Willys Spring Reunion 2026

The Willys Spring Reunion was held last weekend in North Canton, Ohio. This is an annual car show of Willys Jeeps. People from around the country bring their Jeeps to show them off and have a lot of fun.

If it were closer, or if I had a trailer (it would have to be enclosed as the wind during a tow would probably shred my Jeep's vinyl top), I wouldn't mind attending. Their Fall 2025 show was held in Fulton, Missouri. 

Here's a video produced by Kaiser Willys Jeep. They are one of the vintage Jeep vendors that I buy my Jeep parts from.

For more information on the Willys Reunion, go here.

Memorial Meet For Sammy C

 

Wells Fun Run Cruise

Above, this car was Bill Wilson's pride and joy. He put a lot of work into it. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A part of the Wells Fun Run is a cruise of vehicles down the town's main street.

One vehicle was a vintage Ford decked out to look like the Mayberry squad car, right down to the door decals.

Some photos:

Back From The Wells Fun Run

Above, a nice 1966 Mustang that's also for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A day late (I was supposed to get back to New Mexico last night), but I made it back home this afternoon.

A storm moved into the Salt Lake City, Utah area last evening and that caused a snarl with air traffic.

We left Twin Falls, Idaho after waiting about 20 minutes for the storm to clear out some, but after taking off, we were diverted to Pocatello, Idaho. We were there for about an hour to get refueled. No surprise there, as we circled the city for what seemed like forever.

Then we took off for Salt Lake City. That was good, but it caused me to miss my flight from Salt Lake City to Albuquerque. I got an alternate flight the next morning with no problem, but I had to get a room at the Best Western Plus hotel (nice place for a budget hotel). Mitch Geriminsky also missed his flight from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, Nevada. He elected to sleep in the airport terminal.

It seems like for the past several years that getting to places have been problem-free, but getting back home is another story. Oh, well.

The Wells Fun Run was a lot of fun with all kinds of cars and trucks on displaty. After three years, I finally got to see what I missed when I was airlifted to the hospital. Wells had rain and thunderstorms come through the whole time we were there. Normally, it is sunny and hot in Wells during the summer. 

It was great to see the Wilson family. It has been a year since Wellington "Bill" Wilson passed away. Some of his ashes were scattered at the Wells Fun Run.

Since I didn't bring a computer along, I had to wait until I got home before uploading photos. 

Here's some:

Above, Linda Wilson (Bill's widow) and yours truly. 

Above, the scattering of some of Bill's ashes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Mitch Geriminsky at Belle's Restaurant and Cappucino. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly at Belle's Restaurant and Cappucino. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Above, Clampers from the Lucinda Jane Saunders Chapter with their food booth. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Wells Fun Run

The Wells Fun Run in Wells, Nevada started yesterday and was packed with attendees and events.

Below are some photos of the Slow Drag Race.

Heat and Thunderstorms In Wells

Above, Bella's Restaurant & Espresso, where my heart attack took place. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that it is going to be hot with isolated thunderstorms over Wells, Nevada going into next weekend's Wells Fun Run. That is quite similar to the weather we're having in Jamestown, New Mexico.

According to the National Weather Service:

Wednesday

Isolated showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.

Wednesday Night

Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Thursday

Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.

Thursday Night

Isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.

That sounds about what took place last year, even though I missed the car show and rally as I was "in residence" in the ICU ward in Twin Falls, Idaho. We had thunderstorms overnight before the car show started.

Return To Brothel Land

Above, Donna's Ranch, one of the brothels of Wells, Nevada. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As of now, I'm almost days away from heading to Wells, Nevada for this year's Wells Fun Run car show and rally. It was in Wells last year that I had my little heart episode that led to two stents into my artery in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Hopefully, this year will be more of a fun time and that we will be in Jackson, Wyoming after the Wells Fun Run to do some sight-seeing of Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park and whitewater rafting on the Snake River.

Above, Bella's brothel in Wells, Nevada. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was interesting to see the brothels in Wells and in Ely, Nevada. Prostitution is legal in some Nevada counties, but is heavily regulated.

