Yenkos and Copos and Novas...oh my! The Carlisle Chevrolet Nationals have come and gone and in 2018 the bevy of special displays were jaw-dropping! Held June 22-24 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, the event hosted 118 years of production on the National Parts Depot showfield and all types of rides that are now recognized under the Chevrolet umbrella. From Team Chevrolet to Stacey David, automotive authors and, of course, the cars themselves, the show really did have it all.

Despite a less-than-favorable weather forecast, the show and guests persevered. Gates opened at 7 a.m. on Friday and from there, it was non-stop fun. The day opened with a sensory stimulating edition of Nitro Fest with NHRA legend Bruce Larson. From there, UMI Performance had folks going for the ride-of- a-lifetime on the autocross track. In addition, engines were revving non-stop via the on-site dyno machine.

What really had guests turning their collective heads though, was the amazing Camaro display showcased by Team Chevrolet. The “brass” from HQ brought 2019 models to Carlisle as well as the smoking hot Hot Wheels edition Camaro. There were other hot rides at Carlisle too, including special displays in the pavilion with the Nova’s at Carlisle show, in Building T as part of the 100 Years of Chevy Trucks showcase, LS engine display, 60 Years of the Impala and more. One of the real gems in T was a car that was a Riddler Finalist in Detroit earlier in the year. The Nickelback Camaro, as it’s known, was simply put AMAZING!

Of course, the Solid Lifter Showroom is a fixture at the Chevrolet Nationals too and Building Y was jam-packed with some of the best rides in the world! In fact, there was so much demand for space in the SLS that an adjacent tent was used to host even more cars.

As Friday transitioned to Saturday, it was all about competition. Friday wrapped with the annual Real Street Shootout on the autocross track and Saturday hosted even more runs on the autocross track, plus the always popular burnout and beauty contests at the stage. Plus, throughout the day, the cars on the showfield were judged via participant balloting, making way for hundreds of awards being doled out as part of Sunday’s awards parade.

Complete show info, including photos, a winner’s list and more can be found online at www.CarlisleEvents.com.

Starting July 13 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the automotive spotlight shines in a pair of events, the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals and Carlisle Hurst Nationals. Chrysler weekend runs July 13-15, while the Hurst event is July 13-14. Both events host rare and unique cars and both afford over 50,000 guests from around the world the chance to learn even more about the cars they love, while also taking a trip down memory lane. Some of the education comes from peer-to-peer conversations, while others come from industry experts. It’s those experts that make the weekend so unique. Nearly a dozen seminars/Q&A sessions are planned between the two events and break down as follows:

Chrysler Nationals
Dash and Heater Restoration from the Pros - Learn from the professionals, Mr. Heaterbox and Interior Restoration Services, how to restore your own dash and interior items, including wiring, instrument clusters, switches, steering columns and heater/ac units. Learn tips, techniques and basic how-to's that will help you in making your car not only look better but work as good or better than when it was new. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls, how to prevent potential dash wiring fire issues that concern many vintage Mopar owners and troubleshoot common problems.

Q&A and Stories with Herb McCandless - Herb McCandless is a true legend in the Mopar hobby and this session will help you with your technical questions by asking the man himself. Rather than spending an hour talking about random topics, Herb would rather have the audience ask him specific questions. Be sure to arrive early as Herb’s seminars fill up quickly.

Plymouth Road Runner Value Trends - The Plymouth Road Runner was an instant success and it’s just as popular today. It was actually produced for over a decade and engines ranged from the 225 Slant Six to the 426 Hemi. They could also be optioned as a bare bones muscle car or loaded to rival the GTX. Auto Appraisal Group will explain the current trends and values of the various years. AAG is a nationwide and certified appraisal group that can help you avoid an expensive mistake.

Chrysler Drag Program R&D - There was a time when the manufacturers had the biggest effect on performance at the track and the “independents” were always hoping to get their hands on that information, parts, etc. Not only were the Ramchargers supported by Chrysler, they were employees. That’s as close to the factory as you can get. Join the Ramchargers to learn exactly what made them so successful. This is the story of how they went about developing and testing the hardware necessary to get the job done.

