Classic Car auctions continue to draw high ratings on TV, packing venues across the country. For two days, February 23-24, central Florida and the SUN ‘n FUN Campus in Lakeland come to live with a live classic and collector car auction presented by Carlisle Auctions. The auction offers something for everyone, including boats, trucks, cars, motorcycles, motor coaches, collectibles, memorabilia and more! Every one of these items are eligible to go home to the highest bidder as part of a fast-paced exciting event.

With every auction promoted by Carlisle Auctions selling out, Carlisle Auctions guarantees a good time, with good cars and even better people! In fact, the core of Carlisle Auctions business model is its FREE UNLESS SOLD guarantee. This means that any vehicle, 25 years or older, that is consigned to the auction and does not sell will yield its fees back to its consigner. This user-friendly policy has helped grow Carlisle Auctions into a top brand within the hobby.

From the first car that rolls across the block on Friday, February 23 to the final drop of the gavel on Saturday, February 24, over 400 lots and items will be available, including at least 100 years of automotive history. Bidding and buying with Carlisle Auctions is a great way for someone to either add to an already impressive classic car collection or maybe just serve as a way to jump start a newbie into the hobby. Not only is demand always high to place a consignment into the auction, demand is always very high for bidders looking to be part of the fun. Best of all, a bidder’s discount package is available. A 50% savings is available now through February 23 by using promo code BidNow. Anyone who wants to take advantage of the savings can call 717-960-6400.

Many of the 400+ consignments are available for review at www.CarlisleAuctions.com. This web page is also home base for all things related to this and any of Carlisle Auctions other three events. Learn about the FREE UNLESS SOLD guarantee, how to get involved with an upcoming event and more. FINALLY, given that Winter Lakeland consignments are some of the strongest ever, bidders are encouraged to continue pre-registering for the weekend. This event truly does offer more cars, more people and even more excitement and it all starts February 23 with Carlisle Auctions and Carlisle Events at Winter Florida AutoFest in Lakeland.

The Jeep Compass is a compact crossover SUV launched by Jeep or the 2007 model year. The entry-level Compass was one of Jeep’s first crossovers, and after more than a decade in Gen-One, the second-generation Compass debuted for the 2017 model year. The original Compass upgraded with a facelift in 2011 to play on the looks of Grand Cherokee. Gen-Two stretched its platform, upgraded interior materials, added to the tech and infotainment levels and included 70 available advanced safety and security features.

Jeep Compass features 17 global combinations of fuel-efficient powertrain options, three transmission choices, and Auto, Snow, Sand and Mud modes standard on all 4x4 models.

After last year’s redesign, Compass stands pat ostensibly, but adds a 4x2 configuration for the Limited trim. For 2018, the all-new Jeep Compass lineup consists of four models:

The entry-level Sport (4x2 and 4x4) comes equipped with 16-inch steel wheel painted in low gloss black, the Uconnect infotainment system with a 5.0-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth, a 3.5-inch instrument panel driver’s display, six-way manual front seats, a rearview camera, remote keyless entry, power adjustable and heated side view mirrors, and push-start ignition.

The Latitude (4x2 and 4x4) adds 17-inch silver aluminum wheels, black roof rails, premium cloth and vinyl seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear seat A/C vents, keyless entry, and automatic headlights.

Limited (4x2 and 4x4), my test ride, upgraded with more tech and luxury with 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, Uconnect with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7.0-inch instrument panel driver’s display, leather-trimmed seats with perforated inserts, heated eight-way power adjustable front seats, dual-zone climate control, a 115-volt power outlet, two-tone black roof, and bright roof rails.

The top trim Trailhawk is an offroader with 17-inch polished aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires, Active Drive Low four-wheel drive system with 20:1 crawl ratio, Selec-Terrain traction control system, off-road suspension, hill descent control, skid plates, black hood decal, and Ruby Red tow hooks.

Assembled in Toluca, Mexico, the entry-level compact SUV has a transverse front engine, and is available in 4x2 and 4x4 configuration. Compass comes at you with a Premium, sculptural design with a wide stance and exceptional glass-to-wheel proportions. Its legendary Jeep seven-slot grille sports a fresh approach that features a Gloss Black field with individual chrome outlines around each of the seven individual slots.

