Bantam Jeep Festival celebrates vehicle in its Butler birthplace
They call it “the wave.”
If you know, you know.
Jeep owners acknowledge each other by holding up two or three fingers from their steering wheel when they pass by on the road.
There will be a lot of waving this weekend.
Jeep enthusiasts will gather Friday through Sunday at the 11th annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.
Organizers are expecting between15,000-20,000 people to descend on the birthplace of the Jeep – Butler – and nearby Slippery Rock at Cooper’s Lake Event Venue and Campground.
“There is a Jeep community,” said Debbie Rice of Lancaster, Butler County. “It’s just a feeling.”
The history of the Jeep dates back to June 1940. The U.S. Army solicited bids from 135 automakers for a “light reconnaissance vehicle.” Three companies responded – The American Bantam Car Company in Butler, Willys-Overland Motors in Ohio, and Ford in Michigan.
Bantam produced the template for a Jeep which was utilized during World War II.
The festival honors the formation of the vehicle. It kicks off with the Jeep Invasion on Friday night, where 1,000 Jeeps will make their way along Main Street in Downtown Butler. Throughout the weekend, there will be opportunities to try off-road trails as well as shopping for vehicle accessories and other Jeep-themed happenings including the first “Babes of Bantam” trail ride for women.
Rice will be driving her 2000 desert sand pearl Jeep, which her husband Rich re-built the engine in during the pandemic. He owns a white 2017 Jeep. Most Jeep owners modify their vehicle as a way to personalize it, Rich Rice said.
The couple has family members who served in the military and honor them with American flag designs. She has photos of her mom and dad and their names to remember their service to the U.S.
Rich Rice is a volunteer trail guide at the festival.
“It’s amazing the places the Jeep will go,” said Rich Rice who has a tattoo of a Jeep on his right arm. “I love driving a Jeep. It’s a part of me. People who own Jeeps understand. We appreciate each other.”
That’s shown through the wave which organizers said began with certain models but has grown to include all who drive the vehicle. It is believed to have come from its use during World War II as a way to tell an ally from an enemy. It also was for people to acknowledge soldiers as they passed by, since many were Jeep owners.
Driving her Jeep is peaceful and a chance to be in nature, said Gina Oslick of Plum, who owns a 2021 dark red Wrangler.
“It is so much fun,” Oslick said. “Jeeps allow you to explore. People who own Jeeps just understand each other. It’s a special group to belong to.”
There are various Jeep groups, people who share stories and attend events, which promote their passion for driving the vehicle. Groups often partner to show support.
James Goodwin, who owns Phoenix Off Road & Repair, and is a member of a group called Independent Off Road. He plans to attend the festival with his girlfriend Tiffany and her son Nate, who has helped re-build several Jeeps.
“Jeep owners buy into a heritage and a legacy,” said Goodwin, of Fredericktown, Washington County, who owns a 2009 Wrangler four door and a 2015 two door model. “It’s a vehicle that’s been around since the 1940s. The Jeep Festival is such a nice gathering of diverse people and Jeep groups.”
Jeep owners from more than 30 states are expected to attend the three-day festival. The trails offer off-road experiences of varying skill levels and based on the capabilities of the Jeep. The “Duck Dash” will be held for a second year. Jeep owners often place a plastic duck on another Jeep vehicle they like. It’s called “duck, duck Jeep.” On Saturday, rubber ducks will race down a hill. It’s a fundraiser for the Butler Outdoor Club.
Light Bars & Brews is a chance to try local craft brews and wine. Prizes will be awarded to the most colorful lights, best use of lights and the Jeep that needs more lights. The Jeep playground obstacle course will also give Jeep owners the chance to go off road. This will be the final year for the 5-mile Moraine trail ride through the park.
The best way to drive a Jeep is with the roof off and the doors off, said Michael Persetic, of Penn Hills, who has a 2012 two-door Jeep Wrangler. He is the CEO with the Jeep group Wheelin-Up-Right. He will be one of the people on the course to make sure people ride safely.
“When you sit in a Jeep it’s like you are sitting on top of the world,” Persetic said. “The open air around you is such a great feeling. There is nothing else like it.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.