top of page
Formerly the BACK BUMPER
Collecting Ontario licence plates for 41 years
2CENTS ARCHIVES
First started as "My 2 Cents" in 1997, I have written posts numbering into the hundreds. New posts arrive continually. Find an article by clicking the tag cloud below, or selecting a category, doing a search (see magnifying glass below on the right), or just scroll down to see the articles in chronological order.
Search
Plate Adventures in August: Bothwell, Vineland (and Kingston)
I took another trip in August to round out the “makeup” events that took the place of my cancelled trip to the ALPCA Convention in Tulsa....
Sep 1
Plate Adventures in July: Toronto / Merrickville
I had hoped to attend the ALPCA Convention in Tulsa this year, but a family priority came up and I had to cancel my reservations. But all...
Aug 15
Lindsay 2025
Lindsay had something for everyone this year… mud included! I’ve heard from unofficial-but-reliable sources that the AACA may be ending...
Jun 1
Stirling 2025
Eric Vettoretti and I teamed up for the Stirling antique Market this year, which we do by default unless other family commitments get in...
May 4
Acton 2025
I didn’t bring anything to trade, but it was the Ottawa Senators’ fault. Eric Vettoretti and I had been planning our Acton trip for a...
Apr 28
Ottawa Christmas Dine-N-Swap 2024
Dave Grant organized the annual Ottawa Christmas Dinner once again, which he founded in 2008. It has gradually changed into the...
Jan 6
Landing in Lansing
The 2024 ALPCA Convention in Lansing was less of a convention for me, and more of a mission… a quartet of missions, actually. But square...
Jul 3, 2024
Back to Basics in Lindsay
It’s official – Lindsay is the new Barrie. A few years ago, I mused that the AACA automotive flea market event in Lindsay might...
Jun 2, 2024
Stirling '24
I hitched a ride with Eric Vettoretti to the 2024 Stirling Antique Flea Market. He couldn’t make it last year, but was able to this year,...
May 11, 2024
Acton '24 and Afterward
Saturday was Acton-packed, let me tell you. I woke up in Milton, spent five hours in Acton, drove to Brantford, Took a coffee break in...
Apr 28, 2024
2023 Highlights and Outtakes
Here’s the annual outtake round-up… pictures that didn’t make it into any 2Cents columns, most of which are being seen here for the first...
Dec 17, 2023
Goodbye Bonfield
Four years ago, Eric Vettoretti and I decided to try the first edition of the Bonfield Automotive Flea Market. It was a fairly remote...
Jun 20, 2023
2022 Highlights and Outtakes
Here’s the annual outtake round-up… pictures that didn’t make it into any 2Cents columns, most of which are being seen here for the first...
Dec 17, 2022
Swapping Belleville Rendezvous
Sometimes, when you get the call, you have to accept the charges. Such was the case this month for Dave Steckley, Eric Vettoretti, and...
Jul 30, 2022
Lindsay '22
May ‘22 was a busy month for me as a plate collector, with no fewer than three out-of-town trips to gather metal rectangles. The previous...
Jun 1, 2022
2021 Highlights and Outtakes
It’s time for the 2021 outtake roundup! This year was better than 2020, in that things opened up enough that I could actually attend a...
Dec 15, 2021
Vineland and the Great Outdoors
The annual indoor October swap meet (heretofore known as “Grimsby”) won’t happen in 2021 because of the unpredictability of changes to...
Sep 1, 2021
A Plethora of Plates
When collecting quantities of plates, it’s often about being first on the scene and acting quickly before the runner-up has a chance to...
Jul 29, 2021
2020 Highlights and Outtakes
I suppose that, after three years, I’ve established an annual tradition here at The Back Bumper… a 2Cents installment for all those...
Dec 27, 2020
Bonfield of Opportunity
Eric Vettoretti and I made some last-minute travel plans at the end of June so we could try out the new Bonfield Automotive Flea Market,...
Jun 23, 2019
bottom of page