Hershey newbie advice: What do I need to know?

I am looking to carpool with someone from Rhode Island or Massachusetts... I am meeting family at the swap meet and i have a hotel in hershey...Currently i will be driving my van by myself.... Just wanna save some gas money for parts parts parts!!!!!

 

Last time I went ( 3 years ago ) I spent an hour trying to figure out how to get in s nothing was marked and other people I asked were in the same boat. It was Saturday noon ish and most of the venders had left or were packing up. I couldn't understand why they still had one more day left and it was great weather. I left with nothing but a bad taste in my mouth and won't go back.


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

I have been going for about 15 years now. It's the biggest swap on earth. My wife bought me a book on Hershey years ago and the book claimed that there are 35 miles of swap meet stalls. Fortunately, a lot of it is paved now so you probably won't have to deal with "hershey mud". The place was famous for having to slog through ankle deep (and worse) mud. Outfit a radio flyer wagon with a cooler and some bungees. Haul snacks and drinks with you. Just buy sandwiches and such and you will save big bucks. Weds, Thurs and Fri are the best days, The show on Saturday is a total zoo.

 

"I left with nothing but a bad taste in my mouth and won't go back."
You missed the boat...Saturday is the LAST day, and since it contains the actual car show and judging most of the vendors close to see the show. By noon it is time for them to bolt because Hershey ends with the world's largest traffic jam.
Learn the show and enjoy it!

 

I've been there on Friday and Saturday- One thing to keep in mind is that Friday evening many of the Vendors pack up and leave, so fewer vendors are around Saturday. I didn't realize this the first time I went. The one nice thing is that by Saturday a lot of the vendors are willing to deal with you on parts rather than take them home, I've had some really good (cheap) saturday scores there.

Make sure you have comfortable shoes! You'll be walking pretty much non stop for the whole time you're there, and the whole layout is bigger than you can imagine so if you stop to look at everything you'll see very little. The first time I went I was moving pretty fast the first day and thought I had made pretty good progress, at the end of the afternoon I got to the foot bridge that joins the other side and realized I hadn't seen half of what was there.

 

Many of the vendors either show cars, judge, or just want to go to the show so they don't open Sat. to sell. Afterall the car show is why the whole thing started.

 

And after camping there since Tuesday, they are pretty burned out even with the mud out of the picture. This is a different planet, NOTHING like your local Saturday morning cruise in.

 

To bad, my 5 month old Grandson will miss meeting him. Both of our kids went to Hershey before their first birthday. Bob

 

A wagon , small cooler with a few drinks and a sandwich. Lots of spendable don't have to worry about taking it home MONEY!!! Get a map and plan some strategy to walk the fields. Get there early so you park close for those trips back. We do wed.- sat like they say comfortable shoes. Sat is the show and not as many venders. You will see cars there you might not have ever seen before.

 

Just about all the vendors are setup by Wednesday afternoon, but the guys that arrive Thursday can have some great deals if you are lucky to spot them early. It is a crap shot, there isn't a good or bad spot to start, just keep walking. i speed walk down the center and look at both sides, blot ot the Post War stuff. i'm not looking for anything specific, I'll find something I'll want, just hope I can afford it. TIP from last year: I found a 3 wheel baby jogging stroller at the town dump, ripped off the seat and attached a milk crate to it. Best Hershey cart I've ever had! Bob

 

There's nothing to figure out with regard to "getting in". No admission means no entry gates or fences. Also, it's almost always been Wed thru Sat with Sat the show day for the most part. Planning is everything. My plan was in place in the spring. Just sayin...

 

^^^^^^^^^^^ Just walk in and start buying, who needs directions? Bob

 

If you are there to see the show cars you might want to see the race car condition run in stadium on Friday. Also if you get there early on Saturday. Get to the show car entrance, All cars are driven onto the show field. There are sights and sounds that are awesome.

 

As the guys already said above. By friday even you're really late in the game. There can be some deals on friday. But best stuff is bought by thursday. Saturday there may still be some people there. But that unicorn you were hoping the find will be bought already.

Same goes for carlisle. If you need something rare, or just want a real find you need to go the first day.

When I was a kid and used to tag along with dad(20 years ago), a cheap plastic poncho for everyone was a requirement. So the weather usually wasn't that great. But sometimes you can catch a break.

That said. If you like old stuff and have a couple bucks. Hershey is the place to be.

 

I miss the mud it was always fun sliding down the aisles when I was younger. Watching all the local farmers come up and pull out the motorhomes with their 4WD tractors. It made for great memories and there was much more good stuff cheap back then.

 

This is great information, glad I looked over this thread. Been reading the hamb for a couple of years and a ton of good information.

I plan on going next year I'd like to build an RPU. How much do cowls, front susp parts usually sell for?

Have to finish the current project first. Non hamb for the wifey.

Thanks.

 

On bulky, heavy stuff like cowls and front ends...haunt the booth until you see the guy loading up to leave. Stuff looks a lot less valuable when you have to hoist it into your truck and your back hurts from sleeping on concrete and you notice that money is real light and clean and...

 

Is there anything available for the handicap?

 

Yes! Check the online maps. There is handicapped parking right off the road near the stadiun area. Get there EARLY with your tag or sticker! From there, almost everything is on pavement, though the distances are pretty vast.
The first year Alice was confined to a wheelchair, we parked in regular parking, and I remember pushing the chair over a muddy hill where everyone in sight helped because there was no traction...We were both exhausted before we even got to the show! Then somehow we noticed the special parking on the map. Don't arrive later than eight, and it might need to be earlier now!

 

There's an official electric wheelchair vendor, I forget the name. If you contact Hershey Region of AACA they will give you the contact. You can rent an electric buggy for the week. Pretty expensive but it will get you around.

 

Can't wait, took Friday off. Looking for parts for my Truck.

 

Check the weather and bring rain gear if required. If you see something you want buy it because you will probably not be able to find it again.

Charlie Stephens

 

Is there any ryhme or reason as to how the vendors are grouped ? I realize they can and will be intermixed, but what I'm asking is there a particular section where your more likely to find what your looking for. For ex. I'm looking for late '60's Mopar stuff and may only be able to make it out on wed. so I'd like to concentrate my search on the areas I'll most likely find stuff. Or put another way, have vendors gravitated over the years to certain sections as per what they are selling?

 

The easy answer to your first question is no. Buy a program to find vendors that deal in what you need. BUT someone else may have it cheaper.

 

No...closest thing to Rhyme is racecar section near stadium, which is also mixed. Specialists can be located by directory, but that will lead you to only a fraction of what you want to see.

 

Got it. Is there any advantage to joining AACA prior to the meet ?

 

Just that they are worth supporting, and then you are a HOST of the event and not just a tourist!

 

If there is latemodel stuff there I don't see it, but then again I only look for Pre 1942 stuff. Bob

 

Just out of curiousity,do they still allow electric golf carts if you are disabled?
Several years ago,a friend went and was allowed to use his to get around.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

Yes, as I said somewhere else electric carts are allowed. They rent them but I understand you can have yours " inspected for safety" and use your own. As to benefit of joining AACA, I belive there is. There's a great bi-monthly magazine, some good people, and you would probably understand the judgeing a little more. And you can go to the AACA museum for free all year. You have to be a member to get a flea market space too.