Now the 490 with Gretchen de Bakker might kill them.

And Kevin Mullin from.

Good morning.

Welcome to the 419.

I don't know I said good morning.

Just wanted to be.

I want to be nice.

I totally indiscriminate time of day.

That's right.

Hello to you.

Yeah.

That's right.

Hello, friends.

It's the 419 powered by WD, presented by Retro Wealth Management.

I'm Kevin.

Mullen McCallum.

We are.

It's our toledo.com community calendar driven by.

Today at some of the top events in the area.

But because it's also our last Thursday.

That's right.

Tomorrow's our final show of season one.

We're also going to take a look at arguably the biggest event in northwest Ohio and the biggest event this summer.

We'll be talking all things Toledo Jeep Fest on the program today.

I can't tell you, how as somebody who is in a similar line of work.

Jeep Fest is an extraordinary, wholly well run experience.

It's about Jeep.

It's about the community.

I've never seen such a well orchestrated downtown, apparatus in place, and it only gets better every year.

And this year is no different.

Yeah.

Whitney, Jerry and the team do such an incredible job.

With this event.

I just realized something, Matt, that of all the great things that Jeep fest has brought to Toledo.

It's also where you and I met is through Jeep Fest.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

Well, that's the knock against it.

Well, okay.

Yeah.

And, Gretchen, that her name is, just just a little bit behind.

She's had a busy couple weeks here, so she'll be with us for a second segment, and you and I are going to carry her freight here.

We could do it for the weekend calendar.

Piece of cake.

Oh, yeah.

Goodness gracious.

All right, let's do it.

Yeah.

Let's take a look at the top events across northwest Ohio.

Coming up this weekend, of course.

Brought to you by our friends@toledo.com and driven by.

Tada.

What's up first, Matt?

So the first is, Chicago's in concert at the beautiful.

Amphitheater at the zoo.

So if you've never been to a concert there, which I can't imagine, that's true of every single household here.

This would be a great opportunity to do it.

That is Tuesday, June 30th.

And then we roll into a myriad of fireworks.

If you're a fireworks person, are you a fireworks guy?

I no.

I'm not, but I do.

My family loves them and so I love how much they love them.

Sure.

Okay.

I basically just watched my wife and my daughter because, like, they get so excited about it.

You watch my wife and.

Yeah, it's weird thing to say, but it is, it starts off with both.

Perrysburg.

Mommy.

And that's July 3rd, so that's Friday.

Yep.

And check out, both the, municipality's Facebooks.

For the time of those launch regionally, like nine, nine, three, 10:00.

Then the star spangled celebration Friday, June 3rd, and then the rock and blast, which is at Hinesville, which is new to me at least, July 3rd and then July 4th, and then the big 250th fireworks in the 419 Saturday, July 4th downtown, which should be a ruckus event.

They get about 80,000 people there annually.

So I guess, all they can expect is more people.

And I and I think as everybody is expecting, there's been a lot of conversation around safety, around all of these events.

I've seen a couple of, festivals that have come out in the last, you know, week or two that have beefed up security.

I know, for the downtown fireworks, they've created a safety zone.

And they're saying that, you know, youth can't be alone inside that area.

And so they're, they're doing things to to make sure the community can come out and celebrate safely, feel comfortable bringing your family out to something like this.

And so they're taking every step possible.

I've, I've been, part of those meetings.

And they're, during the watershed weekend.

Those are well orchestrated safety plans.

Jeep Fest is no different, by the way.

That's a time honored tradition.

That have things fairly dialed in.

I know all of those plans have been revisited.

They've been augmented a little bit.

Maybe some things have been, shrunk down.

To make sure that they are more easily managed.

But the reality is that this is going to be a great week.

Great weekend.

The heat is going.

To be blazing.

We should be challenging to some degree.

So, you don't go to the 419?

Certainly not for these two bozos, for your health tips.

But make sure you're well hydrated and make plans because it is hot out there.

And most of these are out on concrete, so I'll make plans for that.

Yeah.

And each and every one of these, our friends at target can get you there.

So check out target.com for all of the latest routes and schedules to get you to each and every one of these great events.

And of course, thanks to our friends@toledo.com, not just for these events, but for all season long, helping us bring the top events across northwest Ohio to each and every one of you.

Let's take a break.

When we come back, we'll be joined by Whitney, Ralph Carr and Jerry Huber, the retired Jeep plant manager, and Mr.

Jeep himself to talk about the origins of Toledo Jeep Fest.

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Welcome back into the 419 powered by GT.

We take a look at our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tata and arguably the largest event in Northwest Ohio.

Certainly this summer is Toledo Jeep Fest.

We're joined now by the organizers, Whitney Ralph Car and Mr.

Jeep himself, Jerry Huber.

Jerry, how are you doing?

Good, good.

This morning and, ready to go?

Awesome.

Thank you so much, both of you, for being here.

I guess let's start with the origin story.

Tell me, where did where did Toledo Jeep Fest come from?

And obviously, if folks haven't been out, we'll explore all the things they can do.

