As with Mr Smits, I also started going to Chickasha in the 1980s, along with Pate, Petit Jean, and Nashville, Georgia which later moved to Moultrie -
of course Hershey was much earlier,
as were the more local meets like Baton Rouge,
and more impromptu offerings at local car shows such as the New Orleans All-Club Show which was always the Saturday following Hershey.
The treasures we found at Hershey were quickly used to enhance our cars for display that following Saturday.
So many of the earlier comments ring true. Internet availability of specialized parts has helped the hobby but diminished Flea Market in person activity,
just as sources such as Amazon and Ebay have altered our in-person shopping at local merchants and big-box brick and mortar stores.
I appreciate walking the fields and renewing the many friendships cultivated over the past 60+ years I've been actively involved in the hobby.
I'll miss the Friday Noon-Time Buick Guy Photo Shoot at Chickasha.
Pate always had a Modified/Street-Rod component which seems to have increased over the years -
especially since leaving the Aggie Pate Ranch for the Texas Motor Speedway,
and I haven't attended recently, but miss heading up to Fort Worth for Angelo's Barbecue (2533 White Settlement Rd) -
maybe next week during the VMCCA Orphan Car Tour?
Petit Jean Mountain, Arkansas was always a neat small get-together in the shade just prior to Fathers' Day,
and we'll once again visit the Museum at Petit Jean Mountain during the VMCCA Chrome Glidden Tour later this month.
I haven't been able to attend Moultrie for many years.
Part of the issue at Chickasha was that it seemed the better deals were made in the parking area on Thursday before vendors were allowed into the facility.
While Friday was a fairly active day, most vendors and visitors were gone before Saturday's opening -
so 4+ night of motels, 4 days driving, 4+ days of expenses for what amounted to a single day shopping ???
One of the best parts of the Chickasha Meet was annual visits to Don Boulton's garages, a spectacular Brass-Era collection in Oklahoma City, sadly no longer there following Mr Boulton's passing.