Just got back from the Saturday of the L.A. Roadster Show and I was amazed how empty it was. The Swap Meet spaces - well you could have pretty much had a prime spot and normally they are packed out. prime time Saturday was almost empty. I heard many comments about low attendance and that many vendors were not bothering to come because of gas prices. The visiting public was really thin too. Vendors seem still to be asking sky high prices and still have not appeared to be grasping the economic reality. Nobody seems to be buying. In twenty years I have never seen it so empty and found it really sad that the world's best hot rod swap meet is apparently in deep decline. Anyone else find this to be the case?
I saw this post and I got there late about noon it was packed, and seem to be more than last year, in fact I din't walk all the rows in the saw or the vendor area. You gotta also think about the socal show the day before, them people must be doing good to take the day off and drive out to Pomona only to back the next day for the show. Like I said the price seemed more reasonable this year, if you are building a rod, this is the place to get them parts you battle over on ebay.
ok......here is what happened , they added 2 more rows of swap spaces from last year , they did not fill in , but it made for lots of holes where no one was selling , it may have been down a little but not as bad as it looked..... Beaulieu
I as a vendor at many show can see how gas prices are effecting me..I want to do a bunch of shows up north but now I can't cause the profit is just not there,,, not worth hauling all my shit..paying thru the roof for Gas, food and hotel to make a 100 bucks. Sucks but thats the reality.... and I still get people telling me that we are not in a resection...
Yeah, the extra swap spaces that wern't filled made it seem like it was down, but I walked it around 10, and seemed to be plenty of people. Crowd inside might of been down a bit, but still seemed like plenty of looky loos around the roadsters. The ehing I noticed was quite a few of the roadsters were leaving arond 3 to 3:30. Walked around this afternoon and it looked like Sunday afternoon. Large areas were blocked off on Friady morning in the "preferred" parking area for various clubs, and that pissed off quite a few of the regulars.
I'm no auditor of attendance, but it was a little hot on the tarmac as usual, but that didn't keep the deals from going down. I watched the guy who bought our roadster step up and pay some big bucks for a gennie shell/grill from neighbor of mine here in TC. He never even knew I was there. Brookville brought out 55-1/2 bodies. That was a cool deal for them, They're headed to Vegas Baby! I saw many projects for sale - some sold, some not. Elmo Rodge was showing his wares (Tanks) and said he had a few hits. Heck,I wasn't even a vendor this year and people who I've sold to before, ordered parts as well. Don't get me wrong, I probably couldn't afford to start all of this from scratch. So I hear what some have you have said regarding our present economy. I did see some vendor gaps under the canopies as well,but a lot of new ideas/cars getting built I liked the vendor parking much better this year though. Right up to the commercial exhibit area.
Yea.... I noticed Brookeville delivered a record number of bodies to the show. But seriously, I have never seen so many empty swap spaces in 20 years. I also noticed that the vendor area still had a lot of empty places too. People were asking sky high prices, for example, last year you could get a stock '32 heavy axle for $250...this year I didn't see one for under $500... But that's the nature of this show, the gold chainers are there and if they want it, they will pay. .. The deal of the show was the yellow '32 5W that sold for $12,000 ..... I was there when a HAMBER came up to the seller and said "I think you could've got a lot more for it..." what a lame ass thing to say to someone when it's already SOLD!!! Cyclone Kevin, I noticed you picked up another roadster body from Brookeville. Saw it in your truck at So Cal open house. What was up with Sloppyseconds showing up almost 3 hours late to the So Cal open house???? Littleman...people were asking about you at the So Cal event.... Jimmy was telling them that he was trying to get you to move down here....
Sorry...took me like 30 minuets to get over there from fairgrounds...took side streets ..bad idea. I was selling my crap like crazy friday and almost forgot about it....I did make it though
best shopping gets done on friday, but ALOT of guys pulled out early today. and alot of the cars on the roadster side were gone by 3!! i overheard ALOT of guys complaining that their were tons of tire kickers but not many people dropping $$$. the last sale of the day at our camp was at 11a.m. i had fun and i'm heading back tomorrow for another look, you never know what you might find....
