posted 01-19-2006 08:34 AM            

This year after driving the 600+/- miles one way to the show, we dropped our trailer on Thursday evening with outside temperatures at 60 degrees (although it was closer to 30 degrees the next day)- this was the first Columbia show I recall where weather was above freezing - some years we pulled trailer through snow and ice to attend - one year we canceled going, because I-70 was closed due to snow, between Columbus, Ohio and Columbia.

Freezing temperatures (sometimes near zero degrees), snow and ice, make an outside show nearly impossible. If provisions were made for outside vendors, none would be happy during the bad weathers.

I've found John Troxel and Mike Russell to be good, honest people, and fortunately for people who collect Petroliana, they established and have built this indoor event in January - an otherwise month barron of shows.

Personally, I appreciate their willingness to commit to the up front, huge overhead cost of an indoor heated facility - complete with heated restrooms and food services - gambling that attendance will support the overhead costs.

I don't care if their motives are profit or to loose money each year having a good time - I'm just happy they are willing to sponser the show.

It seems understandble why they prefer not to be short-changed even one seller's fee or buyers premium. If you sell something(even by accident) at their show - pay them. If you don't want to pay them - don't sell there. If you don't want to pay an early buyer's premium, then show up early on Saturday which is the "official" show day.

Myself, I purchase at least one vending spot so my wife (when she goes) and I get in FREE. Some years I've taken stuff to sell - other years I go to buy - and sometimes do a little re-selling.

The hosts have always been good about not letting anyone set up in the heated building before 11 am on Friday, but to my knowledge, they have never tried to stop their paying vendors from doing a little buying and selling outside in the parking lot from the back of their vehicle or trailer, in advance of setup.

Last Friday, I noticed vendor attendance seemed up, and quizzed John about it. He told me they had already had over 110 vendors show up, versus the hundred at the previous year's show. More were expected - the show didn't start until Sat.

The show statistics speak volumes - evidence that John Troxel and Mike Russell are doing alot more RIGHT than wrong.

We bought alot of stuff at Columbia - most of it is pictured in this weeks BOTW.

Alot of Oldgas members attend and seem to enjoy the show.

The Columbia show has been an evolution of development over many years. The vendor count trend is good for any show, and I'm thankful the show is successful - hoping the hosts will want to do it again next year.

We took over 50 photos of full booth displays and neat items - submitting them all to PCM magazine for an upcoming issue. Providing you've paid your admission price of an annual subsciption, you can view them for FREE - and there is no additional charge for your spouse and kids to view them also.

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This posting above was deleted in it's entirety (as another thread) by one of the moderators because of it's ending paragraph which I have deleted in it's entirety, in this posting. He didn't like the fact I requested no feedback to the previous thread, although the topic was not locked and anyone could have posted a reply anyway. Therefore, I'll end this posting with the identical language used by Lonnie Hop in another topic (a thread the moderators have already endorsed by their followup commments to same):

Guys, this is my post, I started it, I would welcome you thoughts, but I will respectfully ask you to post only positive comments. There has been more than enough negative comments of late and it is time for us to loosen up and have fun with this great hobby!