From what I saw at The Nats and the pictures I saw from Carlisle (back then), the customer demographics were a bit different. Or perhaps I was a bit more forgiving in my younger years, just amazed that something as The Nats DID exist? With a few mentors ro guide me, who'd been there before and my own gumption, I learned how things operated and had fun.
Obviously, too, as the number of Carlisle events has grown, lessons have been learned and acted upon for a better customer experience. There were also some hiccups in some of the things that were done at The Nats, over the years, but we generally considered them "normal" for an event as large as it was and continued to enjoy it each year. Personally, I was there for the cars, the parts, the people, and just being around massive amounts of Chrysler enthusiasts who all seemed to be happy to be there.
Is The Nats for everybody? Probably not. Is Carlisle for everybody? Maybe not. To me, both events serve their purpose and have many loyal attendees each year. BTAIM
MIght I go to Carlisle one year? At this time in my life, that possibility fades a bit more each year. If I did return to The Nats, it will be a "last home-comming" of sorts. But with my existing knowledge and decreasing needs to look at vendor parts and such, lots of things I can get online, so "Why go?"
ONE observed thing about The Nats, back then I was much more in-shape and could walk the whole complex each day, if need be. Which generally means "younger and in-condition" to do those things. Not quite there, just yet, on that second item!
Enjoy!
CBODY67