Hershey - Who's going and who's bringing Lizzie? And what was it like to bring a car?

[Arbs]

I got my notice that the registration deadline to have a car in the show at Hershey is August 15th. If you're going, let us know. I'm curious what bringing a car there is like. I'm less than 1.5 hours away and I'm considering going, with or without my T. Do they make it easy to trailer a car over and park your truck and trailer? Is it easy to stay for only a day, or maybe 2? What has your experience been like?

More importantly, will they provide enough chocolate to cover my car?

[Steve Jelf]

I you're going to the meet to shop, you want to be there Tuesday, Wednesday. and Thursday. It has always taken me three days to cover the whole thing. One estimate I saw was that it's 26 miles of walking. I've always driven modern so somebody else will have to tell you about bringing a car to the Friday show.

[Kuhner]

We have taken a couple cars in the past. As Steve said the car show is only Friday, and if you take a car before then you will have to park outside the swap meet unless you have a swap space.

I usually park my trailer at a friends place near by. But I have used the regular parking for trailers, usually just a mowed field. A little dicey if it rains. If you are only an hour just drive it to the show.

If your car is restored you can enter it in the appropriate class, I usually enter our T in the drivers class, DPC. This is a non year, model specific class that allows some modification to your car. About the only thing the judges verify is if your car is there and do you have a fire extinguisher. Don’t forget the fire extinguisher.

We really enjoy showing our cars at AACA meets. Awards in the regular classes can be a little confusing. Driving into the Hershey on snow day is really fun.

[Jim11787]

Being a new owner of a 26 this will be my first trip to the swap meet. Not going to bring my T from Long Island. Not sure what to really expect, but thought it would be interesting and fun. Hoping for no rain.

[Retro54]

I'll have my 1915 there as my daily transportation to the fleamarket and will likely enter it in the show on Friday. I need to coordinate with the rest of my family Ts, but I'm leaning on placing it in the appropriate T class, but as a non judged car. Helps to promote and fill out the T classes, without judging.

Maybe a bunch of us could enter this year and have some fun!

[su8pack1]

I've only missed Hershey twice since 1969, and that's when Uncle Sam got me. Show ends on Friday now with the car show that day. Trailer parking is now $20, used to be free. Hershey in 1970 with a couple of Model A guys.

[A400]

I've been going to Hershey since 1976. I showed my Model "A" roadster there many years ago and received a National First Place award. It's a lot of fun, but also a lot of work if you are presenting a car for judging. As someone else mentioned, park your trailer off site and drive in. The whole show is a lot different now than it was when I started going. Less early parts and obviously more expensive for hotels, etc.

[Original Smith]

I've gone 37 straight years without missing one, and just made my reservations today for everything. This may be my last year, as there is too much modern stuff there now.

[Speedster Jeff]

I have never been to Hershey, and I am debating taking a 24' box trailer and truck bed full of parts from the 1940's back to early teens from all different brands and a bunch of literature from that same era. Since it is now more "modern stuff", am I wasting my time driving 2,400 miles? I called the AACA and I must admit, the receptionist was extremely nice, but the two volunteers that I had to deal with should be moved to cleaning the restrooms, or somewhere where they don't have to deal with people, and I am leaning more towards staying home. A friend called from Ohio the other evening, and I explained to him my AACA experience and he went through the roof... After sending him pictures of general items I intended to bring he basically stated my stuff is more "Hershey" than a lot of the stuff in recent years. I am up in the air at this time, and I would love to get there on Monday and have one person buy it all at a reasonably low price so I can have my building space back and not have to mess with it anymore. As a friend of mine says that is the President of a big club here in Florida says....... Just because they want to volunteer doesn't mean they are the right person for that position.........He has had to do damage control for quite a few years now to get many folks to come back.

[Retro54]

I have never been to Hershey, and I am debating taking a 24' box trailer and truck bed full of parts from the 1940's back to early teens from all different brands and a bunch of literature from that same era. Since it is now more "modern stuff", am I wasting my time driving 2,400 miles? I called the AACA and I must admit, the receptionist was extremely nice, but the two volunteers that I had to deal with should be moved to cleaning the restrooms, or somewhere where they don't have to deal with people, and I am leaning more towards staying home. A friend called from Ohio the other evening, and I explained to him my AACA experience and he went through the roof... After sending him pictures of general items I intended to bring he basically stated my stuff is more "Hershey" than a lot of the stuff in recent years. I am up in the air at this time, and I would love to get there on Monday and have one person buy it all at a reasonably low price so I can have my building space back and not have to mess with it anymore. As a friend of mine says that is the President of a big club here in Florida says....... Just because they want to volunteer doesn't mean they are the right person for that position.........He has had to do damage control for quite a few years now to get many folks to come back.

