Two “car guys: struck up a friendship that centered around their love for cars … all cars. At the time, car shows focused on pre-WWII vehicles that were called “classics,” and these two car guys wanted to celebrate all cars as their friendship developed into a lifelong partnership.
With that determination in mind, Bill and Chip Miller (no relation), founded Carlisle Events in 1974 for "car guys and girls just like them." Prior to Carlisle Events' emergence, anyone interested in restoring or showing 1950s‐ or 1960s‐era cars had few options. That all changed when Chip Miller and Bill Miller Jr., became friends through a mutual interest in cars of the 1950s.
Together they began going to car shows and automotive flea markets, where like‐minded individuals would hunt for parts and accessories to restore their vehicles. A need for these events became obvious to these two men in 1973. Until that time, the only cars deemed worthy to collect were pre‐WWII automobiles.
On September 26, 1974, on the rented Carlisle Fairgrounds, "Post War '74" took place. It was the very first car event promoted by the company. In a year still remembered for gas lines and inflation, nearly 600 vendors set up in more than 800 spaces, and 13,000 spectators paid the $1 admission to sample their wares.
Bill Miller Jr. was asked what made him and Chip decide to put on a show at all. Miller said, “In 1973, the president of a new car club, The Milestone Car Society, asked me if I could bring a special car to their booth at the AACA Fall Swap Meet in Hershey. Chip had a 1954 Corvette that he wanted to sell, so we brought that and put it in the booth. Of course, at that time there were no cell phones, so Chip put his business card on the windshield with the price, and that he would be back every hour on the hour if someone was interested.”
Miller continued, “When we returned to the booth, the business card was on the floor of the car instead of the windshield, so Chip thought someone was interested in the car and didn't want anyone else to see the card and just threw it on the floor. That wasn’t the case. A few minutes later, someone in a golf cart pulled up and asked who owned the car. Chip thought that this was the person interested in the purchase. When Chip approached him, the man said that Chip was not allowed to sell the car in the swap meet because it was not an antique car.”
Miller added, “Being in our 20s, and the car being 20 years old, we thought it was an old car. AACA rules at that time were that the car had to be 35 years old or older. They got a little testy with us and we snapped back, so they made us remove the car from the show. After we took the car to the parking lot and returned to the show Chip said, ‘Isn't it a shame that we can't show cars that we like at a car show.’ I said that we should start a car show for cars that we liked. We each put up $500, drew up a partnership and the next season started a car show for cars after the Second World War. Postwar '74 was born.”
Miller said they chose Fall for the inaugural event because it was the week before the Fall Hershey Swap meet and the new partners thought people coming to Hershey could just spend another few days and attend both events.
However, they encountered several obstacles before the event could be run. Miller said, “The biggest obstacle was finding a location that we could afford, We looked at three locations and picked the Carlisle Fairgrounds because it was the least expensive.” He remarked, “Better dumb luck than good management. Carlisle is the Keystone of the Keystone state as Route 11, Route 81 and the Turnpike intersect here and it is the perfect location for people traveling any distance North, South, East or West.”
The first year the show was a huge success, with 600 vendors and 13,000 spectators, but Miller said the elements were against them soon thereafter. “During the show years two and three, it rained every day and almost wiped us out. The town was mad as cars and trucks leaving the event dragged mud all over town and for the vendors, business was not good. It rebounded after that and we were off to gangbuster events from then on.”
According to Miller, they began the event strictly as a hobby event and didn't look for it to flourish as it did and turn into a business. Miller said, “We were happy that it did become a successful business, because there is no better business that working in the hobby that you love.”
After 47 Fall Carlisle shows Miller has enjoyed many event high points, including celebrity guests and the growth of additional automotive events. Miller said, “We have had so many big names from the hobby at our events including Carroll Shelby, Richard Petty, Kyle Petty, Linda Vaughn ("The First Lady of Motorsports". and “Miss Hurst Golden Shifter”), Bruce Larson, The Teutuls of Orange County Choppers fame, all of the Dukes of Hazzard stars, Bill Goldberg, Chip Foose, Hailie Deegan (NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver),Gallagher (the comedian), Bobby Allison and Cindy Williams (of Laverne and Shirley fame), just to name a few.”
He is proud of the growth of other events across the years. Miller said, “As our flea market-only shows grew, we started single-marque shows including Ford, GM, Chrysler, Truck Import, Corvette, and of course our auctions, which are a huge success. Even now, our Florida auctions draw thousands of people and hundreds of cars to Lakeland, Florida twice a year. Our single-marque shows grew every year as we set record attendance of show cars. People love to interact with like-minded car owners so they can learn more about the hobby.”
Miller praises those loyal fans who attend the shows. “We have seen every kind of weather over the years that you can imagine. The car people are tough. The shows go on rain storms, snow and sunshine. And our vendors can handle any type of weather too. We are all certainly much happier when the sun is out.”
Miller has also seen challenges that have been met. “The pandemic was certainly a challenge,” he said. “We did all the CDC requirements, as did every other business, and made it through, and this year has been strong and we look to end the season with Fall Carlisle and huge turnouts of vendors and visitors.”
Miller sees a bright future ahead for all the shows. He said, “Our future is bright because we try and stay on top of the market. We want the shows to appeal to all ages and genders. We do something for the young, the older men and women, the younger enthusiasts, and especially for the kids, as they are the future of the hobby.”
Above all, Miller applauds fans and visitors. He said, “The car people are the greatest people in the world. We raise thousands of dollars for charities every year. When you realize that about half-a-million people pass through these grounds every year and we don't have any problems, what better testament could you have to the quality people of the car hobby?”
You can attend the 47th annual Fall Carlisle, now known as Fall Carlisle Collector Car Flea Market & Corral, September 29 - October 3 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. This massive automotive flea market is one of the best opportunities to get your hands on all things automotive before the winter non-picking blues kicks in. With 8,100 spaces of vendors selling a vast array of automotive parts, accessories, cars, collectibles and memorabilia, it's almost certain that you won't go home empty-handed. Accompanying the automotive flea market and car corral is the Manufacturers Midway featuring the latest and greatest products and services, and a two-day auction presented by Carlisle Auctions across the street.
> 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. </I>
