Long before old-car hobbyists connected on the internet and social media to buy and sell cars, parts, and automobilia, they met in person at swap meets and flea markets. Certainly, online commerce is popular and efficient, but nothing beats the in-person experience of swap meets. And the largest automotive flea market, the annual AACA Eastern Fall Nationals in Hershey, Pa., is a yearly family reunion of vintage-automobile fans. The vehicles brought them together initially, but it is the lasting friendships that keep them coming back to reconnect.
“Family” is what makes Hershey so great, and it’s why I keep attending, but of all my trips, the 2021 visit ranks as the most personally moving Chocolatetown experience. To convey this Hershey moment properly, I first need to relate a little of my family history.
