I can see where Bob T is coming from, but in a new area it might be reinvented, if it's not, it just remains the same old,same old. Personally, I'll give it a chance or two and make the trip. Going farther north away from the more populated area's might prove to be a problem. Then again, the drag strip may counter that and draw a new and different crowd. Hard to say, but someone is betting it will go with a lot of work and money on the line, I'd say all the more power to them. Sniper

I'm not very smart, could someone clarify whether the Bonfield flea market is in addition to the Barrie flea market, or does it replace it? I can read it both ways.

Sounds to me they are trying to save the drag strip. I heard it closed......maybe a last ditch effort?

I realize what it says in the top right corner, but in the first sentence it says " An additional Automotive Flea Market will begin in 2019......Bonfield Automotive Flea Market"!!
I guess I am not the only one confused!!

Bonfield lands investor
Barrie Automotive Flea Market moving north to create the Bonfield Event Park
• North Bay Nugget
• 26 Oct 2018
• Jennifer Hamilton-mccharles
The Barrie Automotive Flea Market has purchased the drag strip in Bonfield.
The Bonfield Event Park, at 357 Development Rd., will host an automotive flea market, drag races and a
variety of community events, company spokesperson Lisa Groves, states in a media release.
“The planning process is underway and dates will be released very soon.”
Bonfield Mayor Randy Mclaren confirmed the news Thursday.
Mclaren says he, along with the township’s CAO and planning department, met with Groves about six weeks
ago to discuss the venture.
“You can tell this person has the experience and she didn’t just buy this on a whim.”
Mclaren says the deal officially closed last Friday.
The flea market will celebrate its 50th anniversary next summer and will move to Bonfield in 2020, he says.
“She (Groves) wants to celebrate the flea market’s 50th anniversary down south and then migrate to the new
location. She may organize a mini flea market so vendors get acclimatized to the new area.”
With a change of ownership of the property where the flea market is currently located, Mclaren says Groves
sees this region as a wave of the future.
“The drag strip is more than just racing,” he says. “She sees the property as an event park. There’s a lot of
potential for small concerts for 5,000 people. Certainly she will not be bringing in artists like Keith Urban,
but more of a family event.”
Mclaren says the property does not require rezoning to accommodate Barrie Automotive Flea Market.
According to its release, the company started in Barrie in 1971 at the former Molson Park. It moved to Line 8
in Oro-medonte, near Barrie, 13 years later.
“The economic impact locally for the automotive flea market is $6 million per event as it has been one of the
Top 100 events in Ontario for the past five years,” the company states.
groves is quoted as saying she is thrilled to have our own facility again in a supportive community that
“makes us feel welcome.
“We believe in supporting local and look forward to forging partnerships with local clubs and charities just as
we have for many years. I am passionate about special events and racing. This is going to be exciting.”
The Bonfield property has changed hands several times.
The drag strip, formerly known as King of the North, officially opened in 2013. It was dubbed the
community’s largest employer in 2013 with about 30 people working on race days.
The strip underwent a name change in 2015 to Force of the North entertainment Park. Northern Motorsports
took over in 2017, but the gates were locked for the 2018 season.
The initial project, a 1/8-mile strip, sits on 200 acres of property and cost about $2.2 million to develop. The
business venture created a lot of controversy within the community, with nearby residents opposing the idea
over noise concerns.

I always enjoyed it .  was last there in 1988 .  I buy all my socks and underwear off e-bay now  lol .  

Hywayhauler wrote:

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I always get a kick out of the Southern Ontario mentality...(I don't want to drive that far...) Bla bla bla! I'm in Sudbury, and been going to Burls Creek for years, never once complained of the 3.5 hour drive each way, and yes I usually do a day trip, I just leave at 5am...Quit your crying, I think this is a good thing.

It's the same when I list a car on Kijiji...All you southern guys bitch cause "you want the car but it's too far a drive, and I usually end up trailering down there to make a sale, but god forbid when I'm looking for a car and it's down south, never once have I been catered to...Rant over.

-- Edited by Hywayhauler on Monday 5th of November 2018 08:37:56 PM

---

That is an afternoon drive. How about Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Arkansas or the one I bought on Vancouver Island in April. In March we are headed to Chickasha for a 52 Hr. drive both ways.   I still will not waste my time following Lisa's yard sale. Not a matter of the distance but there attitude and all the non related automotive stuff.

I do not even think it should be called an automotive flea market by law seeing it is probably less than 50% automotive.

-- Edited by Smokin Joe on Tuesday 6th of November 2018 01:01:57 AM

-- Edited by Smokin Joe on Tuesday 6th of November 2018 01:28:09 PM