Dan’s hosting an FC gathering at his place in Illinois this September. Though it is branded a military FC event, all FCs are welcome. Contact Dan for more information.
Event Research Archives
2016 Fort Miles Interactive Garrison
Joe spend last weekend at Fort Miles and shared pics of the event. Thanks for sharing the info!
He wrote, “Fort Miles, a WWII era Military Garrison is along the coast in Lewes, DE. This event provides an interactive garrison exhibit that is conducive to educating the visiting public on the function and significance of Fort Miles during the second world war. The 261st Coast Artillery along with the 1252nd Service Command Support Unit (motor pool) was on hand for the day. During the Cold War years, Fort Miles served as NAVFAC Lewes from 1963 until 1981 as a US Navy SOSUS listening facility.”
2016 NW FC Get Together Aug 5-6-7
2016 Great Willys Picnic Sunday June 12th
This year’s Great Willys Picnic will be held June 12th. As always the Willys Picnic, Show and Swap is free. Plan to take the optional train ride for a very reasonable fee. Click here for more information:
2016 Willys Am Tergensee Head to Italy
Christian shared the news that the jeep-group he started is heading to Italy this year. He wrote, “Right now we’re about to prepare for a trip down to Italy, where they celebrate the Liberation (Liberatione) on April 25th and a group of Jeep-enthusiasts started una colonna della liberta in 2006. Every year it takes place in a different region of Italy. This time it’ll be in the Padova area. We’ll roll down to there with a group of 11 Jeeps to join the Colonna with its about 150 WW2-US-military-vehicles.”
You can learn more here (in German) http://www.willys-am-tegernsee.de
2016 Southwest Military Transport Show & Open House
Joe’s got a couple events happening this upcoming weekend. If you like jeeps and planes, head to Mesa, Arizona! The open house is Saturday only, but the SMTS is all weekend.
Max Bilt’s Epic Willys Adventure
Adam shared this news: In two weeks seven 40s and 50’s Willys jeeps will be traveling 1900 miles to Easter Jeep Safari. They take off March 10th from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and arrive in Moab March 21st. The website and Facebook page will have daily videos and pictures from the journey. The willys will then be on display at Moab 4×4 outpost all week. Let’s wish them luck. I’m sure they’ll have some memorable adventures.
http://epicwillysadventure.wix.com/epicwillysadventure. https://m.facebook.com/EpicWillysAdventure/.
2016 Spring Willys Reunion May 20-21
This year’s Spring Willys Reunion & Swap Meet will be held May 20-21, 2016 at the Holiday Inn, Effingham, Il. Dave Antram will be the speaker and the Kaiser/Frasier owner’s group will be joining the event.
2016 FC-Roundup March 18-20 Phoenix, AZ
Yes, we are joining the crowds in Phoenix for the most excellent 2016 FC-Roundup this year!! As always, the event takes place March 18-20th at Ybarra “Resort and Spa” Get all the details here: http://thefcconnection.com/2016_fc_roundup_march_18-20,2016.htm
We also plan to do a few other things while in the area:
1. We will check out the Goldfield Ghost Town this year.
2. We’ll be driving down to Tucson to visit the ASARCO (what’s left of the company anyway) Mineral Discovery Center and Mine Tour. Since my latest book is about the early history of the once giant smelting and refining company, it seemed like a good idea to go on one of their tours.
3. No trip to Phoenix would be complete without sharing a beer with “Joe in Mesa”.
AHMTA @ the Gilbert Days Parade
Last weekend Joe’s military transport club contributed thirteen vehicles to the Gilbert Days Parade in Arizona. He took pics of the jeeps and a few others. Great stuff!
Joe wrote, Here are pics of 4 military jeeps from our club (AHMTA – Arizona Historic Military Transportation Association) that drove in today’s Gilbert Days Parade. Scott David’s 1942 slat grill was in pole position, further back was my 1942 GPW, followed by Dave Boehmer’s MB with his son
manning the .30 cal, and protecting our “6” was Mike Wixom’s 1950 CJV35/U.
The weather was perfect; the vehicles all ran great; the crowds were
cheering; and we “invaded” a nearby Sonic afterward.
Staged near our 13 or so military vehicles was a collection of 6 incredible rat rods all apparently owned by, or representing “Preferred Foot & Ankle Specialists“. I don’t know anything about that business/practice but I sure liked his vehicles.
