SWAP MEET????

[bobg]

Is Coles County going to have another Swap Meet this year?
The last few years they had one in Mattoon.

It was a little weak but still a good meet and it had pretty much all Drag Race parts.
With a little getting the word out to other areas it could be big.

The one that used to be held in Effingham was a good one, Anyone know?

[Coles County Dragway USA]

The swap meet wasn't continued when we bought CCD a few years ago. The last one was our first year and there was 6 vendors and about 40 people. Not nearly enough to pay to building fees. We've even tried having a few at the track to include other than parts vendors to attract outside interest without success. Just seems like the Internet (Criagslist, Racing Junk...) has taken this away.

[bobg]

They used to have one in Effingham that was a real good one, it was most all Drag Racing parts.
If a Swap Meet is advertised on the midwest race web sites and known about months in advance they are generally pretty successful.

I go to swap meets all the time... I don't think Craigslist or Racing Junk is much of a threat to Swap meets, yes that may be true when it comes to race cars but not so much in parts.

Having one at the track is a good idea on an Non race day, but you'ld have to put it in your calender of events and push it over the PA throughout the time leading up to it.

You can't plan on one a month or two from now and expect it to be real successful.
Fliers need to be printed up and taken to other swap meets and handed out, People need to know it's going to happen and they'll plan on going.
Late Winter and early Spring swap meets are the best because racers are looking to buy parts for their cars.
The Swap meet you were talking about, the one when you bought the track, I myself heard about it the day before it took place.
Every racer I talked to in our area around Springfield hadn't heard about it when I told them I had went to it.

With the current weak economy a decent Swap Meet could be a good thing for racers to help them generate some money to buy parts and help the others find a deal on parts they need to get their car to the track.
And it would be good for the person putting it on to make money also, as long as the overhead is kept down.
That's why one at the race track on a non race day outside rain or shine would be good.
A person at the gate to collect the money and a couple to open the consession stand and sell food and drinks.
It could also be done early on a Saturday and be wrapped up by noon or 1:00 and still have the race that evening.
Just a thought.

[sg3526]

Not a big fan of swap meets for race parts. The way I look at it is if he's getting rid of it then it's junk or worn out. Yeah you can occasionally find something of interest and John Smalley usually has a lot of new stuff, but to buy pistons or rods or a crankshaft...NO THANKS.. Getting to the point where you can even buy the new stuff cheaper than what most people are asking at a Swap Meet.

[bobg]

Sounds like you've been to some circle track Swap Meets, I agree too many worn out parts but a good Drag Racing Swap Meet is a great place to not only sell the parts you don't need but buy some good parts that you do.
You've got to be able to pick the good from the bad, no different than buying anything used... car... house... whatever.

I also agree I wouldn't buy used pistons and rods and cranks.
But I've got some real good deals on wheels, chutes, wheelie bars, disc brakes, injectors, blower pullies, chassis parts even a nice enclosed trailer.
I've even bought more than one rolling Dragster and a few Funny Cars at Swap Meets.

Not everyone out there can afford brand new parts or pay new prices to build their car so their looking for that deal.
Your right some people do ask new prices so when that happens you just move onto the next guy.
Swap Meets aren't for everyone but when you go to a good one and see isles full of guys buying parts from several guys selling them then you know there is a demand for it.