Better Racing Through Chemistry - In the Golden Era of Drag Racing, brains were a big factor in going quicker and faster. Sure, it took money to race but this was really a time of innovation. Teams were reading between the lines of the rule books and trying to come up with new ways to beat the competition. The Ramchargers’ High & Mighty could probably be the poster child for mechanical wizardry, but the Golden Commandos had the brain of Ray Kobe. Ray found ways to improve their fuel and lubricants. Don’t miss this chance to hear these speed secrets directly from Ray and the rest of the Commandos.

Restorers’ Roundtable - Sit in with some of the best Mopar restorers in the business as they share their secrets...FOR FREE! Have you ever wondered what products the pros use? Do you want to know how they perform a certain procedure? If so, this is your golden opportunity to ask those questions and you get to ask them to an entire panel. These are literally the folks who restore the cars that appear in magazines or end up in high-end collections. Ask questions or simply sit and listen. Either way, don’t miss out.

3rd Gen HEMI Swaps - There’s no denying that the hottest trend in the Mopar world is 3rd Gen Hemi Swaps. But the reality for most of us is that the electronics might as well be brain surgery and even the mechanical side of it has some people confused. Catch a panel of experts who have performed this swap, from pros to Joes, and they’ve used a variety of methods. They’ll share tips that they’ve learned from doing it and answer your questions. If you’re even thinking about this swap, you need to attend. Trust us, you can do this!

Hurst Nationals
How to Get Your Car in a Magazine - Just about every car enthusiast wants to see his or her car in a magazine, or maybe in an online article. Rich Truesdell has been an automotive journalist and editor for more than 30 years so he knows a thing or two about the publishing world and what it takes to get your ride in print. Join Rich for his seminar where he will provide tips that can help you in your quest.

Hurst Employees Panel Discussion - There are lots of great stories in the automotive world but the best ones come right from the source. This is an extremely rare opportunity to hear from not just one or two, but an entire panel of former Hurst employees and engineers. These are the guys who were there during the glory days of the company. Sit in on stories about their time at Hurst, the projects they worked on and the other jobs they performed such as repairing Hurst shifters at the track between rounds. The current list of Hurst employees attending the show includes: Joe Barone, Marty Danko, Don Glover, Jim Kerr, Howard Maseles and Don Morton. The list keeps growing and additional names will be added as they are confirmed. One common theme among all of the Hurst employees is that they loved working for Hurst and they were one big family.

Additional activities and seminars may be added between now and event weekend. Complete details on both shows, a schedule, links to buy tickets or register to be part of either show are available now at www.CarlisleEvents.com or by calling 717-243-7855.

Dodge has been building trucks since 1917, and it introduced the Ram to the light-duty market in 1994. Formerly called the Dodge Ram, the Ram truck was launched as a stand-alone division in 2009, and has steadily emerged as an industry leader with trucks that are proven to last. Ram’s ruggedness is proven by the metric that over the last 30 years, Ram has the highest percentage of pickups still on the road. And according to industry reports, Ram enjoys the highest loyalty of any half-ton pick-up.

I reviewed the 2018 Ram 1500 Rebel, understanding that Ram will change significantly for 2019, with overall weight reductions totaling nearly 225 pounds. Next year’s Ram will have a new look, new grillework and new wider and longer design; a tweaked interior and center stack; a new frame featuring 98 percent high-strength steel to improve durability, weight and rigidity for improved handling; improved aerodynamics and handling dynamics; next-generation, class-exclusive air suspension for enhanced fuel efficiency, ride and stability; and a gain in fuel efficiency from its engine choices.

But that doesn’t mean Ram has remained the same for 2018. New enhancements and upgrades for 2018 include:
• A new Ultra-luxurious Limited Tungsten edition
• Sport model appearance upgrade
• Factory-installed leather interior option on Rebel models
• 8.4-inch radios with 4G LTE, HD Radio, Android Auto, Apple Car Play, USB Flip, pinch to zoom and improved resolution
• Sirius Guardian with SOS Call, Roadside Assistance, Remote Services, Send and Go, and Vehicle Finder
• Remote exterior switch in truck bed to activate LED bed lights
• Backup camera now standard on all models
• Fleet Telematics Module for vehicle tracking efficiency

Offered in 11 trims, with 12 color options, three engine choices, 2WD or 4WD configurations, three cab sizes and three bed sizes, the 2018 Ram 1500 really presents a choice – hundreds of choices -- for anyone who is truck savvy.

