The people of Naseby and the surrounding districts turned out in force on Saturday for what was described as the biggest event in the town since the 125th jubilee in 1996.
The event was the culmination of a dream held by Naseby resident Winton Amies, who had worked on the idea of holding a large swap meet for car enthusiasts for several years.
The idea kept growing and the result was a huge crowd of people, who arrived with more than 300 vintage cars and motorbikes and a large collection of other vintage machinery.
Mr Amies was ecstatic at the result. He had outlaid a considerable sum of money to advertise in newspapers and in the club magazines which he had been advised to do by several people within the car clubs.
"It all panned out really well - it was well worth the effort," he said.
But he was quick to step back from the limelight, praising his small but enthusiastic and very capable team.
"Dot [Davidson, of Ranfurly] did all the paper work. I am no good at that and she did it all properly, demanding receipts for every penny spent, and she has kept a good note of everything."
His other ally was Beau Hutton, of Ranfurly. He organised all the army gear put on show and took care of all the signs and other information to make sure people arrived and were safe on the park site.
Syd Broadley, of Naseby, said it certainly was the biggest event Naseby had seen in a long time.
He had been told, by a swap meet enthusiast who travels the South Island, that he had never seen anything like it and it was the second largest swap meet and gathering outside the one held at McLean Park in Christchurch. It was much bigger than the event held at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin.
"It's something he's [Mr Amies] has dreamed about for years and now its finally happened," Naseby resident Marilyn Brown said.
"All credit to Winton. Even he's a bit flabbergasted," Naseby resident John Steele said.
Mr Amies, who has a large collection of old cars, said he knew he needed a recipe for the event and that recipe needed to include something for everyone.
"I organised stalls with plenty of shopping for the women to do, entertainment for the children and, of course, the blokes have the cars, so everyone's happy," he said.
