Carlisle Events and Audi present a special movie screening Friday night at 8 p.m. as part of the Friday Night Block Party. The Carlisle Theater and Audi will showcase "Truth in 24 II," a film that documents Audi's role in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This red carpet style screening will feature special Audi displays in the downtown square, exclusive parking in front of the theater for R8 drivers, a post-film Q&A with Brad Kettler of Audi Sport Engineering, Scott Keogh, the Chief Marketing Officer for Audi USA and Mark Fruechtnicht of Audi product planning. The cost to attend is a $5 donation, with proceeds benefiting Safe Harbour. More information on the evening is available by clicking the link below.

• Friday Night Block Party Information
• Truth in 24 II
• Truth Trailer

Pre-register before April 16th, 2012 to get your window sticker early and drive right in when you get to the gate!

• Gate-N-Go
• Register Now

Although the Import & Kit Nationals is more widely known for its relaxed atmosphere and cars on display in the field without the pressures of being judged there are some cars that stand out above the crowd. If you own one of these vehicles and would like to have it evaluated by a team of automotive experts then you might want to consider participating in the Standard of Excellence judging. Registration is limited to 12 vehicles. Applicants must register for the Standard of Excellence judging and submit photos of their vehicle. If you think your vehicle has what it takes to make the grade, click the link below to register.

• Standard of Excellence Registration

Alex Dearborn, designer and builder of the Deserter is coming to Carlisle. The Deserters were born in the late '60s with the Series One model and ran through the GT version in '72. Alex’s car career started during his military days in the 1960’s. It wasn't long before he was working for Ray Caldwell at Autodynamics. There, Alex designed the Deserter, a series of cars uniquely blending sports car and dune buggy with VW underpinnings. The original Deserter GS raced Pikes Peak in 1971, and examples were sold thereafter as kits. Because there is still a strong following for Deserters to this day having Alex at Carlisle makes perfect sense.

• Dearnborn Auto
• Deserter Owner's Group

As part of the Import & Kit Nationals in 2012, all participants are invited to be part of the first downtown Carlisle Block Party. The gathering will take place on Friday evening of Import weekend and the Carlisle borough will bag parking meters on North Hanover Street from North Street to the square. Parking is reserved for Import & Kit Nationals showfield vehicles that display their dash plaque and/or have a showfield sticker. This is not a parade, rather it’s a collection of like minded enthusiasts gathering to dine, shop and socialize “after hours” off grounds.

• Friday Night Block Party Information

Teen drivers are accident prone, not because they are bad drivers, but because they lack the experience needed to properly avoid danger. Because of that, and the staggering statistics associated with teen driving fatalities, local "young drivers" will have a FREE opportunity to better themselves behind the wheel in 2012.

The free driving school will take place during Import & Kit Weekend on Sunday (May 20) only and the class has been filled. Drivers who have been recently licensed will learn skills in lost traction situations; including braking, turning, braking when turning and get a real life, controlled feel for scenarios that are often only learned “the hard way.” The school driving sessions will be low speed with an instructor in the car and include a classroom presentation and car care covering routine maintenance checks and more.

Registration has closed, but check out the event on Sunday. If you are unable to attend, thank you for consideration and your support!

An annual part of the Import & Kit Nationals is the ability to drive your car around the Autocross track. Why do you do this? We suspect the answers will vary, but either way, you compete against the clock and the elements. During the 2011 event, 31 cars took a trip around the course. The top five times are listed below and the entire results list is available by clicking the link below. How did you do?

1) Ben Kaplan - (87 Volvo 240 - 76.947)
2) Steve Landersman - (00 BMW M Roadster - 80.786)
3) Michael Towery - (87 Volvo 240 - 77.739)
4) Jonathan Muffley - (87 BMW 325 - 79.222)
5) Dan Ciota - (98 Volvo V70 - 88.180)

• Autocross Results

The 2012 Import & Kit Nationals car corral will provide classic to late-model imported vehicles in all varieties of make, model and condition. Thousands can browse, compare and made deals directly with the owner. As always, notary services including temporary tags are available in the car corral allowing would be buyers to drive their purchase off the grounds. Car corral rules dictate that all vehicles in the corral must be for sale, in running condition and cannot be displayed on trailers. For more information or to purchase a car corral space, please contact us at (717) 243-7855.