Compass utilizes steel uniframe construction and measures out at 173 inches long, 73.8 inches wide and 64.6 inches high on a 103.8-inch wheelbase, with a ground clearance of 8.2 inches for AWD. Curbweight for the AWD with an automatic transmission is 3327 lbs.

Compass is outfitted with a 2.4-liter Tigershark engine that produces 180hp and 175 lbs.-ft. of torque. Coupled with a 9-speed automatic engine, Compass power is reticent at high-end and passing at speed takes some planning. Track trips of a 9.9-second zero-to-60mph sprint and 17.6-second quarter-mile seemed labored and slow, but around town and at low end, the ride bordered on luxurious and smooth. The electric power rack and pinion steering helps refine the ride with minimized body roll and a well-weighted demeanor. The MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs, flat front steel crossmember and high-strength steel double shell lower control stabilizer bar works well with a Chapman strut rear with high-strength steel links, isolated steel rear cradle for 4x4 and not-isolated for 4x2, coil springs, stabilizer bar to smooth out road ruts and level out softroad challenges.

Fuel economy for AWD with an automatic transmission, is 22mpg/city and 30mpg/highway, and a week of mixed-use road tests averaged out to 25.7mpg.

Upticking with higher quality materials in the cabin, the Gen-Two Compass employs a large touchscreen and navi system. With seating for five, headroom is 39.2 inches in row one and 38.5 in row two; legroom is 41.8 inches up front and 38.3 in the rear; and shoulder room comes in at 56.7 and 55.1.

Safetywise, the 2018 compact SUV achieves “good” ratings in each of five Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests that evaluate crashworthiness. Its available Automatic Emergency Braking technology also earns a grade of “superior.” Each is the highest possible IIHS rating in its category.

The 2018 Jeep Compass starts at $20,995 for the base Sport trim in FWD; $24,295 for the Latitude; $27,595 for the Limited and $28,695 for the Trailhawk. My test Redline Pearl Limited added 4x4 for$400 and came with the 9-speed automatic trans; the Advanced Safety and Lighting Group added $895 for Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus, Lane Sense® Lane Departure Warning, Auto High-Beam Headlamp Control, B-Xenon HID headlamps and LED taillamps; the Safety and Security Group added $745 for Blind Spot and Cross Path Detection, Park Sense® Rear Park Assist and Rain Sensitive Intermittent Wipers; GPS Navigation and an 8.4-inch touchscreen added $995; a power liftgate added $495; a Beats™ Premium Audio System with multiple woofers and subwoofers and five speakers added $695; and a dual-pane sunroof added $1295. With destination charges of $1095, my 2018 Jeep Compass Limited stickered at $34,415.


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.

You’ve heard of Hot Rods, but how about Vette Rods? Yes, it’s really a thing and in fact, it’s a BIG THING! Vette Rods are becoming THE way to customize a Corvette from the past, with present day mods and make it even more futuristic! At the 2018 Corvettes at Carlisle weekend, presented by Corvette America, the Corvette world will see plenty of the best examples of this hybrid genre of Corvette. It all happens during the weekend of August 23-26 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.

Vette Rods are powerful and unique looking, yet in many cases stay true to the original design of the car itself. There are customizations that have been done, be it the engine, the interior, the exterior or all of the above. If a Corvette goes fast, Vette Rods go faster and if the sound of a standard Corvette engine makes you turn your head, you’ll get whiplash enjoying the purr of a Vette Rod motor! In short, the main point of resto mod Corvettes that makes them so awesome is the simple fact that an owner can have the styling of an old classic with the drivability, performance, handling and all the luxuries of a brand-new Corvette.

One of the featured Vette Rods at the show in August is owned by Jason Lemek. Today, Jason is a 39-year-old enthusiast who has been part of the Corvette scene his entire life. According to him, it’s a “family hobby,” that he’s happy to be involved with. Lemek’s ’63 is a show-stopper that started as a simple convertible salvaged from his dad’s scrap yard.

“My dad didn’t have any ’63 coupe bodies, so I got the ’63 convertible, but at that point I figured that I wouldn’t be putting the car back to original,” said Lemek. “The original motor was long gone, along with all the factory parts, so I decided to build something that I wanted to enjoy and make it look more like a ’67.”

