Our Hamfest Camp Site
Shelby Hamfest: It's Not Just Another Hamfest!
During the 30+ years that I have been a "ham," I have had the opportunity to attend numerous hamfests which include: Dayton, OH; Arlington, TX; Shreveport, LA; Shelby, NC; Charlotte, NC; Rock Hill, SC; Sumter, SC; Charleston, SC; Dalton, GA; Atlanta, GA; Lawrenceville, GA; Augusta, GA; Statesboro, GA; Savannah, GA; two different hamfests in the Jacksonville, FL area; Ocala, FL; Orlando, FL; Melbourne, FL; and Plantation, FL; to name a few. I still attend a few of these hamfests regularly. Some of these hamfests no longer exist.
Nick-named the "Grand-Daddy of Them All," my favorite hamfest is the Shelby Hamfest, in Shelby, NC. This hamfest is officially held at the Shelby fairgrounds, every year on the Labor Day weekend. The fairground has several buildings for ham radio, computer, and electronics dealers. There are acres and acres for the flea market, parking, camping, etc. The fairground has around 150 full hook-ups for campers. There are many areas suitable for tent or dry camping as well. There are restrooms and shower facilities on the fairground. (Everyone is supposed to pay for an admission ticket. You also pay a daily fee for each day that you camp on a site, and a fee if you have a "flea market" table.) I began to attend this hamfest in 1983.
The Shelby Amateur Radio Club opens the fairground 2 weeks in advance to campers on a first come, first served basis. My wife Beth Ann, and I took our camper and set up on the fairgrounds along with our good friend Jack Norris, WB4TWX, (from Six-Mile, SC,) the weekend before the official hamfest weekend.
Immediately after we set up our camper, we realized that our immediate camping neighbors also included friends and people that we knew. Beth Ann and I left the fairgrounds around noon, Saturday, to go visit an elderly aunt in nearby Brevard, NC. We then went to a roadside Country Store, and purchased several gallons of ice cold, fresh-pressed apple cider, at Bat Cave, NC. (near "Chimney Rock.")
On Sunday, August 26, Beth Ann and I returned to Savannah since we both had to work Monday and Tuesday. I noticed that Beth Ann was reading something while I was driving home. After work on Tuesday, Beth Ann and I returned to Shelby. I noticed that Beth Ann was reading the same book on the trip back. Upon arriving, Shelby Hamfest officials met us and stated that they had kept an eye on our camper while we were gone the 2 days.
Wednesday morning, we set up our flea market area under a canopy.
Jack and myself displayed ham equipment and other misc. stuff, while Beth Ann displayed some of her surplus jewelry and other odds-and-ins. Our first customer was a ham friend from Virginia. He purchased several items from a "Silent Key's" estate that we had on display. Sales was brisk until around 2:30pm, when we had to quickly cover our wares and secure the overhead canopy due to a severe storm brandishing winds up to 70mph. Numerous camper awnings and canopies around the fairground were damaged during this severe storm. We did not sustain any damage. Around 3:30pm, Wednesday afternoon, Beth Ann stated that she was ready to take the Technician Ham Radio Test. Somewhat nervous, she headed over to the testing area (the fairground fire house) and filled out the paperwork. I accompanied her. Testing began at 4pm. Around 4:30pm, the VE's announced that Beth Ann had passed the "Technician" test. She received a congratulatory hug by the examiners as well as a hug and a kiss from me. (Note: She only studied for the "Technician test" just several days during the drive to and from Savannah back to Shelby.)
Thursday morning, we uncovered our wares. Sales were good. Periodically, we would borrow Jack's red golf car to ride around the hamfest to visit and see what everyone else had for sale. More people and campers were arriving. The fairground was filling up fast. Around noon, I headed over to Norm Harrill's camper, to see if Beth Ann's callsign had been issued. Norm told me that Beth Ann had been issued the callsign, KI4ZDN. Beth Ann was officially a "ham."
Friday was the "official start day" of the hamfest. Dealers opened inside the buildings and most sites were taken in the flea market area. There was some flea market overflow outside the fairground area. Several concession stands also opened. Besides breakfast, sandwiches, and burgers, one stand was offering RC Cola and Moon Pies. People were buying, and our items for sale were diminishing. Beth Ann was happy to see a lot of my surplus "stuff" go.
Saturday continued to be a successful day of sales. We sold 3 older color TV's (to help fund a new color HDTV.) There were only a few items left on our flea market table by the end of the day. I made only a few small purchases i.e. connectors, and small parts.
You never know what to expect at this hamfest. I thought I had been out in the sun too long when I saw the following "sight." I had to do a double take on this one. (It was a T-shirt.)
Sunday arrived and many people had left the hamfest. It was time to pack up and get ready to return to Savannah. We told Jack and all of our friends "bye," and began our trek home with the camper shortly after noon.
We arrived home safely around 7pm Sunday evening.
The Shelby Hamfest is my favorite all-around hamfest. You can camp on the hamfest grounds for up to 2 weeks. You get to see a lot of friends, and you get meet and make new friends. You get to peruse a very large flea market of new and used items, or you can sell a lot of your "stuff," and make someone very happy. You can take your first ham radio test, or upgrade. The Shelby Radio Club puts a huge effort into this event year after year. The Shelby Radio Club members are hard- working, fine, friendly, personable people. It is my favorite hamfest. The Shelby Hamfest lives up to its reputation of being the "Grand-Daddy of Them All."
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