MTFCA Forum

Texas Speedway swap meet " was old Pate meet". Anyone been? Is the pre war stuff worth a 600 mile one way trip? Dan

BTT

We went last year, waste of time and money

Dan, Sadly that swap meet is not what it used to be. Lots of stuff for people who collect Camaro’s and Mustangs. Pre-war stuff in almost non existent. To be sure, I haven’t been in quite some time so maybe it has changed but I am inclined to doubt it.

Pre War Chickasha is the T meet—Pate not much old stuff

Pate was amazing when it was out in the country. Watching old man Pate pull people out of the muck with his Allis-Chalmers tractor alone was worth going. There was always a ton of pre-war stuff. I was a college kid in those days and would walk half of it the first day, then sleep in the bed of my truck in the parking lot and walk the other half the next day.

Since it moved to the speedway, the pre-war parts have slowly dried up and the last time I went (a few years ago) I saw exactly zero Model T stuff...which is noteworthy for such a large swap meet. It's now mostly late model stuff for muscle cars and stuff like C10 trucks. I'm pretty much done with it and now go to Chickasha instead.

Pate was amazing when it was out in the country.

Much of it was on hills. If there was any rain (sometimes there was a lot) the ground became slicker than snot. I once watched a guy in a 4WD Jeep trying to get to his space and sliding down the slope sideways. One year there was a fellow from Colorado with an old school bus filled with Model T parts. His location was near the east end on low ground. The rain had him on an island, so he bought bales of hay and made a causeway so people could get to him. But when the sun came out it seemed like on the higher ground it was no time before there was dust in the air, even though it sometimes took the folks on low ground two or three days after the meet to get out. And through it all the money flowed. In those days I was peddling my reproduction signs, and Pate was always my best meet. One year a couple of guys from Mexico bought over $700 worth of signs. That sure made the trip worthwhile. When they moved the meet to the speedway the magic was gone.

Steve Jelf wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:55 am

When they moved the meet to the speedway the magic was gone.[/size]

You're right Steve...It was partly that terrain/mud/chaos/etc that made it seem like an adventure. That and the fact that so many of the old-timers (who are gone now) were still going strong, selling wonderful things.

to bad!! i have been looking for a place to get rid of some of my junk. charley

They use to advertise a pre war section. I was wondering what became with that. Dan

Dan Hatch wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 25, 2019 1:38 pm

They use to advertise a pre war section. I was wondering what became with that. Dan

It must be gone.

Back in the day, a bunch of old coots used to ride around the meet and make humorous/snide remarks in a beat-to-hell Model A Phaeton. I think it was the DFW Model A Club guys. I hitched a ride on their running board one time.

At that time there was always an abundance of A and T parts.

i have been looking for a place to get rid of some of my junk.

I think Chickasha is probably your best bet. Iola might be OK, but that's a pretty long haul from MO.

chickasha is not an option anymore. charley

I think, in the long run, the Model T stuff and pre-war stuff in general, will retreat to Carlisle and Hershey and maybe the pre-war meet in California.

Not good for us in Texas and the central US...but I'm afraid that's what we'll be looking at in 10-15 years.

Don: Not to change the subject of my own thread. But, if you want to come to a new PRE WAR SWAP meet come to Luray Va in May. There are 2, YES 2 pre war meets close to each other that week/weekend. Luray ends on Sat @ noon and the HCCA BBC swap meet is Sunday in PA. About 120+ miles away. Where else can a guy go to 2 Pre War meets in one week?
So, Texas is not worth the trip? Dan

dan! way to far for one day meets. charley

They have been advertising a "pre War Area" for two years now. I went last year and there was some early stuff there, it just might take a while to really get going.
Some of the other vendors with early stuff did not want to move to the prewar area because they also had late model stuff.
It is a big meet, a lot of walking.

If you are going, get your spots ahead, because the line to buy moves very slow...….
Also,...…...everybody in Texas owns a ATV, a mule, a John Deer, and/or a mini bike, and they bring them along to shop with.

Luray is Thursday 12, Friday, Sat. Yes HCCA Tour swap is one day, but it is only 120+ miles away. What is Chickasha 1.5 days? Dan

Dan Hatch wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 25, 2019 4:10 pm

Don: Not to change the subject of my own thread. But, if you want to come to a new PRE WAR SWAP meet come to Luray Va in May. There are 2, YES 2 pre war meets close to each other that week/weekend. Luray ends on Sat @ noon and the HCCA BBC swap meet is Sunday in PA. About 120+ miles away. Where else can a guy go to 2 Pre War meets in one week?
So, Texas is not worth the trip? Dan

Thanks Dan...I may have to check those out in the near future.

aandtman wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:45 pm

They have been advertising a "pre War Area" for two years now. I went last year and there was some early stuff there, it just might take a while to really get going.

That's encouraging to hear. I do hope it takes off for them. The Houston F100 guys that I run around with get about a dozen spots side by side at Pate every year. I haven't ever joined them, but I may consider it if Pate can revive some of the older stuff.

chickasha is 2 1/2 days.i did it for 40 years. but not anymore. charley