Oklahoma Jeepers plan stop in Arcadia

ARCADIA — About 50 members of the Oklahoma Jeepers plan to visit Arcadia on Saturday during a drive along Route 66 that will originate in Sapulpa.

Club members plan to arrive in Arcadia about 1 p.m. and will park their Jeeps at John Hargrove's OK County Route 66, at the Arcadia Round Barn and at Pops, said William Briggs, one of the administrators of the club's Facebook page.

The public is invited to view the Jeeps, meet the owners and ask questions. Club members will be encouraged to wear masks when they get out of their vehicles in keeping with COVID-19 hygiene protocol, Briggs said.

Most of the about 2,500 club members drive Wranglers and Cherokees and have an interest in the vehicle because of its military history and off-roading abilities, Briggs said. Many do their own mechanic work.

The third Saturday in May is national Jeep Go Topless Day, when Jeep owners like to go on excursions with the hard tops and doors of their vehicles removed, Briggs said. He said Jeep owners are “fanatics” about wearing seatbelts.

Vehicles included in the outing will range from CJs (Civilian Jeeps) made in the 1970s to more modern Jeeps, and many have been modified with oversize tires, decals and custom paint jobs, Briggs said.

The club will leave Sapulpa at 10 a.m. and stop in Chandler for a break, Briggs said. The excursion will include three diversions to drive on the 1915 roadbed known as the Ozark Trail, which preceded Route 66.

Briggs, who is an accountant, said the men and women in his club represent a wide range of occupations. Some are daily Jeep drivers, and others own classic models that come out of the garage for special events. For more information, go to the Oklahoma Jeepers Facebook page.