Trick Rides at the Carlisle All-Ford Nationals

Driving over 200 miles to Carlisle this weekend for my first All-Ford Nationals, I really had no idea what to expect. Frankly, I wasn’t even sure they’d let me park my lowly Escort on the show field. But Carlisle is no one-trick pony, and upon arrival I discovered that my oddball ride was in good company. Though there were more Mustangs than you could shake a stick at, there was also plenty of room for everyone else, from beater four-door LTDs to ultra high-dollar exotics like the Ford GT and 427 Cobra. With an estimated 2500 vehicles in attendance, I wouldn’t even try to pick a favorite, but there were a number of rides, and the people who built them, whose stories would put a smile on your face. One of these was Peter Berenier and his nitrous-powered V6 Tempo, a car he’s been modding and racing for over a decade. Pete was there to represent the Endless Dreamz lowrider club and to kick it with his Tempo buddies Mark and Kenny, who actually met through CarDomain and who now hang out at Carlisle every year. These guys have a lot of heart, showing off their custom Tempos not only amidst the friendly climes of Carlisle but also at the strip and at the import shows where they have to earn their respect the hard way. Nice work, guys! It’s the one-off home-built rides like these, which were so colorfully represented this weekend, that really remind us what gearhead ingenuity is all about. Check out my ride page to see how the Escort fared at the show, and keep an eye on the events section for full photo coverage.