Future of Hershey

glennsanders said:
My 1 st trip to HERSHEY got their Friday at 7 ready to shop.But it was 830-900 before sellers got there to untrap and sell.Than at 400 started packing to leave cause couple rain drops.As it was at least 1/3 spots where already empty. Is it like that in past?
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You went on Friday I'm assuming? Believe it not, Tuesday-Thursday are the best days for buying parts.
 
My first trip. I loved it but I think it is more spread out than it needed to be. Too many use vendor spaces just for parking.
 
I saw quite a decent sprinkling of younger people, many of them poking around in flathead and Model A booths. The furriners are another big and fairly young group, with lots of enthusiasm for flatheads...and, of course, if they can come this far for Hershey they presumably have money! Scandinavians and Germans have been coming for a while, I think there are more French now than in the past (my wife even reported seeing Bretons in their kilts) and I heard a LOT more Spanish than ever before...I think they were largely South Americans.
I think this year was hurt by weather...Thursday great mobs, traffic way down on Friday because of very bad weather reports (weather itself not so bad), Saturday everyone looked out the window at the cold rain and went back to bed.
And Hershey still has its wild variety of old and exotic stuff showing everywhere...it is definitely not turning into a place to buy repro Mustang hubcaps, like most other shows!
Car corral remains as an absolute zoo of every conceivable interesting sort of car.
 
My friends and I are quickly approaching 40.. but this is one event that we wouldn't skip...needless to say, our preparations for next year are already well under way.;-)

This year we found lots of model a stuff, a good amount of 41 - 48 ford stuff and were able to save a few dollars by shopping at the show..

I made my yearly purchase from Tim's ayers buddy, and visited with lots and lots of people.. Ironically it has been the conversations at the show that seem to be leading to the best stuff after the event..

But we still managed to fill the "shop truck's" before we headed for home .

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If I had one "beef" with the event.. it would be that it wasnt long enough;-)
 
Have been going for years! Yes things change, but I still love it and will keep going as long as my old bones allow. Had a great time as always and it did not rain from Tuesday to Friday until I hear after we left at noon. Time went by way too fast.
 
Tim-

Interesting thoughts regarding the future of parts availability as a result of many of us "older folks" passing on to other "things." But, there may be a darker side to future parts availability. I think the greater danger is the likelihood that many of our "treasures" will end-up in a landfill due to a lack of knowledge by those who come after us. As an example, how many folks under the age of 30 know what a carburetor is let alone a '37-'40 steering plate! :(

As an aside, a few years ago a poll was taken of the age of a Fordbarn viewer. As I recall, at that time it was in the mid-60s. I suspect if a similar poll was conducted today the average age would be in the 70s! Father Time marchers on....

Tom
 
Anyone at the end of the road and worried about their parts, feel free to put my name on them and I will see to it that they get used or distributed appropriately in the years to come! :D

I'm only slightly past 30....
 
flatheadfan said:
Tim-

Interesting thoughts regarding the future of parts availability as a result of many of us "older folks" passing on to other "things." But, there may be a darker side to future parts availability. I think the greater danger is the likelihood that many of our "treasures" will end-up in a landfill due to a lack of knowledge by those who come after us. As an example, how many folks under the age of 30 know what a carburetor is let alone a '37-'40 steering plate! :(

As an aside, a few years ago a poll was taken of the age of a Fordbarn viewer. As I recall, at that time it was in the mid-60s. I suspect if a similar poll was conducted today the average age would be in the 70s! Father Time marchers on....

Tom
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I guess only time will tell. My thinking is based on the advent of "reality" shows like American Pickers or the whole host of car-related shows on the Velocity Channel, people would think twice before throwing out old car parts. Stranger things have happened I guess.

Maybe these parts will be more fodder for shows like Hoarders and the scrap metal dumpsters will be lined up to take away all the amassed "junk".


Sawzall:

Sorry I missed you. Hope to run into you one of these days.

CharlieNY:

I stopped by to see you and you were out and about as well. Sounds like you had a good time.


See you all next year!
 
