by Terry Pritchard
Torque Staff Writer
The morning dawned beautiful and crisp as Jeep vehicles of various years and builds began to assemble on a recent February Saturday in eastern Pennsylvania. The meeting spot was a large parking lot used by a medical office during the week, but today would accommodate many Jeeps, and as each model and size rolled into the lot, attendees walked around admiring each one while looking for inspiration for their own build and modifications.
Club rides like these typically begin in a parking lot with an informal gathering, a driver’s meeting to discuss the ride and then a final destination. By the time this event’s driver’s meeting began, somewhere around sixty Jeeps assembled with everyone excited for the day.
Of all the vehicles present, one of the most distinctive in the lot was a red and white 1960 Jeep Forward Control that looked to be in perfect condition. For those unfamiliar with an FC’s design, its front cab rests over the engine compartment and its rear has a flat bed with slat rails. This seemed to be a favorite in the lot and the owner told his story about ownership to those gathered around to admire this restored piece of history.
Planners for the Jeep Enthusiasts of Eastern Pennsylvania (J.E.E.P.) sat down a few months ago and came up with a terrific event for a winter drive in the Lehigh Valley. The area is home to some of the most beautiful covered bridges in the country, and this particular chosen route takes riders across four of these bridges of yesteryear as they cross the winding Jordan Creek toward the gathering place at the Ridgeview Farm Vineyards and Brewery in New Tripoli, Pennsylvania.
Since the very first event J.E.E.P. organized, a great amount of energy has been put into ride planning. It usually involves taking the longest, most scenic route to a final destination, while avoiding highways or major roadways.
“There is a lot of time and work that goes into these types of events,” said Brandon Ziegler, J.E.E.P President. “Planning the route so it’s interesting and easy-ish to navigate isn’t a one-and-done experiment. Running the actual route with a dry run sometimes means having to make adjustments and running the route more than once.”
When finalized, these event routes are always interesting and provide a variety from the normal everyday commute; sometimes including dirt-maintained roads.
Additionally, hosting an event for a larger Jeep club involves a good deal of planning and coordination besides just running the route itself.
“Parking is always a concern. We need a start point with enough parking and an end location that folks want to go to and can handle parking sometimes 50-plus Jeeps,” Ziegler said. ”All of the behind-the-scenes planning and work that goes into an event like this allows it to feel seamless for the participants. This event was coordinated by another member of the executive team of the club, Russell Quinn.”
Another element was added to this winter ride for the bravest of souls as Jeepers were encouraged to participate in a polar bear challenge. Included with the event posting, was a message to “Have a little fun with this ride, if you wish to participate, we will have a polar bear ride option. What does that mean? Bring your Jeep out with the top down, doors off, etc. and have fun with it. The Jeep and passengers stripped down the most will win a prize at the endpoint. Bonus points if you are wearing J.E.E.P. gear. This is completely optional and at your own risk.”
Dave and Shannon Andreas took this message seriously in the mid-40-degree weather, and showed up in their lifted Jeep Gladiator with the top down, tube doors installed, shorts and t-shirts. Brave souls for a sunny, but frosty outing. Obviously, they were the winning team.
Just what does an event like this, or belonging to a Jeep club mean to the members?
“I love being part of the J.E.E.P group,” Yvonne Brown said. “This group participates in so many wonderful events and supports the community in so many ways. I love my J.E.E.P. family and the wonderful memories we create.”
Some members enjoy the social aspect.
“The ride was approximately an hour long which ended at Ridgeview Farm and Vineyards where we were able to meet with some new Jeepers, grab some food and drinks, and just kick back and socialize,” said Wil Westwood. “I’ve been a member of the club for over three years now and I’m honored to be one of the six administrators who help to plan and organize the different events that we’ve had in the past year.
”We have at least one event a month and try to collaborate a good mix for the off-road enthusiasts as well as those who like to show their street and custom-built jeeps. We also collect donations at nearly every event for various charities in the community which is one of the reasons I am proud to be a part of Jeep Enthusiasts of Eastern PA.”
Jeep clubs are a great place to find a community of people that share the same passion. While some clubs focus mostly on off-roading, others love meet-ups and socializing. Many are a combination of the two.
If you are new to the Jeep community, or haven’t yet associated with a club, ask around or browse forums to find a group in your area that shares your passion.
Also, if you are the leader of a Jeep club, then reach out to us at [email protected] and let us know your upcoming event schedule. If we have a chance, maybe we can join you.
