Good things happen when you follow your instincts and follow the signs…especially when the sign is a blue oval with the word “Ford” inside it.
It took only three years for Bill Miller Jr. and Chip Miller (no relation), founders of Carlisle Events, to expand a new genre – car shows celebrating all cars, rather than simply pre-World War II vehicles – from one show to two. The two friends were enthusiasts of all cars from all eras, and brought their joy to thousands of like-minded car fans, beginning with the “Post War '74” swap meet at the Carlisle Fairgrounds. By 1977, the pair jumped on their success and brought the “Spring Carlisle” swap meet to the Fairgrounds.
As their family of vendors and visitors grew with each show, the Millers quickly sold vendor spaces on their 82-acre display site, and in 1995, the pair expanded again, launching the inaugural Carlisle All-Ford Nationals.
The Ford show has become the largest all-Ford show in the world, and it has expanded to accommodate more than 3200 display and for-sale vehicles encompassing Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Euro Fords. Blue Oval-umbrella cars, trucks, performance parts, tools, memorabilia, collectibles and more are on-hand and for sale in the world's largest Ford Automotive Flea Market, as well as the latest and greatest products on display within the Manufacturers Midway. Carlisle Events Ford Nationals Event Manager Ken Appell proudly affirms, “This is the world’s largest Ford show and swap meet. There is nothing bigger in the Ford world than this show.”
Bill Miller Jr., Co-Founder and Co-Owner Carlisle Events said that he and his partner, Chip Miller recognized the need for a Ford-focused event. Bill Miller was steered in that direction by his background and contacts. Miller said, “I was a Ford dealer when we started the All-Ford Nationals. My Ford dealership representative was an old-car guy too, so the Ford Show was a natural for me. Not many big Ford shows were around at that time, so it became a hit from the start. Once Ford Motor Co. became involved, they helped us to make it the world’s largest All-Ford event, including not only Ford, but Mercury and Lincoln, too.”
The Millers also found a fan and supporter in John Clor, Enthusiast Communications Manager / Ford Performance. Clor has been involved since the beginning in helping Ford embrace the show while he has helped grow the Carlisle experience for Ford clubs around the nation. According to Appell, “it is the clubs, the vendors and the Carlisle visitors who are the backbone of this event.”
Clor said there are currently more than 100 clubs active with Carlisle Events. (Here is a link to the list of Carlisle’s recognized clubs. Carlisle Ford Nationals - Clubs (carlisleevents.com). He has seen the support grow from the beginning. “In 1995, we saw a few 10x10 pop up tents. Each year, we saw bigger and bolder displays, more Ford celebrities, greater Ford brand involvement and increased Ford club activity,” said Clor. He added that due to aging of the original club members, and evolution of legacy clubs, “the club scene has grown younger and less sophisticated, perhaps. We see more Mustangs, and maybe fewer of the older badges, but it is even more of a party or festival, and a venue at which to show off a customized source of pride.”
Recalling that first show, Miller said, “Ford grew to understand what we were about, what we shared and what our concept was. Ford Motor Company is a family-owned business just like we are, and they value their history. So they realized that if you love your old Ford, you will buy their new products too. You certainly would not trailer your old Ford pickup to a show with a Brand-X pickup, now would you?”
As visitors and clubs are the lifeline of the All-Ford Nationals, Miller lauds loyal vendors, who are the life’s blood of the event. Over the past quarter-century of the show, Miller has watched the vendor family grow and remain loyal by displaying annually. He said, “Our vendors who supported us at our big Fall Carlisle events, followed us to our first Spring and Ford events. They were there to support us from the beginning and many continue today.”
Miller continued, “When we started the All-Ford Nationals it quickly became ‘the place’ for enthusiasts to bring their old Ford and show it off. Spring and Fall Carlisle were only cars and parts for sale with no show field, and with the All-Ford Nationals, the show field added a whole new dimension to Carlisle Events. Our visitors came with their cars, and vendors found that they were also looking for parts, while Ford recognized that our visitors loved Ford, old and new, and gained bonding with those who loved all things related to the Blue Oval.”
Over the years, Miller has seen an evolution of the event. “With each yearly Ford Show, Ford Motor Co. involvement has boosted the show to new heights. Each year they work with our staff to make it the biggest and best Ford event in the nation,” he said.
Miller added, “At that first event, three marketing staff members from the Ford Special Vehicle team arrived with a 1995 SVT Mustang Cobra, a Cobra R model and an SVT F-150 Lightning pickup packed with about 1,000 posters and a 10x10 tent. They were the first and only Ford Motor Company representatives in attendance. Now we get full Ford teams, engineers, executives, celebrities, full vehicle line-ups and full support.”
Clor credits added Ford involvement to the additions Carlisle Events makes to broaden the audience. Clor said, “Our club members now bring their families. What used to be a bunch of car guys getting together to talk about and show off their rides, is gaining more and more family attendance. Carlisle has added a women’s oasis, good food, Hot Wheels races for families, raffles, meetings, awards, activities, and it is more than simply a swap meet and a show. The clubs take it in as a family event, and Ford sees this as a means of family bonding with THEIR fans.”
You can see everything Ford at the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar's, held at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, June 4-6. Historically, more than 3,000 vehicles appear on the National Parts Depot Showfield and this year guests can see a celebration of 1971-’73 Mustangs, a display of comic, TV and movie themed Fords by way of Comic Car-Con, a 50th anniversary of the Pinto showcase, Broncos, trucks and Blue Oval icons across the decades.
> 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>
His dedication to high-performance Dodges was embodied in his efforts in bringing Dodge vehicles to another level. He got his start and his nickname, in the 1950s, when he and his brother Lenny began specializing in selling used performance cars. They employed the tagline "Call Mr. Norm" in their classified ads, and the name stuck. Soon, Dodge offered the brothers an opportunity to open a new car dealership. Promoting muscle cars and exploiting his nickname, Kraus explained, “’Mr. Norm’ was an image that was built into the dealership. When I walked out at the end of the day, I wasn't ‘Mr. Norm’ anymore; I was Norm Kraus. I learned to be a humble winner on the track and a gracious loser. I'm just glad I didn't have to be gracious too much."
The Kraus brothers grew their dealership selling trucks, vans and standard cars along with the high-performance models. And when others were turning away the younger crowd, Grand Spaulding courted them. In 1977, Norm sold his share of the dealership, which closed within a couple of years. Still in his forties, he wanted to spend more time with his family, something not possible when on the showroom floor from Monday through Friday and then at the race track all weekend. He later had a furniture business on the site of one of the dealership buildings and then sold used cars again. He followed that up with two decades of marketing products in his name under license and he continued to appear at shows, promote Mopar and keep his hand in funny cars. 
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