Last year we decided on a whim that it would be fun to have an event here. Invite some people over, ask them to bring the European car in their driveway they are most proud of, and encourage them to sell or swap car parts. I mean, we love car parts, and the more access to parts (which is our personal goal), the better chance of keeping cars on the road. About 250 people showed up, and I think I personally grilled a hamburger or hotdog for every one of them. Johnny, our resident DJ, gently twisted his main volume up and we had a nice time.
When we decided to do another eEuroparts Swap Meet, some extra promotion was designed. With the help of a [very spiffy] series of posters, flyers, a few emails, a facebook boost, and a few car shows later, suddenly we had 10 times the RSVP’s. We had 6 times as many vendors sign up, and the entire company realized that it was on, we were putting on a big show!
Early in the morning, the vendors started flooding in and unloading. Trailers full of Shelby SAAB wheels emptied right here in front of the company. Rare Viggen bumpers, a 4 door 9-3 catalog body kit, Porsche brake calipers, piles and piles of hard to find VDub stuff sprawled end to end across the 70 parking spaces in front of the facility, eventually flowing up onto the grass on all sides. Our traffic team began parking show cars alongside the company race cars, which themselves made a very cool display. Meanwhile the generators for the food trucks revved up and with the sound stage completed, we were underway. We hoisted the sponsor banners, and cranked it.
Some of the coolest Euro cars we knew mosied in, everything from hyper-clean classic SAAB 900’s to slammed Volkswagens riding on airbag suspension. Every type of Volvo you could imagine. Trim and detailed S60 and V60R’s joined the ranks alongside some well patina’d bricks, most filled with spare parts to sell. A few vendors sold toy cars that we didn’t even know existed, including 1:18th scale SAAB C900’s.
It was pretty clear that no one expected a live band to pick up their guitars and start killing it, but it happened. Mission Transmission and Randomizer did something few swap meet acts can do, draw a crowd. Around lunchtime, people were gathering around to chow down, and watch the band before going back out and seeing the new cars that arrived. Throughout the entire day, spaces opened up as people left, only to be filled with something new. Our food vendor (who was used to events this size) estimates the count to be around 2,000 people total. That’s a good bit up from the 250 of last year.
Thanks to the companies that sponsored meal tickets for vendors and early birds. Febi Bilstein, ZF, Sachs, Stabilus, Flosser Automotive Light Bulbs, and Nastra Brake Calipers. Our two Dj’s, Mazzik and Void also did a fantastic job at setting the atmosphere, kudos to the entire sound stage crew from Connecticut Light and Sound! Special thanks to our T-shirt supplier JBM Press for sponsoring the stage.
About halfway through, we were flirting with capacity, and the line for food got a little long for comfort. We had no idea what demand would be, so next year we will pad the food area with some more food options. I think I gained 5lbs after that meal, so maybe someone that can make me a salad would be a good idea. The fries were amazing, and I’ll leave it at that.
The raffle gave away thousands of dollars of eEuro giftcards thanks to our vendor sponsors. Mahle, Bosch, Meistersatz, Do88, Karlyn, Valeo, Hella, Rein, CRP, Pentosin, GB Remanufacturing all pitched in, alongside Genuine SAAB and Genuine BMW. We put in as well, using eEuro Preferred as our preferred sponsor brand.
Around, we took our company group photo on the stage, and everyone cleared out. All in all the event was a huge success. Special thanks to all our vendors that provided free swag at our tent, sponsored meals for our vendors and attendees, and helped make this event huge.
Check out the photo gallery here: [Click here for photo gallery]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBDc-vBV1Zs
We don’t know what is going to happen next year, if we keep growing like this we may not be able to hold this event here. Initial whisperings suggest renting out a race track, but we will cross that bridge when we get there. For now, we have a whole summer of events to get ready for! Keep track by following us: Facebook Twitter Google+ YouTube Instagram
What kind of engine is that in the Jay Pagano Saab Pictured?
A BMW?
Any Technical Info that can be provided, the pics are really interesting.
Thanks All.
Hi there, that’d be a custom Volvo 242 build done by a customer that shows up here often to pick up parts for the family homestead of SAABs and Volvos. Here’s a picture of the car when he stopped by last year
Lime Rock?
Nice event, friendly crowd, great food, enjoyed the vendor experience. Blown away by the generosity of EEuroparts and suppliers especially the gift certificates.
Only suggestion, when repeating the #’s for gifts, state that it’s repeat numbers from previous group, and call more slowly, it just seemed confusing. Maybe it was just me?
Also,we couldn’t do donuts. but we could eat them 😉 hint.hint
looks great – but based on the photos it seems it was in the North East – bust where New York Mass Ct ? hmmm
It was at eEuroparts.com, in Windsor Connecticut
where is the 2015 meet?
Do you mean 2016? Hopefully here, but we might have to move to some place larger.
It would have been nice to know about prior to it taking place. I have 2 euro cars, one of them I bought in Connecticut.
Hey Dennis, we sent advertising through emails, facebook, google+, and multiple posts in this blog. What would be a better outlet to reach you for next time?