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what happend to hershey?


mhomer41

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i remember when the fields wear all dirt and if it rained the venders stayed open, now 95% of the field is paved and it rains the venders go home. i had fun walking the fields today and looking at all the empty spots and closed up venders,what do you do when it rains at home? stay home from work?

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I think we may have a different breed of Hersheyites today than we had 10, 20 or 30 years ago. Or maybe it is the same breed of cat that has gotten older. I missed this year, not because of gas prices or threatening weather, but because a recent heart attack made me decide that after hauling a car and trailer to the east coast for two tours last month maybe a return trip east 10 days after getting back to Wyoming might have just been pushing my luck a bit. grin.gif But I'll be there next year. grin.gif

hvs

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I think a lot of the vendors have the idea that they are there to make their money Wednesday & Thursday. If the weatyher were nice, about half of them would still packl up around noon on Friday. I saw many vendors packing up Thursday night because they knew the rain was coming. I'm just a buyer, not a seller, and I was there this morning, but left at about noon to go home because of the weather. When I left, I would say about 60% of the vendors had left, or were closed up with no intention to reopen. It was raining pretty hard at times. I felt sorry for the literature guys. I think this is the first time we ever left Hershey earlier than Saturday afternoon, but the weather forecast said steady rain Saturday too, so I think the car show is going to be very wet. OI got a lot of good stuff Wednesday & Thirsday though, so it was still well worth going for me.

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Guest BruceW

Hi Howard.

You were missed. I stopped by to say hello to you, Ron, Chuck and the others. Hope that the health stays good and look forward to seeing you next year!

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I was impressed with the number of cars on the show field and in the car corral. My passion is Buicks and there were plenty to look at. Had a good day even in the pouring rain.

I looked to see if there was a DF meeting by around 1:ish but had to use the facilities so wouldn't have stayed long anyway.

A HUGE thanks to Steve M. & his staff for helping me with my parts dilema. A real classy guy. Doug U.

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Several people that I talked to about whether they were going to the fields or not, said that they weren't going because it would mean having to park in areas that were already a saturated and they were afraid of getting stuck. Also, almost all of the parking up behind the White Field is on very hilly terrain and they were afraid of sliding into another car or being slid into.

A lot of the parking for the flea market used to be up by the old stadium what was the old show field area. So they weren't worried about the cars being in the mud.

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Susan,

I fail to see your point.

I Parked on the sloped hill above the White Field for the duration of the Meet. (It is grass, except, for the exit lanes.) No trouble at all with traction. Granted, if one would floor it, well, one would reap the benefits for thoughtless driving just like snow, or, wet weather.

I would venture to say there were a relative few in comparison to attendance that had some sort of traction trouble, but, in no way would categorize a mass exodus due to parking in the numerous available parking locations.

Looking at the posts concerning this year's Hershey experience, I, personally see that many had a good time. Know I did...

(No different than booking a cruise 1-2 years in advance, only, to endure a rough sea, then, blame your disappointment on the ship's owner.)

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Peter,

No real point intended. Just relating what was told to me as to why some were not planning on going in on Friday. We did see an RV in one area that looked like it slid into the corner of a car trailer that was beside it. Believe it or not that RV and it's owner were on the evening news and he said that they had not actually touched, but it sure looked like they had. They had to drag them away from each other with a wrecker. Then when he got stuck again they had to wait for a bigger wrecker to get the RV out. He smiled and said he would rather be on the Alaska Highway. (There was a bumper sticker that he had been on it at some time.)

We had a great time. We got to visit the AACA Library for the first time and it is very nice. And even with the rain the owners that brought their cars were smiling and pleased that people came out to see them.

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That's the spirit, Susan. Your original post came across as a total negative Hershey Experience the way I read it. Keep up the "Positive Posting", not the "Negative Posting".

<img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

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In response to the original post, I would bet that if you surveyed the sellers, a very high percent of sales take place between tuesday and thursday. People that come to buy, are there early.

As a "once per year" swap meet seller, I dont mind the rain at all. I set up and had my best day on Friday. My $300 canopy has paid for itself many times over. Those very few people out walking on Friday were looking to buy. If the fields were crowded with people in the rain, there would be more sellers open.

This was my 20th year in a row at Hershey and it is my favorite week of the year. It is easier now in the rain - who can forget the old blue field lakes in the late 1980's. You could have taken a canoe from space to space.

Greg

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Thanks Peter. I honestly did not mean it to sound negative at all. Some cars and some drivers do very well in slick/sloppy conditions and some just don't for whatever reason. And if someone is not positive about their skills/cars in those conditions I applaud them for opting out.

