It’s been a year, and I just finished unpacking from the 4th Annual Customer Appreciation Day! It seems like every year we double the number of people in attendance. This year was no different with more 1,500 customers enjoying fun in the sun.

So what did we do differently this year? Very little, thanks to Hungry Valley and its dedicated staff. These folks have redone the 4×4 practice area since last year. They added new obstacles, dug out the mud pits, and made the rock sluice more difficult. With the added features and vendor support at camp, there was no shortage of activities to enjoy.

At the root of this event is sharing good times with our customers. It was great talking with customers. One family has been to all but one event, dating back to the original Appreciation Day with two stores. That year, maybe only 60 people attended. It was nice to step back and see how the event has grown from humble beginnings to the largest Customer Appreciation Day the company puts on.

New this year was Smittybilt and ProComp bringing out their Jeeps. There was also the newly acquired Rubicon Express with its silver JK. The mix of vehicles at these events is fantastic. Jeeps are nice, but I like seeing other types of rigs and especially classic American iron. Today was a great showing. From classics like CJ6s, CJ8s, a J10, International Scout IIs and 800s, Ford Broncos, Ramchargers, Suzuki Samurais, Chevrolets, and of course, full-on fabricated tube chassis that no longer resemble any make of vehicle. My favorite rig of the day was a silver MJ with a supercharger poking through the hood.

The trail rides were full to the brim this year. And, Badlands Adventures did a fine job guiding the groups. In the picture below, you can see one trail ride group lining up outside the camp. Also, keen eyes will spot the driver meeting going on. Badlands has been with us since the first event, and will continue helping out to make this event the best it can be. If you missed this year, mark your calendar now. And, 4 Wheel Parts hopes to see you on the trails.