charlier

Numerous reports appear to indicate that Carvana is headed towards Bankruptcy before too long. Billions of dollars of debt (6.3B as of late December 2022) and declining used vehicle prices for vehicles that they paid too much for are just two of their problems.

AACA Nationals held at this facility in the past have been a combination of blacktop parking lots and a few grass areas. The vast majority of the show fields have been on the blacktop parking lots. There is a large grass area down from the hotels near the movie theater that has been used for trailer parking in the past. This layout seemed to work very well for both the AACA National and Grand National events I attended at this facility in the past. Looking forward to attending this national this year. KRK Sr. is the Gettysburg region going to use a similar layout for this year's National?

Thanks Steve. I appreciate your thoughts regarding my questions.

Any idea if the Judging School at Gettysburg will be the Advanced School or the Regular School? I see they are running both schools at the Annual Convention. It would be nice if they could do at at some of the Nationals during the year as well. Speaking of the Annual Convention, has anything been said about the location of the 2024 Convention? I am behind on my reading of the club magazine so apologies if it has been posted in there.

I keep the spare tire for my truck in the bed year round except when I need to haul something. I do that for a number of reasons. First, if I have a flat (especially when towing) having the spare in the bed makes it much more accessible. Second, living in the rust belt the spare gets hit with all the chemicals, etc. which ruins the tire and wheel. Third, the hoist mechanisms are very easy to defeat which makes stealing the spare tire EASY. I am fortunate that I have a lockable cap on my truck so stealing the spare is harder than the hoist mechanism. I ran into the same problem when driving to Fall Hershey in 2021. Had a tire blow out and the size I needed was not available at any tire store in the Hershey/Harrisburg area. My spare was a donut which was way to old to use. Ended up waiting 2+ hours for a tow and then had to use my modern truck to get to Hershey around 6+ hours later than planned. I have since replaced all the tires and added a new, full size spare. In addition to checking your spares for proper inflation one should also check the AGE of ALL the tires and the Spare. The blowout I mentioned above was due to me NOT replacing tires that had exceeded the age I should have been using. Those tires were always properly inflated, garage kept and looked just great (ie no cracks or signs of failure). That didn't matter because they failed due to age. Also, be aware that AAA is NOT what it used to be when it comes to some of the services they provide. If you have a flat and need a spare tire put on, they will usually send a contractor that does that sort of work or handles lockouts (usually driving a van or pickup) and is not driving a tow truck. Those contractors tend to arrive on-site much faster than a tow truck. AAA tow truck contractors are in MUCH shorter supply in many areas and one can easily wait for 2+ hours (even during 9-5 M-F hours). I have experienced that first hand more than once in the last two years in a couple different areas. Lucky for me it was not cold out and my vehicle was safely off the road.

I have been with Hagerty for a few years now after my prior coverage was bought out and then Hagerty bought that part of the business. I too had concerns about how the changes at Hagerty might impact their business. At my last policy renewal this past September (2022) I got my answer. The cost of my coverage went up about 18% with NO changes to the coverage, no claims (ever) and the AACA & Mature Driver Class discounts. Granted I only have 4 vehicles on the policy but I thought that increase was not very reasonable. Come next summer I will be shopping around just in case they try up my premium again. This year at Fall Hershey I didn't get a chance to cover much of the flea market. Was Hagerty even there? I know they weren't there last year. They used to have a BIG presence at Hershey but that may not be the case any longer.

Thank You So Very Much for Posting these photos!

I am a little confused so maybe someone can help. If stainless steel nuts and bolts are used to anchor the E-Track to the frame of an Aluminum trailer wouldn't you still have the dissimilar metals issue on the underside? The underside of the trailer is gonna get wet and most insulation materials between the frame and the nuts &n boltsm will degrade over time (more so if the trailer is driven on icy, salty covered roads). ex98thdrill, is your airline track being welded directly onto the floor of your new trailer? Thanks...

I am bringing myself and my 1985 VW which will be in DPC on Friday. I plan to arrive sometime Thursday morning, walk the flea market fields a bit, visit with friends, pick up my show car packet, renew my AACA Membership enjoy a crab cake sandwich for lunch then head to the Judging School & CJE Class. I wish I had more time at Hershey but the bottom line is my shortened Hershey experience this year is the direct result of the days changing. Sadly, I suspect I am not alone but it is what it is and will enjoy what time I do have at Hershey.

In years past I have noticed that if it rains prior to Friday vendors seem to stick around until later in the day of Friday to recoup lost sales due to the rain. If the weather was dry all week some vendors would leave on Thursday night and Friday around 12 noon the mass exodus would begin. With rain on Tuesday and Wednesday morning this year, there is a good chance that vendors will stick around for most of Thursday especially if the forecast of sun and low-mid 70s turns out to be true. I suppose we will see come this Thursday. Now for the real question.... What kind of condition are the grass spectator parking fields in after all the rain from Saturday through Wed morning?

Thank You Very Much for posting all these great photos!

