Iola - Old Car Show & Swap Meet

On the road again heading for the car show we had been hearing about since arriving in Wisconsin. 

The 41st Iola Car Show & Swap Meet is in a little town called Iola, with a population of around 6-700.  It is a classic show & every year there is a theme, this year was Ford vs Chev, with the "Blue Ribbon" cars facing off against each other.  Also they have designated areas for certain classes of cars to be parked, (when you registered for the event you are given a coloured info card which tells you what area you are parked in) e.g Pre-war, Modified, All original,Old cars young drivers, Post-war cars and the cars for sale - we were in this years "Themed" area Ford vs Chev, a great concept that worked really well.

This is a really large show & swap meet , with 4450 plots for the swap meet, I couldn't tell how many cars where on display as it was a 4 day show, but a few thousand.

The fairground also had 1800 camping site's down the road with shuttles running hourly, so a well oiled machine as they say.

We stumbled across a private campground across the road from the show, this guy opens up his back yard for the week, charges $30 a night, (he's been doing it for over 30 years) and it was very convenient.

Just after setting up camp at the far end of the section, Daryl sticks his head in the door and asks if I have seen what's down there? Hop out to see a big ole NZ flag hanging on the fence - small world and I am guessing we will be here longer than the planned day..... 

Later we run into the expat Kiwis,  they have been attending the show since around 1999, (Allan Sheehan - Greymouth, John Brown - Timaru, Allan Rothwell - Johnsonville, Steve Condon - Auckland and Antony Lessister - Whitanga who was visiting the others) so it was great to catch up with these guys and talk some bull.  (Not 100% on the spelling, sorry guys......)

D & B, Allan R, John, Steve, Allan S & Antony

Found some bargains at the swap meet, so if you are coming up to Wisconsin next year around July 10-13, make this one of your stops.

 

 

After 3 days of walking around the swap meet and yes it is that big it took us 3 days just get around just that part of it, little lone try and remember where parts were we had seen, that was enough for me.  The weather was hot and there were a lot of sun burnt people around with panda eyes.  I was hanging out for a decent shower so I could wash my hair etc.  On the last evening Allan's (S) wife, Joss and John's wife Angela (and son Sean) arrived - it was great to have some good kiwi female company. 

A real pleasure to share time with the group and just good company - thanks guys.