Jeep Show

Last weekend I attended the Bantum Jeep Show

at the Butler Fair Grounds.

The first Jeeps were made in Butler,  PA in 1940.

I was expecting a historical look back on Jeep history.

Well, I got that and much more.

Sadly I went on the last day and missed most of the events.

The good news is that they will have the show again next summer.

People in Jeeps were everywhere.

They camped at the Fair Grounds all weekend.

They had trail rides and mud holes for Jeep

owners to get their Jeeps dirty.

 There were also lots of Jeep dealers selling Jeeps

 and custom off road shops who had

the lasted Jeep accessories.

A great chance for taking photos.....which I blew.

I took my Canon but left the memory card at home.

I did take some photos with my cell phone.

The sun was so bright that I couldn't see the phone's screen.

I ended up taking mostly videos that made you think you were on a roller coaster.

Again, there is always next year.

I did get a few shots with filters on my cell phone.

It is hard to see but there are shovels and tools

strapped to the outside of the Jeep.

I spent my childhood around Jeeps.

My family belonged to "The Hill Huggers Jeep Club".

During the summer our Jeep club would meet with other Jeep clubs

in fields and woods around Ohio and PA.

We camped all weekend and Jeeps were put through hill climbs, drag races and obstacle

courses through creeks and mud hole the likes you have never seen.

My dad built his Jeep himself. He order parts from all over the country.

The fiberglass 2A style body came from CA.

Back in the 70's we thought ordering something that big from

someplace far away was a really big deal.

                                     

This is my dad's Jeep, he is standing at the front of the Jeep.

That's me standing up, my sister Amy is sitting down (in the brown socks)

and our friend Lori is on the tailgate.

My mom got back in touch with Lori's mom recently and wants us all to get together for lunch.

While at the Jeep Show I ran into my stepbrother who had his old Jeep there. He and his Jeep were

covered in mud. He was grinning and asked me if I too felt like I was reliving our childhood.

( He wasn't my stepbrother back in the Hill Hugger days but his family were members too)

My dad passed away in the mid 1980's.

He sold his Jeep before he died.

A few years after his death the new owner called our house to tell us he restored the Jeep.

Seeing all those Jeeps at the Fair Ground made me wonder if my dad's Jeep might have been there.

Next year I plan to take everyone I can round up to the Bantam Jeep Show.

Just maybe we will spot that red Jeep.

If not, we will still have fun and relive a bit of the past.