Ford At Carlisle is a Blue Oval Celebration
 
By Dan Grippo
 
The first weekend of June means only one thing if your blood runs blue, Fords At Carlisle! The annual event draws the Ford faithful from all over the world, and the mass of Fordnatics converge on the 82-acre fairgrounds in central Pennsylvania to celebrate all things Ford.

Every segment of the automotive hobby is represented including show cars, drivers, beaters, drag racers, road racing, drifting, tuners, supercars, antiques, trucks and more. Carlisle Productions is known for its spring and fall swap meets, so it should come to no surprise that there is a huge Ford-only swap meet. Whether you were looking for that needed NOS part for your classic, a new project car, or some of the rarest speed parts ever produced, it was there.
Maybe you have a newer Ford—well the manufactures midway featured some of the latest offering from top aftermarket companies. NMRA/NMCA stalwarts JLP Performance and UPR used the platform to showcase their wears. If you needed a break from all the walking, you could catch seat in covered grandstand and watch “walk arounds” hosted by FoMoCo’s Jim Owens, and Shelby’s Gary Patterson.

The always personable Owens gave many of us our first in person view of the 2024 Mustang, and all its models and features, including the Dark Horse version. Shelby, on the other hand, debuted the new 800 hp Shelby Centennial Edition Super Duty to commemorate the 100^th posthumous birthday of Carroll Shelby. If you missed this year’s event, mark your calendar for 2024. But if you can’t wait for your Blue Oval fix, join us at this weekends NMRA 25^thAnniversary Ford Homecoming at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.