2023 Shelby Hamfest

By Susan Langley-Jones WA4AKB

First, I’ll start with a little bit of history.  My first Shelby Hamfest was in 1977 at an early site called Cedar Park.  I probably have some snapshots of it in my box of photos.  It was not all that big, but a lot of fun.  There was a small outdoor flea market, a building with some dealers and the ARRL, and a picnic shelter.  A barbecue lunch was available if you bought a ticket for that.  We’d line up for food and sit under the shelter while the drawings were done.

In 1979, my first year at NC State, they moved to the current location, the Cleveland County Fairgrounds.  That year, there was a building at the entrance that had dealers and organizations, a “street” along which hams camped out and the flea market was.  Below that street there was parking for attendees.  Over the years into the early 2000s, it grew.  A new building was added for dealers and manufacturers.  There is a row along the main street with RV hookups.  What had been parking the first year was now prime flea market space.  Along the street were outdoor vendors.  There is also a barn at the opposite end that has some other dealers and flea market.  The buildings would be elbow-to-elbow to ger around in.  People lined up a week before to get camping spaces and the prime flea market spaces.  The flea market spread outside the grounds.  It turned from a 2 day Saturday and Sunday event to a week-long event (unofficially), but still Saturday and Sunday officially. 

There was a change for 5 years in the early 2000s.  The Cleveland County Fairgrounds were not available, so they moved to a park in Dallas, NC, near Gastonia.  This was smaller, but still popular.   Then came the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte with the time overlapping the Hamfest.  Hotel rooms that had been 75-100 were over 500, so many people and vendors decided not to go.  The week before the convention, the hotels in the area realized that they weren’t going to get the business and were priced reasonably.  By then, the vendors and manufacturers had opted out and did not opt back in.  The following years, they did not come back. 

After 5 years at Dallas, they moved back to the Fairgrounds.  It was now much smaller than it had been in it’s prime before that.  This year, there were prime flea market spaces still available on Saturday, although the official first day is now Friday.  There were camper spaces that were not taken.  The buildings were not full as they had been before the move to Dallas or the DNC.  However, looking back, it’s still much larger than it was in 1979 when they first moved to the fairground.  The biggest difference is in the dealers and organizations.  What had been the main building when they first opened had a few flea market tables, including Dave Wood, W4EJ.  There was one dealer, the ARRL and some flea market in the main building.  There were also two tables selling ham badges and hats.  Other organizations, vendors, and manufacturers were absent.  There used to also be vendors of after market battery packs for Hand-helds.  I have not seen them in recent years.

The entrance is now in what used to be the back the back.  Near the “back: entrance was a tent with Tower Electronics.  They sell many parts, connectors, and some whip style antennas.  In the cattle barn at that end of the Hamfest was also the Wireman.  There was another vendor inside selling parts.  Incidentally, they had stacks and stacks of Sunbeam Lamps for $10.  These are the same lamps that have been sold at Dollar Tree for many years – now for $1.25.  Nice lamps, but they’re making a pretty good profit.

When I got to the Hamfest, I talked my way into being allowed to park inside.  I parked next to Sasquatch!  Across from my car was the Tower Electronics tent.  I took several walks around the flea market.  While there was less flea market in previous years, I also noted that there is less “junk”, you know, things that nobody was going to buy and need to go to recycling.  There were a lot more rigs from the 60s through today.   There were other interesting items there as well.  There were folks selling antique radios, CB radios, and many other eclectic items. 

When I got there, of course, I had to get a homemade ham biscuit from the food vendor.  Afterall, it is a Hamfest.  And the smell of the country ham, is irresistible.

Although it is spread out and outdoors, it’s very much accessible.  There were golf carts for rent, and many people, older and otherwise, took advantage of that.  I am not sure how much they charged, as I did not partake, but I did get a couple rides from others at different times.    Nothing there slowed down Doug Ferris, K4ROK,  either. (But what does?)  Doug won a multi-band DMR rig on Saturday!

Golf Cart Rentals

Doug wins!

After walking around a couple times on Friday, I spent a good part of the day assisting the new SC Section Manager, NJ4Z, at the ARRL booth, as he was the only other ARRL officer present that day. 

On Saturday, I did my shopping.  I picked up some feedline that I need, and an end-fed zepp antenna for HF.  Maybe I’ll get that antenna up more quickly than previous ones I’ve gotten.  Hoping for soon after the leaves leave the trees.  I also got a mag mount for my 2meter antenna.   I had talked to N4PVH and gotten a shopping list for him.  Looking for things made looking around more fun for sure! 

Next year, maybe more of us can go.  Perhaps one of our members with a camper can set up a gathering place?  And set up a “club table” outside of it? 

You see lots of “interesting cars” at a Hamfest!

Some flea market items

The Wireman setup

Hamfest HQ

Camper Row

The in person Hamfests are not to be missed, 73 Susan WA4AKB.

---