Re: Hershey 2007

Posted by BH On 2007/10/2 21:02:39

Joel -

I understand that clubs hold shows, primarily, for members to display their cars and sell parts. I should have remembered reading in a meet program, some years ago, that entering a vehicle in the show at Hershey was restricted to AACA members only, but I have been to other AACA regional events where entry was open to the public.

What surprised me was that one had to be an AACA member to sell goods (or services) in the swap meet field or a vehicle in the car corral. It's kinda hard to believe that every one of the many vendors in a swap meet of this size is a member of AACA, but I suppose it's possible. However, I've sold parts at an AACA regional event without being a member (but did a whole lot better with eBay). I've also talked to more than one owner with a car for sale in the corral at Hershey who were NOT members of AACA, but perhaps they rode in on the coattails of someone who was a member.

While ads for this event clearly state that it is open to the public, I guess that means only as a spectator or shopper, but I can accept that. However, while the AACA promotes entry as free to the public, it'll cost ya $10 a day to park (on a worthless piece of bottomland) within reasonable walking distance of the fields. That cost is at least double the gate fee at privately-run swap meets in the Penn-Ohio area, where parking is usally free. Though I have to admit that gate fees may be levied per person rather than per vehicle, that's a moot point for me as I prefer to travel solo.

Then, I saw a discussion in one of the AACA forums some time ago lamenting that so many people attend Fall Hershey aren't members or do not become members. Did those people ever stop to consider how big that event would - or, more properly, wouldn't - be without the non-member public in attendance? How many vendors would bother coming if attendance was restricted to members-only?

Yet, I digress...

I've been to so many shows that looking at restored cars just doesn't do much for me anymore. The number one reason I went to Hershey was to shop for parts, literature, and other artifacts related to my cars, which include more than just Packards. Vendors used to be more open to negotiate on price and I used to save enough money on S&H by shopping at Hershey, that it actually offest the cost of going, but not now - with what's going on with hotel prices, gas, parking, etc. While there are some things I'd like to have that I might only find at Hershey, it seems like I have less discretionary time and budget with each passing each year. (I'll chalk that up to the greedy economic policies under the current paradigm.)

Point is, going to Hershey is just not the thrill it used to be for me. If I venture out east again, it will probably be for Carlisle. Now, I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but make them aware of some significant pitfalls - not just the potential for rain.

Meanwhile, here's hoping things will change for the better in years ahead. If so, maybe I'll give Hershey another try.

Regardless, I look forward to posts from members here on how the event was, shopping experiences, and so on - good or bad.