Jeep
Once you own one, it’s a lifestyle
Forty members of the Trail Lizards Jeep Club displayed their rides amongst other festivities at the fourth annual Topless at Landers event held Oct. 29 at the Bossier Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership.
The club’s mission is to be a family oriented, fun-loving and environmentally friendly Jeep club. “Loving and caring for people, nature and the Jeep way of life,” said Kevin Waldrop, parts director at Landers and a Jeep owner.
Members must be a Jeep enthusiast. Open to all levels of off-road experience, the group meets on the first Thursday of every month at Landers from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Benefits of membership are a T-shirt, decal and license plate.
Dues are $25 for singles and $35 for families.
Members socialize with other owners and go on trail rides, hold socials and help charities. The entry fee for the topless event was one unwrapped toy for the Jeep/Sleigh Toy Run.
The club participated in the sixth annual Jeep Jaunt on Oct. 23 that raised $35,000 for the American Lung Association and has plans to bring the event to this area.
The 35-mile ride departed from Broussard and ended at Charenton.
Member Don Hooper, however, has traveled 14,000 miles to Alaska and back in his Jeep. In 2006 he traveled through the Rockies and down the coast with three people in his Jeep over six weeks and with no problems.
Then there is the “Jeep Girl.” Michelle Babcock of Shreveport won the fourth annual Spring Fling and took home trophies for being Jeep Girl winner and Landers’ favorite. She has a mango-colored, two-door Wrangler JK with numerous modifications.
“I love the camaraderie when it comes to other Jeep owners,” said Ray Merrow, who has a 1997 two-door XJ. “We bond with like experiences.”
“If you ever pulled your top down and went riding on the trails, you would understand,” said Brent Cooley of Minden.
Spectators voted on their favorite Jeep at the Topless at Landers event. Other categories were best stock or near stock, class (CJ, YJ, XJ, TJ, ZJ), two-door, four-door, biggest tires, highest lifted, dirtiest Jeep, Barksdale Jeep and most trail worn Jeep.
Various vendors were on the grounds and a lucky attendee won a winch.
“Safety always comes first. That’s why a majority of us carry fire extinguishers and first aid kits in our Jeeps at all times,” added Mike Micheels.
Buffalo Wild Wings held a hot wing-eating contest won by Richard Lopez of Haughton, and pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs were served up by the We-Do-Que barbecue cook-off team while KRMD and 99X broadcast live.
Brother’s Keepers was selling chances for a customized Harley with proceeds going toward Woody’s Home for Veterans and Landers donated a Ram 250 conversion van to Woody’s Home for Veterans.
More information can be found at www.traillizards.com.
— Mary Ann Van Osdell
Published in December 2011
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