MTFCA Forum

My wife and I will be attending the Chickasha Swap Meet this year for the first time.
We have one daughter that lives in Yukon, Oklahoma and one in Burkburnett, Texas, and Chickasha is between the two of them.
I know it is a Friday & Saturday meet, but never having been there before I would like to make the most of it, while keeping my wife and daughters happy. I have visited the pre-war website and have the swap meet map.

Is it small enough to see it all in one day?
Is it small enough to see it all in one day while talking to everyone who I know, or maybe don't know?

My thought is to go on Friday with the option to return again on Saturday.

Your shared experience from years past would be appreciated in helping to keep a balance of car time and family time.

: ^ )

Keith

Keith, Yes you can see it all in one day. Friday is the main day, Saturday usually doesn't amount to much.. Thursday afternoon is set up, a lot of business is done in the parking lot before they let us in to set up. I will be there Thursday and probably half a day Friday.

Keith, there are 2 large buildings-called the north building and south building as well as many outside vendors. I will be there early Thursday and hope to sell very reasonably priced Model T parts in the south building all day Friday AND Saturday. Weather appears to be cooperating. Jelf will soon give a weather report.

I feel if you are truly buying, you need to be there by 10AM Thursday and plan to be there till 7. All day Friday till you're tired.

Keith. I agree that it can all be seen in one day. Thursday is line up/set up day. Lots of buying and selling happens in the parking lot while in line before they allow us in to set up. It is such a short swap meet that we camp on our spaces in the south building. Staying in a motel is how most people do it,, but it really cuts down on the swap meet time.. Thursday parking lot day is where the "great deals" are usually found. If you only have one day to go Friday is probably best. On Friday the vendors have everything set out and you get to see things that you could not see in the parking lot. Saturday is the day people are packing up and the pickings are getting less. There are also several vendors that leave on Friday. We always are one of the last to leave Saturday, and good deals can be made on unsold items that the vendor does not want to take back home.
It looks like the weather may be good Friday and Saturday, with a 40% chance of rain Thursday. But weather at Chickasha in the spring can change at any time. So come prepared for nice weather but also have full winter clothing.
As to having time to visit with everyone and also be able to have enough shopping time. "It ain't gonna happen" Just do the best you can with the time you are there.
The wife and I will be on spaces SL 11,12,13,and 14 in the south building. Just look for the pickup with a roof top tent. Looking forward to seeing everyone

Keith, be advised that the swap meet starts on Thursday BEFORE it opens on Friday.

Well, since George mentioned it here it is.

Yes, bring your winter duds. Not only are the predicted lows pretty chilly, but weather in these parts can be surprisingly changeable. One year the meet had pleasant weather that ended with a surprise snow storm.

Steve, that snowstorm year was 2010. I was there, and couldn't work out why there was a panic to get packed up on Friday and head east as soon as possible.
If there is something in particular that you are after, you need to be there on Thursday, with a sign around your neck showing what you are looking for. I got my Bennett brakes before they were unpacked, when the wife of the vendor spotted my sign.
Allow plenty of talking time.

Allan from down under.

Alan, One year in the late 80s early 90s it was 85 F degrees, sunny, no wind, just a beautiful day. The next morning it was 11 degrees F with a full blown "Siberian Express" blizzard blowing in. By the time I got loaded up and headed east about 10 am there already was a couple inches of snow and freezing rain. It took about an hour to get to I -40 at Oklahoma City and headed east toward Arkansas. I was driving my 1 ton car hauler with a 1922 depot hack on back and pulling an overloaded 20 foot trailer. There were semi trucks and cars in the ditch everywhere. It was so cold and freezing rain that the defroster would not keep the windshield clear. I made an air deflector to put all the heat from the defroster on my driver side only. I had about a 10 inch circle to see out of. I was listening to the radio for road conditions and they were closing I-40 right behind me at every town I had just went thru. By some miracle I made it to Arkansas without one single close call, even though it was a never ending bunch of cars and trucks in the ditch. When I crossed into Arkansas I stopped to get gas. My truck, trailer, and model T were a solid ice- berg. There was barely an inch of ground clearance and all you could see of the truck and trailer was the wheels. The poor old model T was just a solid chunk of ice. I honestly do not know how the poor old car hauler pulled the load. That was one of the times in my life I know some one from above was in the truck with me.
That trip is one of the reasons I try to tell everyone to always be prepared for anything at Chickasha ...

The "official" swap meet is Friday and Saturday, but as others have said, in reality it's Thursday and Friday. The place is a ghost town on Saturday.

MWalker wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 12, 2022 9:12 am

The "official" swap meet is Friday and Saturday, but as others have said, in reality it's Thursday and Friday. The place is a ghost town on Saturday.

II agree with Mike and all who have said be there on setup day. It used to be a Thur,-Fri.-Sat. meet and Wed. was the setup day. Although selling and buying on setup day, is probably not encouraged by the promoters, they are powerless to stop it either. Most vendors will make a deal or sale on setup day rather than risk taking an unsold item back home because of a missed sale.

Have fun Keith! It ain't what it used to be.

This is another thread that points out how this hobby discourages younger, regular working stiff participants. If one has a M-F 9-5 job, one has little access to model T events or parts, other than online, through the vendors, classified ads here, or ebay. My father says that back in the ‘60’s, when my family was very active in T’s, the tours were primarily on the weekends, the swap meets were primarily on the weekends, club socials were on the weekends or weekday evenings. But back then, more active members were men in their 30s and 40s, with families and regular jobs. So when anyone complains that the hobby needs new blood, consider that most of the group’s activities today exclude the folks that are described as the “future“ of the hobby.

Just an observation…
Eric

Eric

All they have to do is make Chickasha a Sat Sun swap meet with setup on Friday. Perhaps it is cheaper rent wise to get everyone out by Saturday, because the rent is less on weekdays? I do not know. If they advertise Chickasha as Sat/Sun and keep the gates closed until Friday AM, what will happen. Will the participation still be the same?

Keith,

Arrive Thursday morning.
Find a place to park and walk the vendor line.
You will see folks you know and meet new friends.

There is a decent shower in the new building
along with decent food served early in the morning.

Enjoy ….


FJ

It ain't what it used to be.

Not many things are. Sometimes that means worse, sometimes better. But not much remains the same, other than Ben Franklin's comment about death and taxes.

I was there 2010 and it was up to 24C (75F) on saturday and sunday morning all Oklahoma was covered in snow.

About being there thursday - here is a truck with a trailer that just pulled in and look how the "vultures" circled the potential pray....

Michael

Closest thing us old guys get to Christmas Morning
and presents under the tree


FJ

Looks like Donnie in the picture, snagging all the good stuff before I get there.

"Vulture" ..... I "resemble"that remark. Been called worse
Steve, That photo is well after day break. I was there at least 2 hours before day break. "The early bird gets the worm"