SUHRsc said:
Anyone at the end of the road and worried about their parts, feel free to put my name on them and I will see to it that they get used or distributed appropriately in the years to come! :D

I'm only slightly past 30....
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Zach, I am hoping that the young guys like you, and in your age group, will be the salvation of many of these old Fords and all the parts that are available. The last thing I would want to see is many of these old survivors turned into jelly bean colored, modern engine powered street rods.
 
If you want continue the hobby we need educate the public. It is hard for my 31 year son to go to Early Ford meet when there is no one his age to hang out with. He thinks the show is for AARP members not Early Ford members. When you are young you don't have Vacation or time off of work. Buying parts the guy will not talk to you because you are your twenties he thinks you are dum ***. My son know more about early fords than I do. I have hard time telling my son that just way things are. He like Early Ford but have hard time w/ all B.S. We are plan on doing the Moonshine shows and the White Knuckle cruise. Hope we have a great father and son time.
 
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I went to the Race of Gentlemen in Wildwood NJ the weekend before Hershey. Believe me, the interest in Ford flathead V8's and 4 bangers is alive and well in some young and interesting guys and gals. It was great fun and very refreshing for this old man.

Hershey was great, Wednesday and Thursday weather was perfect and I found everything on my list and more. I hoped to find either an original Thicksun PM7 or Edelbrock slingshot. I found both before 9AM on Wednesday so naturally I bought them both. The slingshot find was a surprise, didn't see another one the rest of the week. Fun time for me as usual.
 
Vonn Ditch said:
I went to the Race of Gentlemen in Wildwood NJ the weekend before Hershey. Believe me, the interest in Ford flathead V8's and 4 bangers is alive and well in some young and interesting guys and gals. It was great fun and very refreshing for this old man.

Hershey was great, Wednesday and Thursday weather was perfect and I found everything on my list and more. I hoped to find either an original Thicksun PM7 or Edelbrock slingshot. I found both before 9AM on Wednesday so naturally I bought them both. The slingshot find was a surprise, didn't see another one the rest of the week. Fun time for me as usual.
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TROG is on my list now. Problem is I can't do both. May have to give up Hershey one year to do TROG.

Great scores on the intakes. Curious, did you got the Slingshot for under $800?
 
Vonn Ditch said:
I went to the Race of Gentlemen in Wildwood NJ the weekend before Hershey. Believe me, the interest in Ford flathead V8's and 4 bangers is alive and well in some young and interesting guys and gals. It was great fun and very refreshing for this old man.

Hershey was great, Wednesday and Thursday weather was perfect and I found everything on my list and more. I hoped to find either an original Thicksun PM7 or Edelbrock slingshot. I found both before 9AM on Wednesday so naturally I bought them both. The slingshot find was a surprise, didn't see another one the rest of the week. Fun time for me as usual.
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I did the exact same thing- Race of Gentleman and Hershey Wed and Thursday. It was my first time to either event...my first time back East in general!

Bought all kinds of good stuff! Even had a chance to visit my friend Zach Suhr (whom I had talked to for years but had never met in person)!

I am 33
 
Vonn Ditch said:
I went to the Race of Gentlemen in Wildwood NJ the weekend before Hershey. Believe me, the interest in Ford flathead V8's and 4 bangers is alive and well in some young and interesting guys and gals. It was great fun and very refreshing for this old man.
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I was hoping to get there on Sunday but had too much scheduled for Saturday and Monday to make the run up and back. Will definitely have that on the calendar for next year.
 
A logistics problem with the ROG and Hershey so close together. We are working on a Whippet speedster ( Sorry, no Ford parts) which would be great fun to run on the beach.
There are thousands of young guys out there with interest in the old stuff. Most of which involves hot rodding. They would much rather be at the Race of gentlemen than Hershey.
I believe Hershey discourages hotrodding......But, I see Brookville, Honest Charley and other hot rod vendors there.

For those who don't know.....Google Race of Gentlemen
 
Fortunately I have a son and grandson that is interested in the old car hobby as much as I am. The three of us go to Hershey every year with this year being the exception. Maybe next year. They know well the value of my cars but not the stash of spare parts. But the two go hand in hand.

It would be interesting to know what the Fordbarners have stashed away!
 
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