But let's start with day one.

Where did this idea come from ten plus years ago?

This was a great idea out of the UAW local 12 folks.

And Jerry, you got called to the table before I did.

And, but but those folks are very passionate about Jeep.

It was a, 2016 was our, 75th anniversary of Jeep.

And, the group decided, hey, we need to do something to celebrate this.

So, the typical kind of things that we've done in the past were a parking lot party at a UAW, you know, and, you know, it just didn't seem like that was, you know, going to be adequate.

So we started talking about, you know, a little brainstorming about other things we could do and, for whatever reason, we ended up down at Pete Gherkins office, and we were looking out the corner office window, and the decision was, let's move this downtown.

We can make it a little bigger, a little different.

And, where are we going to have it?

And we happened to be.

It was a late afternoon meeting, so there was this huge parking lot over there.

I believe it's the Paramount.

And we decided that looks like a good spot, you know.

So and that's that's basically how it got started.

And then each year it's grown, you know, when we brought Whitney on board.

You know, or her or organization and event management, ideas.

We've rolled this thing into that.

We're not we don't just shut down a parking lot in downtown Toledo.

We're at about 20 square blocks now that run from, Jackson, right across from the one Government Center all the way past, the the the Butthead, stadium.

I can't, but I can't imagine that.

I mean, what it's certainly grown into.

I can't imagine that that was the goal year one, right?

That you were like, oh, we're going to take over all of downtown.

This is going to be an an annual event, and it's going to be the biggest thing in Toledo.

Like, what was th Whitney, the early conversations What was the goal for year one?

And when did you realize like, oh, we're on to something, right?

Right.

So to celebrate 75 years, I mean, the goal was to help people come in from around the country, hopefully, or a four hour radius.

And people came from 15 different states.

We had 40,000 people in town that particular year in the driving rain.

And that's when Jerry and I or or at least I realized that Jeepers or rain or Shine, they're here for it.

They understand that Toledo is the home of the Jeep.

This is where jeeps roll off the line every day, and people like Pete and Matt Separa, with mercy and a few key partners came to the table, including Diana Spalding and some local 12 folks that were so passionate driving.

That first ever event was a lot of fun and a huge success.

I'm a Jeep.

Owner myself, largely because, you know, I live here and I'm very proud of it.

But I'm curious your thoughts.

The Jeep does have a brand to some of the word brand we use in such a ubiquitous fashion that it is almost become, either trader or cold.

And there's nothing cold about the pride that people have in jeeps.

And that is a crust, the globe to some degree.

What is it about a Jeep that that is compelling to people?

Well, I think there's so much, so much history involved, attributable to the Jeep or the Jeep product initially.

That really started, as we celebrate this year, 85 years, started with World War II.

Yeah.

You know, most of my dad's family Jeep.

Jeep here in Toledo produced about, a little over half of the military jeeps that were involved in World War Two.

Yeah.

And Ford, produced the other half and, small company up and, Butler, Pennsylvania.

Sure.

That is often given credit for, the invention of the Jeep or the basic concept, those three companies, when the war was over, everybody kind of walked away from the military vehicle except for the people here in Toledo at that time was Willys Overland.

And they, I think, said, hey, we're on to something here.

And they initially started to, do a version called the Civilian Jeep.

C.J.

first, first iterations of them.

And they were done, for farming purposes.

And agricultural and so forth.

And today there are just so many variations.

Will you go back over the, the history of the Jeep?

From a vehicle standpoint, it's just amazing how many variations and how many applications there have been.

And yet the one thing that they've never lost is the initial, appearance.

When you see a Jeep, from the military, whether it be in 1941 or whether it was produced by Butler, you know, at Bantam or whether it was produced by Ford, it's still a Jeep, and it looks that at least the Wrangler has maintained a lot of that design.

Q throughout that time frame.

So there's no confusion when you see a Jeep.

You pretty natural to what you know, what you're looking at.

Yeah, that's.

The iconic Jeep grille.

But I mean, as much as Jeep Fest is and you talk about 85 years, you know, as much as it's a celebration of the vehicle.

I mean, Jerry, you know, more than anybody, this is also a celebration of the people behind it.

It doesn't get like this without just what you articulated.

I can't wait to hear both of your answers on this because, you know, like I said, I, I own a Jeep purposely because I'm proud of our town.

Right?

But there's people that celebrate Jeep Fest that aren't necessarily connected to Jeep.

So the connection that you've created is a big net.

Can you talk to me about that?

Doesn't happen by accident, and it doesn't stay.

Ten years of planning and nine years of execution doesn't have by accident either.

Yeah.

So talk to me about this success.

Pretty special.

The people, the people in Toledo, you know, have been putting food on the table and it's been driving their family for years.

And years.

Manufacturing in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan is is major in terms of employment.

I mean, 6000 people work at the plant today.

So, everybody has a connection to Jeep and somehow some way around Toledo and we lean into that, and there's just so much pride.

Yes.

That I think really permeates Toledo Jeep Fest.

