East Bound and Down - The Bandit Run Comes to Carlisle in June

CARLISLE, Pa. - March 6, 2014 - PRLog -- In 1977 the careers of Burt Reynolds, Jerry Reed, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason were firmly in place, but it was their involvement with a smash 'em up, chase 'em down film known as Smokey and the Bandit that forever won over audiences of the time and generations thereafter.  That movie today is still popular among automotive enthusiasts and in recent years has spawned get-togethers and special displays specific to the film.  One such gathering is known as the Bandit Run and it will be held in conjunction with the 2014 Carlisle GM Nationals, June 20-22 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.

Along the lines of the film, the Bandit run sees dozens of cars, many of them Pontiac Trans Am cars, take a trip from point A to point B.  In this case, however, no one is trying to make it 1,200+ miles in less than 24 hours.  For this Bandit Run, which makes its official 2014 launch at the Carlisle GM Nationals, participants will pay tribute to the film as they travel from Carlisle to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The distance, by the way, is 539 miles (give or take a few) and spans seven days (168 hours).  In addition to the popular black and gold Trans Ams , the run also welcomes all types of GM marks, making it a ride many people can enjoy.

The Bandit Run was created in 2007 with the mission of getting collector cars out of the garage and onto the roads.  With the belief that cars were meant to be driven and enjoyed, the Bandit Run aims to see these beauties (collector cars) do more than just cruise to a local car show or stay hidden in an owner’s garage.  Started by Restore a Muscle Car as part of the 30th Anniversary celebration of Smokey and the Bandit, it was simply an idea of getting some friends together to recreate the drive from Texarkana, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia.  Now, Year One and Restore a Muscle Car work together with the Bandit Run group to put a new route together annually to help get other people and their collector cars involved, all while seeing different parts of the country along the way.   What started in '07 as a tribute to the film has morphed into a large family fun road trip that allows likeminded enthusiasts to meet new friends and enjoy new sites and experiences along the way!

Finally, in addition to many of the Bandit-themed Trans Am cars at Carlisle, showgoers will be treated to something even more special.  The 2014 Bandit Run comes to Carlisle complete with help from the Snowman, more specifically, a replica of the tractor trailer that Jerry Reed drove in the film.

“Since the Carlisle GM Nationals plays host to tons of GM cars and the gear heads who own them, it makes it the perfect place to launch the Bandit Run," said event manager Tyler Staley.  "In 2014, our focus is the GTO as it celebrates 50 years.  In addition, we are featuring the Pontiac brand overall.  The Bandit Run fits perfectly into our event. Plus, even if you are not into Pontiacs, just about everyone loves a Bandit Trans Am and the movie Smokey and the Bandit.”

Anyone interested in being part of the weekend can visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for complete details.  Once online, price points are showcased for day and weekend passes as well as how to go about being part of the showfield.  In addition, contact details for the Bandit Run are available if enthusiasts want to join the ride for its entire multi-state tour.