Carlisle Events and its staff have won numerous awards since its inception in 1974.  Founded by Bill Miller and the late Elliot “Chip” Miller, the events at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds entertain over a half a million guests annually, plus draw over ten thousand classic and collector cars to America’s Automotive Hometown each season.  None of this would have been possible without the passionate efforts of two men who shared more than just the same last name.  Their efforts and decades of work/contributions within the collector car hobby have earned them a VERY special honor – being named 2019 Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum Automotive Heritage Award recipients.  The ceremony takes place at the AACA Museum’s “Night at the Museum” gala and silent charity auction on October 9 in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

There’s a bit of irony surrounding this award for Bill and Chip, as the October 9, Hershey based ceremony is also home to where it all started for the Miller’s (not related) more than 45 years ago.  It was 1973 and Chip was selling a ‘50s era Corvette at the AACA’s big event in Chocolate town.  What the young men didn’t realize at the time, was that while the Corvette in question seemed “old” to them, it did not classify as a classic car.  As such, they were asked to remove the car from the grounds. 

“We decided we needed a place for guys like us who liked the kinds of cars that we did,” said Bill Miller.  With a rented fairground and some loan money, Bill and Chip set out to make history, and they most certainly did.  Over the years, their efforts have resulted in billions of local economic impact dollars, countless jobs, thousands of dollars in charitable monies, dozens of cars given away, proposals, marriages, babies, generations of guests and a mecca for car lovers from around the world to converge and “talk shop” for a weekend.

After many years of hard work, the duo receives this amazing honor, albeit posthumously for Chip.  The Automotive Heritage Award is designed to honor and provide public recognition for an individual(s) who made an exceptional contribution to the hobby by preserving antique automobiles and motorsports vehicles, exhibiting their vehicles, promoting the hobby, engaging in sustained, noteworthy activities that have positively impacted the hobby and using his/her position in the hobby for philanthropy and service to others.  This is the third annual offering of the award.  Past award recipients include race car driver Bobby Rahal and Gale Halderman, the man who sketched the first Ford Mustang. 

This recognition is the latest in a line of honors for Bill and Chip since the inception of Carlisle Events.  Past honors include the Meguiars Award, Central Penn Business Journal Persons of the Year (with Lance Miller), the Others Award from the Salvation Army and many more local and regional honors.  In addition, Chip was posthumously inducted into the National Corvette Hall of fame in 2013.

Lance Miller, Chip’s son, will accept on his behalf, while Bill Miller will join Lance on the stage for this amazing recognition.  Complete event information is available at www.aacamuseum.org/events or by calling the AACA direct at 717-566-7100.

Redesigned and all-new from the ground-up, the Next Generation Sierra is differentiating itself from its sibling, the Chevrolet Silverado, after years of badge engineering and shared body panels with new styling, performance enhancements, a GMC-exclusive, industry-first MultiPro Tailgate, segment-first Multi-Color Head-Up Display, six engine set-ups, three cab sizes, and six trim levels that are all GMC.

New for 2019 is a reconfigured footprint that is larger in almost every dimension, including a longer wheelbase and longer crew cab body that offers about 3 inches more rear legroom than the previous model, yet the new model is lighter than the previous version, thanks to a mixed materials approach — including aluminum for the doors, hood and tailgate, with steel for the fenders, roof and standard cargo box. Also onboard is a GMC-exclusive, industry-first CarbonPro carbon fiber cargo box, developed to increase durability, efficiency and functionality, while offering best-in-class dent, scratch and corrosion resistance. The innovations don’t stop there as Sierra gets a segment-first Rear Camera Mirror that can function as a traditional mirror or as a camera screen, helping to eliminate obstructions such as rear seat passengers and head restraints while providing a wider, less obstructed rear field of view. And the 2019 Sierra offers a ProGrade Trailering System with Trailering App for a connected and comprehensive suite of trailering technologies, enhanced front and rear suspensions and an improved brake system featuring electro-hydraulic power assist, larger-diameter Duralife brake rotors and larger brake pads.