The Ram 1500 Rebel displays an aggressive off-road design, presenting a custom truck with mainstream capability. The 5740-lb. Ram 1500 sports a muscular, forward-sculpted attitude, large angled headlights and a power bulge in the hood. Measuring 229 inches long, 79.4 inches wide and 75.7 inches high, with ground clearance of 9.3 inches on a wheelbase of 140.5 inches, the Crew Cab’s bed is only 5.7-feet long, with the tailgate 34.9 inches above the ground.

Ram can power up with either an efficient turbocharged EcoDiesel 3.0-liter V-6 engine that produces 240 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, for towing up to 9,200 pounds while delivering fuel economy of 29 mpg on the highway; or a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine with variable-valve timing that offers 305 horsepower, 269 lb.-ft. of torque and fuel economy of 18mpg/city and 25 mpg/highway. And for those of us who believe Ram means HEMI, my Ram 1500 Rebel muscled up with the legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with fuel-saving cylinder shut-off and VVT. The system thunders out 395 hp and 410 lb.-ft. of torque for an EPA rating of 15mpg/city and 22 mpg/highway.

My test Ram 1500 Rebel was attentive, quick and powerful. Smoking tires when asked, I completed a zero-to-60mph dash in 7.3 seconds and finish off a quarter-mile in 15.4. During a week of stomping on it, passing at speed and flexing its muscles, my Rebel averaged 15.7mpg.

The well-appointed interior provides 41 inches of front Crew Cab headroom and 39.9 inches in row two; legroom is 41 inches up front and 40.3 inches in the rear, and shoulder room is 66 inches and 65.7. Among cabin amenities are dual-zone air conditioning, power windows, power locks, speed control, a media center with a 30-gigabyte hard drive, and heated and ventilated front seats.

Ram 1500 attends to safety with standard front airbags, front and rear side-curtain air bags and seat-mounted side pelvic-thorax air bags with Enhanced Accident Response System, knee bolsters, seat-belt pretensioners and ParkSense rear park assist. The 2017 Ram 1500 also includes standard electronic stability control, all-speed traction control, trailer-sway control, hill-start assist and an anti-lock brake system.

The base 2017 Ram 1500 Tradesman starts at $27,095 in 4x2 configuration with a 6-ft.-4-in. box, and 305-hp engine, and moves through 11 trim levels to the $53,695-base Laramie Limited. My test Ram 1500 in Rebel trim is the ninth trim and starts at $45,095 in 4x2. In 4x4, the price started at $47,595 with the 3.6-liter 305-hp engine, automatic trans, a Crew Cab and 5-ft.-7-in. box. Moving up in power to the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine added $1450 and upgraded to an 8-Speed automatic 8HP70 transmission for $500.

Flame Red and Black two-tone exterior paint added $200; Black tubular side steps added $595; and the $695 Luxury group added an Auto-Dimming Exterior Mirror; Exterior Mirrors with Turn Signals and Courtesy Lamps; Glove Box Lamp, LED Bed Lighting; Overhead Console with Garage Door Opener. Power Heated Mirrors with Power Fold-AwayRear Dome with On / Off Switch Lamp; a spray-in bedliner added $495; and Uconnect® 4C NAV with 8.4-Inch display added $795; and a rear window defroster added $195.With destination charges of $1695, my Ram Rebel truck-as-tested stickered at $53,965 before incentives, which could discount by as much as $2,000.

You can see 101 years of Dodge/Ram trucks and nearly 3,000 vehicles from all eras of the Chrysler brand, as classics, muscle cars and high-performance new models all converge at the Carlisle Chrysler Nationals, at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, July 13-15. Special displays include “50 Years of the Plymouth Roadrunner,” “50 Years of the Dodge Super Bee,” “50 Years of the HEMI Dart and Barracuda,” and tons of half-tons and full-ton trucks.


