Hoosier Auto Show and Swapmeet- RIP

J

Jon-Ohio

Senior Member
Sad to see it go. Was one of the few midwest swap meets that had a fair amount of antique and 'A' parts. It used to be huge when they had it at the Indy 500 infield but has been dwindling down the last 20 years or so since at the fairgrounds - finally to the point of financial unsustainability - RIP

http://www.hoosierautoshow.com/

Jon in Ohio
 
I have heard that the Wichita swap meet is having it's last year of operation this year after 40 years. Someone please correct me if I heard wrong. I guess most of us are getting old and many passing away - sad.
Rusty Nelson
 
Unfortunately it is the sign of the times. You have to be going for more than cheap parts because travel costs and accomodation mount up quickly. It is not my favorite but Ebay has kicked the heck out of the flea market business. Instead of walking all day in the rain you can use a keyboard and have no accomodation, food and gasoline expenses. Yes RIP, auto flea market.
Wayne
 
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Rusty,
I talked with the President of the Wichita region several weeks back and he said that yes, this is the last year. Between an aging group of volunteers, and the fact the Colloseum got sold and they couldn't get a commitment for 2016 they membership voted to make 2015 the last. I've been every year for a long time and it has always been a favorite. My since past friend and Model A mentor Terry Oberer and I went even to his last year... Always had a great time and one of our favorites outside of Hershey. Lots of good Model A Parts.

Guess I'll be looking for other midwest meets. Outside of Chickasha.... any others?
Larry Shepard
 
Over here, the meets are still going strong, although the old stuff is rare, and the 60/70/80/s stuff is abundant, but that is just a changing of the times, it's inevitable .

I doubt many lookers go to a swap JUST to get parts.

It is a pilgrimage each year to the classic meets .

Imagine what would happen , say, if Hershey shut its doors ?

It would takes years off the old fart's lives, who just go to have a gasbag with old mates every year.
 
We are working hard to organize an event on the same weekends in the Indianapolis area. I hated to see this disappear. Hope to make a formal announcement soon.
 
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larrys40 said:
Rusty,
I talked with the President of the Wichita region several weeks back and he said that yes, this is the last year. Between an aging group of volunteers, and the fact the Colloseum got sold and they couldn't get a commitment for 2016 they membership voted to make 2015 the last. I've been every year for a long time and it has always been a favorite. My since past friend and Model A mentor Terry Oberer and I went even to his last year... Always had a great time and one of our favorites outside of Hershey. Lots of good Model A Parts.

Guess I'll be looking for other midwest meets. Outside of Chickasha.... any others?
Larry Shepard
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Just found this out this morning, damned shame. Hope some group in Wichita steps up next year.
 
slackcat said:
Just found this out this morning, damned shame. Hope some group in Wichita steps up next year.
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It has been a good run but all good things must come to an end.

A swap meet will occur in the Wichita area in 2016. It will be smaller because there just isn't a facility as big as the two Pavilions (almost 230,000 total sq. ft. with good access and lots of parking). Sponsor is being worked. Details will be at the 2015 meet at the Pavilions Feb 6&7. Being the last one, I hope the vendors bring their "good" stuff.:)
 
Denver still has a big swap meet. Out of the hundreds of booths, there are only a handful of Model A vendors. Mostly 70's, 80's, 90's stuff, which I guess is now considered antique.

One Model A vendor I spoke to waved his hand over the show floor and said, "Yeah, this used to be all Model A stuff, but I don't know what happened."

So... hoping Chickasha will be good this year. :)

Denver swap meet:
http://www.tristateswapmeet.com/
 
Denver swap meet:
http://www.tristateswapmeet.com/

Wow, 8 am start ?

Our swap meets are over by that time of the day .

And Ladies free on the sunday, over here, we would call that sexist .

Probably illegal to even advertise here .

(Probably have transvestite garbed dudes trying to get in free ).
 
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