Justin Boyle of Hurricane takes his 1986 CJ-7 Jeep up the RTI ramp, which is used to determine a vehicle’s suspension articulation.
Hurricane was overrun by an army of Jeeps last Saturday, May 9, during the annual Jeepers Invade Hurricane event. The parking lot of the Putnam County Bank Loan Center resembled a Jeep dealership as Jeep owners from near and far came to participate in this unique car show.
The event came into being when Samuel Ball of Hurricane organized the first Jeepers Invade Hurricane event three years ago. He was motivated by Putnam County’s lack of Jeep specific events. While other counties had meet-ups and cruise-ins for Jeep owners, Putnam did not.
Jeep owners showed off their vehicles in Show N Shine, where they hoped to be chosen for one of the ten different award categories at the close of the event. While there were the usual award designations such as People’s Choice and Best of Show, one of the more interesting honors one could win was Dirtiest Jeep. Hunter Rogers, a Hurricane resident who had taken his vehicle out mud running and trail riding before the event, was chosen for this honor.
Over seventy Jeep owners participated in Show N Shine. In addition to the Jeeps which participated in the competition show, an estimated number of 200 to 300 spectator Jeeps came and went throughout the day.
Those attending the event could test their vehicle’s mettle on a Ramp Travel Index (RTI) ramp sponsored by the West Virginia Jeep Club. A RTI ramp is used to measure a vehicle’s suspension articulation (flex) by driving it with one front wheel on the ramp until a tire lifts off the ground. Justin Boyle of Hurricane won Best Flex with 47 inches up the ramp, a score of 846 out of 1000. Last year, he was one of the top contenders for the ramp, with a score of 789.
In addition to offering Jeep owners an opportunity to flaunt their vehicles and meet with other Jeep fans, the event featured over twenty vendors and two food trucks. Some of the businesses represented included Superior Detail Center, Full Bore Fabrication, Beck Fab, Appalachian Outlaw Trails, Mid-Ohio Jeepers, and West Virginia Jeep Club. There was plenty of Jeep merchandise to be purchased, including signs, t-shirts, keychains, travel mugs, and, of course, ducks.
For those not in the know, there is a custom amongst Jeep owners to leave whimsical rubber ducks on other Jeeps. The concept of Duck Duck Jeep or “ducking” began in 2020 with a single random act of kindness meant to cheer someone’s day, and now it is a tradition amongst Jeep fans. There were even two people who dressed up in inflatable duck costumes at Saturday’s event.
This year, part of the proceeds from Jeepers Invade Hurricane will be donated to Hurricane’s Christmas Blessings program. This will be the first year that the organizers have donated to a cause, as in previous years the money which the event made went back into covering expenses. This year, though, Jeepers Invade Hurricane had more sponsors, so the organizers could give back to the community.
