Event Coverage First time Iola swap meet

I'm going to get a swap spot at the Iola, WI car show this year. It's the first "big" swap I'll be doing, any tips to ease the pain? Am I better off getting in line early to set up or should I let things settle out? Finally starting to clear things out. I will admit it's fun going through the parts again.

 

Seems like Thursday and Friday are the two big sales days, there's spectators on Saturday but a lot of dealers pack up and leave Friday night already (which is unfortunate). Lots of deals being made already on Wednesday night, so I think it pays to get there early, although there's generally a huge line to get in all day Wednesday and that can be a scramble if you've got a big vehicle or a trailer to deal with. If you can get in and get parked, you'll want to be set up and ready to go Thursday morning for sure.

Have you ever been to Iola before, even as a buyer? It's enormous, and a must-do for me, I've been to every one since I was 12. Well worth it.

If I can make one suggestion, make sure your parts are labeled with a price tag. Iola is huge and not everyone is there for the whole weekend, so typically if I see stuff laid out with no price I'll just keep walking, I've got no time to try to track down whose stuff is whose and then ask for prices. This is especially true if you have someone with you to watch your stuff in case you walk away. Nothing is worse than standing there with a thumb up my ass while somone's buddy calls the owner to ask about a price. (Not saying you'd do that, just venting a personal grievance).

Good luck! What kind of stuff are you selling? I'll likely be there shopping on Thursday.

 

If you have a swap space and are selling you need to be there Wednesday morning to set up.

 

Wednesday ,Thursday and Friday are the big days. I swap and will be gone by noon on Friday

 

Thursday is the day we go burl and I get up at 1am, drive 5 hours and wait at the gate Thursday 6am, walk the whole thing (one year we walked 13 miles) them drive back home at 6pm.
This year we are doing a Wisconsin tour, Thursday Iola, Friday Milwaukee for the Miller Meet then Saturday in Hillsboro for the Sanford field showdown to race our flatheads.

 

Sweet, what cars are you racing in Hillsboro? I'll be there again with my '26 T/V8, were you there last year? I hope we get good weather and a big turnout this year. I'm also doing Iola on Thursday, it's the only way I can do both.

 

I will have my Harley KR there again also to race.

 

X2 what Squablow said. I have only been going to Iola 43 years so what do I know. Have your prices MARKED before you go. Have someone with Change $ watch your stall if you leave, and give him power to negotiate. Get there Wednesday afternoon. Bring lots of BEER in case I stop by. I still go with some of the same people that have been with me there most of those 43 years. Have Fun.
Brian

 

I believe the setup gates open at 10am on Wednesday. So you can show up any time after that or you can get there early and wait in line.

 

I was right next to you in the pits with "The Heap" A Tudor

 

OK I remember the car, didn't realize that was you. Should be a blast.

 

I'd like to hear more about the "hillsboro" event, what is it ?

 

I wish it was a mandatory requirement to have prices listed. It lets a person know if it’s in their price range or not.
But anyways, hope y’all have a great time!

 

We always go up on Wednesday and set up. We stay whole show. A lot of people work and do not get up till Saturday. So we do make some sales Saturday Been going since the 1970s. Enjoy the show. R-34 35

 

The name of the event is the Showdown at Sanford Field, there's a WWII era airstrip in Hillsboro Wisconsin that's hosting a flathead-only 1/8 mile drag race event on that airstrip. This will be the second year (the first was supposed to be 2020 but it had to get postponed for obvious reasons). Classes for 4 cylinders and V8s with bodies (I think) 1934 and older but there's also a full fendered class that can run pretty much anything into the early 50's as long as it's flathead powered and no parts newer than 1953 I believe.

It was super fun last year although it was put on somewhat last-minute due to not having assurances that it wouldn't get cancelled, but there was still enough turnout to have a good race and I'm looking forward to doing it again. Same weekend as Iola so I'm doing my swap meet trawl on Thursday and then heading down to Hillsboro on Friday.

There's an event page on Facebook if you use Facebook, I could send you a link. Otherwise here's a thread from last year with some good pictures.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/showdown-at-sanford-field.1235234/

 

Thanks for posting @Squablow

 

Thanks to all who replied. I've been going for years, just never as a seller. I'll have about 100 GM press photos, mostly Caddy. 60 Caddy parts, 52-54 and 65-66 Ford hubcaps (NORS), 50's -'70's TRW valves and valve springs, some '55 Dodge truck parts and other odds and ends.

 

I love this quote!