In Chapter 34 of the Isetta Saga, it’s October 2012, and my restored bubble car is making its one and only appearance at the AACA Eastern Fall Nationals, a name that no one uses; everyone refers to it as “Hershey”, named after its host town. Obviously, I had a lot going on that week, what with trailering the car out there, unloading it the morning of the show, driving it onto the show field, finding my spot, and prepping the car for judging. Of course, my car was just one of hundreds of other cars on the field vying for trophies that day, and somehow, I found time to stroll the aisles and take a few snaps (and my car buddy Larry took a few of these shots too).
Based on these images, the weather was flawless, and so was the condition of the cars on display, which always makes it a challenge to decide which ones to photograph. Below is a selection of cars which were standouts to me. As a final comment, I may have said this before but it’s worth repeating: if you have not been to Hershey in October, it is not to be missed.
ENTERING THE SHOWFIELD
BRASS ERA
‘50s EXCESS
AMERICAN MUSCLE
IMPORTS
PERSONAL LUXURY
All photographs copyright © 2022 Richard A. Reina. Photos may not be copied or reproduced without express written permission.
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Random questions that occur to me as I scroll through the photos:
Are there any American cars that have had front-hinged hoods?
What percentage of the world’s chrome resources was used on cars between 1955 and 1965?
Why can’t we have more colors on 21st century cars that aren’t on the white-black spectrum?
And while we’re at it, other than MINI, why aren’t modern cars available in two-tones?
How many of these owners, at the end of the show, forget about and drive over their fire extinguishers?
Where do the owners of the brass era cars shop for their period clothes?
Did they locate all the Porta-potties at Hershey in the same place?
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Hi Bob,
1. Yes. Scroll down to the image of the 1957 Ford Skyliner in this post: https://richardscarblog.com/2021/03/07/the-mustang-gt-cs-at-fords-at-carlisle-2008/
2. The majority.
3. The automobile manufacturers save millions of dollars a year by limiting factory permutations when they keep to such a narrow color spectrum. Among other factors, this minimizes the likelihood of any interior color clashing with any exterior color.
4. See #3.
5. Only a few, and I was almost guilty of it last year until a passer-by yelled at me to move it.
6. https://www.historicalemporium.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxLqsrIvW9gIVg7zICh1m0AquEAAYASAAEgJtofD_BwE
7. They are strategically located throughout the show field. For those who desire a more human bathroom experience, there are modern facilities inside the Giant Center and inside Chocolate World (there’s a joke there somewhere).
Best,
Richard
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Thanks for the great answers, especially #6. I now know where to shop for my next new frock coat and top hat!
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