The 2020 Chevrolet Nationals Are Almost Here. Are You Ready!

When you think of great car shows, any of the Carlisle Events happenings has to come to mind. Carlisle Events knows how to put on an excellent show, and the folks there should, they’ve been doing it for years.

Each summer, there is one event at the Carlisle fairground that has the ability to bring together everything related to GM — the Carlisle Chevrolet Nationals. Carlisle Events first gathered all things Chevrolet, Cadillac, Pontiac, Buick, and Oldsmobile into one location, 15 years ago. Today, we still consider it one of the best events of its type in the region. Where else can thousands of cars and guests come together in central Pennsylvania to hang out?

Keeping a tradition that has gone on for years, the two-day event will host nearly a century of automotive history and will also embrace the 50th-Anniversary celebration of the Monte Carlo. This must-attend event will also feature a wide array of Chevrolet vendors within the swap meet and Midway. Although the weekend party will be titled as a Chevrolet weekend, all GM-branded cars and trucks are welcome.

Guest Appearance By TV Host Courtney Hansen

Television host and author, Courtney Hansen, is coming to the Chevrolet Nationals, and you can meet her. Courtney has been part of Spike TV’s Powerblock, Autoweek’s Vinsetta Garage, PowerNation, Rides on TLC, Million Dollar Motors, Overhaulin’, and more. She’s also a published author, releasing “The Garage Girl’s Guide To Everything You Need To Know About Your Car” in 2007.  She’ll be with us Saturday in Building T. Learn more about her, register for the NPD Showfield, purchase discounted spectator tickets and more online now!

Register Your Car Now And Save Money

If you pre-register before the Gate-N-Go deadline of Tuesday, May 26, you can save 10-percent. When you take advantage of the Gate-N-Go option, Carlisle Events will send you all of your applicable paperwork in advance. This way, you can affix your window sticker at home and drive right onto the grounds and immediately begin having a great time.

Chevrolet Nationals

Enter now to be part of the largest gathering of all GM models. The Chevrolet Nationals is an event you will not want to miss.

Even if you miss the Gate-N-Go deadline, you can still pre-register. Pre-registration remains available until show week. When you pre-register, you cruise up to the Showfield Registration office, bypass one line, pick up your packet and return to your car. Place the registration on your window and you and your guest can cruise onsite with minimal delay.

After the May 26th Gate-N-Go Deadline has passed, the only price for registration will be full price. Why pay full price when you pay a discounted rate and have your materials mailed to you in advance. Register now and save.

You can register online at The Carlisle Registration Store or by calling the office at (717) 243-7855.

Special Display Planned To Honor The ‘70s

A special event within the Carlisle Chevrolet Nationals this year will celebrate the fabulous cars of the 1970s. They’re honoring the decade in 2020 with a special feature display in Building T of 1970 through 1979 GM products. That’s right, this display is open to all makes within the GM family Additionally, Building T will hold a 50 Years of the Monte Carlo Display and 50 Years of the LS6 454 Display that will truly take you back to the era.

Chevrolet Nationals

The ’70s will be a prominent part of this year’s gathering.

Do you have a 1970’s car you think is worthy of display? Apply Today- Featured Vehicle Display Application

or, you can register your 1970’s vehicle for the Chevrolet Nationals NPD Showfield.

Carlisle Auctions to Host a Single-Day Auction June 27

There’s so much to see and do during Chevrolet weekend that the event needs two locations to host it all. Another terrific addition to the event is the Carlisle Auctions Summer Sale. Originally held as a stand-alone event in 2018, the Carlisle Auctions team brings its fast-paced brand of excitement to the Chevrolet weekend. This one-day auction will feature more than 200 classic and collector cars for sale, including a power hour focused on the General Motors family of vehicles. The auction will be held on Saturday, June 27 at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center. A free shuttle is available to move guests between the two facilities plus, there will be free spectator admission. Call (717) 960-6400 to learn more or visit Carlisle Auctions online.

Young Guns — The Future of the Hobby

This class offers Showfield access to car owners 25 years old and younger. We were all there at one time or another — being the young person in the hobby and showing against the veterans. Not only is the younger generation the future of the hobby, but we want to encourage them to participate and bring their fresh perspective. We have multiple classes available for our Young Guns. The goal is to give the Young Guns an area where they can network with their peers and call special attention to their efforts. Classes are open to licensed drivers, age 16 to 25. Register For Young Guns now to be part of the fun.

Register your Nova for the Nova Nationals

Carlisle Events and the National Nostalgic Nova Club have teamed up to create a special meet within the Chevrolet Nationals. The annual Novas at Carlisle “show within a show” is held throughout the event weekend. All fans of the Nova — regardless of club affiliation — are welcome to be part of this huge Nova show field. Nova classes have a designated area and attendees are welcome to join in all the fun under the north portion of our pavilion. All Novas will be parked in the blue show field, between the Midway and the pavilion near one of the main avenues of the fairgrounds. This offers Nova owners a great place to display while remaining a part of the main show. Registration for Nova classes is still the same as in years past, there are simply more classes to choose from. All cars are also eligible for the same awards as in previous years.

