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February 27, 2020 - Festival Update

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STOCK JEEP OPPORTUNITIES

Fun for Jeepers of all skill and modification levels!

Have a brand new Jeep that you don't quite want to get dirty just yet? Or maybe it's your daily driver so you would prefer to participate in some less challenging activities? You can still be part of the fun at Bantam's 10th Anniversary! Check out all of the activities appropriate for stock and beginner Jeepers below:

  • Easy Rider Trail Ride - Join us for a guided off-site trail perfect for stock vehicles. While the trail is rated for stock Jeeps, it will be an enjoyable ride for any Jeep. Read more here.

  • State Park Scenic Tour - This guided on-road tour has been refreshed with exciting new stops for 2020. All three stops will be in Moraine State Park in honor of their 50th Anniversary. Participants will drive on scenic back roads to stops where they will be met by Park Staff. Read more about the stops here.

  • 10th Anniversary Jeep Parade - You may have already heard that we have brought back our popular Parade through downtown Butler to celebrate our 10 year milestone, and you won't want to miss being a part of it! Read more about the Parade here.

  • Moraine Trail Ride - A Festival favorite for stock Jeeps, the Moraine Trail, is a guided off-site ride through Moraine State Park and is a unique opportunity to see parts of the park not open any other time of the year! Read more here.

  • Poker Run & Mystery Road Rally - These two activities are great for families and those that like to get a little competitive! The Rally is an on-road route that Jeepers complete at their own pace answering scavenger hunt questions along the way. The Poker Run will lead participants to different stops throughout the area to collect stamps on their card. When they return, they will be dealt their hand and scored. Read more about these activities here and here.

All the activities listed above are available to register during your Jeep registration by clicking the button below!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!


BABES OF BANTAM UPDATE:

Less than 5 spots remaining

The Babes of Bantam Trail Ride is back for 2020 to give our female Jeepers a chance to drive on a beginner trail and introductory obstacles. A 30-minute “Introduction to 4-Wheeling” session will also be presented by the owner of Off-Road Consulting

Babes of Bantam participants will receive the 2020 Babes of Bantam shirt as well as a cool tire gauge from the activity's sponsor, Atturo Tires.


ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

The Jeep Team Challenge has become a Festival favorite among participants who enjoy completing fun tasks and obstacles on a specially designed course. Did you ever try driving your Jeep blindfolded or playing basketball from the passenger window? Challenges like these create some great memories and a lot of laughs. If your team scores in the top five, you will take home a plaque to celebrate your accomplishment. The course and activity are managed by the East Coast 4WD Association. The activity is available on both Saturday and Sunday and only 50 spots remain. Special thanks to Amsoil for joining us as our Jeep Team Challenge sponsor again this year!

Purchase Raffle Tickets

View Rules


JEEP SCRAMBLER BUILD UPDATE:

Paint, Tires & More!

The Scrambler build is coming together! Earlier this month, Christopher Cox Automotive was busy building the body, test-fitting panels and exterior accessories for proper alignment and perfecting the entire body in preparation for paint! The new body was provided by Omix-ADA, along with many other parts and accessories that will be installed in weeks to come!

The BFGoodrich KO2's also arrived this month so this Scrambler will be looking good from top to tires!

Our Bantam-edition resto-mod is made possible by QuadratecOmix-ADAChristopher Cox AutomotiveLogan’s Metal Products, New Castle School of Trades, BF Goodrich, Hovis Auto & Truck SupplyThrottle Down Kustoms and Rocky’s Auto Wrecking.

Only 2,000 tickets will be sold for $25 each. You can purchase them during your Jeep registration or through our online store.


PLAN AHEAD:

Make your reservations now

Already registered for Bantam but haven't checked your hotel, B&B or campground reservation off your list? Visit our Where to Stay page for links to our partner hotels as well as other accommodations in the area. You'll also find helpful links to local tourism bureaus including Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, Visit Mercer County, Pa. and Visit Lawrence County. Also, check out our Festival's home page for special rates. You'll see the ads below our Premier Sponsor logos.

Our three partner hotels offer guests free shuttle service to/from Cooper's Lake Campground. Special thanks to our Where to Stay page sponsors: Hampton Inn & Suites Grove City, PAHoliday Inn Express Grove City, PA, & Candlewood Suites Grove City, PA.

Where To Stay


2020 HISTORY EXHIBIT:

What models will be featured this year?

