The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Old Dominion Stovebolt Society (MD, VA, West VA, DC, DE and PA) Hershey Car Show

I was wondering if any of you fine fellows are going to the Hershey show next week? I have been going for several years now. If you are, you can find us in the Red field next week. (Oct.9-12). Look for my old Camper parked along the main drag. Next year I WILL BE AT WINCHESTER TOO !

I've been going to the Hershey Swap Meet and Show since 1974, been vending there since 1976. If I did my math right this will be my 45th consecutive year!

My Spaces are GDD-14 (Green Field close to the pedestrian overpass).

I'll be there Tues thru Sat., stop by and say Hi!

Mike B

Sounds good Mike .I think this is my 4th consecutive year. My friend that I'm going with has been going about as long as you. There's nothing better than sipping a beer in the evening and watching the old caddy's, Steam powered vehicles and Lord knows what come cruising by us in the Red field. A trip to Hershey with my wife about 20 years ago is what actually got me to attempt to purchase my 50 truck and buy that thing. My wife brain washed me by telling me about 400 times that she wanted a 3100 series pick-up truck !! Now I keep trying to brain wash her into getting a 69 GTO ! I'll keep trying. LOL

Just back from Hershey 2019. We were in our regular vendor spaces in the Green Field with a trailer load of parts, all 1937-46. Tuesday is set up day and the only day I get to walk the fields. My wife was along and the weather perfect, we walked 6 miles and barely scratched the surface. We made a few nice buys and saw some great trucks- most notably a perfectly restored 1956 Chevy NAPCO.
Wednesday was another beautiful day and our sales were brisk. We had several return customers from Ontario, Canada. Thursday was even better and again, no rain. I figured sales would drop off on Friday, but it turned out to be another good day. Saturday we left the parts covered up; and enjoyed the AACA judged show. A field full of cars and trucks turned out on a wonderful fall day. The number of Stovebolt trucks seem to increase each year. If you haven’t been to Hershey, you’re missing a tremendous event. Mark your calendar for Hershey 2020. You’ll be glad you did!

I went to Hershey on Friday. I walked all the parts aisles and your space had the most Stovebolt parts by far. I was the guy who told you he has a 51.
My phone said I walked 10.8 miles. I did not walk the loop with all the cars for sale. I was just too tired at that point.

Hershey is good event and if I could I would spend two days there. I parked on the event grounds instead of across the street. I paid more for parking in that spot, but it saved me a bunch of extra walking.
I was hoping to pick up a spare rim and set of headers but I didn't find what I was looking for. I did pick up a few box wrenches.

I vend at Hershey every year...this was my 45 consecutive year going and 44th vending. If you walked ALL of the fields in one day, you didn't have time to stop and look at much of anything...there's over 9100 vendor spaces, it's the largest antique car swap meet in the world!

They say if you walk up and down each row only looking at one side at a time it's over 26 miles (this includes walking past all of the parking lot islands that are empty and from field to field).

Mike B

I go for the Chocolate!

Although we buy and sell ‘37-‘47 Chevy and GMC parts all year long, Hershey is our big week. As I look at the picture above, almost everything you see sold in 4 days. The only problem is I get stuck in my own spot and can’t wander the swap meet like I used to. I am there for 5 days, but still have to wait until Saturday to see the car corral and, of course, the car show. And I better not forget to get some chocolate before I head home. A big change this year was better food choices. They had Chuck- fil- A; a Walking Taco, and some insane BBQ over in the green field. Check it out in 2020.

OK, do you couldn’t check it out in 2020. That was a tremendous disappointment, but we’ve all learned to live with our pandemic.

But now it’s 2021 and Hershey is going to happen. October 5-9. The swap meet is in full stride on Wednesday and starts to wind down Friday afternoon. Saturday brings the car show- all on grass! Meanwhile, a huge car corral is cooking all week like a circular used car lot running around the Giant Center.

Look us up in the Green Field, spaces GAI 18-19, with a trailer load of nothing but Chevy/GMC truck parts, 1934-46.

I can't make it. But trailer will be there! A friend/neighbor is borrowing it to bring back parts for his '69 resto project. I'll have my trailer look you up. Talking to it is probably more intellectually satisfying than talking to me ... Just ask 52Carl ...

Good luck with your sales!

At least ya got trailer smarts, John.

John;

Sorry your trailer won’t take you along. We’re at Carlisle first, Thursday and Friday. There is a real eclectic mix of truck parts here. I bought parts for ‘36, ‘37, and ‘38 Chevy trucks today. Lots of Advance Design stuff here, but you know I ignore that modern stuff. The vendor count seems down and the crowd is smaller that I recall from last year, but the weather more than made up for all that. Tomorrow we deliver 3 parts orders that originated by Facebook Marketplace. 2 guys from Southern MD and a gal from Long Island. Social media and Stovebolt’s, a strange combination.

What that trailer has going for it is raw, unadulterated charisma. Charm if you will...

Carl ... ya got that right! So get this, The trailer got all butt hurt that it didn't get to go to Winchester this year and started getting my van all butt hurt 'cause I left it home, too. So now, the two of them have decided to run off to Carlisle/Hershey/WhatEVUR is going on now WITHOUT ME!!! Can you believe that?

Apparently, they both hate Charlie now, too, so they have decided to help my neighbor joe find a cab and bed for his '69.

I just hope Freyja doesn't decide to jump ship, too ....

Greenie, I'll be back in my spaces in the Green field GDD-12 thru 14 (right at the end of the sidewalk for the pedestrian overpass) from Tuesday thru Saturday...we camp on our spaces! Looking forward to being back...this will be my 45th year of going and 44th year vending (I think)...only missed last year since I started going there in 1974.

Mike B

Mike:

That’s impressive. We are in our favorite green field spaces, GAI 18-19, that’s in the shade of light post 118, smack up against the car corral and close to Hyman Village.

I think my first year was 1978; and the only year I missed was 1990; when I foolishly agreed to get married on Hershey Saturday. It must have been love! I know that, because she helps me get set up on Tuesday, spends all day Wednesday with me- and then bails for Thurmont, MD and Colorfest.

I did NOT miss Hershey 2020. I drive there, sat down in my spaces, and took a selfie! Then I stopped in at the AACA Museum and had lunch in the Sweetest Place on Earth.

I am loaded and ready to depart on Tuesday!

I just could not swing Hershey this year with work, and missed the previous two years. Really bummed out. Today would have been the day. Friday is condition day for the race cars and high wheels. My favorite day.