HomeMediaYour field guide to the Hershey Fall Meet

Your field guide to the Hershey Fall Meet

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Yes, there’s a lot to see at the Hershey Fall Meet, so plan ahead — even as you pack for the trip | AACA photo (2007)

The AACA Eastern Regional Fall Meet, better known as Fall Hershey, celebrates it’s 60th year this week and, as always, has a great deal to offer car collectors.

The Meet’s official start is Wednesday with the opening of the what has to be the largest classic car flea market in the United States. The market includes parts for just about every type of car from pre-war American and European classics to hot rods and sports cars, and everything in between.
2015-AACA-FAll-Meet-Final

New attendees quickly find that the flea market is too big to cover in a single day. Many shoppers take an entire three days to try to see it all.

The Flea Market is ringed with a car corral featuring some great deals on just about any pre- or post-war car. The key is to bring lots of folding money as few vendors can accept credit cards, plus having cash on hand makes haggling easier.

However, the Flea Market and Car Corral are not by any means the only things happening this week at Hershey. There are club events, car shows, old-time movies at the Music Box Theatre, a race car condition run, a two-day RM Sotheby’s auction, judges schools for new AACA judges, and the Saturday AACA show.

If this all sounds like a lot it’s because it is. Fall Hershey is a must-attend event and a yearly pilgrimage for collectors from all over the world.

Some tips as you pack:

  • First, be sure to have very comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking involved in the event.
  • Next, and possibly more important, is to be sue to bring rain gear for in-climate weather. While this week’s forecast looks very good, Hershey has a reputation for rain and it is best to be prepared for that possibility.
  • Finally while looking around the Flea Market, use the parking post IDs to find things as relying on the Hershey convention of field colors is practically impossible as it seems to make little sense when you are desperately trying to find that must have part you saw earlier in the day.

 

A good rule of thumb with that in mind is if you see it and need it, then you should buy it immediately as it can be very difficult to find vendors later in the day.

I saw a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing steering wheel last year for a terrific price that I said I would come back for, but I could never find the vendor again.

What does all of this fun cost? Well, here’s the good news, the admission price to the Flea Market, Car Corral and Car Show is nothing. The only cost is $15 a day for parking, making fall Hershey possibly the best car event deal out there.

Andy Reid
Andy Reid
Andy Reid's first car, purchased at age 15, was a 1968 Fiat 124 coupe. His second, obtained by spending his college savings fund, was a 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2. Since then, he has owned more than 150 cars—none of them normal or reasonable—as well as numerous classic motorcycles and scooters. A veteran of film, television, advertising and helping to launch a few Internet-based companies, Reid was a columnist for Classic Motorsports magazine for 12 years and has written for several other publications. He is considered an expert in European sports and luxury cars and is a respected concours judge. He lives in Canton, Connecticut.
  1. I have been to Hershey fall meet ever since I was 14 years old. I have an old Whizzer motor bike.I used to see Garry Kittle the Wizzer wizard for years.If he is out there Hello from Jay @ [email protected] the way I still have the kick starter pedal.

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