CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND SWAP MEET AND CAR SHOW
The Central North Island Swap Meet and Car Show never fails to impress. Even though Paradise Valley Raceway is only a hop, skip, and a jump from Rotorua, the last short bit of narrow winding road suggests otherwise. You come around the last corner with no hint of what’s to come, and there it is laid out before you: a sea of vehicles filling the giant car park in the foreground stretching away to the hustle and bustle of the impressive swap meet and car show. People come from all over the place to be at this show, and they all must start out way earlier than my assistants and me, because we never seem to get a park much inside the perimeter.
But no matter — there is plenty of room, and, in times past, when the forecast and weather were much better, if the raceway filled up, the Vintage Car Club (VCC) guys would open up an adjoining paddock or two.
Not that that there was anything wrong with the weather this year; it was cool, dry, and overcast on Sunday, 8 July, but the forecast had predicted much worse. For all that, VCC president David Tomlinson expressed satisfaction at the turnout. He explained that the event was their major fundraiser of the year, keeping the 44-year-old VCC branch going strong — funds raised from the club’s other events generally go to worthy causes.
David was pleased to point out that the car park was about as full as it could be; there were more than 100 swap meeters swapping, mostly for cash, paraphernalia of the most obscure kind; more than 2000 aficionados expected through the gates; and over 70 cars on show. In addition, this year, there were at least 30 vehicles, including motorbikes, for sale among the stalls.
As the infield of the stock car track was dry enough, Neville Harper and Roger Nelson, prime movers behind David, directed the show cars there, handy to the swap meet. There was no need to climb the big hill to the small car park where the show cars usually were. Gumboots, however, remained the footwear of choice for the committed attendee. The catering was pretty good, too. There is nothing like a hot dog and carton of hot chips on a cool car show morning to revive flagging assistants. Of course, there is more sophisticated fare available but journalistic expenses only go so far. For 38 of the 44 years since the branch got underway, family and friends have rallied around the executive, putting in considerable effort towards making sure that the event is a success. The number of participants, swap meeters and vehicle owners, and paying public who turn up year after year in such impressive numbers is testament to their efforts.