Corvettes at Carlisle, once again the world’s largest and most prestigious event celebrating America’s sports car, raced back to the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds for a twenty seventh year over the weekend of August 28-30.

The theme for this year’s Corvettes at Carlisle was a race reunion and the event went just like a well executed race plan. In a race, whether it is a road race, a hill climb or a drag race, you have to be aware of the conditions of the track.

The event and the over 3,000 Corvettes parked on the Corvettes at Carlisle Fun Field sponsored by Corvette America and the tens of thousands of attendees had to deal with the weather conditions. Despite scattered showers and thunderstorms both Friday and Saturday, smiles that reflected the sun that would come on Sunday were plentiful. The happiness was reflective of the passion that the enthusiasts shared for their favorite sports car – the Corvette.

During the awards parade on Sunday, when the sun joined the Corvette fans by shinning on the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, one gentleman even told Carlisle Events Senior Manager, Lance Miller; “He will be at Corvettes at Carlisle until he is dead!” When asked about the blunt exclamation in regards to his event, Miller responded, “It certainly brought a smile to my face and that is what this event is all about. It just goes to show you that Corvette enthusiasts are some of the most die-hard, passionate owners in the automotive hobby and they will be celebrating and driving America’s Sports Car under all conditions!”

Another truly fantastic reaction that exemplifies just how passionate Corvette enthusiasts are, whether they own one Corvette or even six, came from Diane Black of Hanover, PA who won the Corvettes at Carlisle Sunday Corvette Giveaway sponsored by ProTeam Corvette. Black had told friends that she was sure she would win the Corvette and even practiced her celebration before actually hearing her number called on the first ticket drawn. Black was on the stage and ready to collect her 2004 Millennium Yellow Corvette LS1 in less than a minute, to add to her and her husband’s garage, already filled with five Corvettes from all different generations.

Special guest Mario Andretti – presented by MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust – brought even more excitement to fans who lined up to meet the racing icon. Andretti signed autographs and picked out his favorite Corvette on the Corvettes at Carlisle Fun Field (a 1957 Black Corvette, owned by Kenneth Bolton of Millerstown, PA) on Saturday of Corvettes at Carlisle. Andretti, considered by many to be the greatest race car driver in the history of the sport, spoke about his passion for Corvettes during a question and answer session held on Saturday afternoon.

Andretti told fans that he has had a passion for the Corvette ever since seeing his first Corvette, when he immigrated to Nazareth, Pennsylvania from his native Italy, when he was in his early teens. Andretti also told the crowd that his favorite Corvette was his new 2009 Corvette ZR1 that he picked up directly from the Corvette Assembly Plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, just this past year.

The GM Engineering Team, responsible for designing and creating the vehicles that were celebrated throughout the weekend, once again returned to Corvettes at Carlisle to meet with the enthusiasts that drive their passion. This year, the engineering team introduced the long awaited 2010 Corvette Grand Sport. With an EPA estimated fuel economy of 26 miles per gallon on the highway and rated at 430 horsepower, Corvette enthusiasts were excited to see that the power they are used to from Corvette hadn’t gone down with a new commitment to fuel economy.

In addition to special guests, unveilings and giveaways, Corvettes at Carlisle featured Chip’s Choice – highlighting Corvettes of Le Mans – a Corvette Challenge Car display, a 1959 Corvette reunion, Autocross – sponsored by the Cumberland County Corvette Club – Chip Miller Charitable Foundation Silent Auction, NCRS Gallery IX, Installation Alley on the Manufacturers Midway, Downtown Carlisle Corvette Parade, a Corvette Corral with hundreds of Corvettes for sale, Women’s Oasis, Kids at Carlisle Activities and much more. Corvettes at Carlisle will return next year, over the weekend of August 27-29. Planned displays include the return of the Corvette American Flag and Chip’s Choice, featuring patriotic themed Corvettes.

2009 Corvettes at Carlisle Winners List:

2009 Miss Corvettes at Carlisle – Amanda Lawson of Carlisle, PA

2009 Corvettes at Carlisle Giveaway Winner – Diane Black of Hanover, PA

2009 Corvettes at Carlisle Celebrity Picks can be found at www.CarlisleEvents.com.