Of the six trims, I tested the top-of-the line Sierra Denali, the luxury flagship of the next-generation Sierra lineup, distinguished by iconic design cues, more upscale appointments, purposeful technologies and capability in a professional grade truck. Along with its bold design and premium features, the new Sierra Denali ups the ante in the segment with the most powerful V-8 engine in its class, and exclusive ride, handling and performance technologies designed for comfort, control and capability.

Denali stands tall, with a strong, purposeful stance, bold bodywork, chiseled shoulders and a tall, powerful hood, which is capped with a grille that’s bigger and bolder than any prior Sierra. New “light blade” signature lighting elements within Sierra Denali’s headlamps help accentuate the pickup truck’s exterior design, providing a distinctive appearance.

The Sierra1500 trims fill out their muscular demeanor with three cabs styles: regular, double cab and crew cab and run in length from 210.8 inches with a regular cab and 6-foot-6-inch box, to 231.7 inches with either a double cab and 6-6 box or the crew cab and a 5-foot-8 box. This represents a gain of from 2 inches to 6 inches depending on configuration. The Denali I tested, with Crew Cab and short box, sat on a 147.4-inch wheelbase (regular cab models are on a 16.5-inch wheelbase). Width goes 81.2 inches and height is 75.5 inches. Curbweight for the 4WD Crew Cab is a confident 5015 lbs. (regular cabs go as low as 4531), and the max trailering rate is 12,100 lbs.

In a you-want-it-we’ve-got-it-for-you approach to power, GMC trims comes with six different engine choices: 4.3-liter V-6 or 5.3-liter V-8 mated to a 6-speed automatic; 2.7-liter turbo or 5.3-liter V-8 coupled with an 8-speed automatic; and a 6.2-liter V-8 or a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel matched with a 10-speed automatic. Fuel economy runs from 15 to 20mpg in city driving and from 19 to 23 mpg on the highway. Powerwise, the 4.3 gets you 285hp and 305 lb-ft; the 5.3 rates at 355hp/383 lb-ft; the 2.7 turbo runs 310hp/348lb-ft; and the 6.2 delivers 420hp/460 lb-ft.

My 6.2-liter Denali was an upgrade over the standard 5.3 and was rated at 15mpg/city and 20mpg/highway -- I averaged 17.7 mpg in my heavy-footed tests. But the 6.2 really came alive when asked. While handling was big-truck loose, and steering was a bit vague, power was king. The 6.2 gave me a 6.2-second zero-to-sprint during a 14.6 second quarter-mile. Acceleration at speed took a beat, then exploded with power. At slow speed and around town, acceleration was a bit hesitant. Firm suspension feel was exhibited through an independent front with coil-over-shock with twin-tube shock absorbers working well with a solid axle rear with semi-elliptic, variable-rate, two-stage multileaf springs and splayed twin-tube shock absorbers. 

Inside, Denali is luxuriously appointed and is augmented with advanced connectivity, 
an 8-inch-diagonal GMC Premium Infotainment System with a high-resolution color touchscreen, and a seven-speaker Bose® Premium Sound System with Richbass® Woofer in the center console personalization features. Sierra Denali’s crafted cabin is spacious with 43 inches of front headroom in the crew cab version and 40.1 in the rear. Legroom is a comfortable 44.5 inches up front and 43.4 in the cab, and shoulder room is 66 and 65.2. 

