![GRANDDADDY'S BIRTHDAY](https://cdn.magzter.com/1394476627/1671184147/articles/Q0WBmyBz31672720011398/GRANDDADDYS-BIRTHDAY.jpg)
On a cool summer morning in the Northern Sierra, a few dozen flat fenders lined up in front of the Georgetown Hotel. Excitement was in the air as the sun crested high granite peaks to the east, illuminating the rough-and-tumble foothill settlement. Drivers grabbed a cuppa joe and gathered around for a trail briefing. Their destination was Lake Tahoe, but not via the paved road. Rather, they would traverse an Indian trail through a place known as the Devil's Playground. Jeep master Mark Smith fired up his engine, and like Julius Caesar, led his troops across the Rubicon and into the annals of automotive history.
The year was 1953, and the town's mining and timber industries had hit the skids. Hotels had closed, mills were quiet, and the last surviving bar was the Miner's Club. A year earlier, a group of Rotarians met at Smith's home to formulate a plan to attract tourists. Each had explored the Rubicon Valley and agreed a Jeep excursion might be popular. Someone suggested the name Jeepers Jamboree, and the group elected Smith to be Jeepmaster.
It was decided the meadow near the old Rubicon Springs Hotel would be basecamp. There was room for tents, participants could swim in the river, and a granite wall provided a natural backdrop for evening entertainment. During the first work party they constructed a dancefloor and kitchen and crafted a swim platform from 55-gallon drums.
Every detail had been addressed, but less than a dozen people had initially signed up. They began pitching the Jamboree at public functions, county fairs, and sent out press releases. Their efforts paid off, and on that cool summer morning 55 vehicles lined up behind Smith for what would become the granddaddy of Jeep events.
Flash Forward
Denne historien er fra February 2023-utgaven av Four Wheeler.
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Denne historien er fra February 2023-utgaven av Four Wheeler.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![2022 Summer Safari](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5792/1160770/uWfcmxfs91672721997540/crp_NEK-Overland-Summer-Safari-Vermont-New-Hampshire.jpg)
2022 Summer Safari
NEK Overland led the way into parts of Vermont and a bit of New Hampshire most will never see
![This fourdoor Ford foreshadowed late-model Broncos](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5792/1160770/H_PY2gpP61672739098371/THIS-FOURDOOR-FORD-FORESHADOWED-LATEMODEL-BRONCOS.jpg)
This fourdoor Ford foreshadowed late-model Broncos
Ddecades ahead of the '20 four-door Bronco, and even preceding the Ford Explorer and Excursion, came an SUV that could have passed for OEM and was built to answer the call for a three-row people-haulin' off-roader.
![JEEP OR BLAZER BUILDING](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5792/1160770/b2RZc8s931672738754644/JEEP-OR-BLAZER-BUILDING.jpg)
JEEP OR BLAZER BUILDING
I was hoping to pick your brain as to a couple of different builds. I have a '19 Jeep Wrangler JL and a '74 Chevy Blazer. I'm a little baffled as to what to focus on. The '74 full convertible Blazer is my dream vehicle. She's been a long build and now I am thinking of focusing my energy on my wife's '19 Jeep JL. I recently joined a Jeep club and have been going off-road with a few guys. I'm shopping around for lift kits. Would you suggest that my time be spent and focused on the Blazer or enjoy the Jeep? I really can't do both.
![JEEP BEACH 2022](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5792/1160770/mZV4KR7Wv1672735327871/JEEP-BEACH-2022.jpg)
JEEP BEACH 2022
10 days, 25,000-plus Jeeps, 225,000-plus spectators
![TAULER JACK](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5792/1160770/svKDkTi1t1672729144949/TAULER-JACK.jpg)
TAULER JACK
A new alternative to the old off-road jack
![OVERLAND ADVENTURE 2022:](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5792/1160770/oCQ2PdWTE1672727342143/OVERLAND-ADVENTURE-2022.jpg)
OVERLAND ADVENTURE 2022:
MEET THE PARTICIPANTS 12 outstanding, Mojave-ready over landers
![JEEP GRAND CAMPER](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5792/1160770/q67H3_jcr1672726072784/JEEP-GRAND-CAMPER.jpg)
JEEP GRAND CAMPER
This custom 1994 Grand Cherokee and homebuilt trailer were made to go camping
![ROCK JUNCTION 2022](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5792/1160770/v8yYXnzZO1672725695656/ROCK-JUNCTION-2022.jpg)
ROCK JUNCTION 2022
4 days, 23 trails, 1 awesome event
![DECKED OUT SILVERADO](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5792/1160770/4LiPNiFo51672724502050/DECKED-OUT-SILVERADO.jpg)
DECKED OUT SILVERADO
Is this the ultimate overland accessory for pickups?
![SANDTASTIC!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5792/1160770/iVVgmoP7A1672723732890/SANDTASTIC.jpg)
SANDTASTIC!
Dangle the opportunity to put the hammer down on more than a dozen square miles of the largest coastal dune complex in the world, add in partying with family and friends at sand camps, spice it up a bit with a variety of motorsport competition and nightly concerts, and it's easy to see why the five-day