The future of the semi annual classic car selling jamborees called swap meets may be questionable in the face of fierce competition from other events and internet selling.

But British Columbia’s oldest and largest parts and vehicle swap meet soldiers on. In fact, the upcoming Coastal Swap Meet to be held at Abbotsford’s Tradex Centre on May 23^rd and 24^th marks the 30^th anniversary of what started as a yard sale held by three local car clubs.

In those 30 years, the Coastal Swap Meet, formerly known as the Cloverdale Swap Meet, has moved around a lot. The annual event held every May began at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds and then moved to Coquitlam’s Centennial Centre. When growth and parking issues rendered the Coquitlam location unsuitable, the ever enlarging swap meet moved back to the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.

This will be the third year the swap meet will be held at Tradex Convention Centre adjacent to the Abbotsford Airport. The new location features two huge buildings for indoor stalls and spacious grounds for outdoor sales and car corral. There is certainly room to grow.

This is one of the only swap meets that starts at noon on Friday and runs through the evening with an 8 a.m. Saturday start time. The swap meet has never been run on a Sunday.

Three car clubs still operate the swap meet with a committee that meets monthly throughout the entire year and hundreds of volunteers that stage the event over two very intense days. The Vancouver Chapter of the Vintage Car Club of Canada, the Pacific International Street Rod Association and the Totem A and T Ford Club put in a tremendous effort to make the Coastal Swap Meet the pivotal event kicking off the good weather season for all motorheads.

The event averages 900 venders from as far away as Saskatchewan and Washington State. Visitors come by the thousands from as far away as Portland and Toronto. "It’s a way to see all your friends in one weekend," says Jack Cliffe, who with wife Jackie, ran the swap meet for two decades.

Ray Johnson and wife Cathy, who also managed the swap meet alongside the Cliffe’s recalls the camaraderie developed among many of the volunteers who camped out at the swap meet starting the night before.

And these friendships and camaraderie may just be what will sustain the swap meet in the face of serious competition to internet-based sales forums like Ebay and Craigs List. You don’t meet too many people this way and it’s not conducive to swapping stories and useful information.

And there aren’t too many fenders, frames, engine blocks and racing wheels that are sold over the internet because vendors don’t want to ship them and buyer’s wouldn’t want to pay..

So, for the 30^th anniversary of the Coastal Swap Meet, the committee is putting on a very important event loaded with special features including the involvement of A&W. In doing so, they are asking for your support. Book your stalls early. Plan to attend. After all, the Coastal Swap Meet will only turn 30 once.

Alyn Edwards,

Volunteer Promotions Advisor