The Epic Willys Adventure (EWA) group races classic jeeps around the country for gold coins and bragging rights. One of EWA’s upcoming events is the Great Mitten Race – an epic 7-day journey starting at the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, sweeping through Michigan’s outer Great Lakes and iconic Toledo, Ohio and then back to Butler, Pennsylvania.
Epic Willys Adventure 6 – the Great Mitten Race – will start at the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival on Thursday, June 5. By late afternoon, these jeeps will arrive in Toledo (10-12 teams in race jeeps) and will be camping at Middlegrounds Metropark in downtown Toledo – the Toledo Jeep Fest Basecamp.
The event will bring together 12 teams competing in EWA approved stock – 1941-1964 Willys Jeeps with lots of country, historic landmarks and a series of unique challenges to win the Great Mitten Race. This attraction is a slow-paced, high-energy celebration of Jeep Heritage, camaraderie and adventure.
EWA has been racing and adventuring since 2016, rolling from Canada to Mexico (2,135 miles), through the Great Divide (1,506 miles in 2018), Oregon Trail (1,888 miles in 2021), the Concord Cup (1,729 miles in 2023), the Moonshine Run (1,516 miles in 2024). This year’s event in June is the Great Mitten Race, rolling through scenic byways and farm roads in Michigan and then finally down to Toledo, Ohio.
Race commander Jonah Hodgkins recently told Toledo Jeep Fest that Toledo, Ohio – Home of the Jeep – will be a checkpoint during their Great Mitten Race to celebrate and prepare for Toledo Jeep Fest on Aug. 1-3.
Are there rules for the Epic Willys Adventure? Well, let’s start with rule No. 1 – No GPS Allowed! Only maps and compasses are permitted for race teams. Other Epic Willys Adventure rules include no use of Interstate Highways. Racers must stick to backroads, scenic byways and farm roads. No Excuses are a rule. Breaking down, getting lost and running out of fuel for these stock Willys vehicles (1941-1964) is part of the challenge. Self-reliant repairs are a staple of Epic Willys Adventure. If mechanical issues occur, teams are expected to handle repairs on their own.
Teams earn gold coins along the route. Coins are earned for finishing first for the day, arriving at a checkpoint, photographing a historical marker, capturing a photo of Bigfoot or an imaginary animal sighting, getting a photo with another Willys Jeep, and Good Samaritan Points for helping another team with mechanical repairs.
