In 1969, a local group in northern Utah launched the Golden Spike Jeep Rally, an event that occurred in conjunction with the Ogden Pioneer Days in Late July. I know for sure the event took place in 1969 and 1970, but don’t know how long it lasted.
Events included hill climbs at Rainbow Gardens and an Obstacle Race at Mount Ogden Park, both Saturday and Sunday.
This photo and caption were printed in the June 27, 1969, Hill Top Times (Hill Airforce Base):
This article and photo was printed in the Ogden Standard-Examiner on July 23, 1970.
There was a lot more of these events on the west coast than back in the east. late 1970’s, there was an event held in the Catskill Mountains of New York, if I remember correctly, it was called Peck’s Peak Hill Climb. Near my sister’s house in Sullivan County NY. I drove my topless CJ5 the 150 miles to attend. I still have some pictures of that event, but greatly disappointed. Party Harty was the theme, very little of Jeeping activity.
Mike,
The way I remember it, there were A LOT of events during the 1970s. Just in the WA/OR/ID area there would be multiple playdays/racing some weekends.
– Dave
Heres the facts on the East coast , West coast rivalry — The East coast is always about 2 years behind the West coast — case in point , the first big outdoor rock festival was the Monterey Pop festival , June , 1967 — the East coast Woodstock festival was over 2 years later , August , 1969 — by then on the West coast , the Hippie fad was over — I has already cut off my long and luxurious red Jesus hair by the time Woodstock happened — same thing with Jeeps , all fun starts out here on the Left coast , then the Right coast sees in on the news and starts copying the more innovative West coasters …