Event Coverage LA Roadster Show swap meet show this weekend

Go see my good friend Jeff at Corner Space S-13 & 14! Look for Model A Roadster & '32 Sedan on his trailer. He has a barn full of parts at home (Visalia, CA), let him know what you are looking for: Some Model T / Model-A fenders, doors, cowl bumpers, tank-dash / Several 33 & 34 rear fenders & bumpers, some '32 stuff, Tri 5 Chevy Parts and more!
Tell him Jim aka Sanford & Son sent you!

 

My friend just got there who is in the spot next to me and apparently there's people already in them! They have the same spot number on their ticket as we do! Apparently they've double sold a few spots so we've got to relocate and hopefully there is some spots for us.

 

I hit a big bump and broke my exhaust. So, I’ll be in the regular car. Bummer.

 

Got a spot W 20

 

Where are we meeting up and at what time for the HAMB meet and greet on Saturday?

 

About to get tucked into my carburetor bed for the night. Sold a lot of stuff in the first couple hours I was here so that's good. Here's a pic of some of my junk

 

Wish I was there. That show is always worth going to.

 

Saw him across from my space. He wanted $12K for that tudor. That's a little high for what little it came with. There was a complete '34 tudor for $11K for comparison

 

Anyone go into the specialty parking area, what gate did you have to go in. There's ALWAYS confusion EVERY year, it sucks driving around the outside of the fair grounds in a circle and it's like demolition derby as people try to get to the front of the line........it's the very worst part of the day.
I know the website says gate 15 BUT, it never is. I take that back, mid 2000s they lines us up after going through gate 15.

 

Dan, It’s the gate off Arrow highway. Confusion again this year. My advice for the club is figure out a plan and stick to that every year. This year about 6 of us where directed to roadster only parking? Still had a great time!

 

Thanks Mike.

Gate 15 like it says, I might have to eat my hat this time .

 

My understanding about a lot of the changes that take place is they quite often are the result of the Fairplex forcing them to make them, and quite often it is the day before the event. Every year this seems to happen

 

Every...time that I've gone in the last twenty+ years, it's always...been the Arrow Hwy. gate for all cars. Early cars or family parking.
I've been to almost all of them. I don't recall the entrance to the first coupla years, but that has changed. Many of the sellers were scattered out around the buildings in those first years.

Heading out shortly.

Mike

 

I was not able to attend this and am very interested if the show improved or has gotten worse this year?

 

I thought the swap was better/bigger. The venders area was smaller. Overall another good show, but nothing like the ‘90’s…..

 

Just got home…

I agree with Irish Mike, nothing like the 90’s and in my opinion, it will never be like that again ever, it’s just different times now.

I thought everything was better this year than in the last several. The swap meet was huge and I heard the best deals were Thursday. The car numbers seemed up overall to me too. The Roadsters and the specially cars. It also appeared that the spectator numbers were higher.

We had a great time today and did everything and saw everyone we wanted too. My only complaint is after the fog burned off it was freaking HOT!!!!

 

Yeah, disappointed.
Got there a little after 7AM. got into the LONG line off of Arrow Highway...all of...THREE...cars ahead of me !!

I thought, was hoping...that the Covid shows were over and would get back to normal. Not this time.
Saw a few friends, walked the non-roadster cars, walked about 90% of the swap meet area, found nothing that I was looking for, for me or a friend.
Didn't take long...even with my arthritic laden hips slowing me down.
I gave up and left, with...no joy.
Hope you sellers had a better day, and again tomorrow.

Mike

 

Sorry I missed you Jim; I did run across several HAMB members, some I've met before or know from previous events; some I just met today.

I thought the show was great, swap was better than last year. I picked up some reading material, a few old Hot Rod mags fromt he 50's, plus a few old technical books. I always search for them at stores that sell antique and collectible goods, and if you find them at all (very rare) they're way over priced. At the swap meet they go for about 5 bucks.

And I brought home a 32 grill shell, a repop, but steel. I may swap it onto the A pickup, or it may end up as wall art in the garage, we'll see. My buddy was searching for 33/34 pickup window regulators, after walking most of the swap we finally found some. The guy had 4 of them in a plastic tub, he wanted them gone, didn't want to take them back home, he took $15 for all 4 of them, and threw in the tub!

