Carlisle Replica Show launches major summer show season

 

Annual Kit Nationals sees swarms heading to Factory Five display booth

 

 

As the biggest component car show in the nation, the Carlisle Replica Show is a must attend for anyone who wants to find out what’s going on in the industry.  It’s also the best place to be if you are shopping for a kit, as all of the major manufacturers are located in one building.
 

Predictably, the 2006 show was a huge success, as it seemed that everyone visiting the fairgrounds was heading straight for nirvana – the world’s largest manufacturer of replica kits, none other than Factory Five Racing.

 

We came armed for bear with our new show truck and trailer (recently acquired from the Ford Performance Parts division) and jammed it full of six of the best cars in our fleet.  We were met there by Sterling Replicar’s new Type 65 Coupe which was a slam dunk, 100 point show car complete with chromed aluminum panels.
 

The booth was a stunning gleam of paint and chrome, including:

the GTM street car

(the car that was built in five days by the Admin/Tech

crew is still a crowd magnet)

Joe Fournier’s vintage Roadster

(built to match his ’67 Mustang)

Henry Renaud’s ghost flamed Roadster

(this paint job had drool marks on it all weekend)

Riha’s radical red Challenge Car

(sure it’s an oxymoron, but this is the best looking

Challenge Car in the series)

Sterling Replica’s over-the-top Coupe

      (featured in Kit Car Builder magazine – April ’04)

 
Staffed by Factory Five’s finest boys in blue (including Engineers Jesper and Mike, Tech Guru’s Joe and Mark Dougherty, and Customer Service SWAT team-member Mark Weber) it was imposing to every competitor.
 

The Factory Five aftermarket was also present and in force.  Both Breeze Automotive and Disc Brakes R Us had prominent displays at the show.  This meant that prospective FFROGs had multiple shopping opportunities for more toys at the show. (it was like going to a  mall for some new garage bling).  Each displayed a Factory Five rolling chassis to showcase their products.

 

 
 

Mark Reynolds of Breeze Automotive (above)

Tom and MaryAnne Reid of Disc Brakes R Us (right)

 

In the showfield, many customers braved the rain and cold to set up and show off.  Within the Capitol Area Roadster club, a large contingent of FFROGs assembled, including Carlisle stalwarts Bob Lennon and Wade Chamberlain among others.