Jeeps @ SEMA Day 2
Buz got busy with his camera on day 2 of SEMA. Thanks to him for all these photos.
Omix-Ada’s Display at the Offroad Success Center exhibit:
Some Jeeps at SEMA
Buz is wandering the huge buildings in Las Vegas where the 2015 SEMA is being held. He shared these pics.
Willys America is also there. Make sure to stop by and see Paul’s display.
Merlin’s Report on the 2015 Mason Dixon Show
Merlin published a report on the 9th Annual Mason Dixon Willys Jeep Show and Gettysburg Tour this past weekend.
1955 Jeepcade From Hemet to Borrego Springs
The April 1955 issue of Willys News featured this report in the April 1955 issue of Willys News.
Portola’s Railroad Days
Steve Elkins filed this report from Portola’s Railroad Days.
Portola, California, is rich with railroad history, as the town grew up around the WP Railroad yard. It’s the home of the Western Pacific RR active from 1903 until 1983 when WP merged with Union Pacific. WP was the last major railroad completed into California, eventually running from Salt Lake City, Utah to Oakland, CA. The significance of this location is that their tracks cross the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range at the lowest point, near Beckwourth Pass (5,200′). There’s less climbing for the trains, and there’s less snow to hinder the railroad in Winter; unlike the Southern Pacific RR route, crossing the mountains further South near Lake Tahoe (7,100′). Western Pacific is known as the “Feather River” Route, following the Feather River West of Portola into the Sacramento Valley, then turns toward the San Francisco Bay Area.
In celebration of the railroad town’s heritage, Portola held their annual Railroad Days last weekend. There were three days of activities, including a car show and shine, and a parade. Here are photos of the three Willys that participated, two traveling from Nevada.
Mellouise owns that nice M-38. She and her husband enjoys visiting the e-Willys website and driving the M-38 as her summer car around town for general transportation. “Mel” and two of her friends joined the parade in her well kept Jeep.
Mel is looking for a rear seat for her M-38. If you know of one, contact me at willys57@sbcglobal.net and I will pass the information on to her.
That’s one nice early 1950 Sedan Delivery, my favorite kind of Willys (I just bought another Parkway last week.) And that’s a beautiful pickup, apparently owned by the same family. I didn’t get a chance to meet them. I know that’s unlike me, but I had trains on the brain, spending most of the weekend at the RR Museum; a live museum with lots of action this weekend. I had just enough time to enjoy talking with Mel about her Jeep, then take a few snapshots and run off to the activities.
Photos from the 2015 Midwest FC Gathering
Roger shared these photos from his Midwest FC Gathering. He reported that the weather was great. He had more than 30 people and 9 FCs at the event. He also wanted to acknowledge & thank everyone for all the spontaneous help with food.
-Linda & George “The Grill Master” McGuire
-Sharon & Walter “The Grill Master” Calhoun
-Dan Laity, Dutch Oven “Chef”
-Everyone who set up canopy’s, tables, chairs, and helped clean-up.
He’s already looking forward to next year!
2015 Northwest FC Get-Together July/Aug 31-1-2
This year’s Northwest FC Get-Together is Friday July 31 – August 2. You can learn more here:
Fifth Annual Willys At Whitewater Ranch July 18th, 2015
This year the Annual “Willys at Whitewater Ranch” near Eugene, Oregon, has been moved up a month to July 18th (in the past it has been held in August). You can learn more about the ranch at http://www.whitewaterranch.com. Host Jim Russell is hoping to get some RSVPs ASAP. You can call him at 415-516-4778.
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5th Annual Willys At Whitewater Ranch July 18th, 2015
I can’t believe this is the 5th year of the event but here we go!
Once a year we open Whitewater Ranch for a weekend of Willys fun. The main event starts about 10:30am on Saturday July 18th. We meet at the Whitewater Ranch barn for some Willys talk and catching up. About 12:00 I will fire up the BBQ and serve lunch. After lunch we will go for a drive through the forest and use the Willys as they were intended to be used. We can then go over to the house, have a frosty one, and relax before we have dinner along the beautiful McKenzie River.
For those of you who arrive early, we have a casual BBQ Friday night and you are welcome to stay through Sunday morning.
