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!

Drop by the CJ-2A Forum to learn more

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!

UPDATE:  Dan posted a whole bunch of photographs from the Willys America BBQ and the Caravan on July 7th at the oldwillysforum.  Sure looks like it was fun.  Here are three photos:

(published June 26, 2012) JOIN THE CARAVAN FROM THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE IN SAN FRANCISCO OR DRIVE UP ON YOUR OWN. CALL US FOR DIRECTIONS AS ON-LINE MAP PROGRAMS WILL SEND YOU IN THE WRONG DIRECTIONS. DRIVE OR TOW YOUR WILLYS

SEE RESTORATIONS IN PROGRESS IN OUR SHOP, SEE RARE AND UNUSUAL MODELS OF WILLYS VEHICLES, TRACTORS, GENERATORS, COMPRESSORS, WAGONS, TRUCKS, JEEPSTERS, MILK TRUCKS, FIRE TRUCKS, AMBULANCES, MILITARY, AND MORE!
JOIN THE WEST COAST WILLYS AND NORTH BAY MILITARY VEHICLE COLLECTORS GROUPS FOR MUSIC AND BBQ 10AM TO 4PM
707-632-5258

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: willysamerica.com FOR PICTURES OF PAST YEARS EVENTS OR OUR WILLYS AMERICA FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE PHOTOS.

Bill, from Lime Street Carriages, posted some pics of last weekend’s 2o12 Willys Picnic on his Face book page.  He wrote, “I think there were 76-77 Jeeps there this year and the weather was great (hot).  My group took 6 Jeeps up from Lancaster (68 mi each way) and next year we’ll have more!

The Great Willys Picnic Show and Swap Meet:  learn more here http://www.cj3a.info/picnic/

June 10, 2012 from 9 am – 4 pm at the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad, located in Kempton, Pennsylvania

It’s time to plan for the 13th annual Great Willys Picnic, Car Show and Swap Meet. All vehicles are welcome: stock, modified, projects, CJs, Wagons, Trucks, Jeepsters, Military, Cars and even GPWs! Every pre-1970 Willys vehicle is eligible to win door prizes. This show has grown into the largest Northeast Willys event. Over 45 vehicles and hundreds of enthusiasts were present at last year’s picnic. There is plenty of space for selling your spare parts in the swap meet area. Bring your Willys memorabilia and interesting parts for show and tell. Be sure to arrive early because at 3:00 PM the door prize winners are announced and awarded. Bring your own picnic lunch or purchase food at the refreshment stand.

The Picnic will be held on the grounds of the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad located in the scenic village of Kempton, Pennsylvania. This is a great setting to display our classic Willys vehicles, as well as entertainment for the entire family. Also on-site is the Schuykill & Lehigh Model Railroad Club’s HO model train display.

As always the Willys Picnic, Show and Swap is free. Plan to take the optional train ride for a very reasonable fee.

One of the updates in the May newsletter from the Bantam Festival folks is that there will be more food.  Since I like food, I have to say I’m all in favor of that!

You can read more on the latest at the Bantam Jeep Festival Site

I hope everyone is enjoying Memorial Day Parade.  A big thanks to all the veterans out there and the ones that have passed.  I shall make sure to give my vet an extra kiss tomorrow, after all, sacrifices must be made 🙂 !

Thanks to Tony for forwarding these pictures of the Memorial Day Parade in Yakima, Wa.  Tony writes, ” The first M38 belongs to Randy Adams. The next 3 are mine and the M38 A1 aim driving.  I am taking it to Dawson Creek and will be doing the Trail of 42 w/converto trailer.”

Pete from the Old Willys Forum wanted to share these pics and videos from this year’s Willys Overland Rally, Moab 2012.  In case you missed them, Kevin also share some pics and his experience.

Here’s a link to all the pictures and videos:  http://oldwillysforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=27208#p27208 

Here are a few . . .

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDa6pjSIgr4

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX85uUvpcjo

Kevin filed this report  from Moab at the end of the Willys Overland Rally, Moab 2012.  Thanks Kevin!  Don’t forget to visit the oldwillysforum.com to prepare for next year’s rally.

Kevin writes, “We made it to Moab from Georgia, what an experience! I traveled 1,750 miles @ 25 cents per mile.

I had my share of adventure — Tranny coolant line breaks, gas gauge peg’s at fuel, lost a gas cap and bought a non-vent cap, which caused every hose connected to the tank leak like the Titanic of gas, loose distributor, two plug wires not doing their job, busted motor mouint, spring perches broke (spot welded).   All the particapants made it up the Pucker Hill, but me … oh what fun it is  to get stuck and broke down. Despite all of this, I had a Great Time!!!  These people know how to party and have an honest good time!

All too quickly MOAB 3 – 2012 has come to an end.  So, I’m on my way back to Georgia, carrying plenty of red sand for the ride home.

One more item off the Bucket List.”

These first two pictures are of Kevin’s wagon:

UPDATE:  JUST A REMINDER

Sign up now for the Moab Overland Rally, a tribute to Willys Wagon and Trucks.  Click on the picture to connect to the website, http://www.willysrally.com/

Colin alerted to this:  Production Assistant for Burn Notice Brandy Maruschak is hoping to locate a pink Willys Surrey in South Florida for sometime between April 4 and April 12, 2012.  They only need the vehicle for two days.  The script specifically calls for a pink one. If you have a pink Willys Surrey, email me and I will forward Brandy’s information.

I was a little delayed in posting these pics from the swapmeet a week and a half ago, so I will push the pics of the WAAAM visit off until tomorrow.  At the swapmeet there were a few pics of jeeps and racers I wanted to include in this post.  But, I couldn’t leave the booth because the two times I did leave readers dropped by to say “hi”.  My faithful photographer did make it out to snap some pictures, getting wet in the process, but couldn’t quite read my mind as to which pictures I wanted;  Of course, my mind, like the rest of me, was cold that day, so I doubt there was much going on inside my mind for Ann to read.

As you can see, the booth design was compact, but efficient.  Herm was nice enough to give me some front space.  In exchange I even managed to sell something for him while he and his kids were off purchasing all kinds of deals (and he found a couple of astonishing deals on parts).  I have books, tshirts, signage and, most importantly, warm liquids.

In this picture you can see Herm wheeling and dealing on the phone, with his son Richard to his right, and their friend Dan to Richard’s right.

Here is a good example of the type of trailers that are brought in by sellers.  Trailers are piled with as many parts and pieces as they can put on them.  The building in the background is full of sellers and is only one of several buildings.  Many more sellers were outside.