> 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.

Named after a Southern California beach community that derives its name from the Chumash word “humaliwo,” meaning “the surf sounds loudly,” the Chevrolet Malibu began as a Chevelle trim level in 1964, and became its own model line in 1978, when it replaced Chevelle in the Chevy line-up. Malibu made two previous runs (1978-1983 as a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, and revived as a front-wheel-drive sedan from 1997-2003) before re-emerging on its third and current trip beginning in 2008 as an FWD.

In its ninth generation that began in 2016, Malibu will be refreshed for the 2019 model year with a refined grille, a new sporty RS trim and a new infotainment set-up. So the 2018 Malibu remains essentially the same as it was in 2017, when it was named the 2017 Best Midsize Car in U.S. News and World Report’s annual Best Cars for Families survey. Building on the rep Malibu has gained by being the No.1 Midsize for the third year in a row in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, this year’s edition subtly gains an option and some color. For 2018, the Midsize Sedan gains a Redline Edition Package that is available on LT models. The content includes black Chevy “Bowtie” emblems, black nameplate with red outline, and 19-inch black aluminum wheels with red hash marks, blacked-out grille and black outside mirror accents. The line-up also adds Sandy Ridge Metallic as an exterior color.

The 2018 Malibu is offered in five trims: L, LS, LT, Premier and the Hybrid. The Malibu LT that I tested adds 17-inch alloy wheels, ambient lighting, an eight-way power-operated driver’s seat including power lumbar support, Warm White ambient lighting on the instrument panel, body-colored antenna and LED daytime running lights to the standard items in lesser trims levels that include a six-speaker audio system, outside heated power-adjustable body-color mirrors with integrated turn signal, Bluetooth, keyless entry/start, a 3.5-inch instrument cluster info display, a rearview camera, Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system with a 7.0-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration.

With styling influenced by the 2014 Impala, the 4-door, 5-passenger sedan advances Chevrolet’s global design language with features such as slim, sweeping headlamps, a dual-port grille a wavelike group of body-side creases and a rear spoiler. Constructed with a classic mid-size configuration, Malibu measures 193.8 inches in length; 73.0 inches in width and 57.6 inches in height on a 111.4-inch wheelbase. Curbweight for my test Malibu LT was 3152 lbs.

Malibu offers two gasoline-only engine choices: the 1.5-liter DOHC inline-4 direct injection turbo engine and an Ecotec 2.0-liter I-4 turbo (standard on the LT and Premier trims). There is also an ECO version of Malibu (a hybrid), with an Ecotec 1.8-liter hybrid engine paired to an electric motor. The system delivers 122hp and 129 lbs.-ft. for 48mpg/city and 45mpg/highway. The 2.0 is estimated at 250hp and 260 lbs.-ft. for 22/city and 32/highway.

My test Malibu LT’s 1.5-liter liter I-4 turbo was coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission and was estimated at 27mpg/city and 36mpg/highway -- I averaged 29.7mpg in mixed-use testing. Not a tire-smoker, it is responsive and generous for a family car, and it conquers long uphill grades, while passing at speed takes some strategy at times.

On the track, Malibu was quiet and predictable, with the 1.5-liter engine earnestly taking 8.3 seconds for a zero-to-60mph sprint while completing a quarter-mile in 16.4.

The cabin is comfortable and with seating for five, and it is borderline entry-luxury, packed with soft-touch materials, a touchscreen, generous seats, and lots of infotainment. Malibu’s cabin is on the low-mid-size scale with front headroom of 39.1 inches, with 37.5 for row two. Legroom goes 42.0 in front and 38.1 in row two; and there is a wide-body 58.5 inches of front shoulder room with 57.1 inches in row two.

The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is offered in five trims, with the base L starting at $22,555; the LS bases at $24,195; LT starts at $26,095; the Hybrid version starts at $28,795; and the loaded, upscale Premier starts at $31,895.