This is a huge show, no need to pre-screen your parts BUT you DO need to be an AACA member and you DO need to pre-purchase swap meet spaces. Here's the official site. https://hershey.aaca.com/eastern-divisi ... ea-market/ . You might be past the due date for swap meet spaces.. the Show Car registration is due August 15th.

[Speedster Jeff]

This is a huge show, no need to pre-screen your parts BUT you DO need to be an AACA member and you DO need to pre-purchase swap meet spaces. Here's the official site. https://hershey.aaca.com/eastern-divisi ... ea-market/ . You might be past the due date for swap meet spaces.. the Show Car registration is due August 15th.

Thank you. I had called them last week and I just emailed them again asking for the deadline for attending.

[Steve Jelf]

I had called them last week and I just emailed them again asking for the deadline for attending.

Just to be clear, there is a deadline for buying spaces or for entering a car in the show. The AACA website can tell you the details. There is NO deadline for simply attending to shop. That's free and wide open. I use the free public parking at Ridge Road and K Street. No way am I going to pay the outrageous $20 a day for parking, or whatever it is now.

Handy hint for shopping:

The best $10 I ever spent at Hershey was for this shopping cart I take every day. I extended the handle so it won't give me a flat tire.

[Dan Hatch]

Speedster Jeff: You should look into going to Luray Pre War Swap meet. Closer than Hershey and geared toward your stuff. You don’t have to be a member to any special club, although it helps. And you don’t have to have a PA sales tax number.
I sell at Hershey but have missed last few years and like Luray better.
Steve: Parking at Luray is all free and VFW cooks for us right at the swap meet. They are a great bunch of guys.

[Quickm007]

I really hope I will go again this year. It is one of my favorite moment of the year. Smelling gaz, hot dog, pizza and sharing great moments with friends. Seeing nice old cars, steam cars and bunch of old vintage stuff. It's like heaven...

[Speedster Jeff]

Speedster Jeff: You should look into going to Luray Pre War Swap meet. Closer than Hershey and geared toward your stuff. You don’t have to be a member to any special club, although it helps. And you don’t have to have a PA sales tax number.
I sell at Hershey but have missed last few years and like Luray better.
Steve: Parking at Luray is all free and VFW cooks for us right at the swap meet. They are a great bunch of guys.

Thank you very much for your response. I just received another email from the AACA, and the receptionist is awesome and doing a great job, but it sounds like the Hershey swap meet isn't for me to get rid of my stuff. I'm just a guy who is trying to sell (usually cheaply) my lifetime of "stuff" collected and not have to go through the hassle of becoming a PA Vendor or have an auction. That list of requirements on the PA website makes me understand why people just want to bring in dumpster, although I won't. I was told of a swap meet in Zephyrhills, Florida and I am going to look into that event. I just want this stuff gone so I can have room to work on projects with my sons. Having a clean and organized work environment really helps us to crank out some projects safely, quickly and efficiently, plus have some great father/son time.

The local Model A club wants to host a meeting at my place in the fall and I may fill up the rumble seats, truck beds, and back seats of each vehicle that attends. lol I have already given two truck and trailer loads of work benches, parts, etc. to the Florida Flywheeler's Club for their 4H small engine repair program they have just started for the high school 4H programs willing to travel to the show grounds. They have set up an area in a building to have outreach programs to the youth and kids interested in mechanical stuff, and it was exciting to see those two trucks pull out knowing that some youth are going to get some hands-on learning since our school systems don't have those anymore. If anyone near the center of Florida has old Craftsman work benches from the 1990's, or similar to the new ones sold at the big box stores on wheels, they could use some more benches if you are willing to part with them.

[Bryant]

I had called them last week and I just emailed them again asking for the deadline for attending.

Just to be clear, there is a deadline for buying spaces or for entering a car in the show. The AACA website can tell you the details. There is NO deadline for simply attending to shop. That's free and wide open. I use the free public parking at Ridge Road and K Street. No way am I going to pay the outrageous $20 a day for parking, or whatever it is now.

Handy hint for shopping:


IMG_1758 copy.JPG
The best $10 I ever spent at Hershey was for this shopping cart I take every day. I extended the handle so it won't give me a flat tire.

Iam planning on going this year. Hopefully nothing will stop me this time. This would be my first time and plan on camping out at least one night if I can. Steve where is this parking spot you are talking about? I’ve been looking at maps but can’t seem to put a pin on it.
Bryant