Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-17-2012, 04:25 PM   #21
H. L. Chauvin
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4,179
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

Never had the opportunity to go to Hersey; however, appears more often than not, the excess rain & very muddy conditions were mentionned far more often than any types of dry, dusty conditions.

Is it possible that one could investigate if there is a month during the year for this particular area that historically has less rain, & drier conditions.

Excess rain & mudddy walking surfaces may appear less attractive to all of our young Model A people with gray hair.

Just a thought.
H. L. Chauvin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2012, 04:34 PM   #22
2manycars
Senior Member
 
2manycars's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern CT
Posts: 2,732
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois View Post
How was the car corral? I'm sure the prices were high that's a given, but did anybody haggle a good deal on an antique Ford? Know of anyone who may have? Any pictures?

Thanks.
I saw a nice Jag E type 12 cylinder come in, and it had a sign on it for $31,000. Friday evening it had a sign on it $21,000 and SOLD.
2manycars is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 10-17-2012, 05:50 PM   #23
blgitn
Senior Member
 
blgitn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: West Point, VA 23181
Posts: 373
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by FL&WVMIKE View Post
DEAN ...............
I have not been able to go to Hershey since the 70s. I noticed the same thing then. There were people, who had their RVs parked in the spaces, with a card table, out front, with a sign that said, "Take A Business Card".
I figured that these were AACA "big-wigs". This was, at a time, when spaces were really at a premium and hard to get.
I was very disappointed in the AACA for allowing this to go on.
From the thread, it seems there were a lot of empty spaces. If they could be combined, there might be more room for customer parking.
MIKE
This year was the longest I've ever spent there (2 days). It may or may not be changing; I've only been there a few times, but I think it's great. I was only annoyed by the young able-bodies on the hover-rounds. You see things (and meet people,.. hello Brent) there you just don't get to see in person anywhere else: I saw a nice SK120 coupe in the car corral near the Hudson end, and a 29 AA too. There were TWO Blue Model K Tourings in the Red field, and that '06 Stanley Racer too.
She and I will take vacation days to attend mid-week next year too.

- of course; I didn't take a SINGLE picture.

R/ Roger.
blgitn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2012, 06:12 PM   #24
dean from bozeman
Senior Member
 
dean from bozeman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Posts: 997
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

Mike, I too am a "glass is half full" person. It is something I look forward to every year for many of the reasons that you mention. For me there are some issues that need to be addressed so that it continues to be a viable antique car experience. Adjustments and improvements are made to things we want to see continue and grow.

H.L. don't worry about mud. Every swap space is on pavement.

I, too, don't understand the pack up on Friday mentality. Though the car show is the big draw it seems like many are unable to be at a swap meet during the work week.

The car corral is just amazing. A couple years ago my brother-in-law came to Hershey. His dad had a gas station and as a kid he worked on many vehicles. As we walked the corral he pointed out the good and bad points on vehicles from the 50's and 60's. That walk was "priceless" as they say.

I love the swap, car corral and show at Hershey. I know it's a song about West Virginia but the John Denver song phrase that goes, 'Almost heaven...' fits Hershey too.

Dean
dean from bozeman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2012, 06:29 PM   #25
Arlen
Senior Member
 
Arlen's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Dallas
Posts: 524
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

I spoke with a car judge on Saturday. He said they had 1300 cars in the show but that they were short 80 judges!
__________________
DMAFC
Arlen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2012, 07:01 PM   #26
redmodelt
Senior Member
 
redmodelt's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 6,339
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Even if I won the lottery, Hershey is no longer on my bucket list of things to do, too far east. The Portland Oregon swap meet is big enough and it's close to home. As a vendor and working the grounds as part of the clubs putting it on I noted there was a drop in attendance this last one. Ours is move in on Thursday, sell Friday to about 1 on Sunday with move out on Sunday.
The pre-war one in Oklahoma, now that is a different story, would love to go to it.
redmodelt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2012, 07:09 PM   #27
Steve Wastler
Senior Member
 
