The Cootamundra Antique Motor Club have been running their Fathers Day Swap Meet for 27 years and the organisers are expecting a crowd of thousands.
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Fondly referred to as the ‘Friendly Swap’, Sunday’s event is tipped to attract residents and visitors to the Cootamundra Showground for a spectacle of parts, stalls and bric-a-brac.
Barry Gavin, of the organisers, said it was started as a way to finance the Antique Motor Club.
“We needed funds for the insurances and things like the newsletter,” he said.
“Any excess funds go back into the community.
“Last year we donated more than $3500 back into the community because we are a non-profit organisation.”
At the 2017 event, official numbers revealed a whopping 356 stalls were in action over the Father's Day event and Mr Gavin is expecting similar numbers.
“The Friendly Swap is run well and nearly everyone I have talked to has a good word about it,” he said.
“You see people you don’t get to see very often and some people come back into town, even if they’ve lived out of town.
“We already have more than 300 sites booked, but we still have some more available for those interested.”
Mr Gavin said Riding for the Disabled is their sole caterer for the event.
“We are their main fundraiser for the year,” he said. “So if we do well, then they also do well.”
Mr Gavin said there is some Saturday trading for the early birds who are on the hunt for a particular item.
“You have some people who want to find that really hard to get item,” he said.
“I have even seen people unloading a bloke’s ute for him to see what was inside.”
Swap Meets started out as car, motorbike, stationary engines and motor parts sales place, but has developed over the years to include more than that, Mr Gavin said.
“You can find anything from crafts and jewelry to antiques and bric-a-brac,” he said.
Mr Gavin said he wanted to acknowledge the efforts of his wife Lynn, who is the main organiser and runs a tight, successful ship.
Gates open at 6am on Sunday for the Cootamundra Fathers Day Swap Meet.