2012 will feature Italian cars in Building Y and to have your Italian ride considered for the Invitational Display, click here for the Invitational application.

• Register Online

In 2012, you can take a trip around the world - at Carlisle that is. As part of your FREE event directory, you'll get a passport style insert. Take it and do what you already do, walk the grounds and browse the amazing display of cars. At the same time, get your booklet stamped for great prizes, including a grand prize of free lodging and showfield registration for 2013.

Not everyone was fortunate enough to get their hands on an original Cobra; however, thanks in part to some amazing kit manufacturers, the Cobra lives on. In 2012, the primary kit feature will showcase Cobras of all types. Whether you own a Cobra or simply want to admire the display, don't miss a chance to do so during the event.

2012 might be the year of the FIAT, if not from a sales stand point, then from a conversation stand point. The FIAT 500 marks the re-birth of the FIAT brand in the states and as the Import & Kit weekend celebrates Italian cars, we want you to win one too. Up for grabs will be a 1978 FIAT X-1/9. The car comes complete with a removable Targa top, four-cylinder engine, manual transmission and a modern CD player. Crank up your Andrea Bocelli tunes and good luck!

Rules and a link to register are now available. Registration will also take place on grounds during the event.

• Official Rules
• Register Now

Bring your kids to the Import & Kit Nationals for great family entertainment. Not only are there thousands of cars on site of varying styles, Kids at Carlisle offers an outlet to play, color and let a kid be a kid.

Now, along with the fun of Kids at Carlisle, the Country Kids Jamboree will be on site for a puppet/marionette show plus games guaranteed to delight both kids and parents alike.

This year Carlisle will host all events, including an expanded game arcade, fabulous faces face painting, spin art, sand art, an ALL NEW Marionette show, a duck pond, shooting gallery, shuffle alley, ring toss, tic-tac-toe and more. A nominal fee may apply for most games with prizes available to all participants.

For more details on the Country Kids Jamboree schedule, consult your FREE event directory on site. Enjoy a great weekend of entertainment with the Puppen Meister at the Import & Kit Nationals!

• Country Kids Jamboree

Building Y is the place to see the best of the best in imports and kit cars. Many Invitational cars are featured in national magazines as a result of being on display. To have your car considered for the 2012 Invitational Display, click here for the Invitational application.

The Import & Kit Nationals Swap Meet is the perfect opportunity to sell the parts and accessories that have been collecting dust in your garage. The swap meet is also the place for the parts you need to finish a job. Parts, memorabilia, collectibles and literature –you’ll find it all in the Import & Kit Nationals Swap Meet.

For more information or to purchase space, please contact us at 717-243-7855 or email info@carlisleevents.com.

• Register Online

Carlisle Events recognizes the need that today’s technology plays with today’s technician. Because of that, you could win an iPad at any one of our 10 Carlisle based events. This prize will serve as a great accessory for travel, shop work, web browsing, gaming or whatever you want to do with it. Over the course of the year, beginning with Spring Carlisle (April 25-29) and concluding with Fall Carlisle (October 3-7), 10 Apple iPads will be handed out. The iPads will be at least an Apple iPad 2. One lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive an iPad in conjunction with each event at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, with each winner being selected from a pool of names specific to each event.

Rules and a link to register are now available. Registration will also take place on site during each event.

• Official Rules
• Register Now

The Import & Kit Nationals Race Car Paddock is a highlight area of the Showfield each year and is located just inside of Gate 3. The Race Car Paddock is reserved exclusively for imports and kits that are set up for racing. All race cars are eligible – from road racers and autocross to drag and rally cars. Many show off their race car and hang out with fellow drivers and race enthusiasts in this featured area.

