firstgear

We got to the hotel early afternoon and after checking in, we jumped in the 60 and headed over. We got to Carlisle via the turnpike very quickly and then we crawled and crawled and of course the rain started. I pulled over in a business driveway and we put the top up....and of course we still crawled to the fairgrounds.

But, I got tired of getting no where and the rain was coming down and we both said screw it and headed back to the hotel. On the way back it rained and rained. I can tell you every spot that leaks and we had 'em.

Turns out that there was a big accident on 81 and they shut it down for a while and when that happens all the traffic gets rerouted through Carlisle....what a mess!

So tomorrow will try again....and if successful, I will post some photos.

Trophy Blue

I was going to go but, I had to treat my church for yellow jackets and before I started, I got stung in my left eyelid. Oh what fun!

Johnny 66

I had to check the date of the post. Same thing happened last year on the Sunday of Vettes at Carlisle. As I was leaving, there was a huge back-up, because of a wreck on 81.

firstgear

yup, I remember it well......and when that happens a lot of traffic goes through Carlisle and what is already a mess becomes massive GRID LOCK

78Vette-SA

We got spoiled last year Herb (can you believe it was a year ago already!!). Having nice comfortable spots inside and not worrying about sun or rain. Will never top that for me.

I wasn't going this year, then I was going for the day with a friend, then we cancelled last night at 10pm. Sounds like we made the right choice.

Nowhere Man

just got back from that rainy mess. after it stopped raining around 9 and got really overcast it was a great day. until around 5 when the bottom end feel out again. oh well try again tomorrow

snydes

Aside from the rain that Nowhere Man mentioned, it was a good day. Cool and overcast, perfect conditions for me. What a mess trying to get out of the place at the end of the day when the rain returned.... wow, the worst jam I've been in at Carlisle.

chris ritchie

The southbound side of I-81 was closed late this afternoon because of an accident. Traffic was routed off and onto Route 11 right through Carlisle. Perfect gridlock. Took hours to get out.

That plus, Route 34 (Spring Road) was closed because a bridge was out just north of the fairgrounds. There was a detour, but it was mostly unmarked, and most people missed it.

Maybe EBay isn't so bad after all.

ratmotortom

This also slowed the traffic today on rt 11 heading back to the hotel. here's the view from the Buds rollback today at about 4:00pm. Oh what fun ! Pretty good show though. Sold the car I took out right away.

shooter1951

Haven't seen the news yet, anyone heard how bad the wreck was or if it involved anyone headed to Carlisle? A bunch of the girls just heard there was a terrible wreck on 81 that was going to have it backed up for quite awhile. We headed out about 4:30 in pouring down rain and snail paced traffic. The only police we saw was right at Gate 3 bringing people out. It seemed like it was almost like once you were out of the fairgrounds it was "See ya, you're on your own." This was our first time there and I thought damn I wonder if it's always like this getting out. Oh well, hope the rain holds off for tomorrow, we did get it some good hours searching today.

When's registration open for next year?????? I'm ready!

Fawndeuce

Yup, sitting in the Motel 6 Carlisle as I write this. The 81 was closed for hours, local news commercial just said that it was a "Deadly crash". I think it finally reopened sometime this evening.
The weather is supposed to gradually improve over the course of the day tomorrow, a rainy Friday at Corvette Carlisle is still better that a dry day at the office! .



Paul

PS. Man I feel for you Herb, I saw a gorgeous black '59~'60 going the other way in the heavy rain as I was sitting in traffic in my '07. I thought to myself thank God I didn't come in the '62, I'd be drying it out for days!

Bowtyeguy

I just got home, left about 8 pm, missed all the traffic, rained like a **** at 5-6 and still had a good time. I seemed like some vendors were leaving and prices were Ok, not great.

firstgear

yeah, as I was watching all the late model Vettes leaving I was wishing I was either in my truck or the C5....for a while on the way home when it was really raining, I had a pretty good drip hitting my leg and running down into my shoe....

oh well.....we'll see what tomorrow brings....at least it isn't 90+ degrees out, that in my opinion might be worse.....

firstgear

yup you did....although for us we just like to get away and if we get a nice hotel with a pool we are happy to relax....

last year was a whirlwind and went by extremely fast. In the building was definitely the place to be. once in a life time opportunity. we enjoy coming but disappointing as we were dring the 60 today at the number of late model vettes that the owners hands and arms were broken, a real shame, only reason I can figure they werent waving....

