For those of you who don't know, they consider a trip to Hershey Park the second week/weekend of October to be pilgrimage for Antique car owners, as this is the Antique Automobile Club of America’s national meet. For many years I had wanted to go out there, but it’s a 3 hour drive for me and a little costly, considering I wanted to take the wagon there for competition. Thanks to a friend of mine, I managed to do the trip this year. He convinced me in August and I wound up getting my registration postmarked just in time, the date of the deadline. I wound up the last person on my class list. So I was set for HPOF (Historic Preservation of Original Features) class for my wagon for the Saturday show. Fast forward a little bit to the day before the show, Friday. I had spent all day prepping the car for the show, detailing, cleaning, un-modifying anything I could quickly, organizing contents of the car to be removed. I had now gotten my dad to have off for the Saturday of the show, my girlfriend was all set and ready, and another friend of mine was all set to go too. I could hardly sleep in anticipation, and boy did I need the sleep because 4am rolled around quickly. After a quick breakfast at my house the 4 of us set out around 5:30 am on our journey. Mind you, this is not only the farthest trip I've driven my wagon on, but this is the longest trip it has gone on in many years, at least 15 or more. Thankfully, as expected, the car performed beautifully at 60-70 mph the whole trip, even smooth and spacious enough for the 2 back seat passengers to sleep the whole ride there (and back!). We finally arrived on the show field at 8:45 am. I began unpacking and talking to my show neighbors on either side who were both repeat AACA show attendees about proper etiquette as this was my first time there, and while I had a basic idea of how one should present a car, I wanted clarification and they were more than happy to help. After emptying everything from the car that it did not leave the factory with including the floor mats I opened my box of detailing supplies and began cleaning the car as if it had gone through a mud bog, though to most people it looked clean before I began. I was done with detailing around 9:30 and judging did not begin for another half hour so I took a walk and spoke to a few other repeat attendees. Just before 10 I came back to the car just in time for the judges, they were on the car right next to me. They came over to my car, introduced themselves and went about their business. I quietly stood back and waited to do anything they requested. I had a nice brief conversation with the one judge who, as objectively as he could, asked questions though you could tell he liked the car, especially the brief history I gave him on it. After a few minutes they were done, and the judges left with a hand shake and a compliment! Now I was a free man, though I was wondering how I had done. I went off and spent the next 5 hours roaming the fairly extensive show field with my friend. While it was not the biggest show I've ever attended, it by far had the highest quantity of high quality cars, all of the restored cars were considerably higher quality than mine. I am slightly upset to say, out of what had to be nearly 1000 cars there were only a handful of wagons, though all of them that were there were very nice. I met some cool people, saw some old friends who were shocked to see me or my dad there, and really enjoyed myself as did my passengers. As 3pm came around I was getting set to leave. I packed up the car and said my goodbyes. I could not stay for the awards banquet which ended around 10pm, so the same friend who persuaded me to come told me he would listen for me and call me with the results. We took off for home, but on the way out we passed the AACA museum, of course I had to stop, when would I have this opportunity again? So we had a short hour to look around before closing but it was a fun one. I even got to take some great pictures in front of the museum. It was now nearly 5:30pm and time to start heading home. Anytime I take I78 into Pennsylvania I love stopping at the Clinton Station Diner for dinner in their “Jersey Central Lines” converted dining train car attached to the restaurant. So on the way home we made a stop and had a great dinner. By this point we were all ready for bed, so we made the remaining 40 or so mile drive home and I got the car put away by around 10:30 pm. At this point I was just leaving to take my girlfriend home when I got the call, I had won! My friend had picked up my plaque and was going to bring it home for me! The emotions I felt at this point were amazing. I couldn’t be happier, but I had to drop off my girlfriend and head home to sleep so I could be up at 5am for my dad’s car club picnic/carshow the next day. Overall I could not be much happier about the experience. It was fun, a great ride, and I won an award. I’m very happy this car won the award for my grandfather’s sake. Long before I was around he took such car of this car to allow me to have it now. If it weren’t for his care, there would have been nothing left for me. Also, I managed a stellar 16.0 mpg which is the best I have ever had to date. Below are only pictures from my dad's camera, since he made an album its easier to post. On the show field right after arrival Outside of the AACA Museum. Note the sign in the first picture. Reserved parking right infront of the museum for antique cars only, drop off zone for all others. And a link to the entire album, sorry I think you need to be a face(less)book user to view the album. Hershey Pictures
Martin...you must be so proud !!! Gramps must be smilin man great story and pics and congrats....thats a big NOD from that group my friend !!! heck...im proud of ya
Congratulations! What a great day. Next year, you'll have to plan on being there for the awards! I have to say, that is one bloody beautiful wagon you have, too. Always did love the mid-sized 72 Mopar twins.
Great story and great pictures. I saw your wagon there and took a picture of it myself. I thought it might have been your wagon, but didn't know for sure. Congrats on the win!
Thanks everyone. I had a long phone conversation last night with that friend, and he was saying what it meant to win. I am not a competitive person, especially when it comes to car shows, but this is the one and only award I really was hoping for and I'm so overjoyed to actually have won it! Jim, did you have a car there too? I wish I had more time to have sat by the car to see people. I wish I could have met you while I was there.
Great story,and great wagon. This was the first Hershey we missed in years, but all the trophies and plaques you can win won't be complete until you've got one from Hershey. Congratulations and hang that plaque very proudly.
No, I didn't have a car in the show. I just went as a spectator. Sorry I missed you. Maybe I'll see you at the Mopar show at Carlisle next year.
