The Elegance at Hershey: 2011

Hudson · January 21, 2012

As a few people on this site can attest, I love car shows. But how many times can you look at Corvettes or Mustangs and not be bored? This past year, a new car show was launched and it was stunning! Please check out some of my pictures from the show and let me know what you think. Perhaps you can make plans on attending this year's event.

http://automotivetraveler.com/jump/3722

balthazar · January 21, 2012

I've been bored with Mustangs & Corvettes (except 1st & 2nd gen) since forever.

Tho the pre-war / brass era stuff isn't all that exciting from a performance standpoint, they are fascinating mechanical creations from the dawn of the industry.

Hudson · January 22, 2012

How many of us go to car shows for the performance characteristics of cars? Car shows are typically beauty contests. For me personally, I go to shows to find the most unique thing there...something I've never seen before. Sure, there are Corvettes and Mustangs that fall into that category, but even the rarest of them can't hold a candle to many of the cars that showed up this summer in Hershey. Automotive Traveler will post my pictures from the Grand Ascent, Hershey's hillclimb race where one hundred year old cars were put through their paces...and THAT is where you see some amazing engineering work. If I'm driving, give me a C6 Corvette or a Laguna Seca Mustang, but if I'm watching...get me as close as possible to the 1910 Mercedes that was at the Grand Ascent. Nothing beats the FEEL of the deep exhaust from that car!

balthazar · January 22, 2012

>>"How many of us go to car shows for the performance characteristics of cars?"<<

Granted, but a big part of the personal allure of -say- a GTO is that it is a muscle car. Sure you could hang a GTO hood, grilles & tailpanel on a '66 LeMans I6 1bbl.... it'd look identical, but for whatever reason --with the 2 next to each other-- the GTO is going to garner a lot more appreciation/attention. Allure.

I thought I had inspected a 1899 IHC @ Hershey a few years ago- the engine didn't even look like an engine... but that predates the company as a road vehicle manufacturer. Now I REALLY wish I had taken pics; I must've mis-remembered the marque.

Hudson · January 22, 2012

I found pictures of a 1907 and a 1915 IHC, but nothing as old as you've mentioned.

I know that you're right in that a GTO will attract a larger crowd than some (most) of the cars that excite me. Honestly, I can appreciate any car, but I tire of seeing relatively common cars. For me, the odder the better.

balthazar · January 23, 2012

Agreed. That's why I embraced customs long ago (tho I have always liked them... I was often torn RE stock vs.modified, but after a while, you've seen SO many of Popular Car X...).

Same with pre-late '30s stuff; I am innately drawn to styling... and the first 3-4 decades there's not much going on (in stock form)... but the methods of assembly, the visible process of engineering, the simplicity and unique roads taken has become very interesting to me.

S- I need to get back to Hershey this fall, perhaps we'll meet up again.

Hudson · January 23, 2012

Having missed Hershey this fall, I need to get back there for the AACA show. And let me know if YOU get there.

As far as modified cars go, I've grown to appreciate them on their own merits. While interviewing for a job many years ago, the editor of a Corvette magazine said he rocked the Corvette world with his belief that it's your car/do with it as you please. The Historian in me had a tough time dealing with it, but the car guy in me fully understands.

GMTruckGuy74 · January 23, 2012

I found out about this show too late, as I'm a little less than 2 hours away from Hershey. My wife was flying out of the country for business that day, so needless to say I couldn't take the trip out west. Do you know this year's date? I need to work on my 2012 car & truck show calendar, which I usually have started by now.

Hudson · January 23, 2012

This year's show is June 8, 9, and 10. The "Elegance at Hershey" is on Sunday, June 10 while the "Grand Ascent" vintage hillclimb will be on June 8 and 9. I'm hoping to volunteer (again) for Saturday and Sunday...maybe even Friday! Great people and great cars at a great venue. Hope to see you there!