Motorcycle Enthusiasts
Swap meet for motorcycle enthusiasts returning to Claremore Expo.
By: Carol Beck-Round | Category: In Our Communities | Issue: October 2006
Motorcycle enthusiasts inspect a variety of cycles at the first swap meet held at the Claremore Expo Center in July. The second swap meet is scheduled for October 29
At the ripe old age of five, Jeff Williams was “helping” his father build his motorcycle swap meet business. Thirty-six years later, Williams has taken over the business with events in Kansas City and Oklahoma City.
On Sunday, October 29, Williams will bring his second swap meet to the Claremore Expo Center.
“Attendance at the first swap meet in Claremore was around 800,” says Williams. “As our first event in the area, I was encouraged. We would like to see this number climb in the future. And judging by feedback from the July 9 swap, it will.”
Jeff Williams Promotions has been producing motorcycle events since 1970 when his father, Phil Williams, held the first swap meet in Kansas City, Mo. Williams’ father patterned the swap meet after local swap and shops in the area, but specialized in motorcycle parts and accessories.
“His friends told him it would never work,” he adds, “but 37 years later, it is still strong.”
Various vendors from around the area will start setting up their goods at 6 a.m. at the Expo, which will open to the public at 9 a.m. and run until 4 p.m.
“We have ‘professional’ vendors who do this for a living, and we have guys who just want to clean out their garage,” says Williams. “We keep the cost low to be a vendor, so anyone can come down and set up shop for the day.”
A 10 x 10 booth costs $20, which includes one person’s admission. The general admission is $5 per person and children under 12 are free.
While some motorcycle events charge up to $200 for booth space, Williams has kept his cost low so that more vendors can participate.
“We then have more variety and better end prices for the consumers,” he adds.
If you have never attended a motorcycle swap meet, Williams encourages enthusiasts to do so.
“The swap meets are a great place to get deals on riding gear, or to buy hard-to-find parts for your bike,” Williams says.
“But more than that, they are a chance to get together with other people who love to ride. It’s a great destination for a Sunday ride and on a sunny afternoon, the row of bikes in front of the building is a show in itself,” he adds.
In addition to swap meets, Williams hosts an annual Motorcycle Show in Oklahoma City, a two-day event that includes a custom and antique motorcycle show, a live stunt show, live bands and a huge swap meet. This event is set for January 20 and 21, 2007.
“It’s our largest event of the year,” says Williams.
For more information on the Claremore swap meet or any other motorcycle event produced by Jeff Williams, you can visit his website at www.jwswapmeet.com.
For more information, contact
Jeff Williams Promotions
P.O. Box 543, Blue Springs, MO 64013(816) 228-5811 • (816) 456-4415 (work)
www.jwswapmeet.com
About Author Carol Beck-Round
After 30 years in public school education, Carol Round retired and moved from Grand Lake to Claremore, Oklahoma in 2005, where she writes a weekly faith-based column which runs in 14 Oklahoma newspapers as well as several national and international publications. Three volumes of her columns have been compiled into collections: A Matter of Faith, Faith Matters and by FAITH alone. She has also written Journaling with Jesus: How to Draw Closer to God and a companion workbook, The 40-Day Challenge. This past year she has written three children’s books, a series called Nana’s 3 Jars, to teach children about the value of giving, saving and spending money. All of Carol’s books are available through Amazon. In addition to writing her weekly column, authoring books and speaking to women’s groups, she writes for Value News. She also blogs regularly at www.carolaround.com. When she is not writing or speaking, she loves spending time with her three grandchildren, working in her flowerbeds, shooting photos, volunteering at her church or going on mission trips overseas, and hiking. She is also an avid reader and loves working crosswords and trying to solve Sudoku puzzles.
Jeff Williams Promotions
For more information, contact:
Jeff Williams Promotions
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