CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County All American Jeep Club is bringing its regional show to Crestview.
Shelter House of Northwest Florida will benefit from the Sept. 26 and 27 event planned for Old Spanish Trail Park, organizer Chris Henderson said.
He said the event attracts Jeep owners and fans from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, and possibly Georgia.
"Last year, we had 49 Jeeps show up for the (Fort Walton Beach) show," Henderson said. "We had about 300 to 350 people show up. This year, we are expecting three times that amount. We’re expecting 800 people to show up over the two-day event and a hundred to 120 Jeeps to be entered."
Last year, the club donated more than $4,000 to Special Operations Wounded Warriors. Henderson said club members hope to at least double that amount for a nonprofit that helps domestic violence and sexual assault survivors.
Henderson said Jeeps judged in the show fall into several categories, including standard stock models, partially modified to fully modified, and “mall crawlers," customized Jeeps "that never touch dirt."
"You have some Jeeps go off-road and you have some people like to dress it up and show it off," Henderson said. "Sunday, we’ll have the dirtiest Jeep contest. Those are ones covered in mud."
Fans of the 1940 Willys-Overland four-wheel-drive "general purpose" vehicle will see several restored military-era Jeeps at the show, Henderson said.
Events will include a show-and-shine, where entrants show off their Jeeps, and fundraisers including a poker run, night ride and silent auction. The Crestview Fire Department will have a static display, cut up a car and accept donations for new equipment on Sept. 26.
Henderson, a former Crestview Police Department officer, said the club regularly meets in Crestview, Niceville and Fort Walton Beach. The next Crestview meeting is 1 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Hooters restaurant.
WHAT: All American Jeep Show
WHEN: Sept. 26 and 27
WHERE: Old Spanish Trail Park, Industrial Drive, Crestview
COST: $1 general admission; Jeep show entrants pay $30 advance or $35, day of show registration; proceeds benefit Shelter House of Northwest Florida
NOTES: Classic, new, stock, modified and "mall crawler" Jeep show. Information and registration: Facebook: All American Jeep Club, AllAmericanJeepClub.com, AllAmericanJeepClub@gmail.com, or phone 865-6452.
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Jeep show to benefit domestic violence, sexual assault survivors