Each year we feature Jeeps through the Decades in our History Exhibit and this year's line up will include Jeeps spanning from the BRC-40 (of course!) to a new JL Wrangler. Take a look at the tentative list of vehicles below:

  • Bantam BRC-40

  • Bantam Trailer

  • Ford GPW

  • CJ-2A

  • Willys Wagon

  • M-38

  • Willys Station Wagon

  • M38A-1

  • Willys Pickup

  • CJ-5 Renegade

  • CJ-5 Super Jeep

  • Cherokee Golden Eagle

  • Grand Wagoneer

  • YJ Wrangler

  • TJ Wrangler

  • CJ-8 Scrambler Larado

  • Grand Cherokee Limited 

  • JL Wrangler

February 3, 2020 - Festival Updates

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Planning to Be At Bantam this year?

As you're making your plans, be sure to consider:

Saving Money on Jeep Activities By Purchasing the Festival Package

  • Participate in popular Festival activities at a discount ($145 value plus additional savings from our vendors). Take your Jeep on our Jeep Playground and On-Site Trails all weekend long, participate in the Mystery Road Rally and try your luck at the Poker Run.

  • Plus, you'll receive Festival decals, a $25 voucher for North Country Brewing Company/North Country Canning Company/The Harmony Inn, and a Bantam Bonus Card. The Bonus Card will feature special discounts to select vendors that are only available to those who purchase the Festival package.

  • The package is only available during pre-registration. Package cost is $100 if purchased by March 31st. Package cost is $125 if purchased after April 1st (through May 8th). 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

Volunteering Before, During or After the Festival

  • Another way to save a bit of money on Jeep activities AND make great memories with Jeep friends new and old is to volunteer!

  • Participants who volunteer are required to help out two shifts (approximately 4 hours each). They will receive a participant waiver wrist band (required for all drivers and passengers) and free Jeep registration for the following Festival activities (a $130 value):

  • Playground/On-Site Trails

  • Moraine Trail Ride

  • Best of Bantam

  • Easy Rider Trail Ride

Click on the button below to download a handy timeline to plan out your Jeep activities and volunteering.

Plan Your Volunteer Shifts

Joining Us Saturday Night for More Jeep Fun After the Festival Closes

Last year, we added two new activities on Saturday night based on requests from our attendees for more things to do! We received great feedback so the Bantam Barbee Jeep Race and the Festival of Lights competition are back and even better this year!

  • Plan to enjoy dinner at Bantam Rib Night catered by one of Butler County's most popular restaurants: North Country Brewing Company. The meal includes a 1/2 rack of North Country Ribs, mopped in Firehouse Red BBQ Sauce, with potato salad, cowboy beans and choice of water or soda. Dinner seatings are at 5:30 and 6:15 p.m. Register through our online store using the button below. Price includes meal, drink, tax and gratuity. North Country's famous handcrafted beer will also be available for an additional charge.

  • Then, watch or participate in the Bantam Barbee Jeep Race! Bring your ride-on Jeep and race other riders down the hill in a slalom-style course. Multiple heats will enable participants to advance to the final race for cash prizes of up to $200! The activity is free for all spectators to watch. The race heats begin at 6 p.m. Register through our online store using the button below.

  • Round out the evening by participating or walking through our Festival of Lights competition! Show off your Jeep's lights and be judged by various Festival vendors (light companies will not be judging to ensure fairness). Judges will vote for the Most Colorful and the Best Use of Lights. Judging will begin at 9 p.m. The activity is free for all spectators to watch. Register to participate during your Jeep registration.

Rib Night Details & Tickets

Barbee Jeep Race Details & Registration

Festival of Lights Details


Jeep Scrambler Build Update:

New Additions to the 1981 Jeep Scrambler We'll Be Raffling Off in June!

If you've received our previous emails or have been following along on social media, you know that we're celebrating our 10th Anniversary by raffling off a rare 1981 Jeep Scrambler.

We will be restoring the Jeep and sharing the process leading up to the Festival. This past week the new tub kit provided by Omix-ADA arrived. Christopher Cox Automotive is now prepping the body for paint! The great team at New Castle School of Trades has also been going through the motor, transmission and transfer case.

Our Bantam-edition resto-mod is made possible by QuadratecOmix-ADAChristopher Cox AutomotiveLogan’s Metal Products, New Castle School of Trades, BF Goodrich, Throttle Down Kustoms and Rocky’s Auto Wrecking.

Only 2,000 tickets will be sold for $25 each. You can purchase them during your Jeep registration or through our online store.

