Spring Carlisle car event was very busy today.

The place was still drying out after some pretty hard rain last night. A few muddy places, but overall it was in good shape. It was rather bleak last fall and I was wondering how the economy would hit the Spring event. It was one of the heaviest crowds I'd seen this early in a long time. There was very few empty spaces and I figure many of them will be filled by Friday. The car corral had a way to go yet to be called full, but still a very good turn out everywhere. The whole atmosphere even seemed more upbeat than usual today.

It was a little breezy today and in the 60's, but I was in short sleeves by the afternoon and tomorrow is calling for the 70's. There was a constant parade of loaded hand carts going out the gate during the 3 trips I made in and out to drop things off.

In spite of the economy, it looks like a good one for anyone thinking of going......................

 

I'lle be there on Saturday

 

I went yesterday and it wasnt bad for a Wednesday. I got some good deals on some grills and hubcaps. I have to go tomorrow to get a windshield . It seems they are getting more of ****py tools and non car related stuff.

 

It looked pretty busy when I drove past on the Turnpike about 2:30. A guy I spoke to at noon in ***berland, MD said it was 1/3 empty, but some folks always look at things as 1/2 empty if you know what I mean.
Looking forward to walking my *** off on Friday.

 

I'll be there tomorrow (Fri) with Tall John, shopping list in hand. 'Did well last Fri & Sat at E-town, and I hope to hit a few deals at Carlisle.

 

Never been there, is it worth the 3 hour trip from Jersey ? I've heard that it ain't what it used to be... but what is ???

 

Takes me about and hour and a half to get there and I think it's worth the trip. $5 to park/$10 to get in and very good exercise-read the thread on how to prepare.

I went today and thought it was apretty good crowd-the armory parking lot was about 80% full when I got there about 9:15. The car coral was pretty sp****-but io usually go later in the week. Some nice old metal-none being given away. Acoupld of decent street rods and a few of the bullet holes on teal variety-one I saw even had a fake tommy gun in the back seat-I mean a middle aged man sitting in the car thought this was cool?

Anyway, my trip was maixed. Plenty of Asian Tool suppliers,but some good stuff too and i got the two weird socket adapters I was after. And I got all eleven types of stainelss hardware I needed, but couldn't find anyone with #10 and barbed end heater fittings.

Two venders I would highly recommend are Bucket of Bolts at NI27 for really good prices on good stainless hardware and Restoration Specialities at Q76 for good prices,info and selection on clips,trim screws,rubber products,welting,etc.

 

WTF? Three hours and you want to know it its worth it? damn you guys are spoiled in the US if thats an issue!
We have guys drive for three days to get to our biggest swap meet and it wouldn't be 1/3 the size of Carlisle!

 

Rich, wish I could be there- NEVER made it to Carlisle when I lived in PA... only Hershey...

Enjoy some S****ple and Whoopie Pies for me!

 

Don't know how anyone could have looked at any part of the fairgrounds to claim 1/3 empty except the isolated 2 bottom rows over the hill behind the car corral and they usually fill in late anyway.

Got a bunch of small stuff and a pair of mags I was needing. I figure (and hope) the car corral will look much better the next two days as it usually does.

Yeah, the Taiwan tool vendors are in abundance, but top vendors that were missing from the Fall event were back in force too.

Couldn't hang around for the auction, but heard from someone who did that said it was very lively with many more selling than Fall. 70's and sunshine tomorrow...................

 

We have sold a lot of stuff already and I'm loading more in tomorrow. Our best selling days are Tuesday and Wednesday when other vendors are looking for deals to fill their spots. There were a few loaded trailers and trucks coming in tonight to unload in their spaces as we were leaving.

Saturday is not the best day for this event and for some vendors they are packing up. If your really looking for deals you need to be there Wednesday or Thursday.

 

Sunday cruise in is fun. Bring your rod and park on the grounds for $5, $10 a carload. see www.carlisleevents.com.

 

considering making the 5 hour drive down tonight, how was the selection of 49-54 chevy parts? sheetmetal and patch panels specifically

 

Just got back from Carlisle, I have never seen it so busy on a friday. Great deals on some great early iron. But still couldn't find that elusive '40 Deluxe coupe...oh well, I'll keep looking.

 

Just think you could go to the bike show in the summer and go to the Rat Rod Revival!!

 

Nope, we had ham and cheese and shoo fly pie. I don't do s****ple, Mac. Do you know what's in that stuff/

 

Now to find that elusive:
*Stewart Warner Motor Minder (vacuum) gauge!
*a pair of decent narrow 15" by 4 3/4" bolt pattern chrome reverse
and ....

 

just got back found some parts for my ford there seem to be more 40,s& 50,s parts which is good for me traded a 58 ford bumper for a patch panel before i even left so it was a good start

 

Been so long since I had it that my tolerance may be down... but if flipping my old hooptiwagon didn't do me in, I doubt that fried up slaughterhouse leftovers will...

