GAWLER Swap Meet organisers have conceded this year’s iteration may need to be cancelled, but they remain hopeful a smaller event could be held later in the year.
The event, which has run annually since 1984, is organised by the Gawler Veteran, Vintage and Classic Vehicles Club and attracts around 5000 people to the Gawler Showgrounds each year.
This year’s event was scheduled for September 20, but this week the car club conceded the event may need to be postponed until later in the year, or cancelled entirely.
President Trevor Unsworth said holding the event within current restrictions would put too much stress on the car club’s volunteers.
“If we can’t get it up by October or November, we’ll probably have to cancel it all together until next year,” he said.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed that some of the restrictions ease in that time. Being open air is an advantage but we’re thinking we may have to run it on a smaller scale.
“At the moment it’s looking pretty doubtful, but as we go forward we’re hoping we can do it.”
The club will wait until the end of the month to decide whether to hold a downsized meet on the original date or to postpone it.
If the event is postponed, the club will then decide by around mid-August whether to hold the meet later in the year, or to cancel.
The swap meet is traditionally held the weekend after the Bay to Birdwood classic car event and forms part of the annual Motorfest held throughout the state.
Mr Unsworth said regardless of the date, the club is planning for a smaller event and crowd than normal due to the state’s border restrictions, with many attendees often travelling from Victoria.
“It brings a lot of people from other car clubs and from interstate,” he said. “Particularly from Victoria, which as we know having visitors over from there isn’t going to happen.
“That’s why if it does go ahead, it will be on a much smaller scale.”
A total cancellation of the swap meet would be a severe hit to the car club’s finances, with the event its biggest fundraiser.
Mr Unsworth added it is known as the largest and best swap meet in South Australia.
“It’s part of our biggest income for the year, so it will impact on our financial situation as well,” he said.
“That’s why we’re reluctant at the moment to cancel it. It affects us so strongly that we’re trying to hang onto it as long as we can.”