The Epic Willys Adventure 6: The Great Mitten Race is set to fire up June 2025—kicking off once again from the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival

EWA6 will cover over 1,500 miles in true throwback fashion, with no GPS, no interstate, and nothing but vintage 1941–1964 Willys Jeeps, maps, and iron will.

At the heart of the festival, Epic Basecamp will be featured behind the Jeep History Exhibit near the Military Encampment. Fans and festival-goers will get to meet the racers, check out their rugged Willys Jeeps, and see what it takes to chase glory on backroads and battle-tested terrain.

What Is the Epic Willys Adventure?

The story of the Epic Willys Adventure was born in 2015 by the crew at Max-Bilt Offroad in the northwoods of Wisconsin. The idea? Pull a forgotten Willys Jeep out of a farm field, breathe life back into it, and road-trip the backroads of America the way our grandfathers did—no tech, just tools, maps, and guts.

On March 10, 2016, fourteen fearless drivers in eight bone-stock Willys Jeeps set out from Eau Claire, WI to Moab, UT, attending the 50th Easter Jeep Safari. The mission was simple: prove you don’t need modern comforts to experience a true adventure.

They didn’t stop there.

• 2018: Canada to Mexico along the Continental Divide.

• 2021: Oregon Trail from Independence, MO to Oregon City, OR.

• 2023: Concord Cup looped through New England to Mt. Washington, ending in Jeep’s birthplace—Butler, PA.

• 2024: The Moonshine Run to Pigeon Forge, TN and back—exploring America’s hidden whiskey-running history.

Each year, the adventure averages nearly 2,000 miles through remote regions with no cell phones, GPS, or highways. Drivers sleep under the stars, rebuild broken rigs on the roadside, and share stories around the fire. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s what we call #underlanding.

EWA6: The Great Mitten Race

This year’s adventure is set to make history again. From Bantam, the crews will head northwest through Toledo—where the original Willys Jeeps were built—and roll through Detroit’s iconic auto past. Then it's on around Michigan’s lower peninsula, hugging the coastlines of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

Expect:

• Shipwrecks & lighthouses

• Scenic heritage routes

• The mighty Mackinac Bridge

• Sand dunes, backroads, and live off-road racing

• Historic farms, orchards, and backcountry towns

• A community of Jeepers and adventurers unlike any other

Racers earn points along the way by completing hidden challenges from the official Race Book. From spotting mythical creatures to locating historical landmarks and helping fellow competitors, every day offers a new test of grit and camaraderie.

It’s not just a race—it’s a celebration of Willys Jeep history, the spirit of exploration, and the dirt-road lifestyle.

Don’t Miss It.

Whether you’re cheering from Bantam or chasing checkpoints yourself, this is the ultimate Willys Jeep experience. Bring your rig, join the brotherhood, and help us keep vintage Jeep culture alive and thriving.

Follow the journey, join the crew, or learn more at:
https://www.epicwillysadventure.com/
#EpicWillysAdventure #EWA6 #GreatMittenRace #Underlanding #VintageJeepLif

Need To Make A Change To Your Registration? Now You Can Do It Yourself!

HERE’S A STEP-BY STEP GUIDE TO MAKING CHANGES TO YOUR REGISTRATION:

We heard your questions and are bringing you the answers! Thanks to our new registration system - making changes to your itinerary has never been easier! Follow the guide below:

1. CREATE AN ACCOUNT:

   • Find your registration confirmation email

   • Scroll to the very bottom and select “Set Up Account Now”

   • Confirm the email address listed is correct and create a password

     • Make sure you write this down!

   • Once you login, click “Registration” in the navigation bar - then click “View Details”

     • Note: If you are doing this from a cell phone, turn your device sideways to expose the navigation bar.

   2. MAKE CHANGES + SAVE:

   • Select an activity you wish to change

   • Press the green “Edit” button and select your new option

   • Duplicate this process for any other activity alterations

   • Press the “Save & Submit” button at the top of your screen

Woohoo! Your changes have now been recorded!
You can log back in to this account at any time to make changes until May 3.

