Carlisle, PA – There’s always something special about Corvettes at Carlisle weekend. That’s been the case since 1982 and the uniqueness of this grand celebration of all things Corvette continued in 2024 with 3,044 Corvettes on the Aerolarri Wheels Fun Field. It was also a chance to connect with old friends, make new ones, show off their Corvette, meet special guests, and see the special displays.
From the time the gates opened at 7 AM on August 22 through the final guest heading home at the end of the weekend, it’s fair to say that this was one of the all-time best Corvettes at Carlisle. Special displays included a 50-year showcase of 1974 Corvettes, the NCRS Gallery, NCCC Judged Showfield, the Corvette Challenge Series reunion of both cars and drivers, and Chip’s Choice; this year, showcasing mean Corvettes.
Along with the special displays, THE draw was Team Chevrolet and their ALL-NEW Corvette ZR1. This masterpiece drew crowds at every turn, including when it rolled to the stage for a pair of vehicle walkarounds. It led Corvette lovers of all ages to the stage in the same way that the Pied Piper led children away from the town of Hamelin in the 13th century. Once parked, the minds behind the machine told the tale of its conception, design, and implementation, while explaining what makes it so amazing. This included Harlan Charles, Corvette Product Manager; Josh Holder, Chief Engineer; and Kirk Bennion; Exterior Design Manager. Further, new Executive Chief Engineer Tony Roma proudly chimed in, offering his feedback on Corvettes at Carlisle and this new, powerful Corvette.
The cars were not only on display, but they were also in motion too. King of the X Presented by Lingenfelter Performance expanded to include a trio of competition classes, Mild 2 Wild offered a C4 Challenge, there was a rolling exhaust contest, and the Challenge Car drivers got behind the wheel of their storied racers to take some laps too. In addition, Corvettes at Carlisle showcased its finalists for People’s Choice/Best of Show presented by Aerolarri Wheels, while Hemmings Marketplace supported club contests for both the largest club and largest registry.
Giving was a big part of the weekend too, as the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation (CMAF) held its annual benefit dinner where nearly $ 50,000 was raised by way of donations, door prizes, and raffles. In addition, via a partnership with the Lancaster County Corvette Club, a 2024 2LT Corvette C8 was awarded to Mark Murr from Lititz, PA. Mark had winning ticket 003, which is fitting since the number 3 is such an important part of Corvette racing’s history. Dollars raised from that raffle supported both the CMAF and Clare House. All new in 2024, the CMAF announced the Chip Miller Memorial Scholarship. Available for applicants starting in December of 2024 and awarded in May of 2025, the scholarship has been seeded by way of a $ 3,000 donation. It’s designed to support a high school, tech school, or college-aged student who has automotive interests.
The Corvette fun wrapped up with an awards presentation at the stage on Saturday afternoon for contest winners, followed by the on-site awards parade. From there, nearly 500 Corvettes roared off the grounds and into the community as part of the Downtown Carlisle Corvette Parade and Party. Thousands of spectators, including many children, watched in amazement as they not only saw the wheels in motion but were able to pose for photos in front of or sit in the cars too.
There was one more piece to the multi-day event, and that was a FREE all-makes Cars and Coffee Cruise-In on Sunday, August 25. With hundreds of Corvettes and their owners heading southwest to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the annual Corvette Caravan, the event was a launching point for them, plus welcomed in even more car owners with vehicles spanning all brands.
While Corvettes at Carlisle has concluded for 2024, plans are ongoing for the 2025 event. The showcase returns August 21-23 and will feature a 50th Anniversary of 1975 Corvettes, NCCC 7-Sanctions judging, the NCRS Gallery, a Race Reunion, and a Chip’s Choice display featuring the ZR1. Registration is now open and complete info will be forthcoming online at CarlisleEvents.com.
More images from the 2024 Corvettes at Carlisle below
Carlisle Events, celebrating 50 years in 2024, is a partner or producer of over a dozen annual collector car/truck events. Events are held at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds (Carlisle, PA) and Allentown Fairgrounds (Allentown, PA). The season schedule includes automotive flea markets of varying sizes, multiple auctions, as well as individual specialty shows featuring Corvettes, Fords, GMs, Chryslers, trucks, imports, tuners, and performance sport compacts. Founded in 1974 by friends Bill Miller and Chip Miller, events hosted at Carlisle attract enthusiasts annually from all corners of the globe. More information is available at www.CarlisleEvents.com or www.CarlisleAuctions.com.
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