Quote:
Originally Posted by barry12345
Carlisle was a week earlier than Hershey in the past and catered to more post second world war two vehicles. I caught both occasionally.
Hershey and the town of Carlisle are not far apart. I almost always lucked out weather wise the years ago when I went every year. Perhaps I bad year in ten average.
Stuff was really cheap in general compared to the last years I went. It was far more hobby oriented in my first visits before becoming more of a business. The net has made the need to attend much less.
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You are correct on all points. Hershey mud was infamous 20-30 years ago, the fields were all, well fields. Add the typical rain, and thousands of people walking, and the fields quickly became impassable. They would build roads of stone and straw. Some enterprising vendors even canned the mus, and sold it in 1 gallon cans--with an appropriate label. As Hershey Park has expanded, the flea market has become 100% paved. The various fields now stretch from the stadium to the far side of the Giant Center, and no mud---even in the rain. We had rain 2 days last year, and a day and a half this year, but no rain at all for maybe 10 years before that.
At first, the car show was the attraction with hobbyists selling surplus parts at the fence around the show. Now, its populated by many professional vendors selling new/ repro parts. There are still thousands of hobby vendors, but not as many bargains as previously. The 'net has indeed had an impact--no need to wait for "Hershey"; you can find it all anytime on the 'net.
The lines between Carlisle and Hershey are becoming blurred, but the preWar/ Post War distinction is still there. I saw only about 8 55-57 Chevys ( a friend was looking), but dozens of pre War Packards, and even a dozen post War ones.