The base regular cab, standard box 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 starts at $29,000 for 2WD and moves through multiple trims, cabs, beds and engines, topping out with the Denali basing at $54,700 and apexing at $66,590 for the Denali Yukon. My test Denali was the Yukon, so that I could try out the 6.2-liter engine. The 2WD setup was upgraded to 4WD for an additional $3000. Onyx Black exterior paint actually discounted the price by $1095 from the Summit White price, and Denali in Black looked powerful and luxurious. Jet Black perforated leather appointed seats were at no charge; The Denali Ultimate Package of power sunroof, power retractable assist steps, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, 22-inch bright aluminum wheels with Midnight Silver premium paint, 22-inch all-season tires, inclination sensor, Enhanced Security Package with self-powered horn, interior movement sensor and vehicle inclination sensor, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Advanced with Forward Automatic Braking added another $7055 to the price. Roof rack cross rails added $265; premium all-weather floormats added $235; and destination and freight added $1295, for a stick-as-tested of $79,550, but package discounts and cash allowances trimmed the MSRP-as-tested to $76,050.
  
You can see GMC trucks through the decades, and more than 2,000 trucks of all eras, at the Carlisle Truck Nationals, August 2-4 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. This event and has been one of the world’s largest truck shows since 1991. This celebration of trucks features Pick-ups, Heavy-duty trucks, Big Rigs, Mini Trucks, Antiques, Custom Vans, 4x4s, Jeeps, SUVs, Vintage Fire Trucks, Monster trucks and more.


> 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>

Herb Houston of South Carolina has been named the Grand Prize Winner of the MotorCrush 100K Sweepstakes.

The public announcement came at the IMSA Northeast Grand Prix—part of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series—on Saturday, July 20, 2019, at Lime Rock Park just before 10:00am. MotorCrush users and Grand Prize-hopefuls were able to tune-in via Instagram Live to hear the winner’s name, but only one of them went home with a modified Nissan GT-R valued at $70,000.

Houston, who had been contacted prior to the event and was flown-in the day before, accepted the keys. “When I received the news, I asked myself, ‘Is this for real?’ There was disbelief, coupled with a lot of excitement,” he said. “I was sworn to secrecy up to this point, but now I can finally share this with my friends, family, and the MotorCrush community.”

Shortly after Houston got behind the wheel, he was asked to slide over to the passenger seat as professional sports car champion and ALIVE® founder Andy Lally took him out onto the track to show Houston the full capabilities of his new ride. The GT-R is outfitted with a 3.8L twin-turbo V6 engine, 6-speed dual clutch, and 480 horsepower—all wielded with the expertise of a pro driver.

The experience, and the car, were made possible thanks to MotorCrush’s partners, Lockton Motorsports Insurance® and Lime Rock Park, as well as the hard work of their build contributors, including:

• K&N® Filters
• Motul
• Designer Wraps
• Committed Service Brand; and
• J-Tune Performance

The app serves to connect enthusiasts to all aspects of the motoring community. For Houston, this is what drew him to MotorCrush. “I've been into cars almost my whole life,” he said, “and grew up in a thriving car culture.  But since I have been raising a family in a very rural community, it's all removed. With MotorCrush, I was able to interact with other enthusiasts in spite of the distance.”

Houston said his top priority after leaving Lime Rock Park will be to show his new ride to his father.

The sweepstakes, which ran from November 1, 2018 to May 15, 2019, may be over, but there is more to look forward to from the ALIVE Team. In the fall, Lally will be taking the six recipients of the Andy Lally Track Day for a ride of their own. The Team also plans to host sweepstakes for ALIVE’s two other products: Track Rabbit and Awesome Joe Auctions. 

Life is Good – that’s what Chip Miller would always say.  For a pair of recent fund-raising events hosted by the late National Corvette Hall of Famer’s namesake foundation, not only was it good, it was great!  On Friday, July 19, the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation welcomed hundreds of surfers and dozens more families for its 16^th Annual Surf Fest and 4^th annual Slide for Amyloid & Taste of OC.  

In the days leading up to Surf Fest, the ocean was calm by surfing standards, but with Chip Miller looking down on an event he’d surely be proud of, King Triton rose up, offering perfect surfing conditions with waves not seen in OCNJ all summer. 

