HERSHEY

[Guest]

This is our first trip to Hershey and would like some general info. We called for info but were sent only a flier giving the days of the meet. We collect Model A's and AA's. What are the best days to go for parts? Are the fields organized by types and years? There seems to be no organized info about what goes on?<BR> What time of day does it open? Close? Is the car field only open on Saturday? Is there an admission charge? Parking??<P>------------------<BR>

[ThomasBorchers]

First trip to Hershey. You will like it!! I am not the Hershey specialist, of course but I can give you some information about my last trip last year. The show will open at 7 am and close at sunset. Car field? You mean the car corral? It is open from Wednesday to Saturday. No admission charge but charge for parking (last year $7,- to $8,-). There are a lot of signs which show you the way where you can park.<BR>The first thing you should do when you arrive on the fields is to buy a catalog of the show. Last year there was at the car corral an information center where I bought the catalog, if I remember right. This catalog is a must especially for the first visit. There is a schedule of events in it and a map of the show. But the most important for you will be the full register of vendors with parts and so on. If you are looking for Model A parts you can look under "Ford Model A" and you will find the vendors with the location where you can find them. On the fields it is not so that you can find that one row is Model As one Row is Packard or. It is all mixed. Take a good pair of shoes with you <BR>Was this correct, my friends of the forum?<BR>I wish you a lot of fun there.<P>------------------<BR>Thomas Borchers<BR>Member of AACA # 004829<BR>HCCA and MAFCA

[novaman]

First trip. With the car field, if you meant car corral, ThomasBorchers is right. If you meant the car show, it is only Sat. If you want to see all the cars, I recommend getting there about 5:30 -6am and going to where the lane goes between the stadium and the maintiance building. It is shown on the map in the show "catalog"/ program. All the cars then will drive past you. This is what a lot of people do. then later they go look at the ones they are interested in. I do recommend getting the program. It the only way you are going to find specialized vendors or and person's flea market site. Yes, take a good pair of walking shoes and rain gear. It has a habit of raining at least one day. that's what makes it Hershey. You'll understand that comment after you go. If I unserstand correctly, if you take all the vendors spots and line the up side by side you'll walk approx. 12 miles.<BR>Looking for Model A parts, I would recommend starting with the Chocolate Field, then the White and two new fields. <BR>The show/ flea market is free. I don't know what parking is as I have vendor spots.<BR>This will be an experience you'll never forget. You'll be in awe of the whole thing. Enjoy.

[Guest SalG (Sal Grenci)]

Hi all, I have been to Hershey over 20 times, I started before I could drive! All of the above is true. Remember to bring lots of money, prices are high and everything has a fee, except to get on the fields. Parking, camping, etc. Several pairs of good shoes are a must, change them when you get wet. Also be prepared for heat and cold. The thing to remember is it only happens once a year, so maximize time, I do the flea markets Wed to Fri and I judge on Sat and look at the show cars.

[Dave@Moon]

Don't forget to bring several extra pairs of socks with the extra shoes, they get just as wet and muddy (obvious, but sometimes missed). Many people will wear rubber boots or waders for the mud, but I prefer to consign myself to filth and then clean up at a nearby truckstop shower afterwards. Also wear a good hat and sunscreen and bring rain gear, for all intents and purposes there is no shade or shelter. <P>It's a good idea ro carry drinking water with you as well, although the apple cider is excellant. And if you can make a decent cup of coffee in the field, by all means rent a space and sell it there. I'll make you rich by myself!<P>It's a good idea to throw a child's wagon in the car or truck if you're shopping the swap meet. Heavy items tend to be harder to sell, and later in the week you'll get a good buy on one if you have the means to carry it around. <P>The "catalog" Thomas mentions is usually called the program on the site. They almost always sell out by Friday, but they are a must if you're looking for specific marque parts and you have limited time available. <P>The flea market is essentially over by Saturday morning, many vendors will have already left by then (or are to be found enjoying the car show field, which a sign of a good vendor who likes the cars and not the income!). And Sal is right about the prices, save your bargain shopping for smaller venues. Hershey is the place to get what you can't find anywhere else.<P>One last thing I <I> always </I> forget, bring a camera to the car show on Saturday with lots of film. Especially with the Model A, you'll see lots of examples of what you're doing that can be referenced later in a picture when you're putting your own together.

[Guest]

One thing the other guys failed to mention is that you can't see the whole thing in one day. If your a serious shopper you'll could be checking out vendor's wares for days and never see the same vendor twice. You be shocked at the site of all those tents and trailers and flea market spaces. The vendor fields are huge. The Saturday car show is a day unto itself with hundreds of cars on display. There are hundreds of cars for sale in the car corral, this is almost another show unto itself except you can buy these. Hershey can be a swamp if it rains and it usually does sometime during the event. After walking through the mud, you'll look and feel like a Hershey bar, but oddly enough nobody seems to remember how miserable they felt when it comes time to do it again next year. Even the guys who have to be towed out by large tractors because their motor home sunk up to it's axles in mud continue to go through it again the following year. It's that addicting to an old car nut. We are nuts you know. Have a ball!! <P>------------------<BR>tsauto@v35.com<BR>AACA member, Pottstown Region<BR>'60 TR-3

[ThomasBorchers]

As Tom said: Hershey in a day? No chance. In all of the days I haven't seen all. I can remember me that as I came the first time from the parking of the high school what I said: Oh my god!!! I have never seen something like this before. And yes, wear a hat when it is sunny. I didn't that and the result was my new name for the next day: Red Head. Last year the weather was perfect, I mean. Next day: With hat! My feet were aching. Uhhh. But as Tom said: Hershey is like an addiction. You have to come again.<P>------------------<BR>Thomas Borchers<BR>Member of AACA # 004829<BR>HCCA and MAFCA

[Guest]

any one that goes to Hershey is SICK.I'll see ya there. It gets in your blood and you just have to go back. I was in the Green field, hope I don't end up on the side of a hill this year.