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Please note: All activity changes can be made through this portal EXCEPT for BBQ & Brews Tickets and T-Shirt Orders. Please email info@bantam.org to request a change for these items.

Changes can be made to your registration up until May 3rd. Our cancellation policy allows you to cancel your registration until April 30th for a full refund. No refunds will be made after this date - no exceptions!

Bantam 2025 Registration is LIVE!

BANTAM 2025 IS CALLING YOUR NAME!
Sign-up for your favorite activities and attractions now!

We’re introducing an all-new and easy-to-use registration system for Bantam 2025! No more clicking back and forth through multiple activities and attractions pages - everything is now conveniently listed on one user-friendly page! We can’t wait for you to check it out!

Additionally, you can now edit your registration yourself! Simply create an account through your confirmation email to view and change your activity selections.

*Note: You can change any item on your registration through this portal EXCEPT BBQ & Brews tickets and T-Shirt orders. Please email info@bantam.org if you wish to make an edit to these items.

REMINDERS: You can make alterations to your registration up until May 3. With the new registration system, simply make an account through your confirmation email and you can now make the changes on your own!
With our cancellation policy, you can cancel your registration up until April 30 for a full refund. No refunds will be made after this date - no exceptions!)

See you in June, Jeepers!

What's New In 2025!

What’s New at Bantam 2025!

There is a lot of fun in store for you and your Jeep at the 14th annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival on June 13-15. Here’s some of the new things you can plan to experience this year:

New Trail Experience at the Bantam Quarry at Kildoo

We received great feedback from our 2024 Bantam TrailFest participants about changes we made to some of our green and blue trails. The trails are shorter, and we are running most of them backwards for a whole new experience. We tested the new system at Bantam TrailFest and are excited for you to see the changes. If you haven’t been out to The Quarry in a while, you won’t want to miss it in 2025! 

On-Site Trails Get Flipped

We’re offering a fresh perspective and new challenges for all participants by running our on-site trails trails backwards (weather and trail conditions permitting). We’re also lengthening one of our green trails, making it even more enjoyable for Jeep enthusiasts of all skill levels.

Where Does Your Jeep Fit?

We are excited to introduce a new event in 2025… Bantam Misfits! This is a fun spin on Best of Bantam, where Jeeps will compete in five unique categories: Best Beater Jeep, Oldest Jeep, Most Unique Jeep, Most Patriotic Jeep, and Muddiest Jeep. A trophy will be awarded to the top winner in each category, so whether your Jeep is a classic, quirky, or caked in mud, there’s a spot for it!

Mystery Road Rally Makes a Comeback!

We’re going retro this year! Based on participant feedback, the Mystery Road Rally will return to its original scavenger hunt format using paper and pen. Your Festival packet will include a driving route through scenic roadways, where you’ll fill in the blanks with items of interest along the way. This family-friendly event is a fun way to explore the area in your Jeep.

Judges Return for some Best of Bantam Classes

Is your Jeep one of the Best of Bantam? Classes 1-7 will be judged by vintage Jeep enthusiasts and participants in the Epic Jeep Race. The participants in classes 8-17 will judge each others Jeeps. That way those who know the model the best (the owners themselves) will decide who wins the coveted Bantam trophy for their class. 

Bantam Boot Camp Ranked Up Provides Intermediate Trail Instruction

The new Bantam Boot Camp Ranked Up activity on Thursday, June 12 at 9 a.m. offers a next-level training opportunity for those who previously completed the Babes of Bantam or Bantam Book Camp activities. Both men and women can participate in this session that provides a dedicated blue trail for this instruction.

New Overland Vendor Area in the Works

Be sure to check out our brand-new Overland Vendor Area at this year’s festival! This exclusive section will feature companies specializing in overland products, giving you a unique opportunity to shop vendors that cater specifically to your adventure needs.

Other Bantam Activities Offer Jeep Family Fun

With 18 total activities, Jeep owners can create the perfect Jeep weekend. Take time to review the Activity section of our website and plan your Bantam itinerary. That way when registration launches, you will be able to snag a spot in each of your must-have Jeep activities!