Carlisle, PA - The Carlisle Ford Nationals are an event that's been held in early June at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds since 1995. Over the last 21 shows (1995-2015), the event has seen exponential growth, both at the gate and on the grounds. With support from some of the biggest names within the automotive hobby, the event has hit record totals the past two years. Now, fresh off a 2015 that was the biggest and best ever for the Carlisle Ford Nationals, Ford Performance has named the show its top moment of the 2015 show season.
With involvement in Ford Nationals weekend since its inception, Ford Performance (formerly branded as Ford Racing), comes to the show each summer to showcase its hottest products. For 2015, the first year under the Ford Performance brand, the group showcased the all-new Shelby GT350R and Focus RS. Those two cars coming to Carlisle were unique, in that less than a handful existed in the world and Ford handpicked Carlisle as a destination to show them both off to the masses. Over 50,000 guests packed the grounds, with many of them visiting the Carlisle Expo Center to see both rides on display. Those same enthusiasts watched in amazement as the RS and GT350R cruised through the NPD Showfield before coming to rest on the Red 102.3 stage for product walk around sessions.
These standing room only sessions not only showcased the future of the brand to the masses at Carlisle, they were highlighted via YouTube sensation David Patterson and his popular channel (ThatDudeinBlue). While Ford weekend draws over 3,000 cars and an international audience through the gate, Patterson's video proved grossly popular. Since it was posted to the web not long after the June 2015 event, the video has been viewed more than a half a million times.
While there are many Ford themed shows across the United States, there is something very special about knowing that Carlisle Events, a family owned and operated business and its team of just over three-dozen full time staff members puts on a show that tops ones held in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Detroit, Waterford (near Perth), Australia, and New York City.
"This is an awesome recognition from our friends at Ford Performance," said event manager Ken Appell. "This really shows the strength of our unique and long time relationship with Ford as a brand and with the enthusiasts that make up our show," continued Appell. "I want to offer a sincere thank you to the enthusiasts worldwide that put the blood, sweat and tears into their vehicles to bring to the show as well as the time in traveling to our event each year."
The 2016 Carlisle Ford Nationals returns to the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and aims to repeat as Ford Performances' top enthusiast moment. This year's show runs June 3-5 and includes a massive all-Ford themed swap meet and Manufacturers Midway, car corral, a wide array of food concessions, test drives with Ford and more. Event registration and weekend passes available now via the Ford page of www.CarlisleEvents.com.
