tour

GRAACA Summer Tour 2023

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June 24, 2023

Enola, Fort Hunter & Mechanicsburg, PA

By Angelica Yost

We began our day with coffee and donuts at Adams-Ricci Park in Enola, PA. Around 9, everyone started their journey over a mountain and through some winding country roads heading north to Duncannon, and then across the Susquehanna River to Fort Hunter Mansion and Park.        

Originally settled in 1725 by Benjamin Chambers who later founded Chambersburg, the property passed on to Chambers’ brother-in-law Samuel Hunter. Hunter had several mills on the land until the British turned it into a fort during the French and Indian War. Since then, the property has passed through several hands. Today, Fort Hunter is owned by the County of Dauphin and the Board of Trustees for Fort Hunter.

Several tour guides met us that day and split our members into groups for a very informative tour of the mansion. Afterwards, we headed across the road to a pavilion for a picnic lunch catered by Simply Turkey. Some people then chose to burn a few calories strolling around to the many historic buildings including the Centennial Barn, the Everhart Covered Bridge, and the Tavern House.

After lunch, we took a nice scenic drive along the river and through the country to Ashcombe Nursery and Farm Market. Apart from offering a wide array of plants, baked goods, and gifts for sale, Ashcombe’s also has a menagerie of cats, rabbits and farm animals onsite waiting to greet visitors.

Dan and I had a lot of fun planning this tour. Many thanks to everyone who joined us on this adventure. We hope you enjoyed the day and finished your shopping before the storm rolled in.

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Upcoming: GRAACA Fall Foliage Tour

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Saturday, October 22nd

The Tour will begin with a visit to a collection of vintage motor scooters from the USA, England, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Russia, and Japan. An example of what many call the first motor scooter, a 1918 AutoPed, will be on display along with a few vintage motorcycles. This is not a museum but is rather an assemblage of two wheelers that the owner finds amusing to look at. Coffee and donuts will be served.

Two-lane back roads and fall colors will greet us as we tour into York County and cross the 1930 “Veterans Memorial Bridge” that was the replacement of the 1800’s “Burning Bridge” into Columbia, PA to visit the National Watch and Clock Museum. This museum takes us from the beginning of clocks to the development of pocket watches and the “auto clocks” seen in our early cars. We round out the day with a catered pork barbeque picnic lunch in Hellam’s Emig Park.

Coffee and scooter collection 8:30-9:45. Driving Tour leaves at 9:45am.

Cost is $25.00 per person. Deadline to register is October 12th. Registration in the Sept/Oct issue of the newsletter.
Questions? Call: Karl Krouch, Sr. at 717-576-7241 or Mary Krouch at 717-576-7245.

Directions: From Gettysburg: take route 15 North to Wesley Dr / Rossmoyne Exit, turn LEFT at the ramp traffic light. Travel 1.4 miles to the 4th traffic light, get in LEFT turn lane (Sheetz and Turkey Hill Gas on opposite corners) Turn LEFT onto Simpson Ferry Rd. Continue 0.1 mile for a RIGHT turn into driveway just after Jeffery’s Flowers. AACA sign will be at street. Address: 5215 Simpson Ferry Rd., Mechanicsburg, PA 17050.

From Carlisle: travel Route 641E Trindle Rd. into Mechanicsburg. At the Rutters traffic light, take the RIGHT Y (Yield sign) onto Simpson Street. Continue 2.4 miles to tour start on left. Get in the center turn lane, turn into the driveway between M&T Bank and Jeffery’s Flowers, proceeding to parking lot behind these businesses. Address: 5215 Simpson Ferry Rd., Mechanicsburg, PA 17050.

GRAACA Summer Tour

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Sunday, July 31st. Break out the antique cars! July 31st we will meet at the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing at 8:30 am for coffee and sweets. We will then leave on a winding tour of back roads to visit an herb farm and a local farm market. After a scenic drive you will end up back at EMMR.

         Ladies will be having a luncheon tea inside, including finger sandwiches, scones and sweets. Ladies should wear a hat to tea. Guys will be having a “grill out” with a hot dog fixin’ bar, sides, dessert and a tech talk about fixes for your cars. The tea will be limited to the first 40 ladies that sign up. If you miss out on the tea you can join the guys outside for lunch. There is no cut off for outdoor lunch. Cost is $15 for ladies and $10 for guys. Make sure to polish those cars. Parking at EMMR, we are sure to have admirers. Any question please call Annette Yost at (717) 660-8000 or Pat Shaffer at (717) 258-4964. Registration deadline is July 15th.

