The car community is a tight knit group and within the Corvette world, the ties that bind are arguably stronger than any other group that comes to Carlisle for an event. This year’s Corvettes at Carlisle, presented by Corvette America, runs August 24-27 and it’ll feature a special completed restoration project, done exclusively for an enthusiast recovering from brain cancer. The car has been family owned since it rolled off the assembly line and is now in its second generation of ownership.

The feel-good story includes Collin Brown, his grandfather, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic, countless Corvette vendors, Tony’s Corvette Shop of Gaithersburg, Maryland and more. The ’68 Corvette in question is now owned by Collin Brown, but it was Collin’s grandfather that got him hooked on cars at a young age, driving Collin around in his Corvette for many years. As a promise, Collin received the car for his 16th birthday, but not long after, was diagnosed with brain cancer. Needless to say, the car took a back seat as did hopes for a proper restoration of it.

Into the picture comes friend and owner of Tony’s Corvette Shop, Tony Avedisian. Tony initially got involved after receiving a call from Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic to evaluate what the car would need. The end result was a frame off restoration, and Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic needed assistance to ensure the Collin's wish was granted. From there, Tony took it upon himself to see this task through. He contacted many Corvette vendors, with all contributing in the same manner. According to Tony, “it was very inspiring to see such a wonderful response.”

The car will be unveiled, fully restored to Collin and his family on Saturday, August 26 at the stage. During this time of healing and rehabilitation for Collin, a gift like this will surely mean more than words can express.

In addition to the restoration and presentation of Collin’s ’68 Corvette, Tony will debut a book for the first time. The book focuses on the 1963 Corvette Z06. A car of the same brand will on display at their booth along with books for sale/autograph and the authors too.

Complete details on Corvettes at Carlisle along with links to register, become a vendor or purchase event tickets can be found at www.CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855. Don’t miss the world’s largest all-Corvette weekend, with over 5,000 Corvettes, 50,000+ guests and so much more!

The Vietnam War stands out in our country’s history due to how its service members were looked at upon their return stateside. In some cases, those who served are still trying to find their place. The difficulties that come with serving, especially on the front lines can only be known by those who have been there, but one local central Pennsylvania man is hoping that those who have been lost in the current Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts will never been forgotten.

Tim Wright is a retired Army veteran who lives in nearby Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and served in Vietnam. He vividly recalls how he was treated when he came home from Vietnam and has built the Mid-Atlantic Wall of Fallen Heroes so that today’s heroes are never forgotten. This idea came in part from a similar creation by a man named Fred Nunemacher of Millersburg, Pennsylvania. Fred’s wall includes just the names of Pennsylvania’s fallen from Iraq and is called the Wall of Fallen Heroes.

What makes Tim Wright’s wall different is that it covers the Mid-Atlantic region (Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey) as well as Washington D.C. and currently includes 827 names. This wall has made its rounds in all seven locations, including a big bike rally, Rolling Thunder, which takes place in D.C.

Given that the Carlisle Truck Nationals (August 4-6 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds) celebrates all things truck, family and even the military, having Tim Wright at Carlisle with this amazing wall on the back of his truck was a no-brainer. In addition to this wall, Tim Wright also has notes and information on every service member deemed K.I.A. in south Asia. This information was gleaned from media outlets including the Military Times and Associated Press.

Event Manager Ed Scholly noted that “when this opportunity presented itself for our event, I didn’t think twice about having Tim at Carlisle.” Scholly continued by saying, “I’m a veteran, I have friends and family that are veterans so honoring those who gave more by showcasing Tim Wright’s truck and wall at this year’s Carlisle Truck Nationals is a welcome addition to this event.”

Complete event information, including links to register for the Carlisle Truck Nationals, Big Rig Show and Shine or to simply purchase spectator tickets and passes can be found at www.CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.

The Carlisle Chrysler Nationals have, for good reason, become THE premier all-Mopar event in the world and that fact was on display once more July 14-16, 2017 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds. Cars and people came from around the world to enjoy a showfield laced with history, unique displays, amazing camaraderie and more!

As has been the case for many years, the three-day event turned into four with the annual Mopar Rebellion kick-off party on Thursday evening. This party, held at the neighboring Carlisle Expo Center featured a few hundred pieces of automotive history and offered the perfect transition into day 1 of show weekend. With gates opening at 7 a.m. Friday morning, excitement was such that cars and enthusiasts lined up in advance to find their spot on the grounds. Once there, the special displays all around kept show-goers snapping photos and turning heads all day long. Displays included ones dedicated to the Panther Pink/FM3 paint scheme, 100-years of Dodge/Ram trucks, survivor cars, 50 years of the RO/WO Super Stocks, the RT, Dodge Viper, GTX and oh by the way, Dodge brought its all-new Demon to Carlisle too!