Registration got things going at 7:30 a.m.  with surfers of all ages and skill sets taking part in the fun.  Nearly a hundred surfers took part with the top 6 being recognized in 7 different categories.  Those categories included Girls 12 & Under, Girls 13 & Up, Boys 12 & Under, Jr. Men, Men, Longboard and Parent/Child.  Category winners (in the same order) include Brynn Gallagher, Mia Gallagher, Cruz Dinofa, Tucker Collins, Stephen Zakroff, Kaiden Cameron and the Edington Family.

Complete results are available HERE.

As if cooling off IN the ocean wasn’t enough on a day when temps touched triple digits, the CMAF had more water themed fun planned for the evening.  Just blocks from the surf beach sits the Ocean City Water Park and as the sun faded to the west, the 2019 turnout and subsequent festivities topped last year’s event.  Earned money was well over $30,000 and surpassed last year’s totals, while sixteen restaurants and eateries in OC donated some of the best food anyone could want as part of the evening.

My father, Chip Miller was looking down on us this beautiful beach day,” noted CMAF president Lance Miller.  “We haven’t had waves all summer and everyone couldn’t believe their eyes once they peered towards the ocean and saw some incredible surf pouring in for the contestants to enjoy. We couldn’t have asked for better surf and weather,” continued Miller.

Miller also noted that the weather (and his wife) played a key role in the Taste of OC/Slide for Amyloid event too. 

“The weather couldn’t have been better for an evening at the OC Waterpark. My wife, Michele, really took the helm this year and worked diligently on getting local eateries behind the Taste of OC.  I was simply stunned at the transformation she and her friends did to make the waterpark an elegant yet laid back setup. The food was out of this world! The outpouring of rave reviews were constant all evening long, people really loved the food. We couldn’t have done it without the amazing OC community.”

These two events are just two of many on the summer schedule for the CMAF.  The next event happens Saturday, July 27 at the OCNJ Skate Park as part of the 3^rd Annual Skate Fest.  Following Skate Fest, the CMAF turns its attention to Carlisle Pennsylvania for Corvettes at Carlisle, the annual CMAF dinner and Corvette raffle giveaway hosted by the Lancaster County Corvette Club.

As with all events, prices and participation vary, but complete details on the 2019 season can be found online at www.ChipMiller.org or via the CMAF Facebook page, www.facebook.com/AmyloidosisAwarenes.  Can’t make the event?  Donate today via the CMAF web page.  Either way, join in the fun and support a great cause along the way.

The Toyota Tacoma is a truck whose grasp has far exceeded its original reach. Launched in America in America in 1995, Tacoma was marketed as a compact pick-up until its second generation began in 2005, when it became classified as a mid-size. Following a full third-generation redesign for 2016, the 2019 Tacoma remains the best-selling mid-size pickup as it has for 12 years running. Those consistent sales have also made Tacoma the 4th top-selling truck in America and No. 13 best-selling vehicle in the U.S., and sales are up nearly 8 percent so far this year.

Along the way, Tacoma has gained a rep for ruggedness in look and in function, and Toyota has offered its mid-size truck for a wide array of tastes -- available in 32 models based on two cab types, the extended Access Cab and four-door Double Cab, each available in 4×2 or 4×4 configurations. Tacoma is available in six model grades, each with its own purpose and unique appearance, including the work-ready SR; the high-style, high-value SR5; the athletic TRD Sport; the adventurous TRD Off-Road; the top-of-the-line Limited; and the ultimate off-road TRD Pro.

Uptweaking the rugged factor for 2019 Tacoma revises the TRD Pro trim with more off-road ready equipment, and offers an available TRD Pro high-mounted "snorkel" air intake and makes the JBL Audio and moonroof standard. Also new for 2019, Toyota Safety Sense is now standard on all grades and includes a precollision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, sway control, auto high beams and adaptive cruise control; two additional USB ports are now in the center console, and Toyota offers a wide variety of optional packages to personalize the 2019 Tacoma.

