The Bantam Jeep Festival folks announced their online store is now open.
Event Research Archives
PIctures from the 17th Annual All Breeds Jeep Show 2012
Mark posted pictures and a video of last July’s All Breeds Jeep Show in York, PA, over at sell-a-jeep. The next All Breeds show will be held July 20 & 21, 2013.
This link shows the parade of jeeps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKzOd1hnXQ4
Below are a few pictures of the event. View more pictures at sellajeep.com.
Carolina Safari Jeep Tours in a CJ-7(?) Tour Jeep
I ran across an ad from the 1990s on eBay. A little investigation revealed that the Jeep Tour company still provides tours and is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Desert of Maine Jeep Train
Thanks to Warren for forwarding this lead. Perhaps it is more accurate to call these mini-jeep trains, but just outside Freeport, Maine, there is a CJ-5 and CJ-7 that still pull tourists in a tourist-trailer around the sand (which I think they call ‘narrated coach tours’). You can learn more about them here. I managed to find a few photos of them on Flickr. It looks like there are two different coaches.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_west_wing/8152632437/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7588183@N04/4858047781/?q=desert%20of%20maine%20jeep
Photos from the 2013 Pennsylvania Farm Show
Rick wrote to share some pictures he took of the Pennsylvania Farm Show this past Wednesday. He mentions JBS Jeeps. You will want to check out the JBS Jeep’s website, as he has some neat pictures on it!
Rick writes, “Took these pictures Wednesday at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Pennsylvania does not have a summer State Fair, but does have a BIG farm show every January. We went for the antique tractors and found a really nice farm Jeep as well as a minature Jeep that ran. The farm Jeep is owned by JBS Jeeps in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and he visits ewillys every night [editorial note … cool!]. The farm Jeep had a pto ,hydraulic lift, and was really clean – believe it or not he does plow a little with it!
Thanks for the pics Rick!
Veteran’s Day Weekend in Shasta Lake City, CA
Steve snapped some photos of the Veteran’s Day Events on Saturday and Sunday. He also added some information, too!
Steve writes, “Sunday I photographed Jack and his restored MB and M-100 trailer at the ceremony on Veteran’s Day,at the new Veteran’s Cemetery 10 miles West of town. Jack restored this Jeep exactly like the one he drove in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. It’s complete with machine gun mounted on the passenger’s side. I asked, and he said that most of their Jeeps were beat up MB’s left over from WWII. They didn’t see many “new” M38A-1 Jeeps during his tour.
Jack is a great man because he goes around to the local schools teaching kids how war is not a good thing, but it is necessary to protect our freedom from those who want to change us. He saw heavy action. Now he see that we are gradually losing our freedom as time goes on. He is now growing frail, and cannot go to as many schools as before. I told him I know someone who can make a professional video tape of him to preserve his presentation. He would like to do that.
He has a Korean friend who was 8 years old living through the Korean War. She accompanies Jack to the schools and shares her story of what their civilian family endured throughout the war in Korea. I don’t know her name, but she was the lady in the back of his Jeep in Korean attire during the Saturday’s Shasta City parade shown below.
The medallion Jack holds was from the Mayor of Seoul, South Korea marking the 50th anniversary of the war. The Mayor visited all the Korean Veteran’s groups and awarded that medallion to those who fought for his country. His gratitude meant a lot to that soldier, who never went back to that forsaken land, until much later in life. The City of Seoul was devastated during the war, and is now one of the most modern cities in the world. He didn’t recognize the airport when he landed several years ago. The old airport he remembered was a swampy land that was weathered by war.
Chaplain Jeep at the Butte County Fairgrounds in California
According to the Mt. Shasta News, a 1945 Chaplains Willys MB will be included at the Northern Recon Group’s gathering at the Butte County Fairgrounds. This is the 9th year they have held the event, which includes a wide variety of military vehicles and items. This jeep belongs to Bill and Becky Campbell of Durham, CA. Pictured in the jeep is Pastor Dave Rieck. The event runs from Thursday Oct 25th through Sunday Oct 28th, 2012. Learn more at MtShastaNews.com.
