however did not join a group.

[64CatalinaVentura]

I went last year for the first time and wasn't impressed. I drive a fullsize 64 and prefer the pre-1970 big GM cars, especially the real oldies. The show was mostly muscle cars and modern vehicles. If I had to guess I would say the current generation Camaro was the most popular vehicle there. Many late model Firebirds, GTOs, G8s, and Corvettes as well.

Not a bad show, just know what you're looking at before you go. For me the title "GM Nationals" conveyed a much more varied selection of cars than what is there. Call it the GM muscle nationals and I'd never complain.

Very nice people there though. I stayed at the Days Inn right down the street. It was kind of run down, but dirt cheap.

There are lots of other great sites to see in that area as well. The AACA museum, Gettysburg, and Harrisburg are all within a shore distance of the show.

[ml3126]

I was there also last year and was not impressed. I prefer some of my local shows over last years show.

[wacker77]

Thanks for the info fellas, I know there are some nice roads up there that I would like to go cruise if it turns out to be a dud. I'm taking my girlfriend up there and I know she would like to go cruise some back roads with me.

[Jack Gifford]

I was there last year, but only to join up with the Bandit Run. Had a ball truckin' with the "Snowman" for a couple hundred miles (Lou Alderson's re-created 18-wheeler with the original movie TransAm inside, and me in the Wanger's 'Bandit' Suburban).

[wacker77]

I saw the Bandit Run last year when they stopped in Virgina Beach last year.

[77 Canamman]

While last years GM Carlisle was the best one in a few years, the show is still disappointing, and has been since it's second year. There is far too much Chevrolet emphasis, and not a lot of BOP, but that is to be expected. The turnout by the vendors and spectators is mediocre at best. Overall, don't have high expectations, and you won't be disappointed.

[65 Cat 2+2]

I'll be there. I go to Carlisle about 30-4 times a year. Compared to others the GM show has been weak for a few years, but I was invited to bring my car as a feature, so why not?

[wacker77]

It's more of making the trip in the 72 and enjoying some nice cruising with my girlfriend then going around to see the show. If I don't like it I plan on cruising some of the nice roads they have around there.

[nashcar]

I've been going for years and really enjoyed it. It's been getting smaller and smaller every year so last year I didn't go and don't miss it. They need to do something to bring the vendors back, Sunday it's a ghost town. That being said, you will enjoy it once if you haven't been there before.

[wacker77]

I'm driving up Thursday and plan on leaving Sunday so really only be there for Friday and Saturday which I expect that to be when there are the most people.

[Nickv]

I go every year. Out of all the big shows a Carlisle the GM show is the smallest. Now sure why. It just never caught on like the Mopar and Ford nationals. The GM show is always a disappointment.

[dkpilot]

One reason could be the Camaro Nationals are held the same weekend an hour South in Frederick MD. I have gone the past 4 years, and they will have 400 or so Camaro's and Firebirds.

Now that I have a GTO, it looks like I will try the Carlisle event.

[nashcar]

[QUOTE=dkpilot;5363526]One reason could be the Camaro Nationals are held the same weekend an hour South in Frederick MD. I have gone the past 4 years, and they will have 400 or so Camaro's and Firebirds

As I understand the Camaro Nationals pulled out of the GM show because of some disagreements with the Carlisle owners. The show went down hill from that year on.

[mrrat1]

I liked it last year.
I drove my Silverado SS. We had a blast. SSS.com had a tent right in front of the grand stands.
The Bandit Run was cool met some people from all over that were there to do the run.
Lots of newer stuff, but I did see plenty of nice older Pontiacs, and some very sweet 409 cars. I like anything that's old and clean!
You can't just go expecting to see tons of 1 make or model, and its pretty easy to skip the rows of Camaros & vettes.
It's really not a big swap meet like the spring & fall events, and never will be.

[GTO JUDGE]

Last year our chapter celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the GTO at GM Carlisle. I advertised this event on this forum. We worked for 2 years arranging the Pontiac dignitaries who showed up to help celebrate it. All but Wangers, and Beswick showed as POCI changed their convention date to the same weekend we had planned, and both who verbally agreed to come to Carlisle chose to attend POCI. still all the others came and put on seminars etc. Arnie was excited to be coming then in Dayton he informed me of POCI's change and he opted to go there.

We worked with Carlisle in the GTO event and had a building where every year GTO was featured with backdrops. The registrations for GTOs alone eclipsed Carlisle's expectations and they arranged the showfield and modified classes to accommodate the registrants.

The Bandit Run just so happened to be in the area and they were on hand it was an amazing sight.... then, Saturday the rains came, it rained off and on the entire day. Nearly 100 GTOs who were registered never showed on account of the weather, had they shown the showfield would have been one for the ages.. I was really disappointed.

When Pontiac Enthusiast's magazine was there yearly they brought in Jim Wangers and put on a nice show, we worked with them in promoting the Pontiacs, the last year there I counted just about 110 GTOs alone mostly classics... we worked at promoting this and the GTO presence was growing .... Then P.E. folded and the rapid decline in GTOs began .... I then got Tom Demauro involved with H.P.P. and invited him for the weekend and he was impressed. The intent was to pick up with H.P.P. where we left off with P.E. then Tom left H.P.P. I then reached out to Chris Phillips. He never returned my calls or emails.......... then H.P.P. folded......

I tried for years to get other GTOAA chapters involved to help us with this event, none responded to my requests... So, we are left and show up each year promoting this event for GTO and Pontiac.... its disheartening to see the Pontiac field dwindle while we worked to make it what it was before Pontiac sank....

I was told last year the GM event was the 5th largest in registrations ever. When the Camaros pulled their yearly event from Carlisle it left a huge hole in the showfield. From what I understand they hold their event the same weekend as GM Carlisle in MD, this may explain why mostly new gen Camaros are in attendance as compared to the classics....

Signing our club banner ....... Milt Schornack, Bill Collins, Russ Gee, and Jim Harrison. Bill Collins passed away several months ago.