[oldford]

I remember my first trip to Hershey. I think it was in '73 and there was only the old Blue Field and three rows of vendors in the Red Field. The Red Field was across the road where the nursery is now. I haven't missed one since. I'll echo the others comments,"Be prepared for rain and mud." Many vendors realize their stuff has gotten wet before and will sell in the rain. Some of my best buying days and best selling days are during the pouring rain. If someone is willing to trudge through the rain and mud, you know they are serious...........

[Guest BruceW]

no bargains at Hershey?<BR>A couple years ago I found hood hinges for my 57 Chevy truck. While most vendors advertise around $75/pair for a good looking/working pair, I found a vendor in White Field that let me take my pick from several he had. I picked two that looked like new, required no cleaning or painting, and worked fantastic at $20.00 each. Another time, on a Wednesday I found a guy that had the metal floorboard for a 35 Ford pickup that had no tears or dents, and the openings around the clutch and brake pedals were not elongated as they typically become. The price on the piece said $45.00 but but he accepted the $25.00 I offered him. Another year I located a used transmission cover for the same Ford truck that vendors typically want $75.00 for. This one was intact and looked as solid as any of the $75.00 ones but I only paid $45.00 for. Last year, I waited until Hershey to purchase a reproduction stone guard for the Model A. Most catalogs price them at $129.00 and I thought I could find a better price at Hershey. Even though all the other vendors had the guard priced at the catalog price,I found a Model A parts vendor that had them new in the box (not defected either) priced for $15.00 less than others vendor. <BR>There are still bargains there if you look for them.

[Guest SalG (Sal Grenci)]

Dave@Moon, remember no selling of outside food or beverages, remember the 25 cent apples, they did away with them.<BR>oldford, The nusery is gone, it is now a Wendy's and a outlet mall.<BR>BruceW, You can still find some bargins, but they are by luck only. <BR>SalG

[novaman]

I remember as a little kid when the car show was held inside the stadium. There was a car with a sleeve valve engine (either Overland or Willys). The guy had nickels standing on edge on the cyl. head with the engine running and he'd rev the enging an the nickles would just stand there on edge dancing and not fall over. My dad said the flea market was under the grandstands. I was too impressed with that car to remember the flea market.

[Jim Bollman]

Being from apple country I always thought the 25 cent apples (and more) were a rip off. I sold mine for 10 cents for over 20 years. When they said we couldn't sell food including apples, I started giving apples away, didn't bring them to make money anyway. <P>I have to ration because they don't last long otherwise. Stop by and say Hi and have a free apple from UpState NY at CI 8-10.<P>Jim...

[Dave@Moon]

Yeah, Bruce, there are some bargains at Hershey, but after Wednesday there pretty rare (at least compared to what I've experienced elswhere). One big exception: heavy objects on Friday afternoon! Last year I bought a GM rebuilt generator from Skip Boyer and he gave me almost 50% off since it was too heavy to be easily carried and wasn't selling. This was about 4:00 PM Friday.<P>Sal, is that Wendy's down on the end of the Green Field by the Classic Motorbooks tent? And is it open in the morning for breakfast? I've got to find somebody somewhere out there who's coffee doesn't taste like chalk.

[Guest BruceW]

Dave,<BR>Except for the floorpan...all my other good buy are usually late on Thursday afternoon. Hate to tell you but you got a long trek in the other direction to the Wendies

[Terry Bond]

And, don't forget to check the trash piles Sunday morning - it's a feeding frenzy on the stuff left behind where people decided not to load it up and take it home again. A couple of years ago I helped a guy load up an early Maxwell frame on his motorhome, and once even saw a car trailer left behind with half dozen engines piled up. A few years ago a vendor near me tossed out a whole pick-up load of NOS stainless trim - and then proceeded to toss his awning on top of the whole thing. Its interesting at least to watch it. Someday I'll tell you about the time I actualy sold mud at Hershey too! Been going since 1969 - and it just keeps getting better. Hats off to the Hershey Region for doing it all!

[Guest SalG (Sal Grenci)]

Dave@moon, I am not sure about the Wendies. Good coffee is hard to find. <BR>Terry, I know some who have done very well with the Sunday trash picking. SalG<p>[This message has been edited by SalG (edited 09-08-2000).]

[Guest rcirilli]

I think the key to Hershey is knowing what you want. If you can Identify a part and the seller can't you get a deal. If everyone knows what it is, you loose! I've been going since 78 and love it. I missed one year because of a guy named HUGO and it wasn't a car.