In the past many guests have enjoyed camping at Whitewater Ranch. If you would like something a little more comfortable I can recommend the Wayfarer Resort which is both spouse and dog friendly. Here is the link but book early as they are a popular resort, http://www.wayfarerresort.com/. As you can see, if you arrive Friday and leave Sunday you can create a great Willys weekend.
I hope you guys can make it! Please RSVP to me by email or call, 415-516-4778
See you at the ranch!
Sincerely,
Jim Russell
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Whitewater Ranch is a working timber, Christmas tree and organic blueberry ranch located 25 miles east of Eugene, Oregon.
Directions to Whitewater Ranch
90255 Fish Hatchery Road, Leaburg Oregon:
(Do not use mapquest, google maps, yahoo maps or your GPS, etc. or you will get lost.)
Whitewater Ranch is located about 25 miles east of Eugene, Oregon off Interstate 5 on Highway 126 in Leaburg Oregon.
From I-5:
Take exit 194A (Hwy 126 East) toward Springfield. 6.6 miles
Turn left onto Main St/McKenzie HWY 126 East. 17.7 miles
Just past mile marker 23 (actually mile 23.5) turn right onto Leaburg Dam Road. .2miles
Turn right onto Fish Hatchery Road.
Drive through the trout hatchery, fo
Italy to Toledo in 2013 — Now the Turin Museum in 2015
UPDATE: You might remember the 2013 adventure of a pair of Italians who bravely drove their MB from Italy to Toledo. Ann and I nearly met them along their trip to the east coast, but our timing was a little off. Well, the pair received a post-trip honor. I’ll let Gregory explain:
A couple of years ago you were kind enough to publicize a trip undertaken by two half-witted Italians to drive back to Toledo an original Willys to MB so that it could celebrate its 70th birthday in its hometown.
Some in the Ewillys community might like to know that the adventure has found a degree of official recognition by being included in the “Modus Vivendi” (Way of Life”) exhibition which runs until 27 September at the Turin Auto Museum, in company of vehicles which have raced the Panamericana, re-enacted the Beijing-Paris race or crossed Africa from Algiers to Cape Town. Our New York to Toledo drive was among the shortest, but also the one performed by the oldest car and the only one by enthusiasts with no sponsorship.
I am attaching a couple of pictures of the display and a description of the exhibition. Sadly the Museum website is rather thin on details, but more information about the trip, car and crew can be found on our “A Jeep Comes Home” blog and the similarly-titled Facebook page.
Thanks for your excellent website and the services it provides to the Jeep community worldwide. –Gregory Alegi
As you can see in the photo, the jeep shows pretty well against the backdrop of some fancier vehicles (Note to Ann — Honey, if this isn’t a good reason to go to Italy, I can’t think of another ….)
Photos from the 2015 Great Willys Picnic
Tim shared these photos from the 2015 Great Willys Picnic in Kempton, Pennsylvania.
Heinz Center Hosted WWII Vehicles Last Weekend
Apparently the Heinz Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosted celebrated D-Day festivities by hosting WWII vehicles, including some jeeps.
Grand Mesa Jeep Club Swap Meet Grand Junction, CO
I ran across the ad on Craiglist. Learn more here.
“Grand Mesa Jeep Club is putting on the biggest off road show and swap meet in Western Colorado, this weekend.
Date : Saturday, June 6th, 2015
Time : 9AM – 4PM
Location: Mesa County Fairgrounds, 2785 US Hwy 50, Grand Junction, CO 81503
Admission: Free”
Willys Jeep Rally 2015
Roger Martin captured some of the farm jeep events at last weekend’s Willys Jeep Rally at Hueston Woods State Park in south west Ohio.
Roger writes, These were taken at Green Pasture Farms,owned by John and Phyllis Ittel. Many of the working Jeeps are theirs. Rick Riley (one of the event organizers owns the backhoe w/blade and others).
The Ittel’s Jeeps have a license plate with their names. The first is John’s Jeep using a post hole digger:
A 3 point hitch w/scoop and a green hydraulic pump is running on John’s red CJ-3B:
Memorial Day Parade
Scott drove his 1951 M-38 in Elmer, New Jersey’s, memorial parade. He was accompanied by his father – Sam Walker, son – Andy Walker and daughter – Jessie Walker. Of all places, he visits Pasco regularly, so we hope to meet in person soon.
2015 Midwest Willys Reunion Photos
Bob Christy posted these on Facebook. There’s some more over there for folks that haven’t seen them. Thanks for sharing Bob.