Steve Wastler's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,987
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

Great minds think alike, I have been thinking similar thoughts the last couple of years. Haven't been going as long as some of you, but I definitely remember the mud and unbelievable amount of brass in the late 70's. Met master restorer Walter Seeley, with his American Underslung. Oh, Hershey of the past! Fall Hershey and spring Carlise were the must go swaps. Haven't been to Carlise but once in the last 20 years, cause not much there for me. I will continue to go, hopefully for more than one day, and b*tch about the boobs with traffic control and parking, the motorized people movers that have taken over the last couple of years, and the unused spaces. Each year I still feel the excitement knowing I will see at least one spectacular thing I had never seen or may never seen again.
Steve Wastler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2012, 08:38 PM   #28
SteveB31
Senior Member
 
SteveB31's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Englewood, Colorado
Posts: 1,372
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

I have not been to Hershey for 20 years, but here are a couple thoughts on swap meets in general.

I have attended swap meets my entire life, and have noticed less Model A Parts every year.

Here is why.

1. 30 years ago, the Model A was only 50 years old. Today it is 80 years old. 30 years worth of parts that are now on cars...

2. Internet. The other day I noticed we needed some more Zenith carberators to rebuild, and many folks have purchased them from us without sending us a carb. to rebuild. Years ago I would have gone to a swap meet to find some. Instead I got on Ebay and bought 10 Zenith carbs. and never left the couch.. so....I no longer needed to go to the swap meet to find any.

3. Fuel prices. 20 years ago you could drive to Hershey from 1000 miles away for $150 in gas each way. Now ....$400 in gas each way.....

I LOVE swap meets. But.....the internet makes more sense often to find things now then driving and driving and driving.....

Just my thoughts......

Steve Becker
Berts Model A Center
SteveB31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2012, 08:41 PM   #29
LukeDahlinger
BANNED
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 956
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

First off I've never been to Hershey, but the graying of the hobby and the scooters is a common trait at any old car swap meet. Between scooters and people pulling wagons it can make for tough going on anyone walking on foot. I may sound cold when I say this, but people poking along slowly on scooters talking to their buddy in the scooter next to them clogging up the aisles 2 or 3 wide is one of my pet peeves. I have arthritis in both knees and by rights should be using a scooter, but walking is great exercise.

The cost of fuels and lodging can add up when driving 1000+ miles one way to something like Hershey. An easy way to solve that is to carpool. A friend & I went to Chickasha in March, between fuel & hotel bills we spent around $400 each for a 2600 mile round trip. Not bad for a F-350 Ford Diesel loaded to the gills with T & A parts.

Chickasha is ALOT smaller than Hershey, but I highly recommend it to anyone. I found lots of good stuff at very reasonable prices. It's small enough you can easily cover it in a day and don't have to weed thru a bunch of BS glassware and crybaby dolls.

I would love to attend Hershey one year, but I'm far from retired and I'd have to carry 50 grand with me because I'd see alot of stuff I would want to bring home.

Just my random thoughts.
__________________
Wanted- Feb. 1931 Parts Price List
www.vintagefordfacts.blogspot.com
LukeDahlinger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2012, 09:08 PM   #30
spdway1
Senior Member
 
spdway1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Chicopee, MA
Posts: 1,381
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

From a young guy here, I attended Hershey last year for my first time. I was amazed by the variety in one place and there is a lot of rusty gold there. As I did not attend this year, I will attend a few times again in my life time. My thoughts were, with the internet you could get just about anything without leaving your house! Do you really think you saving money on shipping by picking it up at the meet??? Fuel, meals, lodging, parking, carrying your treasures and TIME...
spdway1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2012, 10:49 PM   #31
larrys40
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: St Charles , Missouri
Posts: 1,994
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

