This year was my first time attending the Willys Reunion in Ohio, largely due to scheduling conflicts I have never made it. But when you find out most of the Alaska or Rust crew are attending and you have not seen them for ten months, you fix the schedule!
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Alaska or Rust veterans at the Willys reunion
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Arrival at Bertram Inn and Conference Center

Joe and Emily set up camp
Friday we settled in, caught up with our Alaska or Rust jeep family and took a look at the vendors and vehicles on display.
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There were many vendors with a wide array of parts
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Three Empire tractors, quite rare and built with Willys drivetrains.
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Nice patina CJ2A
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Three FC’s gathered together.

Willys lined up at the park
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Mortimer had trouble starting after the BBQ, turned out his electrical contacts were pretty fouled up by sludge over the winter, cleaned em up and he was good again.

Myself, Joe and Russ returning from a successful mission…we even raced some Canada Geese while Joe shouted,” this duck’s got wheels B#$@hes!! We are silly people.
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Just some of Alaska or Rust crew hanging out. Dave, Anne, Kevin and Russ.
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New Allied L134 engine block

Joe and a few of our helpers
Many folks scrambled to get things we needed and we were even given a donation for lunch. By mid afternoon things were really coming together.
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Rick (AKA Scoutpilot) of Old Jeep Carbs LLC wrenching on the engine
The banquet was quite good and for us Alaska folks it was a great time to catch up for a bit and relax. I managed to get the last of the Alaska or Rust books handed out by the end of dinner. I still have a handful more to mail.
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Cowboy reading his copy of the book
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Selfies at the banquet (L to R Cowboy, Tracey, Bill, Anne)
Despite inclement weather the Alaska or Rust veterans gathered under the eWillys tent after Dave’s presentation and spent the evening being silly, catching up, drunk video chatting our missing members and more.
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Joe cooking up hotdogs and bacon around 1am