With Friday transitioning to Saturday, where sunny skies and temps in the mid-80s remained constant throughout the day, so did the enthusiasm from everyone at Carlisle. Dukes of Hazzard star Tom Wopat (Luke Duke) signed autographs for fans, while industry legends like Herb McCandless, the Ramchargers, Golden Commandos and more signed autographs and “talked shop” all day long. As hot as temps were Thursday, something even hotter took over Carlisle too; Dodge and its drag and drift thrill rides. Lines cued for over an hour as guests anxiously waited for the best 60 seconds of their life. Saturday wrapped with over 2 hours of stage excitement, including a burnout contest, marriage proposal, Daisy Duke contest, Demon walkarounds and even a special award presented to one passionate car owner via the Historic Vehicle Society. The annual Mopar Hall of Fame also took place Saturday evening, with a wide array of industry icons being inducted.

Sunday saw the 50,000+ guests and nearly 2,700 cars head home until next year. Before they left; however, they stuck around for one more opportunity to ride with Dodge, pick up awards, say goodbye to friends and make plans for next year.

In addition to the amazing array of classics and modern muscle at the fairgrounds, just across the way at the Carlisle Expo Center was something new, something fresh; the Carlisle Hurst Nationals. Nearly 200 Hurst-branded machines took center stage, including some rare barn finds, prototypes and more. Hurst weekend also included guests special to the brand, including Bob Riggle, Dennis Kirban, Bill Campbell and Don Glover just to name a few.

In all, the weekend was just what everyone expected it to be. Not only do Chrysler and Hurst enthusiasts arrive early, they stay late, with some of the last cars and vendors leaving the grounds on Monday morning, July 17. Save the date, because the biggest and best all-Mopar show in the world returns July 13, 2018 and includes the second annual Hurst Nationals. Get tickets now and learn more at www.CarlisleEvents.com.

Marketed to be big, bold and strong for work, adaptable for play and elegant for entertainment, Toyota’s Tundra continues in its third generation that began in 2014, and with a minor styling revamp already unveiled for 2018, the 2017 edition sees only quiet additions. 2018 Tundras will see a freshened front end that features new grille designs and headlamps, a new mesh look complemented by halogen headlights with a black bezel on the base SR and SR5 trims, and a billet-style grill and LED headlights for next year’s Tundra Limited, Platinum and 1794 Edition. Pointing toward a rumored all-new style-and-feature Tundra for 2019 or 2020, Toyota has chosen to only add a standard tow hitch receiver for models outfitted with the 4.6-liter V-8, while the Limited trim gains standard power front bucket seats. Other than that and an updated exterior color range that includes Quicksand, Inferno and Barcelona Red Metallic, Tundra for 2017 largely stands pat.

With more than four-dozen possible configurations and a towing capacity of up to 10,500 pounds, the 2017 Toyota Tundra, assembled exclusively in San Antonio, Texas. Tundra is a big truck with a big look. Tundra embodies brawn, in a tough and confident package, with sculpted creases, large angled headlights, a wide stance and an easy-lower-and-lift tailgate that lowers slowly with no slam, and that can easily be removed when necessary. Additionally, the front and rear bumpers use three-piece construction for reduced repair costs and all CrewMax models have a power vertical sliding rear window.

My Tundra 4x4 CrewMax test ride measured 228.9 inches long with a standard bed. Its width was 79.9 inches and height was 76.2 inches on a 145.7-inch wheelbase. Ground clearance came in at 10.4 inches and curbweight was 5670 lbs. Towing capacity for the Platinum Crew Max with a 5.5-ft. short bed is 9,800 lbs. in 4x4 configuration and the 5.7-liter engine.

Tundra links a 6-speed automatic overdive transmission mated to either of two engine choices. The 2017 pick-up truck comes standard with the 4.6-liter i-Force DOHC EFI V-8 that is good for 310 hp 327 lbs.-ft. of peak torque and is EPA rated at 14mpg/city and 18mpg/highway in 4x4. The 5.7-liter i-Force DOHC EFI V-8 that powered my test truck is the more popular choice among buyers. It is muscular and provides 381 hp and 401 lbs.-ft. of peak torque. The 5.7-liter is offered in both gasoline and Flex Fuel variants, and in 4x4 configuration is EPA rated at 13 city/17 highway. A week of mixed-used rides delivered an average of 15.2 mpg.

I found the engine to be noisy, but ample. Low-end torque was abundant and passing and acceleration from a stop were consistently powerful. On the highway, uphill grades and passing at speed were no challenge, and on the track, my Tundra Platinum dashed from zero to 60mph in 6.5 seconds en route to a 15.1-second quarter-mile.