Hey guys... I'm 52 and have been going on and off for 20 years. Boy has it changed for me in that time! I've gone from finding really cool NOS ford stuff in my earlier years to scrounging to find anything for the projects I'm working on now, and I'm a box scrounger! I remember saturday's when the field were still fairly full. I had a few things that pulled me away from the swap area Friday so I tried to hit a few Saturday before the car show. The red field was all but gone, like almost vacant, and the chocolate wasn't much better. The only field that had much left was orange as it was over by the car show. It was really sad... There was one vendor that had quality Model A parts in red field ( i think he was the only one left) , I spend $60 at his space and probably gave a little more than normal for a few things... but then again he had quality items and was there for the duration. I was his only sale of the day. It's simple yet probably true.. they say if you build it they will come. If the vendors stay there will be customers. No vendors, no customers. It's just that simple. If vendors want to complain of no sales just look and ask yourself...do I stay for the sale or not. If your answer is go, then your neighbor will go, then his neighbor.. etc. Before long there's no vendors... and no customers as they don't come to see an empty parking lot!!!

I understand that vendors get there Tuesday, and get tired or otherwise... but then again... the show is suppose to be Wednesday to Saturday. There were vendors pulling out Thursday and Friday before noon. You've got to be kidding! You've already paid the majority expense to be there. If you all think it's so great why not stay and take it all in?

I definately think the AACA should evaluate and make some changes.
I think there should be a "veteran" parking area if you will for those who desire to have a small swap space but basically just use it for close proximaty parking/vending, and let the majority of the spaces be sold/used for those who really want to vend and sell parts. It's very frustrating to walk as I did this year around the entire meet only to have so many voids. It is sad. I can see that even though I enjoy searching for that special part and deal my days of coming and affordability at hershey are numbered. Unfortunately there aren't many younger folks getting in to it for obvious reasons as well.

I see other swap meets like Indy... etc dying as well. In 20 years Hershey won't need all that asphault they have down... that's for sure! Unless they work on cultivating more youth, things to make the meet more affordable and attractive to folks, and improving on the cause/effect issues that are increasing every year. I think it's still a great show/time... but boy can I see room for improvement!
larrys40 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-17-2012, 11:55 PM   #32
Roadster62
Senior Member
 
Roadster62's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ridgefield, Ct
Posts: 3,439
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

Ditto! Only flaw with Hershey is the fact that I've never had the pleasure of meeting you, that's my Hershey 2013 goal. Bob
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deluxe Delivery View Post
Hershey is what you want to make it. I arrive Tuesday morning and leave Saturday afternoon. In between I have the most fun a car guy can have. I love seeing all the people, old and young, talking to the foreigners (guests in our land), walking, and walking and walking. Treasures are everywhere and I enjoy the sights. I didn't notice the empty spaces at all, but then I am a "glass half full" kind of person. Yeah, the scooters are disturbing, but that is our society, not Hershey's fault. I see it as 5 days of sanity with "my people" and then a 360 day wait out in the truely insane world. I will go as long as my tired old body will let me, sleeping in my truck, cooking my own meals, and having the time of my life!
__________________
They don't have to run to be enjoyed. I'm here to enjoy the hobby, and enjoy the cars no matter what they look like. Most of the worlds problems are electrical.
Roadster62 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-18-2012, 03:32 AM   #33
juke joint johnny
Senior Member
 
juke joint johnny's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London England
Posts: 908
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

I haven't been for a few years but I really enjoyed it,

If they had one field just for paid camping spaces they could put all those huge Motorhomes on it and give everyones legs a break!!!

John Cochran
juke joint johnny is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-18-2012, 05:53 AM   #34
no6
Senior Member
 
no6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: South Mountain Pa
Posts: 147
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

Hershey has gone downhill somewhat but it is still better than Carlisle and on a positive note, no mud. I had a excellent 3 days and went home broke, infact I'm still trying to recover financially.
no6 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-18-2012, 07:35 AM   #35
oliverguy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Reading PA
Posts: 241
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

I've been going since I was about 12, I'm 36 now. The fleamarkets actually have been consolidated a lot since the 1980's because of development by hershey co. I agree probably more is needed. It's still the best out there for early cars. Also minimal household junk, china tools and fake signs. Lots of negotiating to reduce the historically high prices. Some vendors gave me a huge break.