Past Event – GRAACA Spring Tour

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On Saturday, April 30th, the Gettysburg Region met bright and early at Performance Motors of Hanover for a “coffee and cars” event. The owners of Performance Motors were very generous and not only provided us with coffee, tea and donuts, but also kindly sectioned off a portion of their lot just for our club. In addition, the showroom was open which is full of Mustangs and other interesting vehicles, including some bumper cars. This seems to be a popular event and Performance Motors will be a hosting another “coffee and cars” on May 14 from 8:00 to 10:00am if anyone is interested.

After getting our directions and walkie-talkies from tour organizer Bob Channell, we headed out on a relaxing, scenic drive over to the Royal Farms in Hampstead, Maryland where we met up with members of the Chesapeake Region before making our way back to PA to visit Treasured Motorcar Services in New Freedom. They were having their Spring Open House & Car Show which was free to attendees. Beef-it-Up catering was onsite serving up delicious pit beef and pulled pork.

After filling our stomachs, perusing the many cars present for the show and on display at Treasured Motorcars, and possibly even making a few new friends, we went for a final 10 minute drive over to Brown’s Orchard & Farm Markets. Many members walked out with various goodies including sweet treats, fresh produce, and flowers.

It was a beautiful day for a leisurely drive. We couldn’t have asked for better weather. Despite a few people experiencing some car trouble (happens to the best of us), I think everyone enjoyed themselves. Bob did an excellent job organizing the day’s activities, which were made all the more enjoyable since we were not on a strict timetable. Many thanks go to Bob and everyone else who helped make the day a success!

Lots more photos can be found on the region’s Facebook page!

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GRAACA Spring Tour 2020

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–Saturday, May 16, 2020

         Join us May 16th for the GRAACA Spring Tour starting at Bill Wessels’ second Antique Car Barn just south of Dillsburg for coffee and donuts from 9 am until 10 am. View over 20 pre and post war cars in this collection that contains completely different cars than seen on the 2019 Fall Tour.

         We will then travel on two lane roads for approximately one hour through rural Adams County to our next touring site: The Gettysburg Battlefield. We can follow the battlefield auto tour at our own pace. We have allotted approximately two and a half hours to allow you to stop at the monuments and exit your cars for photos and time to read the plaques and information boards. Don’t forget to find our Region “logo” at the Eternal Flame Peace Monument. We end the tour with a buffet lunch at General Pickett’s Buffet at 2:00 pm. This will again be a slow pace tour and we encourage you to bring out your “oldest cars”. 

Directions to Wessels’ (different location than previous Fall Tour): 

From 15 South: Go past Bakers Restaurant in Dillsburg approximately 3.1 miles and make a left onto Old Cabin Hollow Road (M&P RV is across the road on 15). Go 1.4 miles on Old Cabin Hollow Road to a stop sign in Franklin Town. Make a right onto Baltimore Road / 194. Continue 2.3 miles on Baltimore Road / 194 and at the white Barren Lutheran Church sign (on left) make a left onto Mt Top Road (no stop sign). Continue 0.2 miles on Mt Top Road and arrive at Wessel’s on left.  

From 15 North: Go past the EMMR Museum sign (has racecar on it) at Latimore Valley Road approximately 3.6 miles and make a right onto Old Cabin Hollow Road (M&P RV is across the road on 15). Go 1.4 miles on Old Cabin Hollow Road to a stop sign in Franklin Town. Make a right onto Baltimore Road / 194. Continue 2.3 miles on Baltimore Road / 194 and at the white Barren Lutheran Church sign (on left) make a left onto Mt Top Road (no stop sign). Continue 0.2 miles on Mt Top Road and arrive at Wessel’s on left.  

Cost per person: $20 which includes coffee, donuts, buffet lunch and a few door prizes.   

Physical Addresses: Bill Wessels’, 150 Mountain Top Road, Dillsburg, PA (GPS use 150 Mt Top Road, Dillsburg, PA). 

General Pickett’s Buffet, 571 Steinwehr Avenue, Gettysburg, PA. 17325 

Registration deadline is Wednesday, May 6th. Due to necessary headcounts required for General Pickett’s Buffet Wednesday May 6th is the absolute last day for registrations. So please mail in your insert prior to that day.  Insert is in the March-April issue of The Gas Buggy Gazette.