View Rules & Photo Updates

Purchase Raffle Tickets


BF Goodrich Tire Raffle:

Winner's Choice of All-Terrain T/A KO2 or Mud Terrain T/A KM3 Tires up to 37"!

This is your chance to be driving home from Bantam with $1,000+ worth of brand new tires! We will once again be raffling FIVE sets of BFGoodrich tires!

We're only selling 125 tickets for each set which maximizes your chances of winning. Tickets are $20 each. The raffle drawing will be held during the Festival. The winner does not need to be present to win.

Order tire raffle tickets for any of the five sets during your participant/volunteer pre-registration. If you've already registered and you'd like to add tickets, email MAnderson@Bantam.org.


Save the Date for Trail Work Day:

April 18, 2020 at Coopers Lake

Trail Work Weekend is when a group of volunteers head out to Cooper's Lake Campground to get the trails and playground ready for the Festival. If you are willing to share a Saturday with us, bring your trimmers, loppers, saws, etc. and sign up to join us. We will provide a hot lunch to those who help out.  

This year, we will start out the day with our Bantam Trail Guide and Playground Expectations Program presented by Kyle Buchter from Offroad Consulting. Attendance at this presentation will meet the requirements for all 2020 Trail and Playground volunteers to participate in the Expectations Program.

Coopers Lake will be offering half price camping and hookups on the Friday before and the Saturday of Trail Day.

Sign Up For Trail Day

Win a Jeep or $1,000+ of BF Goodrich Tires!

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Enter to Win Our 10th Anniversary Bantam Edition 1981 Jeep Scrambler!

Bantam is celebrating its 10th anniversary by restoring a 1981 Jeep Scrambler that will be given to one lucky raffle ticket purchaser on Saturday, June 13. Just over 27,000 of these Jeeps were made in the 1980s. This exclusive Bantam-edition resto-mod was made possible by Omix-ADAQuadratecChristopher Cox AutomotiveLogan’s Metal ProductsNew Castle School of TradesBF GoodrichThrottle Down Kustoms and Rocky’s Auto Wrecking.

Only 2,000 tickets will be sold for $25 each. Tickets will be available through Festival pre-registration and in our online store starting on January 16th. Learn more details and rules that explain how the winner will be selected and how tickets will be distributed by visiting our Scrambler Raffle web page here.

This Scrambler features the following:

  • In-line 6-cylinder engine

  • 4-speed manual transmission

  • 4:11 gears

  • BF Goodrich K02 Tires

  • Powder coated custom bumpers (Logan’s Metal Products)

  • Skyjacker Lift & Suspension

  • Scout Dana 44 axles

  • Front and rear power disc brakes

  • Drum rear

  • Power steering

  • Bucket seats

  • Black bed coating  

The rendering above is very close to the actual Scrambler that will be given away but may not be exact.

We'll be sharing photos and videos of the build process throughout the coming months! Check out our Facebook page for exciting updates.


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Five Sets of BFGoodrich Tires are up for Grabs!

If you didn't win our tire raffle last year, you have another chance to be driving home from Bantam with $1,000+ worth of brand new tires!

We will once again be raffling FIVE sets of BFGoodrich tires! We're only selling 125 tickets for each set which maximizes your chances of winning. Tickets are $20 each. The raffle drawing will be held during the Festival. The winner does not need to be present to win.

Order tire raffle tickets for any of the five sets during your participant or volunteer pre-registration beginning January 16th!

Historic Photo Opportunity with Your Jeep

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We are excited to announce a new activity for Bantam 2020!

Here is your rare opportunity to have a photo of your Jeep taken with the only remaining remnants of the American Bantam Car Company. If you register for this activity, you will be able to drive your Jeep behind the fence and our photographer will take a photo of your Jeep with the Bantam Administration Building in the background (only one Jeep per photo/time slot). Each participant will receive a digital photo download as part of the $25 registration fee. A portion of the fee will also be used toward the preservation of Butler's Bantam jeeps and the Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association's land fund.

The American Bantam Car Company created the world's original Jeep in 1940. You won't want to miss this chance to feature your Jeep with a piece of Jeep history as we may not get this opportunity again. Your photo will include a commemorative border, similar to the image shown here. Placement of logo and historical marker may change depending on specific location that the photo is taken.

Sign up for the Bantam Building Photo Opportunity when registration launches January 16th. Limited spots will be available so don't delay!

Click here for more information on the activity!