Fairgrounds packed Saturday for Swap Meet and Car Show

Mar 07, 2023

COLDWATER — Rain stayed away, but not the cars, trucks, motorcycles, and crowds from the Mother's Day weekend Swap Meet and Car Show at the Branch County Fairgrounds.

Over 3,000 paid attendance, plus over 1,000 showed off their vehicles at the 31st show, back for its second year after a two-year hiatus for COVID-19.

Dave Helman of Kalamazoo drove down, "For the cars, cars, cars."

Rich Cummings of Coldwater brought his wife and grandson, a Mercedes convertible, a rat rod, a mock 1908 Olds runabout, and towering over the field, a retired Coldwater Fire Department #7 aerial truck topped with the American flag.

"I always wanted a fire truck," Cummings said. He asked the Coldwater chief where the retired truck went, drove over to Marcellus, and bought it. It runs.

"I haven't done any restoration," he said. His neighbor used the bucket to trim storm-damaged trees.

Bronson Chamber of Commerce President Darin Fredrickson, better known as RC Roddder, brought his 1974 Steampunk’d Krusty Beetle, a social media favorite.

Completely redone with power and transmission, "It's all original patina," Frederickson said of the unpainted body. "It gives him attitude" to go with the ear-blasting sound system.

Eaton Rapids car builder Troy Craven brought a rat rod inspired by the Mad Max movies.

"It gets attention. I like see people's reactions," he said.

John Gee went to a garage sale with wife Carol in Rockford. She got nothing, but he got a yellow limited edition 2010 Chevy Camaro. Called the "Transformer" after the movies, he has kept making changes. His wife calls it the Bumble Bee.

"I put the gullwing doors on. reversed the hood," he said. Now they go to car shows.

A record number of vendors filled the area west of the grandstand with new items, OEM items, and almost any items related to motorized travel. The real gold was parts of classic cars, speed equipment, and automobile-related historical items.

Smyrna Chop Shop owner Jess Harwood and friend Eric Whelan each carried, among other items, Thrush mufflers.

"I used to put them on my cars back in the 70s," Harwood said. Known as "glass packs" for the fiberglass insides, they give cars a distinctive sound. "They are hard to find, like the Holy Grail. Almost like a 32 Ford coupe."

Randy Zeno of Battle Creek brought parts someone might be looking for. He buys them at garage sales, auctions, wherever he finds them.

"Chevy bumper for $100 off a ’64. Those are hard to find. Make me an offer so I don't have to take it home," he said.

At 1 p.m., owners revved engines at the muffler rap. Cars, trucks, and motorcycles challenged each other. A motorcycle won at 109 decibels as the loudest.

Saturday ended with the 4 p.m. cruise around the city estimated at over 150 cars by police.

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Show board chairman James Brooks said the group won't have the final numbers until later this week. They hope to donate more than last year's $20,000 raised by the not-for-profit organization to local charities.