Annual swap meet brings car enthusiasts to Arena Building

Auto buffs from across a four-state area converged on the Arena Building for Sunday's 48th annual Capaha Antique Car Club swap meet.

An estimated 3,500 people attended the event to pick up car parts, browse, reunite with friends or make some extra cash. Everything from cars and trucks to carburetors and four-cylinder exhaust pipes for drag racers was available, along with food, candles and candy.

Many of those attending had done so for years, as has Mitch Middleton of Millersville who braved temperatures in the mid-30s to stand by his outside display. Middleton had a Chevy engine, Nova and Jeep parts from projects he's worked on, plus tires and car doors.

Attendees browse through tables filled with automotive parts and accessories at the Capaha Antique Car Club’s 48th annual swap meet Sunday at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau. (Adam Vogler)

"I just get rid of a bunch of stuff I'm not going to use that's just cluttering my house," said Middleton, who works at a salvage yard. He said selling his overstock at the swap meet is easier than putting it on Craigslist.

Alan Grayson of Steelville, Mo., said this is the first time he's been to the Cape Girardeau gathering, but has been going to swap meets for 30 years. He tinkers with cars and is a farmer.

Finding good deals and prices are just a couple things he likes about the events.

"It's just the variety of people. Most of them are very good people," Grayson said. He added it's also a good chance to find parts that are hard to come by, such as for his '57 Chevy and '48 Ford pickup.

Inside the Arena Building, Jerry Garrett of Benton, Ill., had auto manuals, die-cast vehicles and an assortment of other goods for sale. Most of the time, he sells his goods online -- 24 hours a day. Nevertheless, he's enjoyed going to the Cape Girardeau event for 30 years because of the variety of items and friendly people.

"A lot of us have been in the hobby for a lot of years," Garrett said. "I've seen a lot of these people in the club here [going] from middle aged gentleman to elderly gentleman and I have become the 30-something-year-old whose now 64 myself."

Vehicle badges, nameplates and hood ornaments are displayed at the Capaha Antique Car Club’s 48th annual swap meet Sunday at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau. (Adam Vogler)

Ashley Koerber of Gordonville was selling raffle tickets for an orange 1971 Chevrolet pickup truck. Proceeds, after the cost of the truck, will go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Restored seven years ago, the vehicle, which features a new motor and wheels, was purchased from her husband's best friend.

The winning ticket will be drawn at Crawlin' for a Cause, set for 8 a.m. to midnight April 26 at Outlaw Off-Road Park on Highway 34 between Jackson and Marble Hill, Mo. Those who purchased raffle tickets Sunday had their names put in a jar to be drawn for a free raffle ticket.

Last year, Crawlin' for a Cause attracted 1,500 people, so this year Koerber and other organizers are hoping for 1,800 to 2,000, if the weather cooperates. For more information, call Koerber at 450-4911 or Becky Muench at 576-7544.

Tony Brendel of Scott City, a "pit guy" for NHRA drag racers, was part of a group of drag and stock car racers attending the meet. Brendel comes out every year to sell items to "support our racing habit."

Attendees browse through tables filled with automotive parts and accessories at the Capaha Antique Car Club’s 48th annual swap meet Sunday at the Arena Building in Cape Girardeau. (Adam Vogler)

"We like being inside because it's always cold," so people tend to spend more time looking in order to warm up.

John Auer, who has been drag racing since 1995, was in the same group of tables with Brendel. He enjoys just being around other people with the same interests.

"We're all gear heads," he said.

Event coordinator and car club member Dave Jackson said the meet is a time when everyone can do a winter clean out. He said the show features "thousands of different car parts and vendors."

"We have all types of vendors from new parts to remanufacturers' parts to miscellaneous, like the candles and pottery ..." Jackson said.

"It's the largest swap meet in four states at this time of year," he added.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.