While Lemek got a ’63 body, he didn’t get much more. From a bare shell with missing front clips, doors and fenders to the black and red beauty that will be on display in Building T in August, the process was lengthy and included many great friends, family members, companies and overall support.

Today, the car is driven, has some blemishes because of it, but most important, it’s a project that Lemek is proud of. It’s also something that anchors the Vette Rod display that is the basis of Chip’s Choice in 2018! Vette Rods are rapidly becoming a way of life within the Corvette community too and judging by sale prices at a recent nationally televised broadcast, their values are starting to exceed the value of a similar Corvette in its original form.

“Vette Rods are becoming more and more mainstream by the day,” says Lance Miller, co-owner of Carlisle Events and event manager for Corvettes at Carlisle. “Many people love the old body styles, but would prefer having all the current everyday amenities a new car provides. A Vette Rod is just that… something that looks old but has all new components to make it feel like you’re driving a new car,” continued Miller. “We’re excited to showcase some of the best Vette Rods in the country! If you have one, please be sure to submit a picture and description of your car on our website. We’re thrilled about this year’s Chip’s Choice and hope you are too!”

Complete details, including a link to buy tickets or pre-register for the show are available at www.CarlisleEvents.com. Adult tickets start at $20, with kids 12 and under getting in FREE.

Buick boldly took on the large luxury crossover segment in 2007 with its 2008 Enclave (now a mid-size), replacing its truck-based Rainier, the minivan-based Rendezvous and the Tarraza minivan. Now, during an era when three-row crossovers have seriously eroded minivan sales, Buick has evolved its Enclave for the first time in 10 years -- though it received a facelift in 2013, it remained in its first generation.

The second-gen, 2018 Enclave has been completely redesigned and introduces the Avenir sub-brand as the highest expression of Buick luxury, offering unique styling cues and an extensive set of standard features and premium materials.

Enclave upgrades for 2018 with new design architecture that exhibits a balanced, athletic appearance, and new proportions that give the sports-ute a sleeker look with aerodynamic benefits for efficiency. Enclave also shows off a lower roofline, sharper windshield angle and longer wheelbase to present a more dramatic stance. The 2018 Enclave also gets extensive use of LEDs, including bi-functional LED projector headlamps and LED tail lamps.

Buick also touts Enclave’s premium suspension with continuously variable real-time damping on its up-level Avenir, for a smooth, comfortable ride, with enhanced body control and handling in Sport mode. And you get Buick’s signature quiet ride with QuietTuning that includes new active noise cancellation feature, to further reduce, block and absorb noise.

The new Enclave shows off elegant design cues and its Avenir’s five-sided black-mesh grille, character lines and sleekness are encompassed in a generation than is longer and lower than Gen-One, at 204.3 inches long (2.4 inches longer), 78.8 inches wide (0.2 inches narrower) and 69.6 inches high (0.4 inches lower) on a 120.9-inch wheelbase (2 inches longer) for a curbweight of about 4700 lbs.

All Enclave models are powered by a direct-injected 3.6-liter V-6 engine mated to a Hydra-Matic 9T65 9-speed automatic transmission. The system hums out 310hp and 266 lbs.-ft. of torque and is EPA estimated at 17mpg/city for AWD and 25mpg/highway for the AWD version with a huge 21.7-gallon tank. I got about 19mpg during my mixed-use tests.

Acceleration is good for a heavy luxury crossover, with best increases at speed during hill climbs. Enclave is a bit reticent off the line, and passing requires a bit of strategy at times, but the vehicle will get you there and hold a line doing it. From a stop, my Enclave finished off a zero-to-60mph dash in 6.9 seconds – more than a half-second faster than my last test in a Gen-One Enclave), and completed the quarter-mile in 15.3 seconds.

On the road, the ride was refined and Buick quiet, though my test vehicle exhibited marked understeer from the hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering during quick turning maneuvers.

The MacPherson strut independent front suspension with hydraulic control arm ride bushing and hollow stabilizer bar worked well with the five-link independent rear with auxiliary spring aids and hollow stabilizer bar frame to smooth out most road irregularities, and keep the sense of luxury intact. Additionally, a Premium front suspension with continuously variable real-time damping and Premium rear suspension with continuously variable real-time damping are available on the Avenir.

