After a week of foreboding weather forecasts (that proved to be pretty accurate), 358 intrepid bus enthusiasts registered for the Museum of Bus Transportation / America’s Transportation Experience Spring Fling (www.aacamuseum.org/mobt/ ). In addition, as in the past, there were a number of uncounted walk-ons. The event took place on the museum grounds in Hershey, Pennsylvania on June 6 and 7.
This is down a little bit from last year, but quite a success considering weather. It is hard to complain because this is the first rainy Saturday we have had on more than 20 consecutive Spring Flings. Attendees came from as far as California, and our colleagues at Friends of the New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center and the Pacific Bus Museum were represented.
(www.friendsnjthc.org and pacbus.org )
This year was special because an intrepid group of 20 volunteers prepped, then drove 27 historic buses up from the George Sage Annex to display at the main campus of the museum. This is addition to a number of visiting buses and motor homes.
Starting and driving antique buses, some nearing 100 years old, is no mean feat, but as a result of that effort, guests were able to see decades of bus history parked in one location. Tom McCaughey, the AACA Museum’s Bus Committee chair said, “I am extremely proud of our team of volunteers that did such a great job in preparing and moving the 27 vintage buses from the Annex to the AACA Museum. Twenty men and women worked three days to get it done.”
Every bus in the fleet performed flawlessly under its own power which made a fun day for those lucky enough to get behind the wheel.
Another of the volunteer group’s major accomplishments this year is setting up a library of maintenance and parts manuals. In the course of doing that, they identified a number of duplicates that were displayed and sold at the memorabilia marketplace. This raises money to help maintain the buses and puts these rare resources in the hands of other folks who are preserving bus history.
There was late breaking news announced at the Town Hall Meeting regarding Greyhound Lines. For months Tom McCaughey and the museum’s bus committee had been working with Flix, the owners of Greyhound Lines, regarding the disposition of their collection of historic memorabilia and artifacts.
McCaughy was able to report that not only had Greyhound offered to donate them, but had provided transportation and that they have arrived. He pointed out that “The announcement of the incredible gift of Greyhound memorabilia to us created some real energy among the crowd and enthusiasm to get those priceless items on display soon.”
As at past Spring Fling events, there were competitions in a number of different categories. Congratulations to the trophy winners:
• Best Antique Bus: 1957 GM 4104 – Friends of the NJ Transportation Heritage Center
• Best Modern Bus: 2005 Prevost H3-45 – Trans-Bridge Lines
• Best Motorhome Conversion: 1980 Prevost Liberty Motorhome – Tom Hamilton and Jim Lucas, Cranston, Rhode Island
• Furthest Traveled: – 1967 MCI MC-7 – Robert Geer, Ledyard, Connecticut
• Best Manufacturer Demo: 2025 MCI J-Model – Executive Coach, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
In addition the Bus Committee honored Frank Gonzalez of Star-Dust Tours for his many years of service and generosity to the museum. Even though based in California, Gonzalez has been unwavering in his commitment of both time and resources in supporting the museum’s mission.
At the meeting the museum also thanked Hoffman Services (www.hoffmanservices. com) for their donation of a set of re-manufactured lifts and high stands. This is a major plus for the Fleet Committee’s efforts to maintain the fleet much safer and more efficient than the pit.
For the past few years the folks from Fuel and Tire Savers (www.fueland- tiresaver.com) have been regulars at Spring Fling, and they did it again this year. In addition to services they offer on site at Fling, their team comes to all the workdays and maintains the tires on the fleet.
Virtually all the major coach manufacturers were represented – some with buses, all with support. Thanks to ABC, Irizar, MCI, Temsa and Prevost for their contributions, not just at this Fling, but over the years.
Planning has already begun for next year’s Fling. Any suggestions are gratefully received.
Thanks to everyone who braved the elements to make the 2025 Fling successful.