When I was piecing together a 1930 Model A Ford coupe, I haunted the Topping Events Hi Performance car swap meet. It was an event, but that was 10 years ago, before eBay. I don’t get there as much as I should any more–but November is a special month.

There’s actually two Hi-Po meets this month: Nov. 11 and 25, according to the website–and because everyone else starts to get busy with the holidays right about now, this is the month I’ll go. Probably.

I bought most of the parts I needed for the ‘49 Ford Club Coupe I’m putting together now online, but nothing beats the thrill–and the honesty–of finding a rare piece of equipment at a swap meet.

You can actually see what you’re getting, and some guy in Nebraska won’t outbid you at the last minute.

The swap meet, at Long Beach Veterans Stadium, is also good for asking stupid questions–something I excel at–and it’s still a destination, despite the $8 ticket price.

I found the rear window for my ‘49 Ford locally, from a guy in Monrovia–but when we needed a place to meet, Vets Stadium was it: local landmark, and it was swap meet weekend.

I met him there (he drove a Nissan Altima; I had a Civic) and neither of us needed directions. Good times.

Tags: California, Hi Performance, Hi-Performance Swap Meet, Long Beach, Southern California, The District Weekly, Theo Douglas, Topping Events, Veterans Stadium