This photo was taken by Lisa Van De Hey:
Kaiser Willys Photo Contest
The 2013 Kaiser Willys Catalog Cover contest is now live. You have until November 15, 2012, to submit your jeep restoration project story.
“About the Willys Fall Cover Photo Contest:
Your best Willys Jeep restoration photo could mean restoration dollars when you enter the 2013 Willys Cover Photo Contest, sponsored by Kaiser Willys Auto Supply. Entrants are eligible for a chance to win a $1000 or $500 Gift Certificate for Willys Jeep parts and accessories, and exclusive placement on the front or back cover of the 2012 Kaiser Willys Catalog. To win, all you need to do is submit your Willys Jeep photo(s) (up to 4), any special stories about your Jeep’s restoration or history (optional), your contact information, and wait to find out if the judges pick YOUR photo as the winning one!”
Photos from the 2012 Northern Ohio Flatfender Gathering
Below are images from Sunday’s event at Bob Christy’s house. Looks like there was a good variety of jeeps there!
– Bob posted lots of photos at his Facebook page and on Flickr as well
– Sebastian also posted some pictures at the Flatfender Club of Butler’s website
– Dennis posted some photos at the CJ-2A page
Here are a few of Bob’s pictures. This photo below is of the unusual Jeepster.
Here are a few of Sebastian’s photos. Both Bob and Sebastian took a variety of photos of this chassis, but I can’t tell if there is something special done to this or not. In fact, you can see Bob with camera in hand.
Here is a link to the earlier post and comments posted before the event.
2012 Northern Ohio Flatfender Gathering Sept 23 Green, OH
Reminder: Bob’s show is tomorrow.
“”It’s that time of year again! Announcing the 2012 Northern Ohio Flatfender Gathering and Cruise-in, Sunday, sept 23, 2012 from 11-4 at my home in Green, Ohio near the Akron/Canton Airport. Last year we had 35 jeeps…we hope to have 50 or more this year. Again, lunch and restroom facilities are provided. Please also feel free to bring parts to sell or trade.”
15 Days through Cambodia in a Classic Jeep in Feb 2013
UPDATE: Jasper emailed me today. He is organizing the event. If you have any questions or need the flyer translated, you can contact Jasper at: jv at jaspervogt.de. Apparently he’s a big Willys fan, too 🙂
You can download the latest flyer here
I ran across this unusual travel opportunity tonight. A german company is organizing a rally around the country of Cambodia in February of 2013. I have emailed them for more information. Based on the pictures, the ‘old jeeps’ may be m151s rather than Willys.
2013 Bantam Jeep Festival Moved to June 13-16th
This year’s Bantam Jeep Festival will be held in Butler, Pennsylvania. This works out well for Ann and I, because we’ll be out that way beginning in mid May and had planned to be in Buffalo June 8th. So, a trip to Butler should work perfect!
Photos from Fall 2012 Midwest Willys Reunion
Jim posted some pictures to Flickr of this weekend’s Fall 2012 Midwest Willys Reunion. He got a few goods ones of his cool school bus (see the last pic). Thanks Jim.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14939950@N00/sets/72157631551262237/
In this first pic I loved the phone number on the side of the wagon. I bet that’s a 1963 wagon, too. If only phone numbers were so simple today.
2012 Great American Jeep Rally in Ellington, CT Sept 15th
Mike let me know that the 2012 Great American Jeep Rally takes place in Connecticut September 15th, 2012.
“We are pleased and excited to announce that the 2012 Great American Jeep Rally will take place on Saturday, September 15th at Valley Truck and Off Road. The address for all your TomToms, Garmins, and good old map and compass is 43 Lower Butcher Rd., Ellington CT.”
Racing at the 2012 PNW4WDA Summer Convention in Oregon
Here’s a great video of a run at the 2012 Summer Convention held this year in Camas Valley, Oregon. There are a few more videos posted as well.
Lots of Images from Sunday @ the Bantam Fest
Both Gerald and Bob sent us pictures Sunday from Bantam Fest. I’ve made a few comments on them, but it’s late, so most are without comments.
Here is one they sent one of them together (Gerald on the left and Bob on the right) holding a picture of Lost Biscuit. Looks like Bob is wearing one of Roberto’s T-shirts.
