In the 1980s, when I began to attend the AACA Hershey events, Saturday was the day to go. First, as a full-time working guy, I didn’t always have the luxury of taking time off, so it was the only day available to make the trek. Second, the best part of Hershey, “the car show”, was on Saturday.
About 20 years ago, I decided that my Hershey visit deserved to encompass multiple days. So I headed out on Thursday, and spent several days roaming among the flea market stalls and vehicles for sale. Saturday morning, wanting an early start, I found myself at the entrance to the show field by 8 a.m., when a funny thing happened.
I discovered the Hershey parade.
AACA rules require that all show cars be driven onto the field under their own power. So, starting very early on Saturday, all the cars line up and serenely motor their way along a predetermined route. What a delight it was to realize that much better than the static show was to witness these glorious automobiles, from early-20th century brass cars to vehicles “just” 25 years old, making their way, and allowing us the joy to see and hear them.
Since then, the Saturday routine has been the same:
- Spend Friday night in a hotel close to Hershey;
- Arise by 6 a.m. Saturday morning;
- Grab some coffee;
- Park by 7:30 a.m., and find a good spot along the parade route;
- Stand for the next two hours and take it all in.
This routine was followed again in 2017. The photos which follow were for the most part taken along the parade route. The early morning sun only helped further glamorize what are already impeccably restored automotive gems.
This third report concludes our posts covering the 2017 Hershey events. It bears repeating: if you have not visited this fall classic, held every October in Hersheypark PA, it is worth the trip.
All photographs copyright © 2017 Richard A. Reina. Photos may not be copied or reproduced without express written permission.
richardscarblog 
Great photo gallery! Wonderful variety of cars. My favorites are the ’50s era Karmann Ghia (the car I learned to drive in… with 36 HP), the grey MG TF and the Ace Bristol. Your last photo of the AC shows the beautiful sculpting of the sheet metal between the grill and fenders that was lost when the body was adapted for the Cobra.
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Hi Bob, I thought you might like the assortment. Our tastes in automobiles run along fairly similar paths. BTW, that red AC Ace belongs to Bob Cushman, if you hadn’t realized that. I totally agree that once you see the original Ace body, the bloated Cobra body looks so much less appealing.
Regards, Richard
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Hi Richard-
My name is John Bartolotta. I live in Lincroft NJ and follow your blog on line. I have a 2003 Mazda Miata and I would like to be notified when you’re having you’re next morning breakfast event. I’d love to join you. Jabartolotta29@gmail.com.
On Sun, Oct 15, 2017 at 9:04 PM, richardscarblog wrote:
> RichardReina posted: “In the 1980s, when I began to attend the AACA > Hershey events, Saturday was the day to go. First, as a full-time working > guy, I didn’t always have the luxury of taking time off, so it was the only > day available to make the trek. Second, the best part of He” >
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Hi John, thanks for your comment. I appreciate your following the blog! Not sure if/when you’ll see this reply, so I will send a separate email to you at the email address you’ve provided. Thank you! Regards, Richard
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Pretty awesome pics there.
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Thanks, OMAHM. Glad you liked the photos. I was happy with the way the lot of them turned out.
Regards, Richard
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[…] Event. The blog started in 2015, and I’ve posted stories and pictures from visits in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021 – there was no Hershey in 2020. (“Hershey” is so massive that in some […]
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