Saturday morning the parking staff was trying very hard to keep folks down on the flat and away from the hillier part of the judges parking area near the crossover to Giant Stadium. One guy in a Dodge 4X4, with it in 4-wheel drive, decided he wanted to park up by the road. Even with it in 4-wheel drive it started to spin all four tires and he started to slide. Then he decided to back it out since he was not going to make it and started sliding backward. shocked.gif When we last saw him he was headed for flatter ground. grin.gif

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> </div></div>Susan,

I fail to see your point.

Peter ~ There are any number of us who fail to see a point in many of her posts. shocked.gifconfused.gif

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Guest Bluesmobile

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i remember when the fields wear all dirt and if it rained the venders stayed open, now 95% of the field is paved and it rains the venders go home. i had fun walking the fields today and looking at all the empty spots and closed up venders,what do you do when it rains at home? stay home from work? </div></div>

I agree that something has changed at Hershey, but I don't know why. I haven't been since 1999 and finally I was able to go this year. Got there about Noon on Thursday. Walked the whole White field that day since I figured if it rained it would be better to walk on pavement on the other fields. When I got over to the fields on Friday it seems like 80% of the vendors had packed up and left. I was shocked, having been to Hershey in the cold, wet and snow of years past, I figured that with the pavement it would be much easier in inclement weather to walk and shop the field. I guess I was wrong. I wanted to buy a new car trailer and there was no one left there to sell me one on Friday. By Saturday I'd say 99% of the vendors were packed and gone. So after missing five Hershey shows and finally getting back to one, I was very disappointed. I think it must have peaked several years ago and is on a down hill slide. What the specific cause is I really don't know. It's about a 1200 mile round trip for me and this year it was not worth it, I just don't know what to think, Hershey used to be the Mecca for the old car world, but apparently not anymore. The one bright spot I found is that gasoline in PA was about 50 cents cheaper that in SC.

Are there any shows anymore that are like Hershey was in the past?

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I don't believe it was so much the rain that caused vendors to pack up early this year. none of the vendors I know spoke any problem with the forcasted rain. One of the vendors I know has a rain-proof enclosure on his site and makes some of his best sales during the rain.

I think the packing up Thursday night had more to do with the 35-45 wind mph gusts forecasted on Friday due to the hurricane meeting the cold front. Several tents and awnings in the Chocolate field were blown over at the same time across from us on Thursday afternoon by wind gusts and that was considered by those there as a sign of bad things to come. Usually wind isnt a problem at Fall Hershey..but with 2-3 good sales days already and only one day left in the week (Friday), I guess the vendors figured it wasn't worth having their tents and awnings damaged or blown away.

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I have been selling at Hershey for about 25 years. I sell at one meet a year and that is Hershey.I sell a few parts but mostly have fun talking with old friends made over the years in tours and at Hershey. I can`t start to count the number of times in those 25 years that I have been rained on to the extent of getting stuck, watching parts float by my spot or watching big motor homes in the old green and white fields get pulled out. This was a regular happening in my old spot in the old Green field. Then there were those great 3 years in the swamp called the Yellow field. Now for the last few years I have been in the paved Red field. To those few who can`t understand why you did not find all those venders set up on Friday, what don`t you understand about 2.3 inches of rain from 6am Friday until 4pm. I invite you to look at what happens to parts after just a few days when they have been wet and then packed up. Even the people with tents had problems with the wind and rain on Friday. To answer what is wrong about Hershey- not a darn thing. I think you will find that there is a waiting list to get a spot at Hershey, rain or shine. Hershey is still a fun place to go, even if it rains. Some seem to forget the last 2 great dry years. I feel sorry for the people who drive great distance to buy parts and it rains but what bothers me is the way their frustations are then taken out on the vendors for not standing in the rain waiting just for them.

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160, Glad to see you made that long trip again this year. Personally, I think everyone is getting a little soft nowadays. I know I am! It started with those darn air conditioners! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Wayne

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What happened to Hershey was what was left of a tropical storm. I understand why people who have museum pieces don't want to bring the out in a driving rain storm. I drive my car and didn't hesitate to drive up from Rockville, MD for the day. I was disappointed that the weather didn't improve as the day went along. In looking at the show field, it seemed that the Classic cars from the 1930's suffered the most from poor attendance, although there was an absolutely gorgeous 1932 V-16 Cadillac there, among some other very nice cars. I don't think I'm soft, but I won't come again if the weather report is the same as it was for Saturday. I almost ran out of towels mopping up the leaks on the way up and back.

