Hil guys A couple of us from New Zealand are coming over to the Carlisle & Hershey swapmeets in October so could you recommend some accomodation somewhere close to the 2 events please.. Are there any other events on in the same area between the 2 s/meets. Drags, street or night cruise, shows ??? Thanks in advance Bryan
Glad to have you over! Bringing wheels with you? Or just thumbing it? If you go to www.carsatcarlisle.com they will have some accomadation recommendations for you. Since you are hanging around, check out www.carshowlink.com for other events in the area. There's a drive-in movie event near the show during the weekend too..............
The town of Carlisle is built around the shows, theres nothing there but fairgrounds and hotels so you may want to bunk there. Hershey is only what, 40 min away? So wouldnt be a bad ride. There will be hotels along 81 between the two but Id choose one or the other to stay at.
Hotels are often booked a year in advance, so start trying to get a room as soon as possible. If you have a car, widen your hotel search into Harrisburg (the capitol of Pennsylvannia). I've run into Germans, Frenchman, Norwegians, South Africans, etc and you are more than welcome. Some times you hear so many different languages being spoken, that you forget you're in the USA !! Bring good shoes - the Hershey swap meet area is about 20+ miles of walking.
As CarCrazyJohn suggested, try to make your hotel accomodations now. It's certainly not too early. A lot of folks make their hotel arrangements for the following year while they are attending the shows. And, an advanced welcome for you to Pennsylvania. Bring some very comfortable footwear with you...you'll be doing a LOT of walking to see everything. You're certain to enjoy your visit.
I stay In Hampton Inn in Hanover, Pa. a little bit of a drive from both shows ( 30-40 mins) but it's has everything I need after pounding the pavement all day. indoor pool for one (getting old) free coffee and food in the morning and most of all it's clean. you got all kinds of restaurants around the hotel plus the big chain dept. stores for the little bullshit that you forgot to pack. and in between the shows you got Gettysburg National Park - Gettysburg Pa Eastern Museum of Motor Sports - home of the Jalopy Showdown Harley Davison Factory Tour, York, Pa Posie's Rods & Customs Hummelstown, Pa Antique Auto Museum in Hershey, Pa Now did you think about doing the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion on the way home? You may want to send Hemi35 (hamber/Austrian) a pm, he did Carlisle - Hershey - NHRA reunion a few years ago, he may have some answers to your questions. Good Luck Wayne
Harrisburg Pa is smack dab in the middle between both events. Probably a 30 minute ride in each oppisit direction to get to each event. Look for a Motel 6 in Harrisburg. Good Luck Oldmics
Thanks for the info guys, its much appreciated.. I went to Carlisle in 2007 and both Carlisle & Hershey in 83 (how old??). After Hershey we drive up to Detroit and are spending 5 days there looking around (Henry Ford, Roush, Gilmore etc) then we drive back to Los Angeles via Denver, Pikes Peak, Ely(AZ) Reno , Auburn(CA) San Jose where my 34 pickup (avatar pic) came from in 2002.. Any other tips/hints are all much appreciated. cheers Bryan
Look forward to meeting you and have you sign the HAMB banner I have at my swap meet spot C4J 41-42. Read throught the old Hershey Meet threads and study the maps to get an idea of how it looks. Lots of HAMB people to meet there. Bob
i went to the Hershey fall meet last year. planned on sleeping in the car. on a whim, i grabbed a hotel discount flyer at a rest stop. started calling hotel/motel as i was getting close. rooms were available everywhere. could have stayed in Hershy but it was too expensive. remember, lots of the old guys are gone now and rooms are freed up to all us young whippersnappers. (i'm 63) good luck huntin' and have a safe trip.
Hey Guys, Carlisles website has a link for Hotels....here is a link. Carlisle Events - Collector Car, Bike, Truck, Import Shows and Auctions in Carlisle, PA Murph
The Jalopyshowdown Drags are Sept. 29th, the week before Carlisle at Beaver Springs Dragway, about 1 hour from Harrisburg. www.jalopyshowdown.com
Don't forget EMMR, the Eastern Museum of Motor Raceing. It is close to Carlisle. The AACA Antique car musuem is in Hershey, and in my backyard. If you want/need tips on where to eat let me know. There's dozens of places to see around here. The Cammack collection of Tuckers would be a good day trip, in Virginia.
I usually stay in Harrisburg its not to far away, and mainly because in Carlisle they like to double their rates during the show times.
Id also recommend the North East Classic Car Museum in Norwich, NY. Its in this sleepy little town upstate that I pass through twice a year to visit relatives. One time I stopped in and was utterly amazed at the collection, I didn't realize what I was missing! Huge collection of 20s/30s air-cooled cars and even a Lamborghini tractor Very nice people too. www.classiccarmuseum.org
The number of people you hear speaking the various Scandinavian, German, and Dutch languages is amazing. A couple of years ago a stray Dane noticed me buying some small part for a Model B...he immediately questioned me on how to identify a B whatever it was in a sea of similar parts, then he followed me for 3 hours, jumping on and examining everything I looked at!
Oh...get a coaster wagon and bring your life savings. If at all possible, make or find a friend with a booth who will let you park your scrap iron finds there while you wander...you will walk for 12 hours a day, and especially at Hershey, it does not matter what you want, you will find it!
Hi guys Many thanks for the tips. We made a booking at the LaQuinta Inn by the airport in Harrisburg for the duration of the 2 swapmeets..Come and find us when heading out for a meal. cheers Bryan Thomas & Tim Rush (56Chevykid)
NO! That may be fine for Carlisle but you want to be in Hershey Tuesday-Saturday, there are motels 5-10 minutes from the field, that hour drive to Harrisburg in rush hour traffic isn't something you want to deal with. Bob