Questions: contact Ron and Val Green at (717) 443-3903 or Karl and Mary Krouch at (717) 697-9543. Send event registration insert to: Karl Krouch, Sr., 711 West Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg, PA. 17055  

 

Summer Tour to the 50th Swigart Museum Meet

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—August 9th-10th, Huntingdon, Pa.

The Gettysburg Region AACA is planning an overnight tour to the 50th Swigart Museum Car Show hosted by the Allegheny Mountain Region AACA at the Swigart museum in Huntingdon, PA.

Mark you calendar for Friday, August 9th and Saturday, August 10th, optional Sunday, August 11th if you want to tour the storage buildings.

 You are responsible for your own reservations and schedule for traveling, below are several driving routes.  You can enjoy the weekend of festivities beginning Friday evening and ending Sunday with a tour of the storage building or just attend the show on Saturday.

The drive to Huntingdon using back roads is very scenic and relaxing or you can travel Route 22/322 west from Harrisburg or the Pa. turnpike west to Route 522 N. to 22/322 W. My favorite route is Rt. 641 W from Mechanicsburg, Carlisle to Rt. 522 N to 22/322 W.

This route will take you over two mountains with lots of scenery and little traffic with a nice lunch & rest stop at the intersection of 641 and Rt.75 at Spring Run, Pa. Follow 641 to Rt. 522 at Shade Gap and continue north to 22/322. Turn left toward Huntingdon and the Swigart Museum will be on your right about four miles before getting to Huntingdon.

Check your old fashion maps for the best route from your location and enjoy the trip.

The schedule of events and registration form are in the July/August issue of The Gas Buggy or click here: http://www.swigartmuseum.com/2019Meet.pdf. Contact Bob Shultz @ 717-766-0457 or bobshop120@gmail.com with questions or information.

Fall Tour: Oct. 13-14, 2016

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Rolls Royce Museum
Rolls Royce Museum

The GRAACA Fall Tour 2016, hosted by Jim Yemzow and Pat Shaffer, took us from Mechanicsburg to Bedford, PA and was a great opportunity for even natives of the area to explore some uncover some wondrous gems!

The tour began bright and early at 8 a.m. on the 13th at the Rolls Royce Museum. Mike was a wonderful tour guide and informed us that the museum now houses all the records for tracking previous owners by the serial numbers of each car. For more information, you can visit their website: www.rollsroycefoundation.org. We also recommend checking out www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk.

The next stop for the day was the Train Museum in Everett, PA. We traveled on the Lincoln hwy Route 30 to get there. The town of Everett was previously known as Bloody Run. In 1852, the Huntingdon and Broad Top Mountain Railroad was chartered and built to bring coal, timber and other commodities as well as passengers to Bloody Run. The caboose was refurbished about two years ago.  You can read more about the history of the railway here: www.bloodyrunhistory.org.

Our third stop was at the Fort Bedford Museum (www.fortbedfordmuseum.org). In the photo you will notice a flag. It’s the one and only Fort Bedford flag from the French and Indian War, 1758. The museum also houses a Conestoga wagon, civil war cannon, 19th century women’s clothing, documents signed by the Penn family, a cooper disc shot out of the air by Annie Oakely, and a Bedford Springs ledger signed by President Buchannon.

Omni Hotel Bedford Springs ResortThe fourth stop, in the evening, was the Omni Hotel Bedford Springs Resort, a fabulous resort that seems to go on forever with 4 stories and multiple corridors.  It is completely refurbished and refinished to the 1920’s style, from the woodwork to the furniture. Even the indoor pool has been restored to it’s original decor. Visitors can also enjoy photos located everywhere of previous guests that stayed there. In addition, some of us took note of the window pane glass in the lounge areas: ladies etched their initials and names by using their diamond rings! Our stay finished with a ghost tour. A few people said they could smell cigar in the men’s only smoking room (spooky!).

Day 2 was just as packed full of exciting stops and kicked off with a stop at Ron’s Antique Radio Museum. There were radios of all kinds, everywhere!

Next, we stopped at the American Legion for a quick stay which included a covered bridge. Other stops for the day included a visit to Bison Corral Store, Juniata Trading, the Coverlet Museum, and of course, the Flight 93 Museum.

The tour covered approximately 250 miles, and was well worth the trip! Many thanks are due to Jim and Pat, the Bedford Quality Inn where we stayed, and to everyone else at the various stops who helped make this possible.

 

This article was written with the help of Dan and Annette Yost. More photos can be found on our Facebook page.