So Very Sorry to hear this terrible news. My condolences, thoughts and prayers to his family and his AACA family at headquarters.

Dave A, Thank You very much for the additional information. When you said in another post the "next two years" I made the incorrect assumption that you were referring to 2023 as one of those years which was absolutely my bad. Had any of these events actually been scheduled for 2023 then not being informed about them until early 2023 would have been a challenge for those AACA members who work for a living and have family obligations. I should have known better that the AACA would not give such short notice for a National in 2023. Sadly, I am one of those members who needs as much advance notice of a National especially when it involves 1400-2000 miles of driving (round trip). Just like an AACA National, for me there is a LOT of logistics and planning to be done. Not nearly on the scale of a National but still not just a "yeah, I'll go, no big deal" kind of decision either. Thank You so much for all your efforts in your work with recruiting Regions to host Events. That work and the work by the Regions in putting on these events is GREATLY APPRECIATED.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Thanks West.... Did I miss this change in the last Speedster?? Hopefully more detailed information about this event will be published before the end of this year..... Also, there was mention in another thread (by Dave A, I think) about more events being added to I believe the 2023 calendar. What's that all about and if so when is the AACA membership going to be given information about that?

Steve, is the 2023 Grand National still being held in East Moline or has it been moved? I am sure I am not the only AACA member who is confused by the post in this thread that suggests it has been moved. Thank You for clearing this up.

The packet for show cars can be picked up at the "Folder Distribution Tent" on Chocolate Field North in the flea market from Tuesday thru Thursday from 11 am to 3 pm if you get to Hershey before Friday morning. Be advised that you must walk into the flea market area to the tent to get your packet. You will not be permitted to drive into the flea market to get your packet. Click here for the Chocolate Field North Map I usually get to Hershey a day or two before the show so I make a point of picking up my packet at the tent in the flea market area when they are open. For me it ois pone less thing to do on the morning of the show.

My tip for safe driving is to take a Mature Driver Course offered by AAA or AARP. I am VERY surprised that the AACA has not partnered with AAA or AARP to promote these courses to the membership as our members are THE target audience. A LOT of things have changed when it comes to safer driving since we all learned to drive. I took the course 6 years ago and was very surprised that things had changed so much. These courses require either in person or on-line instruction (that lasts 6-8 HOURS if I remember correctly). At the end of the class there is a test that one has to pass in order to get the certificate and the insurance discount that goes along with it. Be advised that if you take the course on-line you cannot skip ahead if you finish a section early. The discount I get from my regular and Antique insurance companies pays for the cost of the class 5-6 times over. More importantly, the student learns things that will improve their driving. In order to keep getting the insurance discount one must take the course every 3 years which is not the same course as it gets updated.

Steve, Would it be worth considering putting up a few 4'x6' signs along Hershey Park Drive the week before and during Hershey Week informing the public about the Car Show Day change to Friday? Yes, I know that is old school but at least some of the locals from the area who go to car show might see the signs and not show up on Saturday. It might not be possible to post these signs on private property but at least there is the area right in front of the new headquarters. Even just there might help. Hopefully WGAL TV from Lancaster will do one or more of their live remotes during Hershey week like they've done in the past. That would be a good opportunity to get the word out about the Car Show day change.

So now that registration has closed and all the procrastinators have hopefully registered for the show, how are the number of registered show cars looking for this year? How are the number of judges who have signed up looking? This morning on my drive to work I started having memories of past Fall Hershey events. You know, the sun rising over the dew covered ground, fog in places covering the fields, that hint of fall in the air. I'm so looking forward to another great Hershey event this year as well as seeing and judging some great vehicles!

Terry, Did you just volunteer to give a presentation at the 2024 Annual Convention? 😉 If so, sign me up!

Thank You Very much. From the photos posted it appears there was plenty of room for the number of cars in that show. Here's hoping that there will be enough room inside this facility for all who enter next year's Grand National being held there.

I also use synthetic in my daily drivers (2012 = 0W20 & 2022 = 0W16). In case you or others here are not aware Mobil-1 is running a Rebate for some of their products purchased between 07/01/22 & 09/30/22. I just picked up 2, 5qt jugs at Walmart and my rebate is $10 for each. The amount of the rebate varies by product. Limit 2 per customer. More info here.... 2022 Mobil-1 Rebate

Does anyone have any idea how many vehicles attended this National at Moline? It appears that approximately 140 or so vehicles are listed on the winner's list but I am wondering about the total number of entries inside the building for this event? Next year the Grand National is scheduled to take place at this same facility and I am wondering just how many vehicles this facility can handle indoors?? Typically a Grand National attracts more entries than a normal National so naturally one has to wonder just how many vehicles this facility can handle? Thanks.

One of these was in the car show at Hershey a few years ago. It turned heads there also....

Steve, I just received a text from an AACA member that mailed his request card in but has not received his registration card. I recommended he call HQ. Maybe you could email him the form since it is kinda late for you to mail it??? He lives near Hershey. Has the AACA or Hershey Post Office been having service problems lately????? Might explain the lower than normal show car registration.