I focused on the area in front and behind the Giant's stadium. That is populated with younger vendors and was packed with items. The areas closer to the old hershey park stadium are used by people that have been going for 40 years & that is where there is no longer much action.

The days are shifting. People are showing up on Tuesday. By Friday they are out of money. Plus there are two day's worth of car auctions so likely people want to go to that too. You are right by saturday the flea market is done. I save 3 days vacation every year to go. Just because it's important to me.

If you need something, it wills still be there. Still Lots of model a and t parts. I found everything I needed, even an early NOS taillight for my 46 willys jeep. And I could look at it and negotiate on price. I saw quite a few grand daughtes and grandsons driving cars such as in the highwheeler race and the vintage race car trials.

Still the best in my opinion, but tweeks every year will keep it going.
oliverguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2012, 02:39 AM   #36
dumb person
Senior Member
 
dumb person's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: South pacific island
Posts: 1,724
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by LukeDahlinger View Post
I have arthritis in both knees
But i thought you were like 29 or something? Was this a side effect from paint fumes or something like that i should worry about?
__________________
<Link> This is how we roll<Link>

"I'm Convinced that no one really reads posts anymore; they just fabricate what they think the post says then ramble on about red herrings."--Bob
Outcasts rules of old cars
#1 Fun is imperative, mainstream is overrated
#2 If they think it is impossible, prove them wrong
#3 If the science says it impossible you are not being creative enough.
#4 No shame in recreating something you never had
#5 If it were not for the law & physics you would be unstoppable
dumb person is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2012, 09:34 AM   #37
CarlG
Senior Member
 
CarlG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 9,109
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

There is only one guy here in Alaska that regularily attends Hershey. He has several old cars, among them a 28 Fordor. We are meeting with him tomorrow morning for Breakfast to hear about his experiences and see pictures from this year's event.
CarlG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2012, 11:34 AM   #38
LukeDahlinger
BANNED
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 956
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by dumb person View Post
But i thought you were like 29 or something? Was this a side effect from paint fumes or something like that i should worry about?
I'm in my 30s but arthritis knows no age barrier. Mine stems from prior injuries and genetics.
__________________
Wanted- Feb. 1931 Parts Price List
www.vintagefordfacts.blogspot.com
LukeDahlinger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2012, 03:35 PM   #39
peters180a/170b
Senior Member
 
peters180a/170b's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Putnam Valley N.Y.
Posts: 2,151
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

My first Hershey was in 1974 . Seen dry spells there to 3 feet of water in the Blue field , snow , 80's to 30's in temp ....from parking around the air plane landing strip to parking on it [ the original white field] ..I paid $125.00 for a full set restored Dill valve stems to $375.00 for a restored set of 5 Schraders.. Heard stories on the field $300.00 for a n.o.s. battery box {sold} to $300.00 n.o.s. fan belt [bend able]. I just like walking around just to look at all the different parts that went on so many car manufacturers..This year i took a fall on early Thursday morning that screwed up my bad knee to start with, so walking was cut very short. One thing for sure i gotta buy something before i leave needing it or not.
peters180a/170b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-19-2012, 04:07 PM   #40
FRANK PKNY
Senior Member
 
FRANK PKNY's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12601
Posts: 1,016
Default Re: Hershey is Dying, Corrections are needed

If you arrive on tuesday the set up day all the big buyers are there and buy, buy and buy, even the forigners do that. What's left if often over price or not very good. By Friday afternoon things die down I was in the red field behind the stadum and did not get very good crowds. I agree that the people that just want a prrking space could be consoladated into one area. They could cut down the vast area to a more manageable size, everyone would benifit. I pack on Sat. morning so I can see the car show, this year I was not feeling well so went straight home. Still love Hershey! This bunch of posts should be copied and sent to the AACA! Any one know how to do it?
__________________
FRANK PKNY is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:08 AM.