Cairns Swap Meet Inc is a Registered Charity Non For Profit organisation
The Cairns Swap Meet Car & Bike Show originated in 1999 with the first event held at Walkamin on the tablelands. The event moved to Cairns in 2002 and has become bigger and more popular each year. The Swap meet & Car Show is organized by All American Car Club of Cairns, The FNQ Restorers Club, The FBCC, Top of The State Hot Rod Club, and the Cairns Motorcycle Restorers Club.
The idea of the swap originated to give enthusiasts the opportunity to swap or sell surplus auto parts after they had completed projects or to off load items collected over a period that they may not now need. Initially the event only covered costs but it was not long before the organisers realized the potential to raise money from the event to help charities. Over the years many charities have benefited. Charities selected to benefit focus on assisting children and funds are to be used locally.
The swap now has stalls selling all types of new and used auto and cycle parts, collectibles, apparel as well as general collectibles and market stalls. Many of the vendors travel many miles to participate and attend swaps all over the countryside.
The car bike & truck show is held in conjunction with the swap and gives enthusiasts the opportunity to show their vehicles to other enthusiasts and the public. In all cases many hours have been spent by the owners restoring and detailing their vehicles. We usually have a large collection of Australian, British, European, Asian, American cars as well as Hot Rods, Street Machines, Motor Cycles, Military vehicles, and Stationery engines on display. It doesn’t matter if it’s a sunny or wet day, people always show up to look around.
We have been lucky enough to have many loyal sponsors of the event whose sponsorship helps cover the cost of putting on the event. All money raised on the day from gate takings, swap site fees, show entrants fees and the raffle go directly to the charities that has been chosen to benefit from the day.
Food and Hydration is always taken care of by Rotary Club of Cairns West keeping the crowd fed and donating a good portion of their takings to our pool of funds to distribute.
As always congratulations to those who win trophies on the day but in the end the biggest winners from having the event will be the charities. For those of you who do not know, the charities we select each year must benefit & focus on assisting children and funds are to be used locally. Including this year, in the last (18 years) we would have now donated roughly about $190 000 to a lot of worthy charities.
Current Committee Members: James Fullerton (AACCC), Bruce Nancarrow (AACCC), Barry Wilkins (AACCC), Andy Wilson, (FBCC), Woz (FBCC), Grant Wickham (FBCC), Owain Froud (Restorers Car Club), Tony Boland (Restorers Car Club), Dave Curtis (Top of The State Hot Rod Club), John Matterson (NQFPC) & (Motorcycle Restorers Club)