[UK] Dunstable Downs Car Boot 2016

[dexters_lab]

A few of us made it to the Dunstable downs radio rally / car boot sale last year, this time i will be there with a plot too along with a friend of mine who restores vintage radios, we both have random bits and bobs to get rid of. Some of it for free.

Wondered if anyone might be going this year?

It's quite an eclectic mix of stuff, few traders selling parts, amateur radio kit, old radios, random electrical and electronic oddities

It's located at Stockwood Park, Dunstable on the 22nd May

http://www.ddrcbootsale.org/

Thread from last year:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/dunstable-downs-car-boot-sale-discussion-thread/

[MrSlack]

I'd go but (a) The wife will kill me for bringing more crap home and (b) I'll probably buy a ton of stuff I don't need.

[KJDS]

I'll probably get a plot, have loads of stuff to get rid of

[Muttley Snickers]

I asked the same thing last year in regards to a possible recording of the event and am hoping that someone over that way could possibly do the same or similar thing again this time around, perhaps a bit of a tour and then maybe a haggle cam setup......

That link above to the previous event didn't work for me and it might be missing a forward slash on the end.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/dunstable-downs-car-boot-sale-discussion-thread/

[mikeselectricstuff]

Probably won't make it this year as I'm planning on going to Bay area Maker faire

[dexters_lab]

Probably won't make it this year as I'm planning on going to Bay area Maker faire

ooh, nice! well have fun 

I asked the same thing last year in regards to a possible recording of the event and am hoping that someone over that way could possibly do the same or similar thing again this time around, perhaps a bit of a tour and then maybe a haggle cam setup......

That link above to the previous event didn't work for me and it might be missing a forward slash on the end.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/dunstable-downs-car-boot-sale-discussion-thread/

I'll see if i can get around again with my camera and maybe be a bit more interactive! 

I'll probably get a plot, have loads of stuff to get rid of

 

[analias]

So, who is going?

If anyone is interested in a working Tek 465 for a reasonable price, then PM me.

[CJay]

Despite having a partner who is entirely supportive of my geekiness and has already said she's happy to come with me, I won't be able to go.

My weekend with my kids.

[KJDS]

I'll be there, just need to book a table.

Anyone else selling this year?

[MrSlack]

May be there yet... What are the chances of not getting mugged eBay style for some air variable caps?

[grumpydoc]

I'll be there but trying hard not to get tempted by yet more junk.

[tggzzz]

I'll be there but trying hard not to get tempted by yet more junk.

Not trying very hard, evidently! Surely that's the main activity at a hamfest😀

[grumpydoc]

Not trying very hard, evidently! Surely that's the main activity at a hamfest

I suppose that no-one ever buys junk really, but there again one man's must have brilliant find is another wife's junk

[dexters_lab]

good to see a few people there, hopefully the weather will be good, i have loads to sell & giveaway 

a very good friend of mine will be with me also selling / clearing out stuff

looking forward to it 

[dexters_lab]

Not trying very hard, evidently! Surely that's the main activity at a hamfest

I suppose that no-one ever buys junk really, but there again one man's must have brilliant find is another wife's junk

most things have a 'to hard to resist' price!

[urbis]

Wouldn't mind going but don't think the missus would appreciate the 350 mile round trip!

[grumpydoc]

So, anyone else make it?

[KJDS]

So, anyone else make it?

Arse! thought it was next weekend. Anything worth seeing?

[grumpydoc]

Arse! thought it was next weekend. Anything worth seeing?

Depends on your definition of "worth seeing" but, no, not really.

It seemed much less well attended than the last time I went (2 years ago) - no fighting through crowds to get at the pitches for instance - and not nearly as much stuff on sale interesting or not.

If dexters_lab had a stall it will be interesting to get his perspective.

Some photos, not taken too early in the morning so fairly representative of the number of people attending and the amount of activity around the traders' stalls.

[dexters_lab]

Yea i was there, in fact the white gazebo on the right next to the goal posts in your first pic is us.

I think there were more traders and was pretty hectic in the morning, sold and gave away just about everything so very happy. I also managed to spend more on food than other electronics!

I did wander around looking for people but didn't spot anyone, was wearing my eevblog tee so i guess nobody spotted me either

[andy_silicon]

I was there - and I agree with the assessment - not a lot of interest to me.
Picked up a footswitch ( I needed one ) , couple of 2mm headers , and some decent LEDS from macomponents.

Otherwise - I managed to get away without collecting any real junk.

[rolycat]

Arse! thought it was next weekend. Anything worth seeing?

As grumpydoc (and others) have said, a bit disappointing. One or two of the traders said that the weather forecast looked dodgy until the last minute, and it may have discouraged a lot of punters - attendance was definitely thinner than the last two years. There was also a heavy preponderance of valves and Bakelite on many of the stalls, which were typically manned by vendors of a similar vintage. With no Mike (mikeselectricstuff), no Ian (TopLoser) and no Kev (KJDS) there weren't many familiar faces. Plenty of friendly sellers happy to chat about electronics, though.

On the plus side, a lot of stalls were packing up and doing deep discounts or giveaways by around midday, and there were some bargains to be had. I picked up a big bag of Panasonic 1000uF 50V caps for £1, a nice little Japanese CCTV lens for 50p, and various ICs, heatsinks, instrument cases and other bits for very little.

[dexters_lab]

we packed up just after 3pm, there was another flurry of people in the afternoon, maybe people looking for last minute discounts!? There was a couple of items i had to give away as i didn't want to bring them home but it was worth the trip.

was a really great weekend away, for Phil and i it was a bit of a road trip 

was nice to talk to everyone who came to look at our stall and have a chat

[grumpydoc]

The next half decent one that I'm likely to get to is Newbury on the 19th June. They always seem to pick Father's day which does case some difficulty wit the other half & offspring.

After that I might do Rugby in August as it was OK the last time that I went or the Telford rally at the beginning of September.

there are still a fair few during the year - see http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

[KJDS]

The next half decent one that I'm likely to get to is Newbury on the 19th June. They always seem to pick Father's day which does case some difficulty wit the other half & offspring.

After that I might do Rugby in August as it was OK the last time that I went or the Telford rally at the beginning of September.

there are still a fair few during the year - see http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/

In previous years then Newbury has clashed with http://thesupercarevent.com/ and I'd far rather spend a weekend thrashing round the top gear track for charity than sell off bits and pieces, but it's changed weekends so I might get to it this year.