The Swap Meet  -  2020 is all go

Dates are Friday 9 October until Sunday 11 October 2020 - Mark your diaries now.

This month we convened our first Swap Meet committee meeting to decide whether or not we should run Swap Meet this year.

With the move to Level 1 there is no reason why we cannot, so we unanimously decided to begin planning and get the ‘machine’ moving. It will take a determined effort to get everything arranged and in place in time for October, but our committee is well up to the task and is certainly enthusiastic about making it all happen. What may make this year’s event even more special is that there haven’t been Swap Meets in Washdyke or Ashburton this year, and many took the opportunity during lockdown to sort out their garages/sheds, so there may very well be much more on offer this year.

We can confirm that the Swap Meet will once again be a 3-day event, and run on 9th, 10th and 11th October. As per last year, there will once again be no trading permitted until Friday morning, and the grounds will be open for site set-up from first thing Thursday morning 8th October. The admittance fee will remain at $5 per day for Friday and Saturday, and entry on Sunday will be by gold coin. The reason for gold coin on Sunday is to encourage the public to attend on that day, recognising that the event effectively ends soon after mid-day. This year we really want to encourage all site-holders to stay for Sunday in the expectation that significantly more public will attend that day.

There is now some urgency to begin filling rosters for the various tasks that need to happen during Swap Meet, so can I ask absolutely every member to please be generous and give us at least an hour of your time over the weekend. None of the tasks are particularly challenging and you will not be doing it on your own. The rosters will be available to fill in at every noggin from July to October, or you can call or email me directly.

For those who have not yet re-booked sites or need a site, there are only around 100 left, so to avoid disappointment get your booking done now with Neil Shaskey (Ph 027 289 6201, email swapmeetsites@gmail.com). Similarly, if you want a camping site for that weekend within the grounds, please contact Andrea Dallow (Ph 03 388 2838 or email ) as soon as possible.

Once again, we want to fill the grounds with display vehicles. All one-make clubs have already been invited, but we would welcome as many members as possible to bring their club-eligible vehicles out for one or more of the swap meet days.

Here’s hoping we get good weather this year too!

Colin Hey
VCC Canterbury Branch Swap Meet Committee Chair

03 359 8738

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