Tundra Platinum’s interior is comfortable, thoughtfully constructed and its large knobs can be operated while wearing work gloves. The info gauges are grouped in a clear, easy-to-see design and there’s a center-mounted multi-information (LCD) display screen.

The cabin is filled with high-tech infotainment items and sightlines are clear. Tundra’s Crew Max Cab offers seating for five or six and provides 39.7 inches of front headroom and 38.9 inches for rear cab occupants. Legroom is 42.5 inches up front and 42.3 in the rear, and shoulder room is 65.7 inches (front) and 65.5 inches (rear). Platinum’s added amenities include dual-zone air conditioning; 12-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support, memory and a 4-way power passenger’s seat -- both upscaled with heat and ventilation.

Tundra attends to safety with eight standard airbags including front seat-mounted side airbags, front and rear roll-sensing side curtain airbags, driver and front outboard passenger airbags with an advanced airbag system. Tundra also provides standard driver and front outboard passenger knee airbags, and it is equipped with a standard backup camera on all grades.

Available in six trims, 2017 Toyota Tundras start at $33,170 for the SR trim with the 4.6-liter V-8; $34,980 for the SR5 and a 4.6-liter V-8; $42,430 for the Limited that comes with the 5.7-liter V-8; $43,495 for the off-road capable TRD Pro; $50,130 for the Platinum trim I tested; and $50,130 for the 1794 Edition.

The Platinum trim comes with a 5.7-liter V-8 engine and 5.5-ft. bed, 20-inch alloy wheels, leather-trimmed steering wheel with memory function, deck rail system, power sliding rear window, 38-gallon fuel tank, dual zone automatic climate control, power tilt/slide moonroof, Premium perforated leather-trimmed Seats, integrated Trailer Brake Controller, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Integrated Fog Lights, Intermittent Windshield Wipers, LED Daytime Running Lights and Entune™ Premium JBL® Audio with Integrated Navigation and App Suite.

The Platinum trim starts with the CrewMax and 5.5-ft. Short Bed configuration, and my test truck came in Magnetic Gray Metallic accented by a black leather interior. Running Boards added $345; a Skid Resistor™ Bedliner added $365; Bed Tie-Down Cleats added $142; All-Weather Floor Liners added $139; Glass Breakage Sensor added $299; key finder added $79; and a Remote Engine Starter added $499. With an $1195 delivery, processing & handling fee, the price as tested came to $51,553.

You can see the Tundra and and nearly 2,000 trucks at the Carlisle Truck Nationals, August 4-6 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. This celebration of trucks features big rigs, monster trucks, mini trucks, antiques, custom vans, 4x4’s and more.


> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

The group of enthusiasts who call the Carlisle Truck Nationals home each August are the type that will give you the shirt off their back, change your tire if you had a flat, or help an animal in need. It's that caring and giving nature that makes a special visit from local annual rescue group Speranza a reality during the August 4-6 weekend at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.

Speranza Animal Rescue is Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania based and has been taking in, rehabbing and rescuing animals for many years. Their role and visibility in the rescue community shot to a whole new level in 2016 however, with the rescue and life-saving rehabilitation efforts of Libre the dog.

Libre, a Boston Terrier, was found discarded from a puppy mill, emaciated, sick and malnourished. Taken in by Speranza, Libre was given not only a new lease on life, but with the help of his human caretakers, helped usher in stricter laws statewide related to animal care and abuse.

With his star still shining bright and his life filled with love and happiness due in part to Speranza, he and some of his furry adoptable friends will appear at this year's Carlisle Truck Nationals.

The whole crew, Libre included, will be at Carlisle all weekend taking donations in support of their cause and raising awareness, all while giving families and show guests a chance to interact with some pretty cool pups ready to find their new forever home. You may just find your new best friend!

Carlisle Events and Pepsi encourage everyone to stop by their location near Building R to learn more and drop off your donation. Blankets, food, toys, cash…any donation counts! With every donation, Pepsi will offer a coupon for a free fountain drink valid at any participating food vendor open during Carlisle Truck Nationals weekend. It's a win-win for all at Carlisle starting August 4.

Libre and Speranza aren’t the only dogs coming to Carlisle. Their location near Building R and the Carlisle Events Family Fun Zone is the perfect complement to even more furry fun with Lawrence Frederick and his Disc-Connected K9s. Lawrence and his frisbee loving dogs are world champions many times over and best of all, his pups are rescues too. Frederick also operates a rescue and adoption program in his home state of Florida.

Complete event information, as well as links to details about Speranza, Disc-Connected K9s, the event itself, links to register a truck, purchase single day/weekend tickets and more can be found at www.CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.