March 1, 2009

March 1, 2009

Well, as birthdays go, this was a memorable one. I drove over to my parents house in Citrus County with my girlfriend to spend the weekend there. I was excited that she had agreed to come with us to the Webster Auto Swap, which was being held that Sunday. My roommate, who rarely gets to come to one of these events, drove over and met us Sunday morning, and after breakfast we piled into his big red Silverado and headed toward Webster. The forcast was that there was to be a cold front passing through the area that morning, and wouldn't you know it, the forecasters were right. We got there in the middle of it. The rain wasn't really that bad- we had been provided warm clothes and umbrellas by my parents- it was the stiff and gusty wind that drove the rain into our allegedly waterproof jackets that made the cold. They still charged us admission. The show itself was in the pasture north of its usual location, due to the concurrent Sumter County Fair. It was also half the size of the Winter Extravaganza two weeks prior, or at least it would have been had the weather not been driving off all but the most hard-core of vendors. The three of us walked around the show, looking at the stuff that vendors had not packed away or thrown tarps over, usually not lingering too long at any one spot. We did stop at a hot dog stand under a canopy for a few minutes, though. I knocked on a few windows and walked into a few trailers to ask some questions, but I didn't find any truck or Camaro parts. I figured, though, that if these guys were committed enough to be out there in that infernal cold, I would at least look at what they had to offer. Toward the end of our time there, it had pretty much stopped raining, but the wind was still howling at a good clip. By that point, however my girlfriend decided that she's rather wait in the Silverado out of the weather. And, as she has little interest in old car parts, I don't blame her.

February 14, 2009

Why do so many things have to happen on the same weekend? My roommate had plans, I had plans, it just happened to be valentines day, but most importantly (for the subject matter in this blog) it was the same weekend as the Webster Auto Swap Winter Extravaganza! I found this guy, Darren, from Texas on craigslist who specializes in 60-66 Chevy trucks and Suburbans. He makes trips to Florida and different areas of the southeast for events like the auto swap. I can provide contact information if anyone wants it, just leave a comment requesting it.

Friday I left from south of Miami, stopped in Orlando for dinner with the girlfriend, and on to Citrus County to my parents house, a convenient 30 miles from Webster (if you know the back way). My dad and I headed for the swap meet the next morning after an early breakfast. Now, the auto swap is held monthly, but this being their special event, it was twice the size it normally is. For those of you unfamiliar with this show, its like a big flea market with an auto theme and a car show. Hundreds of people from all over the southeast (and Texas, like Darren) set up tables or benches in this big field, or many sell stuff right off their trailers. Car parts, model cars, whole cars, mostly classics set up in an almost orderly fashion as far as the eye can see. They have a smattering of vendors that sell things that aren't even car related, which I have always found to be frustrating. I'm there to look for parts and accessories, not rugs or toys or wood carvings.

My dad and I walked around for probably over an hour, with my dad having to stop to rest a few times. By the time I found Darren, we had walked almost the whole place, and dad was out of steam. So he left. I bought the bedside panels and fenders that he brought with him. In the process of walking back across the fairgrounds to the ATM, I wound up finding other parts for sale. The long and short of it is that I left there with two sets of rear fenders, two sides of the box that makes up the bed, a tailgate, a rear bumper, and a seat. Sure, I spent more than I planned on, but I can use the best parts and sell the ones I don't use and get my money back. Plus, I can sell the fenders that are currently on the truck (a different shape, since they're off a '68) and get a little back for them, too.

All in all, it was a good trip. I drove back to my house with the back of my Taco piled high with parts, unloaded the truck, and still had time for a shower and a lovely evening with my girlfriend. Best Valentines Day ever.

Post Written on 4/15/09