Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival brings more than just Jeeps to the party
WORTH TWP — Although the parking lots and trails at Cooper’s Lake Campground were filled with Jeeps, you did not need a Jeep to have fun at the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.
In fact, you did not even need to buy a ticket to the festival to watch two of its wildest events: the Duck Dash and the Barbee Jeep race.
In the Duck Dash, about 1,300 rubber ducks raced down a tarp on a hill at Cooper’s Lake Campground. Participants purchased ducks for $5 each. The proceeds benefited area charities such as the Knights of Columbus Butler Council #866 and the Butler Outdoor Club.
While several ducks looked like they could take home the crown, ducks belonging to Scott Basel, Gene Buckley and Wendy Uphold rose above the rest and won their owners prizes of $300, $200 and $100 respectively.
After the Duck Dash came the Barbee Jeep race, an event in which grown adults race down a hill in Jeeps built for young children. All the competitors had to rely on to get down the hill was a good push from a partner and the power of gravity.
Before the racing began, there was a costume competition. Competitors in the race dressed up in costumes ranging from Patrick Star from “SpongeBob SquarePants” to a bumblebee. However, two all-American costumes stole the show.
Paul Pitzer, dressed in an outfit that included an American flag for a cape, won the audience vote for best costume. Meanwhile, Cory Nolton, dressed in American flag overalls, won the most patriotic costume award, as judged by Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association president Wayne Kovac.
The costume contest then gave way to the chaos of Barbee Jeep racing. The racing began with a photo finish in the first heat. During the later races, several competitors ended up in crazy crashes. One of the wildest crashes was one in which both competitors flipped at the finish line and collided with each other. Thankfully, no one was hurt in any of the crashes.
Eventually, the field slimmed down to the final three racers. However, before the final race, Brian Hall had to withdraw because his Barbee Jeep broke, which left two competitors to race for the title. In the final race, Greg Langer came across the finish line first to take the crown. After the race, Langer credited Nolton with giving Langer the push he needed to win the race.
After the winners were decided, all of the racers came back to participate in the chaotic Dash for Cash. Bill McWilliams came out above the chaos to win the race and the $100 cash prize.
Overall, everyone, no matter if they owned a Jeep or not, enjoyed the wacky and fun activities available to them at the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.