 

Got back from Carlisle on Friday night after an overnighter from Rochester. As always, had a great time and bought some neccessities, such as two little jars of GM touch-up paint for 50 cents! Don't know if they will work on my '63 Bonneville, but what the heck, they were only 50 cents! Also got a pair of really nice scissors which can be used in the garage for jobs like cutting heavy cardboard and carpeting. They were really expensive at $20.00. My knees went weak when I had to fork over that much money. I also found two brand new 13/16" Craftsman spark plug sockets for a buck! That made me feel much better.

As always, I had a bowl of the chicken corn chowder at the food court, followed up by an oatmeal raisin cookie. Yummmmmmmy! Refreshed I quickly prowled the car corral and didn't see anything that I could afford - not unusual.

All in all, a very fun trip. Who cares that I had to drive 350 miles to buy less than $30.00worth of treasures. Oh, by the way, we got the best deal this year on a hotel. We stayed at the Red Roof Inn on the east side of the river in Harrisburg for $53.00 a night!!!
I haven't gotten a room that cheap in years!

As I said, a really good time, especially for all of us Northeasterners who are just dying to get out and begin the car season.

 

Geeeez,the crowd? Saturday was the busiest I've ever seen? Noone was really buying big ticket items,but there were good deals if you looked.

The fellers I was with meandered off while I was inquiring about tires,so I got to be "lone wolf" for a good,long while.Communication is key! Have a meet up spot and time predetermined for the next time(or hold the keys to the truck! Haa haa)

I got to talk with Clark and another HAMB'er,sorry didn't catch your name! Nice people!

The pretty gal in the gate admission booth asked about the HAMB(I had a duct tape label made with HAMB on it.)She seemed intrigued and wrote the info down-hope she checks us out....

 

I just got back yesterday. 7 hour drive but worth it. The advice you folks gave me was right on the money. Sad that I didn't follow all of it.

After arriving at 6 am we went through gate 1, my dad and me. We looked up towards the hill and thought it would be no big deal to work rows at the entrance and hit the hill and get to the (what we thought was the flat on top) flat and work it.

Big mistake, dads 71 and has both knees replaced (decided to leave the scooter he packed for 7 hours on the truck) I've been fighting allergies/sinusites for two weeks. We make it up Mt. Rushmore with the large wagon I brought only to discover the other side is not flat......

It did turn out to be a great trip. I was looking for a pair of AD Chevy Panel rear doors and fenders. Found 1 barn door, bought it and it turned out to be the same side as the good one I have, no fenders. Finished up around 3 pm. Not bad for two broke down hillbillies.


Moral of the story is listen to the Hambers advice and enjoy your day.

 

I got back last night at 8:30 with a t******* headache,sick to my stomach,tired,achy and an empty wallet. But I was happy with the deals I got and got to meet a couple guy's from the Hamb. I picked up a 600 cfm edelbrock carb(needs new secondary plates) for $40, some stainless screws for my dash cluster from the bucket of bolts man(thanks 5-window for the tip)I met up with loc8tor to pickup my chrome trim for the rear window on my 40(nice meeting you man)set of 4 15" mooneye's ripple disk wheel covers for $50, stopped in to see bulletman(nice meeting you and the wife) and picked up a set of peep mirrors and a bullet, and the coo de gra I picked up an NOS w/surface rust front nose piece for my 40 Dodge for $60. All in all it was a pretty decent day. later shawn

 

Haa haa,I think we both looked at those $50. Ripple Discs...glad you got em!
I couldn't carry any more...

 

This year was the first time I managed to secure vendor space at the spring meet; I've sold at Fall Carlisle for years, and finally managed to get my foot in the spring door. The crowd was thicker than I expected this year, and I both sold and bought well. My favorite purchase is a '56 265 engine, complete with generator, starter, standard shift flywheel/clutch/bell housing, a '57 4 bbl. intake, and stagger bolt Offenhauser valve covers, all for the outrageous sum of $175.00. I owe thanks to my nephew for being there with an empty half ton truck to haul it with--I never could have loaded it in my S-10 along with all of my other ****! As usual, about 80 percent of the many items I bought were in the North field. ALWAYS hit that area first; I was still finding deals there on Saturday.

 

Tall john and I made the valiant effort on Fri to cover the place in one day. We got pretty close, 'not bad for a couple of old farts. The weather was perfect. There seemed to be quite a few good deals. I picked up a new-in-the-box Sun Econometer, which looks like their version of the Motor Minder. I never knew they made these, I've only ever seen the SW gauge.

 

Those ripple discs are in nice shape with the exception of the one on top had some pry marks from taking it off. I plan on running skirts on the back so that one will go there.

Blackp-15 do you have a pic of that econometer? I seen one on the bay and am wondering if it's the same. later shawn

 

I'll post a pic of the Econometer tomorrow.

 

packard taillights for 300 bucks
caddy dual quad batwing air clener for 250
buying floor pans directly from the president of cars -rick dyer
yeah , carlisle used to be very special

 

Sounds like you fellas scored big time! Good deals!

A guy had a 2" straight vacuum SW gauge that he quoted as being "very rare",$100.
I'd think he'd still have it? Not a Motor Minder so I walked away.
I scored a r,o,y,g enmarked vaccuum gauge a while back at a flea market for $2 that I'll use.