The people of Naseby and the surrounding districts turned out
in force on Saturday for what was described as the biggest
event in the town since the 125th jubilee in 1996.
The event was the culmination of a dream held by Naseby
resident Winton Amies, who had worked on the idea of holding
a large swap meet for car enthusiasts for several years.
The idea kept growing and the result was a huge crowd of
people, who arrived with more than 300 vintage cars and
motorbikes and a large collection of other vintage machinery.
Mr Amies was ecstatic at the result. He had outlaid a
considerable sum of money to advertise in newspapers and in
the club magazines which he had been advised to do by several
people within the car clubs.
"It all panned out really well - it was well worth the
effort," he said.
But he was quick to step back from the limelight, praising
his small but enthusiastic and very capable team.
"Dot [Davidson, of Ranfurly] did all the paper work. I am no
good at that and she did it all properly, demanding receipts
for every penny spent, and she has kept a good note of
everything."
His other ally was Beau Hutton, of Ranfurly. He organised all
the army gear put on show and took care of all the signs and
other information to make sure people arrived and were safe
on the park site.
Syd Broadley, of Naseby, said it certainly was the biggest
event Naseby had seen in a long time.
He had been told, by a swap meet enthusiast who travels the
South Island, that he had never seen anything like it and it
was the second largest swap meet and gathering outside the
one held at McLean Park in Christchurch. It was much bigger
than the event held at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin.
"It's something he's [Mr Amies] has dreamed about for years
and now its finally happened," Naseby resident Marilyn Brown
said.
"All credit to Winton. Even he's a bit flabbergasted," Naseby
resident John Steele said.
Mr Amies, who has a large collection of old cars, said he
knew he needed a recipe for the event and that recipe needed
to include something for everyone.
"I organised stalls with plenty of shopping for the women to
do, entertainment for the children and, of course, the blokes
have the cars, so everyone's happy," he said.
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