With seating for seven, the new Enclave presents a 10-percent increase in overall interior space, including hidden underfloor storage. Enclave is accommodating inside with 41 inches of front row headroom, 39.9 inches in row two and 37.6 inches in row three (moderate gains in the first two rows); legroom is a stout 41.2 inches up front with 38.9 and 33.5 for rows two and three (increased for rows two and three).

The lavish and intuitive cabin is packed with a cornucopia of amenities and tech and includes standard tri-zone automatic climate control and an available, new air ionizer that eliminates odors and provides higher air quality. A frameless eight-inch-diagonal Buick infotainment system is standard on all models.

Standard safety features include a rear vision camera, rear park assist and seven air bags, including a front center side airbag.

The 2018 Buick Enclave is available in four time levels starting with the 1SV at $40,990. The Essence trim adds leather and safety tech and starts at $45,295. Premium trim adds a premium entertainment system, heated steering wheel and ventilated seat for a $49,095 base and my top-of-the-line Avenir upgraded with unique upper and lower grilles, wheels and front door badging, exclusive Chestnut/Ebony interior color including seat stitching and piping, Avenir embroidered head rests and floor mats, bold Avenir script sill plates (all four doors), premium film decor accents, real Mahogany wood steering wheel, Infotainment with Navigation, wireless charging, Surround Vision with Rear Camera Mirror, five exterior colors and more … and based at $54,495.

My test Dark Slate Metallic 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir added AWD for $2,300; and the Avenir Technology Package cost $2095 for unique exterior/interior styling, Buick Infotainment System with Navigation, wireless charging, a power dual moonroof with rear fixed skylight, 8-inch diagonal reconfigurable driver information center, Surround Vision with full display inside rearview mirror, 20-inch cast aluminum wheels with Pearl Nickel finish and a premium ride suspension. Destination freight charges of $995 put the sticker price of $58,890.

> 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.

Good weather goes a long way in making an automotive event successful, even when that event is primarily indoors. That was the case recently as Carlisle Events kicked off its 2018 season with Auto Mania, Pennsylvania’s largest indoor and heated swap meet. The Allentown Fairgrounds came to life for its first big event of the season January 19-21 and in doing so, also hosted the largest swap meet footprint ever for this event.

Indoors is never an issue at Allentown, after all, Ag Hall has heat…lots of it, but with unseasonably warm temperatures for January, the outdoor area expanded once more to meet demand. With that growing footprint, combined with the always sold-out indoor area, the 2018 edition of Auto Mania got things going properly for the Carlisle Events team.

While gates opened at 12 p.m. on Friday January 19, there were vendor to vendor sales happening well before that. In fact, the first transaction was spotted sometime after 6 a.m. during a time when a handful of vendors were in early setting up. Talk about not wasting any time. 99% of the rest of the weekend’s transactions happened during normal hours. Between buying and selling automotive pieces and parts, the on-site and farmers market concessions and ticket sales – Auto Mania was once again a smashing success.

In addition to the additional vending spaces outdoors, guests were treated to a dozen or so cars for sale by owner. This is always an added bonus because on nice warm winter days, sometimes car enthusiasts simply want to drive a classic “right now” and take a break from the restoration project they may be working on.

As always, Saturday was THE day for shopping and camaraderie in Allentown! The full day of fun ran from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and for the tens of thousands of guests who made the trip, it was the best outlet for parts buying, picking, flipping and just a generally fun day out of the house. Sunday helped wrap the weekend and guests that came had one final shot at deals within the swap meet and one last chance to connect with old friends before saying goodbye until “the next time.”

Speaking of the next time, Carlisle Events' next offering is in a much warmer climate, Lakeland, Florida. Winter AutoFest 2018 takes center stage February 23-25 and offers a three-day swap meet and car corral as well as a two-day collector car auction. The auction is the first of five slated for Carlisle Auctions in 2018 and as always, is powered by the FREE UNLESS SOLD guarantee as well as other great conveniences related to being part of a Carlisle Auction. A complete rundown of this event and others that follow it are available online via the Carlisle Events’ web page; www.CarlisleEvents.com.