My Malibu LT test vehicle with Blue Velvet Metallic paint and Dark Atmosphere/Medium Ash Gray Premium Cloth seat trim, added a $1300 Sun and Wheels Package with a dual-pane sunroof, and18-inch aluminum wheels, and required the Leather Package upgrade of 6-way power front passenger seat adjuster and power lumbar control, heated front seats, Bose premium 9-speaker sound system, and leather-appointed seats for $2140. The Convenience Technology Package added $995 (remote vehicle starter system, inside rearview auto-dimming mirror, and Chevrolet MyLink® Radio with 8-inch diagonal color touch-screen); and The Driver Confidence Package added $1245 for low-speed front automatic braking, front pedestrian braking, IntelliBeam® automatic high-beam headlamps, front and rear Park Assist, Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert, Lane Keep Assist, Following Distance Indicator, Forward Collision Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Front and rear splash guards added $200; carpeted floor mats added $140 and as destination freight charges of $995 were already included in the base price, my Malibu-as-tested stickered at $32,115, but dealer prices vary and incentives and cash offers may be available from your dealer.


> 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.

All roads lead to Carlisle, that’s just as much of a fact as it is a marketing statement for Carlisle Events. With many major roadways and just as many trucking companies in central Pennsylvania, it’s easy to see why that phrase rings true. Carlisle itself is home to multiple trucking companies and warehouses as well as a stretch of road between I-81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike that is home to a handful of truck stops and truck related businesses. It is fitting that Carlisle, Pennsylvania would also be home to the Carlisle Truck Nationals and its show within a show, the Big Rig Show and Shine. Presented in 2018 by A&A Auto Stores, this event runs August 3-5 and for 2018, plays host to a unique opportunity not only for enthusiasts of trucks, but also for those looking for work.

2018’s Big Rig Show and Shine is expected to draw over 200 big rigs and heavy trucks to the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, but what makes this year’s happenings unique are that at least eight trucking companies are not only bringing trucks, they are bringing jobs to Carlisle! There is always a demand for truckers to haul payloads of all sizes, but in many cases, there aren’t enough drivers for the work. This slows down commerce and creates issues for companies contracted to do a specific job. Those jobs are competitive and in many cases, high paying. For 2018, it doesn’t matter if interested parties are already employed and looking for a new challenge or looking for work, they are invited to come to Carlisle to explore the opportunities.

Scheduled for the show in August are U.S. Express, Inc., SAIA, United Vision Logistics, DAIM, Inc. Logistics, Triple K Service, Schneider, Ruan and Classic Carries, Inc. and more. Not only will some of these companies be part of the Carlisle Carrier Showcase which features the trucks and businesses of the Carlisle region, some will have representatives at Carlisle talking to potential candidates for jobs.

For those interested in the trucking industry, this event also showcases the trucking industry with vendors, custom rig builders, antique and historic trucks as well as regional truck equipment dealers and service centers. Kenworth of PA and Motor Truck, a multi store dealership and service center for Kenworth truck equipment, and Cumberland Truck Equipment, a multi store dealership and service center for Volvo Trucks, will be on site sharing the newest equipment.

“A couple year’s ago we invited a few of our truck industry neighbors to showcase their vehicles and businesses as part of the Truck Nationals,” said event manager Ed Scholly. “The Truck Nationals has since provided many of them an opportunity to fill openings for operator and logistic jobs in their companies. We are approaching a dozen companies for 2018. If you are seeking opportunities in a strong industry, you may not find a better place to get a picture of the industry and what it has to offer,” noted Scholly. “This event features common carriers to businesses complimenting the trucking and transportation industry.”

In addition to the big rigs and heavy equipment, the Truck Nationals offers a light truck, custom van and SUV showcase. The event hosts family fun with the kids activities, light truck, jeep and SUV vendors, monster truck shows and rides, live music, competitions and more. It’s all available for just $15 per adult, with kids 12 and under admitted for free. Or get the weekend ticket for two by registering your Truck for the event. Complete details about truck weekend, including links to the companies that are showcasing and offering opportunities is available on the Carlisle Truck Nationals portion of www.CarlisleEvents.com.