Ox

I always come up (from the Frederick, MD) area via 15 to 94 to 34. Drove my Camry beater due to horrible weather forecast, and anyway, wouldn't be able to fit all the krap (500 lbs of catalogs, and other Corvette detritus) in the Corvette. His]t major rains on the way up but still got there at the crack of 7. Parked at my favorite place right outside the gate. Rained a good one for a little while about 8ish?. Rest of the day was very pleasant - cloudy but cool. Legs gave out about 3:30 with no issues on the way home THEN!!!!!! I read all this mayhem. Wow, was I lucky or what. Sorry guys that you had to put up with this. Ox in beautiful Lovettsville, VA

silver67

I timed it beautifully "lucky" for a change on Friday. Got in the fairgrounds at 9:30am and left at 3:00 pm. (just 30 m intues back to the highway from the grounds). That 81 always has a wreck or two. Major truck route, loads of out of towners, construction and then rain is pretty good recipe for accidents. Perfect weather for walking around but the car corral was light. Prices were better for the most part(fair) but really low inventory. As always great friendly people. On a plus note I saw two cars I was interested in from NY that now I don't have to make multi hours visits too.

Pilot Dan

I was about a half hour ahead of you leaving yesterday and this road was perfectly clear .. I could not fly due to the bad weather (low ceilings) and drove my daily beater . Pilot instincts said get out of Dodge at 3:30, the radar did not look good at all and it was just light rain then. I was on the PA Tpke yesterday going east following several vintage Vettes when the heavens opened up. I am talking wipers full blast and bearly keeping up. I was following a nice 61 Vette rag top that was getting pounded and had to pull over along with several other Vettes and normal traffic. I really felt bad for those guys and the many others that I came upon. It was one time I was sooo glad not to be in the 59. My drive back took 2 hours longer due to multiple traffic jams and another major crash that closed 195 E in NJ completely for close to an hour last night .

There were however about 7 pleaseant hours in between the rains and it was nice and cool walking around for a change. Some good buys to be had as well. A surprisingly good turn out. Pilot Dan

firstgear

We got to the field about 10 this morning.....and about 11 or so, the heavens opened up again....but after about 20 minutes or so, blue sunny skies were upon us. Fortunately had the top up on the 60 again, and even sitting still the water found a way to get in. The guy across and down from us was thinking, he had one of those big blue tarps over his car (60 or so)....

we finally left around 3 or so and came back to the hotel and got in the hot tub and then the pool. Felt very refreshing as opposed to being out in the humid sun.

Hotel we normally stay at over in Mechanicsburg usually gets about $168 a night, but when we got here because they weren't sold out (unusual the guy said) the price fell all the way down to $110....

We missed going to Good Guys Blue Suede Cruise this year because it was the same weekend as Carlisle....maybe next year we will give Good Guys a shot.....

Fawndeuce

Yup, other than that bit of rain this morning, turned out to be a nice day.
Dropped in on the Vetteheads compound to hi to John Z this afternoon. Mike Ward, Mike Mlke M and some others from the forum who's names presently escape me (old age) were also there.
A very dull overly serious bunch those Vetteheads, don't think any of them have had a good laugh in years...
Back on the road home tomorrow, hopefully it'll be clear sailing on the 81 all the way up to the border.




Paul

RickSnow

I left Carlisle at around 8 AM on Saturday morning after arriving on Wednesday afternoon. There was another big accident on 81 Southbound about 20 miles north of Carlisle. Corvettes backed up for what looked like 4 or 5 miles heading to Carlisle Saturday morning. Looked like a tractor trailer hit a small car and the car was under the cab of the tractor with both in the median ditch.
Several vendor friends said the Wednesday business was better than Thursday....