Below is Lee Bortmas, the Bantam historian in Butler standing next to a BRC-40.
Rick Pewe is Editor-in-Chief of Petersen’s Four wheel & Off-Road Magazine and a recent inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame. Gerald reports Rick is on a trip from Arizona to Butler to Nova Scotia and back.
Click below to see more pics
Saturday at the Bantam Festival
Mark, Bob, and Sebastian all reported that Saturday’s weather wasn’t the best, with either rain or threats of rain. Still, there was plenty of to do and many jeeps to photograph. The most photographed vehicle seems to be the Concept FC. There are many fans of that rig.
Mark has posted some photos at JeepTruck’s Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/JeepTruckcom/108141260309
Here are some pics from Bob:
See more pics via the link below
Friday at the 2012 Bantam Festival
Gerald forwarded some pics from Friday at the Bantam Festival.
Gerald wrote, “Well we got things started this year. I worked on setting up a Jeeps Thru The Decades display. one of each Jeep model. My 3B and brothers M-38 in in the group. Here are a couple shots from the grounds. The Underground Jeep guys have brought all their stuff. Boy they are nice and the Jeep Invasion on Main street was this evening. It was a show not a parade.”
Here’s Gerald with his kids in front of a wagon. He wants to get one someday.
Here’s the crowd in town:
Here’s the area Gerald was helping with:
Gerald got some closeups of the Concepts:
4th Annual FC Get-Together Aug 3-5, 2012
Don’t forget the FC Get-Together this weekend in Tacoma, WA.
2012 NW FC Roundup Details
NW FC lovers mark your calendars. Aug 3, 4 and 5 are the dates we are gathering in Tacoma, WA. The address and directions of how to get here are on the enclosed link.
The times are: Fri, Aug 3 rd, 3 pm till 7 ish;
Sat, Aug 4 th, 9 am till 7 ish;
and Sun Aug 5 th, 9 am till 1 ish.
We will have hot coffee, tea, and choc with fruit and rolls Sat and Sun am.
Fri eve, those interested can take in a local restaurant.
Sat noonish, we will have a barbecue lunch, probably turkey/pineapple burgers and beef burgers, fresh salad and potato
salad (donations for the food is appreciated).
Sat eve, for those interested, we will go to another local restaurant.
Please drive, haul, or bring photos of your FC’s and FJ Fleet Vans. If you have parts for trade, sale or donation to the raffle, please bring them. You can arrive any time and day that’s convenient. Your significant other is encouraged to join in.
The event will be in a company parking lot. The lot has a tall security fence with a lockable gate. A locked warehouse is available if anyone desires. A covered area will provide relief from sun or rain.
If there are any questions, please email or call me at
gaylordmingo@gmail.com, 253 759 5932.
Jeep Carnival Ride @ Eagle Fun Days (In Idaho)
At last year’s ‘Eagle Fun Days’, which is held in Eagle, ID, where I used to live. In 2011 one of the carnival rides had had old flat fender jeeps in it. Here is a shot of one young man enjoying himself. His grandfather has less pleasant things to say about the event, which you can read in this blog post.
The Owl Head Truck Show in Maine
Last weekend Steve and his wife Bonnie dropped by the Owl Head Truck Show in Maine. Bonnie took some pictures for us. Thanks for sharing!
Here’s a great old service station jeep:
Here’s a restored MB (?):
Bantam Festival 2012 Update
Barrels Racing at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds Sunday July 29th
Marty gave me a heads up about this barrel racing event at the Cowlitz County Fairgrounds. He’ll be racing with the racer he just purchased. Good luck!
1st Annual NCFFC Southern Jeep Meet October 27th, 2012
The President of the Tennessee Flat Fender Club William Dabney just dropped me an email saying the North Carolina Flat Fenders Club (NCFFC) has announced the 1st Annual NCFFC Southern Jeep Meet October 27th, 2012 at Freeborne’s Eatery and Lodge: 14300 Nc Highway 18 S, Laurel Springs, NC. It’s great to see the growth of Jeep meets!
2012 Bantam Festival Update
I had hope to get out there for this years festival, but my kids visit has shifted to August. We’ll try for next year!