The RENO SWAP MEET will be changing and moving. Yes, what started with William Harrah in June of 1965 will change this year. Bill loved this gathering of the faithful in the first week of June each year and ran it until his death in 1978, when William Finefrock, a noted car collector, auto journalist and founding editor/partner of Auto Week Magazine, stepped in and perpetuated the event. It was Finefrock that first used the name RENO SWAP MEET.

Some years later, a new entity known as Hot August Nights ® approached the RENO SWAP MEET and asked that it schedule itself to coincide with their fledgling effort. Finefrock agreed to help fellow car enthusiasts by re-scheduling the RENO SWAP MEET, adding an auto auction and using his media contacts, influence and reputation to get publicity for the new event and generate participation and publicity. Both events grew and grew over the years and the relationship began to change in ways that not everyone agreed were positive. From what I have seen, the combined event became more and more about revenue, procedure and internal politics and less about our collective enthusiasm for all things automotive and mechanical. Soon, Finefrock had seen enough and wanted out. He approached John Sweeney, known to him personally as a friend, fellow auto enthusiast, RENO SWAP MEET vendor and publisher of the Nor Cal Cruisin’ News and host of a weekly CBS radio show dedicated to all things automotive from nearby Sacramento, to assume responsibility for the RENO SWAP MEET.

After some discussion, John did assume primary responsibility for the RENO SWAP MEET in 1998. John continued the efforts of the RENO SWAP MEET to try to make the joint event a continued success by using his experience and contacts to secure additional sponsors and vendors, by adding new events like a Cool Car Showroom and seeking unique features to add to the event. The RENO SWAP MEET soon began to feel like a cog in a production machine as policies and procedures for the combined event continued to change. Efforts to limit the changes and demands being made upon the RENO SWAP MEET were made but RENO SWAP MEET staff and management were refused audience with the Board and Director of the event in their attempts to make sense of the changes and increased demands imposed upon the RENO SWAP MEET. In short, it felt like we had become the ugly step-child of the event, to be used for the purposes and goals of others, whether we agreed with or even been advised of these changing goals and purposes.

For 2008, the RENO SWAP MEET was asked to submit a bid as a prerequisite to participate in the combined event. Never in the history of the RENO SWAP MEET, had such a request been made and the very request seemed insulting, demeaning, degrading and offensive. No negotiations, discussions or compromises to this procedure were offered, despite efforts by the RENO SWAP MEET to seek common ground. As a direct result of a considerable difference in philosophy and purpose relative to this event, the RENO SWAP MEET refused to “bid” on its participation in the combined event and was summarily replaced.

There is only one RENO SWAP MEET ! Other events will have their own swap meets but they are not the RENO SWAP MEET that you have come to enjoy over these many years. Some events will have their own swap meet for the first time this year but those events will not be the RENO SWAP MEET, no matter where they are held, when they are held or how they may appear. The RENO SWAP MEET will continue this year, with every effort being made to continue the quality event that you have come to know. We will have real vendors and displays, our dedicated and talented volunteers and lots of old car parts, stories and events that you have come to expect.

We hope you will join us at the one true RENO SWAP MEET this year at Arco Arena Sacramento CA Sunday Aug 3rd , 2008 in continued celebration of our love affair with the automobile, its history and owners. We want to see you at the one true RENO SWAP MEET this year and remember, “In Rust We Trust “. We hope to return to Reno in June 2009.

By Evonne Sweeney /President

Reno Swap Meet Inc.
P.O. Box 1081
Folsom, CA 95763-1081
Phone 916-955-8777
email us at RenoSwapMeet@mac.com
www.renoswapmeet.com