I went to the annual and somewhat small swap meet put on by the local Model A club today and I thought attendance was down in both vendors and buyers but I got there late by swap meet standards. I did pick up a stock closed car dash panel for my 29A project for 10.00 and a nice one at that. There was a complete 33 flathead that was all apart and needed a complete rebuild for100 that I should have picked up but the seller left before I decided I wanted it. The cars in their car show display were sparse. Usually they fill up with the I'll show my car anywhere boys.
I arrived about noon and thought it seemed busier than last year... I could be wrong but it seemed like it to me. Couldnt remember seeing so many steel 3 windows over the last few years either... damn things are everywhere. Hyfire
Seems to be a mixed bag of impressions and I guess it is always going to be subjective. I normally start at around 6.30 am and do not finish going through the swap area, socializing a bit along the way, until somewhere between 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm. I then go back to the main show on the Sunday morning. I started late (for me) today - after 7.00 am and was all done with the swap meet section today by 10.30 am, still being as thorough as I always am. I had finished the whole show by 1.30 pm, sat and chatted with friends for a while, who, having been there since Friday AM and having camped overnight, also said it was really down on numbers. I left shortly after 3.00 pm. I saw everything I usually see in one day instead of two and don't need to return Sunday. Sure I found a couple of deals. Other stuff I passed on because the prices were way over the top, but there seemed to be mostly local vendors with the long distance warriors giving it a miss. This is usually my favorite day of the year but this time it left me a little flat.
I was not there This year ... But everything I have been to this year was down a little. The higher fuel prices are a factor. As fuel goes higher, it drives most other things higher also. Pigeon Forge TN is a big tourist town about 250 miles from my house. It is usually crowed and filled with folks this time of the year. Not so lately. No problem getting a room. Even the room rates have dropped ... I have a friend who owns a Motel @ Myrtle Beach SC ( big tourist town ) .. the same thing goes for Myrtle Beach. Down by 10 to 20 per cent across the board. I think that the LA Roadsters swap meet is the BEST swap meet I have ever been to ... and I have been to Carlisle, Hershey, Pate, Charlotte, Daytona ... and lots of smaller swap meets. Hopefully, after the November election, and all the crying and moaning about a poor economy is not longer broadcast 24/7 trying to affect the election ... things will return back to normal.
The swapmeet looked smaller because they are using more of the parking lot than before. Its still one of the best events to go to. As far as the gas prices holding peaple away, if you cant afford the extra $20 bucks a fill up than you have other concerns than just the show.
Dang man, I didn't see the tumbleweeds blowing around like you're talking about! hahhaa Plenty of decent deals, still plenty of sky high prices too, assholes and elbows in the vendors area. 10 bucks for a pulled pork sandwich, could've at least included some lube, well, I think the gas stations have it all for the pumps, ha. Anyway, another AWESOME weekend! So many cool cars and cool people to talk to. Gas prices are taking a HIT, but the roadster show was still cranking....
Swap Meet seemed to have lots of spaces open, even in the better areas...Still it was one of the best in So. Cal.. Prices were mixed with some great deals and some too high priced ones. Even if it was down this year where do you find a show like that. Lots of street rods, vendors, swap meet and $10 beer.
What really pissed me off was the difference in gas prices Jeem and I paid 4.89 a gallon in Blythe on the way home and when we got back on the hiway 1 mile up it was 4.09 a gallon in az that cost jimmy 8 dollars extra that tankfull
Just got back about 30 minutes ago, we always go on Sunday just because it is Fathers day.The crowd is hard to judge for me because I get there around 6 to beat the heat.I saw that flat green roadster p-up that I think Bad Bob posted a picture of from the ink amd iron festival.That is a very well done and nice looking ride.I spoke with one of the builders a young guy and he was very nice and told me about some of the upcoming parts and projects, check them out it is www.oldspeedhotrods.com. I also bought an old front spring perch from a lifters member that was selling.all in all a nice time but getting Pomona hot when we left.
Watching the NASCAR cup race on TV ... the crowd is down in Michigan also. LOTS of empty grandstand seats ... The front straightaway stands are pretty full but the others have a lot of empty seats. .
Don't you know, it's always been cheaper across the border! I'll always fill up on the AZ side. I don't think I have ever bought gas in Blythe! jerry
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