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2024 Willys Rally

• CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

I was going to post many more updates, but a hay baler breaking down put a stop to that (long story). More updates Sunday morning.

This weekend is the Willys Rally at Heuston Woods. Tom was kind enough to take some pics for us.

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31st Annual 2024 Willys Reunion this Weekend

• CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Accidentally had this year as the 30th year!

This year marks the 31st time the Spring Willys Reunion has been held. My hope is that next year I or we can figure out a way to attend with the tour jeep in tow.

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September 1966 Eastern European Caravan

• CATEGORIES: Advertising & Brochures, Event, Features, Magazine • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: More information on the goal of Kaiser-Jeep’s 1966 Eastern European Caravan. This article was published on page 7 of the May 14, 1966, issue of International Commerce, a US Department of Commerce Weekly magazine. In it, the Commerce Department’s ostensible goal was as an “imaginative technique to promote U.S. Exports”, as part to the U.S. Government’s continuing effort to promote East-West Trade. It’s possible the trip was underwritten in some form (cash or government favors or both) to encourage Kaiser-Jeep to participate.

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This September 1966 Four Wheeler Magazine article describes the scene when the Kaiser-Jeep sponsored Eastern European Caravan crossed into (then) Czechoslovakia, as a line of restored and refurbed jeeps awaited them. Remember, that no new parts had even available to these die-hard jeep fans since 1946, making their rebuilds even more remarkable. The Prague Jeep Club alone had more than 300 jeeps and 400 members.

The 1966 Jeep News Volume 12 Number 3 has more information.

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2024 Arizona Military Vehicle Show Jan 26-28

• CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Joe-in-Mesa tells me this will be the biggest AMVCC show yet! I wish I could attend, but I’m busy with things around here right now. Learn more here: http://www.armytrucks.org/

Joe wrote, “This year promises to be a truly great one, with over 100 military vehicles on display representing every era from the World War One to the Global War on Terror.  There’s a Swap Meet of militaria, surplus and parts for sale, plus Food Trucks!  Luke AFB is setting up a cool display. We’ll even have the large towed models of both the USS Arizona battleship and USS Phoenix submarine on hand. Come on out; buy a T-shirt and raffle tickets.  Help support both our non-profit Military Vehicle Club AND Dogs4Vets (the American Service Animal Society).”

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2023 Toledo JeepFest

• CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Roger Martin attended this year’s Toledo Jeep Fest this weekend. He brought along his 1947 CJ-2A, an M-677, and his FC Fire Truck. He also took photos of the jeeps at the show, along with some merchandise for sale and a few of the parade.

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Fall Willys Jeep Reunion September 8-9, 2023

• CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

More information on this years Fall Willys Reunion & Swap Meet here: http://willysreunion.com/fwr23.htm

“Join us once again at the Auto World Museum 200 Peacock Drive in Fulton, Missouri for this year’s Fall Willys Reunion. Bring your Willys or Jeep to be displayed with other Willys from around the Midwest and check out the fabulous vintage car display at the museum. All reunion activity including the Saturday evening banquet will be held in this nostalgic facility.”

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Epic Willys Adventure 4: Concord Cup – Concluded

• CATEGORIES: Event, Features This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE II: On June 11th, eight different teams launched the race for the inaugural Concord Cup. One of the cool features employed is the map, which allows folks to follow racers: https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/epicwillysadventure/ . It also includes a REPLAY feature which allows viewers to revisit the race for all the days.

I was finally able to find some pics of the finish on Facebook, which shows two jeeps crossing the finishing line, one after the other:

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The winner was “Rusty Trombone” with Adam and Steve. Close behind, coming in second(?) looks to be “Roos Racer” with Scott and Joe.

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You can see more photos here: https://www.facebook.com/EpicWillysAdventure/photos

It sounds like the event went well and those participants who did report on FB seemed to be having fun. When I saw reports on Facebook, I republished them on eWillys FB when I could. However, as a casual viewer, my tiny critique was the difficulty of figuring out what was happening, who was ahead and, even, who won (eventually I tracked down the info on FB). Timd32 had a similar sentiment when he wrote on OWF: “From what I can piece together on FB, Instagram and the sort they are doing awesome”. 

Having done many travelogues over an eight year period, trust me that I GET the challenge! It is hard and time consuming to be a participant, then have post-drive fraternization, and also update readers with progress updates (my late nights-into-early-mornings in motel rooms with crappy wifi along the Alaska Highway attest to that fact), along with context for those readers who might, for example, not be aware of the event until day 3. In fact, when on the road with Ann, we tried to stop by 5pm so I could write updates (that would take hours), which is why we did little to nothing in the evenings (thankfully, Ann was usually worn out by then).

The only answer I can think of is a dedicated reporter along the way with a dedicated location for updates accessible to all, probably to a website (a surprising number of people still don’t use FB). Myself, I don’t use Instagram or TikTok.

Again, that’s just a little critique. I’m glad to hear participants had fun and that the race was deemed a success. Based on the Bantam Festival’s post, they’d like to see the event held again.

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UPDATE Posted Nov 9, 2022: Check on out this recent video that shares more information about this year’s Concord Cup.

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Initially published June 22, 2022:

epic-willysThe 2023 Epic Willys Adventure 4 was announced at this year’s Bantam Festival. This time, there will be new twists to the event, including turning it into more of a competition or rally. Text from the video post:

“@mrmaxbilt and @jonahmhodgkins laying out the details for EWA 4! Pseudo live. June of 2023 we will depart from @bantamjeepfest on a 2000 mile adventure up through New England in 40s-60s period correct Willys Jeeps! New twist this trip, it’s a race! A challenge. A rally. Each day, each rig, it’s driver and co-pilot will be timed from stop to stop, with an array of challenges to complete. All while keeping their Willys running and rolling. Best time overall at the end wins the coveted Concord Cup!

Applications to compete will open this fall and all the rules, regulations, and stipulations will be announced later this summer. Follow Epic Willys Adventure here on IG, on FB, and at epicwillysadventure.com for updates!”

Here’s the video: https://www.facebook.com/EpicWillysAdventure/videos/710182950204126/?_rdr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpicWillysAdventure/
Website: https://www.epicwillysadventure.com

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