Hershey, Pennsylvania holds a special place for the Society of Automotive Historians. On October 11, 1969, a group of individuals convened at the offices of the Antique Automobile Club of America in Hershey to establish the SAH. The primary objectives of the newly formed organization were to preserve automotive history, rectify errors in historical records, facilitate information exchange among members, and explore and record the history of all types of self-powered vehicles worldwide. Since its inception, the SAH has endeavored to foster research, documentation, and publication of automotive history by bringing together scholars, collectors, and enthusiasts with similar interests.
Over the past 50 years, SAH members have made a yearly October pilgrimage to Hershey to collaborate and connect with fellow auto history buffs. Held during the Hershey Fall Meet in the massive parking lot of Hershey Park, the club get together takes place among auctions, an enormous swap meet, car shows, and other auto-related events. The SAH has its own tent, participates in the AACA Library Yard Sale and Book Signing event, and holds its annual awards banquet at the Hershey Country Club. In past years, the activities have scaled down a bit, as folks find it more difficult to make the trip.
I have been attending Hershey since I first joined the organization about seven years ago, missing last year due to a last minute home emergency. This year, as I was somewhat physically restricted due to a fractured elbow, my husband came along to help with the driving. Although he is not a historian, he is a certified car nut and enjoyed spending two days exploring the swap meet while I attended to club business. As one of the few females in an historically masculine organization, and also as a painfully shy individual, I have made my way carefully and cautiously among the mostly male membership. But I have worked hard and my efforts have been rewarded, as I was elected vice president last year. Each time I attend an SAH event I feel more comfortable and enjoy engaging in conversations with such knowledgeable folks. As awards chair I presided over the banquet and didn’t make too many mistakes. The only mishap during the trip was that I wound up in emergency with my husband who fell in the Hershey parking lot and required stitches in his head. So glad he came along to help! But it was an enjoyable few of days; the weather was great, the company engaging, and as always, I learned a lot from an amazing group of learned and enthusiastic automotive historians.
