CARINI ON CARS
KID IN A CANDY STORE
Wayne Carini is always happy to return “home” to Hershey, whether it’s to buy cars and parts, to browse through the automobilia or just to look at yet another great old Ford.
would say, “Aren’t you cute,” even after it got embarrassing.
Back then, Hershey was something you just couldn’t believe. Tere was this huge flea market—not as big as it is now, but incredible for those days—and on show day there were 300 or 400 cars. Back then, nobody had seen that many classic and un- usual cars in one place.
Hershey was something I’d look forward to every year, at least partly because I’d miss school for a couple of days and Dad would give me candy—Hershey’s chocolate, of course—or ice cream, if I found the right parts. He was restoring a 1913 Saxon, and when I was 10 he hung a sign on me that read: “Saxon Parts Wanted.” He told me, “Te one thing we’d really like to get is Buf- falo wire wheels.” So I’m walking around Hershey wearing this sign and a guy comes up to me and says, “I’ve got Saxon parts. What do you need?” So he takes me back to the booth and shows me an engine and a ra- diator, and then he says, “I’ve got these wire wheels that will fit a Saxon.” And I say, “Oh my God, I’ll be right back,” and I run as fast as I can through the flea market to find my Dad and bring him back. And he couldn’t believe what I’d found—the Holy Grail needed to finish the car. Tat was my big score. After that, I was pretty well hooked on Hershey.
Since then I’ve bought parts of all GOING HOME TO HERSHEY BY WAYNE CARINI
I’m Connecticut born and raised, but every year when I get off the highway at Hershey, it feels just like coming home. Dad first came to Hershey on his own in 1955; I joined him two years later
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when he figured I was old enough— I was six—and I’ve been coming ever since. We’d stay at the same motel— before we got the motorhome—and eat at the same restaurants, and all the waitresses
kinds—engines, cylinder heads, carbu- retors and vintage speed parts. I’ve also bought cars from the car corral and at auc- tion. Like so many people, I come to see my friends and wander the fields, even if I don’t need anything. Tough Hershey is at least part work, I love it and it’s truly become part of me. But for a lot of people, it’s their annual vacation and trip out with the guys. Actually, it’s like spending a week in a candy store.
PHOTOS: © JAY TEXTER
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