Designed in Newport Beach, California, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, Tacoma employs extensive use of high-strength steel in the frame and hot-stamped ultra-high strength steel in the body for a strong foundation for hard work, hard play, and durability. While Tacoma does not offer a regular cab, it does come in Access Cab (an extended cab with rear-hinged rear doors) and Double Cab (crew cab with conventional rear doors) configurations. Tacoma Access Cab and Double Cab models are built on a 127.4-inch wheelbase with a 60.5-inch bed, or a 73.7-inch long bed on a 140.6-inch wheelbase. My test Tacoma was the base 4x4 with an Access Cab, and it measured 212.3 inches long, 74.4 inches wide and 70.6 inches high with 9.4 inches of ground clearance. My test truck weighed in at 4325 lbs. and had a tow rating of 3500 lbs. (an optional tow package is rated at 6,500 lbs.).

From a power perspective, Tacoma is available with two engine options. The more economical engine is the 2.7-liter inline 4-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve cast iron block system with aluminum alloy head and VVT-i. With the 2WD 6-speed manual, it is EPA rated at 19mg/city and 23mpg/highway, and the 4WD manual is estimated at 19/22 (the 6-speed automatic gets an 19/23 estimate). The inline-4 provides 159 hp and 180 lbs-ft of torque. The 5-speed manual transmission was discontinued in 2018, and you can choose from between a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic trans.

My test Tacoma 4x4 automatic was powered by the larger and more powerful aluminum block 3.5-liter Direct and Port Injection, Atkinson Cycle V-6 engine with Variable Valve Timing-Intelligent Wider Intake and Variable Valve Timing-Intelligent Exhaust. EPA rated at 18/23 for 4WD automatic, I averaged 21.1mpg around town, on the interstate and even some soft-road treks. The electronic fuel-injected system provides 278 hp and 265 lbs-ft of torque. In tests, the Tacoma was able to haul some heavy loads, and with an empty bed, was quick and responsive to the tune a sprint from zero to 60mph in 7.9 seconds (hand-timed) during a 16.2-second quarter-mile.

Tacoma’s suspension is tight and creates a good pavement feel, while being generous for soft-road activities, while its rack-and-pinion power steering is attentive at slow speeds, but a but vague in quick high-speed maneuvers.

With seating capacity for four (2/front and 2/cab), Tacoma provides 39.7 inches of headroom in row one and 34.9 in the Access Cab (the Double Cab affords 38.3 inches) and 42.9 inches of first row legroom, with a childlike cramped 24.6 inches in the Access Cab (32.6 in the Double Cab). Shoulder room measures 58.3 inches in front with 56.5 for the rear passengers (58.9 in the Double). 

Toyota offers six basic trims in 32 configurations, including 2x4 or 4x4 setups, multiple bed sizes, cab designs and engines with each trim. Tacoma trims for 2019 include SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited and TRD Pro. The base Tacoma SR with the Access Cab starts at $25,850 and the line-up runs through the TRD Pro at $42,960. My test Tacoma in SR5 trim (second on the list) started at $30,770 with Access Cab and 6-foot bed, 3.5-liter engine, 6-speed automatic transmission and 2WD. A step up to 4WD (I always prefer 4WD), raised the ante by $3340.

My test Tacoma in Silver Sky (Gray) Metallic paint with Cement Gray (Dark Gray) fabric seats added Chrome, 5-inch oval tube steps (running board) for $535; and delivery and processing added $1095, for a price-as-tested of $35,740.

You can see Toyota Tacomas and more than 2,000 trucks that span decades, in a celebration of trucks featuring Big Rigs, Mini Trucks, Half-tons, Antiques, Custom Vans, 4x4s, Jeeps, SUVs, Vintage Fire Trucks, Monster trucks and more, at the Carlisle Truck Nationals, August 2-4 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. This event and has been the epicenter for all things truck since 1991.

> 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>