"Dale H. Cook" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 18 Jan 2005 11:16:49 -0500, "Jerry"
wrote:

So if you have never been to Shelby,
NC, I would suggest you come.

I'll second that. I've never been to Dayton - it is too long a haul
for someone who is on call 24/7 (I'm a boatanchor buyer, not a
seller), but Shelby is about a 3-1/2 hour drive away. There aren't
quite as many boatanchors as there were several years ago, but there
are still a lot of them. Shelby is considered by all the flea market
fans that I know (and yours truly) as the best hamfest in the
southeast.

Dale H. Cook, Chief Engineer, WWWR Roanoke VA, WCQV Moneta VA, WKBA
WZZI Vinton VA, WKPA WLNI WZZU Lynchburg VA, WMNA/WMNA-FM Gretna VA,
WOWZ Appomattox VA
http://members.cox.net/dalehcook/starcity.shtml

Aw RIGHT! Then you know what I am talking about! I found the restrictions
at Dayton to be strange. Seems to me that would do more harm than good. To
my mind, the crowding says 1) Ya got a good thing going, 2) If you find it
necessary to "restrict" sales and inhibit the free exercise thereof,
because of safety and fire regulations, then it is time to MOVE the thing
somewhere else that CAN handle the crowd! I also find the idea that a
hamfest would limit vendor passes, or not allow sales outside the allocated
days because *some* people can't come kind of silly; why penalize those who
have done their 30 years and have well-deserved time to come all the way to
Dayton? Nobody's begging to come, right?

If I ever make the trip to Dayton, it will only be to look around..I say
IF!! Many more restrictions like that, and wonder how many people will "just
never get around to going to Dayton"?

Dale, when you come down to Shelby this fall, look us up! My buddy, K4EDK
and I will be in the same spot we have had for 4 years! Jim LOVES all those
old boat anchors and brings AM transmitters, parts, and stuff every year.
He started hamming in 1955 and I rag on him all the time about my back
hurting lugging that stuff around for him! LOL! Come down the hill at the
Shriner's Pagoda (towards the lower gate that they usually close during the
hamfest). Look for the first NON-paved lane going down towards the rear
latrines (where the pavement circles in a "U" and comes up to the guy that
sells the tents. Follow that unpaved lane from the Shriners to the first
PAVED cross-lane (blocked off for vendor spaces) We will be the FIRST spaces
on the right--look for an older, black Silverado truck with a BIG 3"
screwdriver. US old guys that aren't restricted by a desk usually show up
NLT Tuesday prior the 'fest and start buying and selling soon after. By
Wednesday, it looks like the "real" hamfest, and nobody gets upset!! The
gates are wide open, and even the skinflints can come buy and trade without
having to buy a ticket! (That may change because Shelby seems to be lasting
longer and longer since there's as much stuff going on before Friday as
Saturday) I wouldn't blame them for it.

Shelby is my favorite 'fest and the atmosphere is relaxed, there's plenty of
room to expand. There's acres and acres that can be used for flea market
area. It could prolly HANDLE Dayton's crowds. Heck, I have to have a golf
cart to get around the thing as it is! LOL!

73

Jerry
K4KWH