No road, no sun, no problem
Thousands descended on Cooper's Lake Campground to attend the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival this weekend.
But the weather — rain and the threat of rain — dampened participation on Saturday and Sunday, event organizer Patti Jo Lambert admitted.
“We had to cancel a lot of our activities (Sunday) due to the rain,” she said. “But overall, it was a good weekend.”
In all, 2,348 Jeeps registered for the annual event. That was down from 2,420 Jeeps last year.
Good times, however, were plentiful.
Proven favorites, such as the Jeep Playground and the military encampment, entertained participants and visitors, while new events such as the Bantam Jeep Proving Grounds Jeep Pull and Jeepardy added new elements.
The Jeep Pull consisted of contestants in stock and modified Jeeps pulling either a 2,895 pound or a 4,895 pound sled 100 feet to see who could land closest to the end zone.
Sherrie Whittington, a volunteer from Mars who was registering contestants, said more than 50 participants had registered, with many coming back several times to try their luck.
She said contestants from as far away as Florida, Michigan and Utah, as well as locals, got in on the action.
“This is pulling people from everywhere,” she said.
The event came with a $20 fee per pull, with all proceeds benefiting the K-9s for Warriors Project, a nonprofit organization that provides service dogs to military veterans suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, traumatic brain injury and/or military sexual trauma as a result of military service post-9-11.“This is a brand new, fun event that benefits such a great cause,” Whittington said.Another new event, Jeepardy, tested participants knowledge of Jeeps and related categories, such as Butler and Cooper's Lake history and camping questions.Volunteer festival manager Tom Birge of Beaver, who was hosting the Jeepardy contest under the name “Axel Treebent,” said the game was played like the popular TV game show “Jeopardy!,” and included topics such as makes, models and years of Jeeps, while others were about movies and TV shows that featured Jeeps, different Jeep colors, questions about trail riding and hand signals, Butler and Cooper's Lake history and camping.“You don't have to know Jeep to play,” he said.Prizes included raffle tickets, and at the end of the festival a $20 merchandise credit draw was held between the winners of the games.Birge said he developed the game because he is a trivia enthusiast who plays with his neighbors and friends and thought it would be a great addition to the festival.“Everyone seems to be having a great time,” he said.The World War II military exhibit, which has been part of the festival for many years, always draws a large crowd.Patrick Tarasovitch, a re-enactor with the 99th Infantry Division based in Erie and Warren counties, said he has been a part of the event for four years, and intends on coming back year after year.
“This is a great historical event,” he said, showcasing his World War II outfit and gear. “I love coming here every year.”Lambert said attendance figures and the amount of money raised would not be available until later this week. But Mother Nature definitely affected the registration tally, organizers noted. Those numbers include only Jeeps that registered for events — not Jeeps in parking lots or at vending booths.“On-site registration for the weekend was down,” Lambert said. “Last year, we had 400. This year, we only had 200.”Blame it on the rain Sunday and the threat of rain Saturday.The rain, in fact, forced organizers to cancel all but one of the trail rides and races Sunday.“We've never had a wash out like (Sunday),” she said.But precipitation is almost a given. Said Lambert: “We've only had two years without rain.”