For those that have the urge to get some track time in, they are able to do so by taking a few laps on our on-site autocross. Call us at (717) 243-7855 to register. Save $10 by registering for the event by April 16th. Call us at (717) 243-7855 or register online today!

• Register Online

Get your official event merchandise via the Carlisle Store. The Carlisle Store offers event specific shirts, memorabilia and more. Remember, the Carlisle Store and Brickel’s Racing Collectibles offer site to store and site to home shipping. Order any item online and have it mailed directly to the store at Carlisle for convenient pick up during the show or to your mail box at home. Please note, event specific t-shirts will ONLY be mailed within two weeks of its respective show. The event shirt for the Import & Kit Nationals is NOW available to pre-order.

Additional styles are colors are available. Click the link below for more options.

• Carlisle Store

This year’s special guest for the Kit side of the Import & Kit Nationals is Bruce Meyers, father of the modern day Dune Buggy. During this year's Import & Kit Nationals event, many came out to meet Bruce and get an autograph.

Meyers has a long history with Dune Buggies, dating back to the original water pumpers of Southern California. Meyers took it upon himself to re-design the crude, heavy vehicles into the lightweight version that we are accustomed to today. After being featured on the cover of national automotive magazines like Hot Rod and Car and Driver, The Meyers Manx’s popularity took off across the country. Over the years, Meyers produced over 7,000 kits stemming from the Manx.

• Meyers Manx
• Built by Denmat

Annually you can take part in scenic cruises as part of the Import & Kit Nationals. We’ll provide the directions that will allow you to take a self-guided tour of south central Pennsylvania. The tour will take you off the beaten path and allow you to get a real taste of the Cumberland Valley. You do not need to be registered for the Showfield; all show guests are welcome to participate. Directions will be available at Guest Services.

Music always adds to an event. At the Import & Kit Nationals it creates an ambiance that just seems to bring all of the great cars and motorcycles to life. A variety of bands will play on the The River 97.3 Stage facing the showfield to create a festival atmosphere.

The weekend lineup is as follows:
FRIDAY
12 p.m. - 2 p.m....Mitch Gregory Blues Review
2 p.m - 4 p.m....Fretworks

SATURDAY
9 a.m. - 11 a.m....The Jazz Me Band
11 a.m. - 3 p.m....Payton Taylor & Band (Nashville country music sensation)
3 p.m. - 5 p.m....The Funktion Band

SUNDAY
10 a.m. - 11 a.m....Payton Taylor & Band
11 a.m. - 12 p.m....No Last Call Band (strolling the grounds)
12 p.m. - 1 p.m....The Jazz Me Band

Each year at the Import & Kit Nationals you can show us what your car can do by taking your turn on our on-site autocross track! The autocross track is located in the North Field. The track has the feel of a road course and features six turns as well as elevation changes. If you’re not ready to get behind the wheel we offer a viewing deck above the track where you can safely watch the action. If you have any questions or want to learn more about autocross competition, members of the Susquehanna Region of the SCCA and its chapter club, the Appalachian Sports Car Club are present throughout the event.

For those of you who have taken your car to the next level and want validation for that effort, make sure to enter the Standard of Excellence Judging. Annually, owners compete against a set of criteria on the judging sheets rather than against other vehicles. Our qualified judging team consists of knowledgeable automotive enthusiasts and industry professionals. Classes are available for imports, kits and unrestored originals.

• Register Online

Each year at the Import & Kit Nationals you can tune up your automotive knowledge with free seminars taking place all weekend and open to all show attendees. Topics have ranged from power tuning to building an entire kit car. Seminars are typically informal with plenty of opportunities for interaction with the seminar presenters. All presenters are very knowledgeable in their areas of expertise and most are available during the weekend for further discussion.

The Carlisle Import & Kit National is fun for the entire family and we have not forgotten the kids. We have crafts for kids and parents to enjoy together during this and many of our events. We also have lots of play activities that we think will “wow” the young ones. Come and check it out!

• Kids at Carlisle