While Pudge & Duval were soaking in the sun and leaking out the beer in Myrtle Beach in mid-May, I was stuck here in Harrisburg. But it wasn't all that bad - I got to attend the Carlisle Custom Compact show that was held May 15 & 16 for the first time at the Harrisburg Farm Show Complex with over 22,000 other attendees!

     Trying to change a show, any type of show, is difficult in the first year. The promoters don't know how the crowd will react, whether things will run as smoothly as they did in previous years, or if they are going to have to admit failure and change it back to the way it was before. Carlisle Events has a great staff that works to make sure that everything goes as it should, but being off of their home turf had to be difficult for even them in this first year - but it didn't show.

     The show was very well received in it's new venue by all of the attendees and participants that I had the opportunity to chat with. There were 288 competitors in the Street Class competition, all worthy of props on the time, effort, and money that they have sunk into their rides.

     The Elite competition was judged by NCCA, and featured 116 competitors that we are getting to know very well. The Best of Show award went to MinHo Kim with his '03 Nissan 2-door 350Z.

     Throughout the weekend there were a lot of activities to keep everyone entertained, since there was no alcohol allowed at the new location. The Bikini Bull Riding Competition proved interesting, if not short lived. On Saturday evening, there was the bikini competition in the large arena, and it took quite a few eliminations from the judges to finally award Amanda Lawson of Carlisle the winner.

     The last event of the day on Saturday was the indoor burnout competition. For anyone who has been to a burnout competition at the Carlisle fairgrounds, you know how the smoke fills the grandstands. This was no different. The burnt off tire residue filled the large arena of the Complex as you can see from the pics on the following pages like it does at any decent competition.

     The entire weekend was a huge success for the Carlisle Custom Compact show. It proved that you can have a kick-ass time at an event, without destroying property and wreaking havoc on the surrounding town. Check out all the pictures from the weekend, and plan to attend next year - for more info go to www.customcompact.com.