It is interesting to note that the brothels offer tours.

Above, Mitch, Bill and I last year in Wells. The next day, my Mustang shirt was cut to shreds by the paramedics.

I was, understandably, reluctant in going back this year (returning to the "scene of the crime"), but one of our friends since junior high school, Bill Wilson, has come down with a blood cancer (he had to retire from trucking a few months ago because of it). He is undergoing chemo and blood transfusions. We are hopeful the treatments are working.

As such, this may be the last time Bill, Mitch Geriminsky and I can get together in a fun setting. That is why I decided to go this year. Since we'll be almost "in the neighborhood", a trip to Jackson was added to the itinerary.

Last year, I was pleasantly surprised how different northern Nevada is from the dry desert of the south.

On Monday, The Beast will be getting an oil change and trip check in preparation for the trek.

Wells Fun Run and Whitewater Rafting

Later next month, Mitch Geriminsky and I will be heading back to the "scene of the crime" at Wells, Nevada.

The "crime" was my little medical emergency that led to my having two stents put into an coronary artery in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Hopefully, this year I will be able to enjoy the Wells Fun Run. As I was flown out of Wells by a helicopter air ambulance, I completely missed the Wells Fun Run as it started a couple of hours after I was stricken.

Above, the "Purple Gang of the California Republic" rafting down the Kern River in 1985.

Thankfully, the heart attack happened at the right time, where there were people around, so that quick action was taken. I was told later that my pulse rate went down to 24.

This year, provided all goes well, following the Wells Fun Run, we'll be heading into Wyoming for some R & R and do some whitewater rafting on the Snake River. Mitch has never rafted before, so he's in for a treat! This will be the first time for me since the late 1980s.

I am looking forward to it.

2018 Wells Fun Run

Above, The Beast at the Ely, Nevada KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, Mitch Geriminsky and I reached our destination in Wells, Nevada for the 2018 Wells Fun Run.

The Wells Fun Run is an annual car show that includes a display of new and vintage cars, drag racing, parade and other activiites. Their website: http://www.wellsfunrun.org/

Above, The Beast made it to the top of Mitch's driveway. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The trip started Monday when I headed to Lake Havasu, Arizona to pick up Mitch. I stayed overnight in The Beast in his front driveway RV parking area. It was interesting getting The Beast up the steep slope to the parking area and even more interesting in backing it out. But I made it!

Above, at Sam's Town Las Vegas KOA. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We headed off Tuesday afternoon (sounds like a song title) to stay the first night in Las Vegas. I did make reservations to stay at the Riviera RV Park in the eastern section of Las Vegas (I stayed there during the Great American Eclipse). But, ownership of the park changed and the manager was rude and uncooperative. She had the looks and personality of Beulah Balbricker from the Porky's movies of the 1980s. So we left.

Fortunately, we found a better deal at Sam's Town KOA Campground. So we stayed there.

Above, the Sinclair travel center in Alamo, Nevada. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We left Las Vegas early Wednesday morning for the longest part of the trip. I made reservations at the Ely, Nevada KOA Kampground. I was pleasantly surprised how nice the Ely area was. I was expecting something desolate like southern Nevada. This was a mountain area with plenty of trees. We even had a thunderstorm Wednesday evening.

Above, from left, Mitch, Bill and I.

The final leg of the trip to Wells got started early Thursday morning. Along the way, we stopped at a Sinclair gas station for snacks and a brief rest. We then headed on to Wells and arrived around 11:00 in the morning.

Mitch and I kept my attending the Wells Fun Run a secret from a friend (since junior high) Bill Wilson, who attends the Wells Fun Run every year. Bill stopped by Jamestown a few months ago in his big rig. We had breakfast at Denny's Restaurant at the Flying J.

Above, the Wells sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Bill was shocked to see me when I sneaked around his fifth wheel trailer and approached him with a voice of fake authority. He said it made his day.

The actual show itself begins tomorrow afternoon.