On top of the special display cars, Novas at Carlisle will also feature several seminars geared towards Nova tech and history. The seminars are open to all attendees of the Chevrolet Nationals and will take place in the North part of the pavilion.

A special highlight for 2020 will be a selection of Nova Gold Class Award winners from events across the USA. These winners will be assembled in the southern portion of the pavilion and are Novas that are at the top of their game, scoring over 900 points in Gold Class Judging at Nova events. On Thursday and Friday, there will also be judging of 4 or 5 new Nova builds getting scored for hopeful Gold Class Awards.

This is a great feature for fans of Chevy’s cool compact, so be sure to come out and join your fellow Nova nuts in June!

Register for the Showfield

Sit in Bruce Larson’s Racer as it Warms Up

Bruce Larson, Carlisle’s resident noisemaker, returns to host Nitrofest. Bruce, an NHRA champion and all-around car guy, will be here to share his amazing USA-1 funny car.

Bruce’s tent will be located close to the main stage and he will be doing a series of startups for us during the Friday and Saturday show hours. An even cooler aspect of Bruce’s demonstrations will be that several lucky audience members could be chosen to sit in the car as it is fired up. This is a rare opportunity to sit in the cockpit of an actual NHRA drag car while the driver and his team start and rev it for you! Be sure to check your event directory for Bruce’s exact location and startup times as well. Don’t miss your chance to see, hear and smell the Nitro while Bruce disturbs the peace at the Chevrolet Nationals!

Free Autocross Rides All Weekend

If you enjoy your car shows to feature some high-speed action, the Chevrolet Nationals have that. The UMI Performance team members will take you on one wild ride, as the suspension gurus at UMI will be offering free Autocross Ride-Alongs throughout the weekend. These rides are open to anyone attending the Chevrolet Nationals, and you can even take multiple rides. Just visit the UMI tent in the north field, sign the waiver, and buckle up for the ride of a lifetime.

*Age/height restrictions may apply

Chevrolet Nationals

If you like your car shows to feature high-RPM action, strap in at the Chevrolet Nationals.

Join the UMI Performance Crew On Friday Evening

The ever-popular Real Street Shootout Contest presented by UMI Performance is on the schedule once again. For the fifth year, participants can sign up and compete for the chance to win several cash prizes, as well as be crowned the Real Street Shootout Champion. The contest is free to participate; however, it is limited to 20 cars. Signing up is as easy as visiting Guest Services on Friday of the show to register your car. This process must be completed no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday to allow for tech inspections and vehicle staging. Participants must have a registered (and street legal) car on the Chevrolet Nationals show field, be 18 years of age or older, and have a valid license and insurance. Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own helmets for safety.

*Due to safety concerns, stock height SUVs and trucks may be excluded from the contest.

Solid Lifter Showroom

The ever-popular Solid Lifter Showroom will be back in Building Y. The hard-working team from Super Car Workshop presides over this collection of ultra-rare vehicles throughout the weekend. You can speak directly to the specialists responsible for many of these awesome restorations. Yenkos, COPOs and so much more compose what has become one of our most beloved displays at Carlisle.

There will also be seminars for the SLS too! More details will be announced closer to the event time.

Be Chosen As A Member Of The Carlisle Elite On Friday

Once again, the Carlisle Events’ staff will be roaming the Chevrolet Nationals/NPD Showfield on Friday of event weekend in search of their ten favorite vehicles to become the newest members of the Carlisle Elite. To be picked for the Carlisle Elite, your car doesn’t have to be rare or a high dollar, or have been the recipient of a professional restoration. In fact, the only real criteria is, it catches our collective eye. Make sure your car is registered and parked on the show field on Friday to be eligible.

Congratulations to the 2019 Carlisle Elite winners:

Larry Baer- 1954 Chevrolet 3100
Greg Cole- 1965 Chevrolet Corvair
Alan Ferris- 1988 Fiero GT Coupe
Ken & Kaylee Knapp- 1966 Chevrolet Nova L79
Joel Miller- 1978 Pontiac Trans Am
Jeffrey Oberdier- 1955 Chevrolet B150 Gasser
Jeff Rogers- 1969 Hurst Olds
Michael Smith- 1947 Cadillac
Pernall Spohn- 1969 Chevrolet Camaro
Frank Swartz- 1959 Chevrolet El Camino

There are many more details about the Carlisle Chevrolet Nationals that can be found by clicking here. The Carlisle Events website is also a great place to learn more about club programs, activities, and more. Hopefully, we’ll see you there. Tell them Chevy Hardcore sent you.

Article Sources

About the author

Randy Bolig

Randy Bolig has been working on cars and has been involved in the hobby ever since he bought his first car when he was only 14 years old. His passion for performance got him noticed by many locals, and he began helping them modify their vehicles.
Read My Articles

Hot Rods and Muscle Cars in your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Street Muscle, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

We'll send you the most interesting Street Muscle articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


fordmuscle
Classic Ford Performance
dragzine
Drag Racing
chevyhardcore
Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • fordmuscle Classic Ford Performance
  • dragzine Drag Racing
  • chevyhardcore Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading