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On The Road with Johnny B ..Spring Carlisle Reflections


When the cold winds of winter swirls outside a man’s thoughts turn to Spring, love and pretty women in flowery dresses. That’s if you are a normal person. If you are an old car nut than your thoughts turn to Spring Carlisle.

Now don’t get me wrong your ole buddy Johnny B is just as smitten at the sight of a pretty dress on a curvy beauty as the next dude but after a long cold Winter it's time to look at old cars and 160 acres of parts and cool junk.

Being my 43st time attending Spring Carlisle I can tell you it will be one of the best in memory and it hasn't even happened yet.. The weather will be it's unusual buffet of warm, rain, cold, wind and yes sometimes snow. The Carlisle Fairgrounds will be packed with over 100,000 car crazy maniacs. I need the usual assorted parts and collectibles for projects or just personal memories.



Despite all these years going to Spring Carlisle I’m always amazed at the amount and diversity of the car, parts and junk for sale. Vehicles ranging from a Moss Covered Corvette, 1934 Lincoln Town Sedan V12 to a 1924 Chevrolet Touring Car were for sale in the car corral.

The swap meet was crammed with old, used and new items. at a past Spring Carlisle were selling everything there. One space offered old phone booths and WWII bombs..deactivated I hope. Not sure how that got past security. I collect old licence plate toppers and was able to buy 4 very cool old ACCA and CCOA type all for $10.00 each.

I always visit the “Sticker Guy” and purchased old odd stickers from the for the back window of some dumb project. Found very nice 1974 New York licence plates also for Otto at a not to bad price. Also found a scrapbook crammed with post cards from an unknown family telling about road trip from 1936 to 1948. A $5.00 bargain I will always cherish.