I got a ton of pics to go through, will post them in a separate thread.

 

I never saw you Richard or either of your cars.
I would have loved chatting with you.

 

looking for pics to be posted

 

If you found @1oldtimer 's panel truck, you would've found my A pickup, I was just about 4 cars down the row from him. I guess we got there a little late, they had us parked way out in the back 40, behind the bathrooms, behind the Over The Hill Gang's roped off area.

 

OMG Richard!!!!

That’s where we spent a lot of time. In the OTHG tent and about 5 cars west of his panel truck. I never went any deeper down that row.
We were probably standing next to each other at some point.

 

I thought it was a great show and getting better....but I'm easy to please when it comes to early hot rod type swap meets. I haven't missed a LARS swap for a long time, it was always gate 15 off Arrow hwy, when the promoter took over that's when the confusion started about the gates (last year they sent us around in circles and ended up going in at gate 17 Fairplex drive).
I got there at 6am and was about 5 cars deep, I always park by the restroom because I like to leave the better parking to nicer cars. It was better then last year (first year back after Covid) and I hope it continues........we CAN'T lose this swap/show. Even if I don't find anything I love been there, I was warm but I've been there when it was close or at 100 deg (90s/00s). It was nice to meet @Blues4U (sorry I'm not a very good conversationalist) and ran into @Rice n Beans Garage in the swap meet. I forgot it can be really windy, I brought the ez up but no weights and kept it low so we could hold onto it (and had a mc strap to my chair)........super inviting to everyone .

 

We had a good time, sold ok, but bought well. I had fun visiting with new and old friends all weekend. I agree that it will never be like the heyday, but I still wouldn't miss it. Times are changing, people are changing, the hobby is changing. It is easier than ever to find a good early Ford to start with, so i feel fewer people are buying chassis and mechanical components, as the car came with most of those parts. They want speed equipment, dropped axles, wheels, gauges, steering wheels, etc. They dont need crossmembers, pedals, etc.

Here's the pile of junk I came home with


Gotta have old chrome


And more steering boxes

 

Well I did post some pics. But I didn't mention the show was ok. I was lazy in the end and didn't take stuff to swap. It's getting to the point certain parts you can't even give away.
You can def build a hotrod from the parts found At the show, maybe on the cheap too if you are crafty
did any speciality parking peeps get the carload price?
We didn't even walk the roadsters. Half were covered or gone by 3pm Friday. But alas. Isn't the same 40 SoCal guys?
Sticker shock but had to eat. Food prices.
BRING IN FOOD AND DRINKS AND WATER.
This show is still better than any reg Pomona Swap. We spent most of the day saying hellos to old friends. Finding the cheap deals and driving g the old truck home.

 

I just did Saturday this year. I rolled in at Gate 17 at 7:40 and there was no one there except the friendly parking attendants. I paid the $17 for parking. There were less than 100 cars parked in spectator parking. I walked to the entrance and paid the $20 admission. My intent was to start with the swap and preferred parking.. When I got in I looked to the right and saw that there were about 100+ roadsters not counting the LAR club cars in the qualified finished roadster area so I spent about an hour with those and another half hour on the other side of the aisle looking at the coupes and 40s-60s cars. Compared to the 625 roadster numbers in the 90s' it was a shadow of a ghost town. It's "not the same" as it was but it was still a nice day and I had a good casual walk through. The vendor turn out was minimal but best described as next to nil. The swap and preferred parking area was definitely worthwhile but down 50% (just to put some number to it) from the peak years. My favorite bowling shirt seller was a no show as were the Hawaiian shirt seller(s) and the lady who makes bags and dog scarfs. I did get a chance to sit down at the Immortals' camp and chat with some people including Rob't Williams. I walked each row side to side and came to Gate 15 at 1:00. So, 5 hours and I saw everything. I skipped the Pink's chili dog this year.

As a counter-point, the Petersen is having an all electric cars and bagels this coming weekend.