by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
The recent 11th annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania had plenty of stuff for attendees to work through during the entire show weekend.
And while many of those things like the military encampment, History of Jeep and the Jeep Playground were certainly interesting, one attraction in particular seemed to have Jeeps lined up everywhere for a chance at some quality entertainment.
The Jeep Team Challenge, coordinated by East Coast 4Wheel Drive Association.
Far more than climbing over rocks and blasting through mud, this slice of the Bantam event was a bit slower and methodical, while offering up several ‘games’ that each driver and passengers could play to earn points. The top-five point recipients receive a commemorative plaque.
”You’ll need some ingenuity, a big sense of humor and some trust in your teammate,” the event information said.
Organizers set up the challenge for Saturday and Sunday on a shaved-out trail in the grass just south of the Jeep Playground. Scores of Jeeps queued up throughout each day, all with specific session times, and working hard to earn the best possible score.
Following registration, participants first had to answer a few Jeep-related questions before being handed a long-handled grabbing device to try and pick up different sizes rings, while pulling forward in the Jeep. Each ring was attached to a trailside stake, and not all were easily reachable. Plus, the Jeep’s occupants only received one device, so they had to carefully pass it from side to side depending on where those rings were placed.
Following that first test, players then found the second involved a long rope of chain embedded into the ground that stretched down two straightaways and around a corner. While keeping the front passenger tire on the chain for the entire challenge, occupants also needed to locate and count numerous frisbees placed throughout the trip. So, yes, this involved someone spotting to make sure the tire remained over the chain, while also tallying up that frisbee count. Those who had more than two passengers in the Jeep definitely had an advantage.
The third challenge on the course was water-based. One of the passengers received a specifically weighed water tray, along with a bottle, and then attempted to pour the tray into the bottle — all the while the vehicle went up a small hill and over several wood planks. Once each Jeep finished the challenge, that bottle was weighed again to see just how much water was lost during the trip.
The Jeep Team Challenge’s fourth contest involved hooking up a small set of crates to each Jeep and then dragging them backwards while the front passenger tosses water-soaked balls over the windshield, while blindfolded, trying to make it into the crates. Throwing skill is certainly important here, but so is communication as either the driver or other occupants need to let the thrower know how much velocity they need to reach the crates. Oh, and the driver needs to remember not to run off the trail, either.
After throwing comes tossing. Specifically tossing pool noodles, as the fifth part of the challenge requires driver and passengers to navigate the course while tossing a bunch of those noodles through rings along the trail. The more successful the tosses, the more points are earned. And if you know anything about foam pool noodles, you know sometimes they do not want to go where you aim.
Finally, participants reach the last task — a back up challenge where you have to reverse around 30 yards or so towards a blue oil barrel, getting as close as you can without hitting the thing. Then the distance is measured to see who ends up closest.
Points from each contest, as well as bonus points for each correctly-answered trivia question, were then added up in order to determine the overall five event winners.
Overall, while maybe not as intensive as, say, picking the right line and bouncing over boulders, this Jeep Team Challenge is definitely something fun to mark down for anyone planning on attending the 2023 Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.