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Guest imported_Packards1

I have been vending at Hershey since 1974. The show is great and sales increase every year. I have many more people in my tent every year and see no downturn. I have a lot of rare and impossible to replace parts that people need. I packed up (a five hour job for 5 people) on friday and was off the field by noon. I just couldn't risk losing the parts to the wind and rain just so someone could brouse. The bottom line is that the High Holy Days of Hershey are great and I see no decline, especially in the once a year meeting of friends and fellow club members.

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It seems to have all been covered, but. We have been selling at Hershey since the early 70s and things have changed but they have at all flea markets. One of the local general flea market that is only open on Sunday, vendors start packing by 1 o'clock with lots of customers walking around.

Back to Hershey. We normally stay open till Saturday afternoon even though Saturday sales usually amount to less than $10. This year we stayed partially open till after lunch on Friday. Somethings would have been ruined by the rain and were left covered up. We had good sales till the wind made it impossible to stay open and we decided to tear down in case the wind got as bad as they forecast (and it did Friday night).

There were a lot of cars in the show but the class I judged was suppose to have 28 trucks and 6 showed up. Didn't really break my heart to much since I had chassis. We left Saturday after crab cakes for lunch (very good, thanks to whoever it was that recommended them). Only the 4th time we have pulled out before Sunday morning in more than 30 years of Hershey. Tarps and parts are still spread all over the barn drying out.

As for ShopRat, I met her Thursday now I understand her posts smile.gif

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what waighting list? they sell spots on a first come first serve,the paved spots im shure are sold out but you can still get one.its turning more into a camping trip for some so called venders, and those venders that do sell thats great you make herhey worth it, and what abought the rain? parts have been around over 50 years and the rain hasnt hurt them,and how can we stick around and see what happends to parts in the rain when you pack up.

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The space are sold first to the year before vendor (his spots only), then it is first apply for and the spces are assigned. You can get lucky and be on the pavement or unlucky and get spaces in the old yellow field.

NOS parts in boxs haven't been sitting out in the elemnts for those 50 years. Plus after getting all the boxes wet if things aren't dried ASAP those NOS parts will rust and be ruined. Also, there are a lot of vendors with paper stuff. One vendor across the aisle from me was open on Friday and lost 90-95% of the paper stuff his had. Ads and books. If I was selling sheet metal and other items that would not be harmed if they got wet, I'd be open. But it makes no sense for me to be open in the rain and possibly loose $100 of inventory because it got wet and ruined so I can sell you a $2 item.

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What is so hard for some to understand what heavy rain and wind will do to a vendor`s parts and why we didn`t stand out in Friday`s frog choker? I bet those same people who complained about the vendors closing this year, probably complained last year because those awful vendors didn`t supply shade or sunscreen and they got a sunburn.

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I think this year there was a lot of "common sense" among the vendors and show car owners.

The old joke about how bad weatherman are about forcasting the weather is LONG gone. Heavy rain was forcast well in advance. We all beleive the forcasts. So we planned accordingly.

Vendors planned on displaying wed/thurs and leaving friday to avoid the downpour. Smart guys!

2/3s of the show cars did not show. Smart guys! Judging was hard enough in the downpour with 500 cars. I cant imagine what it would have been like with 1500 cars. (Invision writing on a wet judging form with a ballpoint pen - it dont work!) Keeping them dry was impossible.

There were some side benefits to the rain. The AACA Museum got a HUGE crowd! (From what I hear it's busiest day ever)

I for one took advantage of the downtime and went to the Hershey Spa and got a massage!

Regardless, the week was good. Board meetings, dinners, 2 days of swap meet, meeting up with old friends, 500 cars on the judging field, 1000+ cars in the car corral.

I had a blast!

Peter

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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think this year there was a lot of "common sense" among the vendors and show car owners.</div></div>

Bill and I watched the TV weather on Thursday evening. With the rain forecast for Friday, he decided it was best to roll the awning up on the RV while it was dry and there weren't any leaves on it to stain it.

While walking through the flea market we heard the warning to the vendors about the winds that were coming. A friend from home that was staying in the same campground called us to verify what time to meet for dinner and we told her about the warning. She had looked at the weather predictions on the computer and said that only 9 mph winds were predicted so they planned to leave their awning up. Luckily her husband decided to heed the warning we told them about in time to take it down or it would have most likely been ruined. I can't blame vendors or car owners for doing the same.

The weather was horrible frown.gif but the show was great smile.gif.

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