East Coast 4WD Association Trail Ride

Recently, the ninth annual East Coast 4 Wheel Drive Association trail ride was held at the Southington Off Road Park in Windham, Ohio. The 13 vehicles that attended were from five clubs of the EC4WDA (Erie County 4WD; Tri-County 4Wheelers; Going 4 Gold; Tiretown 4 Wheelers; Outbackers) and one guest club (Erie Jeep People) that was invited. Everyone drove a Jeep, from a 67 CJ-5 and a Cherokee to a new four-door JK. Five families camped May 3 to 5.

The staff at Off Road Park offered a great welcome and hospitality that was top quality. The park has a little bit of everything, from rock crawls and rock climbs to hills and muddy trails. Those participating in the ninth annual event especially had fun playing in the sand. Rod Starcher acted as the 2013 trail guide. There were only a couple of minor stucks with Kathy Burcham in her Wrangler winning the Worst Stuck Plaque. Mark McCall brought up second place in his locked CJ-5, but he tried the deeper holes. The 4 Wheeling for Dummies Award was presented to Scott White being his first time out wheeling and getting the only dent in his new Wrangler. Ages of the group ranged from 30 to 60.

The Eastern four-wheelers competition started in 1965. Pittsburgh's Triangle Jeepers held their first East Coast Four-Wheel-O-Rama in Wellsboro, Penn. From there, competitive and trail riding events followed. Many four wheelers were lured into the tent. Periodic camping weekends evolved into yearly events and subsequent friendships developed between clubs, families, and individuals. Understanding the importance of standardizing running classes, rules and safety considerations, Triangle's club invited Tri-County (Lisbon, Ohio) and Allegheny (Oil City, Penn.) four-wheel drive clubs to send representatives to attend a special conference in February 1969. The 16 who attended the meeting formulated and approved the 1969 competition rules. In addition, an extensive discussion was held to address the need for an East Coast Four Wheel Drive Association (EC4WDA). An autumn date was set for the inaugural meeting in State College, Penn., inviting all known eastern clubs to send representatives.

Since that meeting in the autumn of 1969, EC4WDA has expanded and now encompasses membership including 11 states. The association is regionalized so club directors will not have to travel great distances for region meetings, held in the spring and fall of every year. The yearly convention of all five regions is held every November in Dubois, Penn.

From the start, the creation of EC4WDA was mainly to regulate competitive events. From the genesis of EC4WDA, we have engaged in other organized four-wheeling ventures, such as recreational activity (trail riding), conservation of resources, working together to prevent the closure of public lands, public and membership education, search and rescue operations, and getting involved with our local communities through a variety of community services. In the 1970s and early 80s, competitive off-road racing was at the top of its game in popularity, and the era became the “golden age” of Jeep racing. Region B of the EC4WDA stretched the northeastern half of Pennsylvania into New Jersey, and from the southeastern region into Maryland. Clubs hosted events throughout the summertime providing

From the start, the creation of EC4WDA was mainly to regulate competitive events. From the genesis of EC4WDA, we have engaged in other organized four-wheeling ventures, such as recreational activity (trail riding), conservation of resources, working together to prevent the closure of public lands, public and membership education, search and rescue operations, and getting involved with our local communities through a variety of community services. In the 1970s and early 80s, competitive off-road racing was at the top of its game in popularity, and the era became the “golden age” of Jeep racing. Region B of the EC4WDA stretched the northeastern half of Pennsylvania into New Jersey, and from the southeastern region into Maryland. Clubs hosted events throughout the summertime providing

The East Coast Four Wheel Drive Association is America's second largest regional four-wheel drive association.