And we're just happy to continue to tell that story and celebrate it every year.

On a personal note.

You've had the the largest experience with Jeep itself.

Do you mind walking.

People.

Through, where you grew up.

And you've now been able to see, I'm sure every single day at the Plant was totally rewarding and worked out exactly as you.

Planned.

Chances are that's not 100% correct.

But, but but you're celebrating this.

Yeah.

Well, yeah.

And you met.

You really hit on something.

I think it's more significant maybe than, we want to, acknowledge an initial idea of celebrating Jeep Fest.

It's it's about Jeep, no doubt about that.

And, you have only to see, you know, any of our, promotional materials and, hype events and so forth that we go to.

But what you'll also see is the underlying element that makes this exciting is the people.

Yes, sir.

We talked about the UAW participation.

You know, I had a I had a call yesterday, from a guy who's got a, I think it's a 1927 Willys Knight.

It's a great automobile.

Yeah.

And he says, can I put it in the Jeep show?

And I says, you know, as much as we regard and respect that element of the of the the history, we're really focused on the Jeep from 1941 to, you know, 2026 right now.

Gotcha.

And, I really can't do that.

Yeah.

And I explained to him that, you know, because you don't want to rebuff an individual who's interested.

And he says, well, he says, have you ever done anything with the with the previous, I call it the pre 1941 Willys history.

And I said, yeah, we, we had partnered somewhat with the Toledo School for the Arts.

Yeah.

And I believe it was two years ago.

Yes.

We did a special, I did about 6 or 8 vehicles, in their new, you know, done place and made it, it ran before and a couple days after, but it was, focused to be as a part of Jeep Fest.

Yeah.

So and I told them, I say we'd really like to be able to do that, you know, in the future.

Yeah.

So, he was all ready to sign up, and I think that's one of the, one of the indicators of how important, the history side is to our area.

And, you know, again, we talk about Jeep and we talk about the partners that we have today that makes this Jeep first thing a success.

But, you know, if you go back, in the early days, all the manufacturing operations in this area typically had some involvement here, whether it be, a small element, work, whether it be something major like, you know, Dino with driveline and transfer cases and, you know, their Spicer gear operations, loft, you know, it did, there was, you know, the jeeps all had glass.

Yeah.

Right.

No, not not much of that, but.

Yeah.

Well.

And 300 people help us run Toledo Jeep Fest.

Sure.

They're all our volunteers.

And people love to come to Toledo Jeep Fest and meet people who worked in the plant for many years who have real stories about making jeeps.

And they all, you know, one guy put on this left door for his whole career.

Yeah.

They're just really cool stories.

So that human touch, and personal and personal, confessional moments and connections are what make Toledo really unique.

Well, I think that's I think that's what makes this event special, is it's leaned into what's unique about Toledo.

Right.

And so there are certainly Jeep festivals that you can climb the rocks and drive on the beach and do things like that.

But only in Toledo can you be in the home of the Jeep right.

And be surrounded by the folks that built the Jeep that you love and, and used to drive said, talk to me as we've got our visitors guide in front of us of course.

Toledo Jeep Fest, presented by our friends at Mercy Health and Jeep.

Yes.

This of this weekend, in August is jam packed.

Yes.

Walk us through.

What's going to be happening with me?

Yes.

So it's August 6th, seventh, eighth and ninth.

We've added a fourth day this year.

So it's a four day weekend full of good food.

Good, music.

We are partying with party in the Park this year, which is really exciting.

We're leaning into America 250 and that whole campaign, we're celebrating 85 years of Jeep.

But we're doing a drone show to celebrate that, to and party in the park on Friday night, August 7th.

We'll have our signature parade, which is always a big crowd pleaser.

We have a flyover, which we haven't talked very much about, and we're nailing down details, but that will be to celebrate the 250th.

Lots of fun.

Still flying.

So, I'll be directing traffic at the end of the parade.

I hope that I can guarantee I can tell you one of my favorite things about, our line of work and certainly, no matter how high up you get, you eventually will be handing out T-shirts and directing.

Traffic to cars.

It doesn't matter.

Yes.

We do all the things.

Yes.

You know.

Yeah.

But.

And then on Sunday we have our four miler run and things continue until about noon on Sunday.

So it's really a packed weekend.

It sure.

Is.

Talk to me.

So we've got a couple of kind of mutual friends here.

Right.

So today obviously a generous supporter of in our program along with Destination Toledo.

I see that's a little Jeep for us.

Jeep Fest Express.

Talk to me about, what that is.

Yeah.

So Toyota helps us move people around.

Many folks drive their jeeps down to Toledo defense, and they want to show off their rig.

But other folks want to come down and just enjoy the festival and want to get to and from and park easily.

And so today with our Jeep Fest Express helps us do that.

And we're so grateful.

And then I see a new this at least new to me, the Toledo Jeep Fest quest.

Yeah.

So this is the second year we're doing Toledo Jeep Fest Quest, and this is a scavenger hunt that's meant to move people around.

Yes, move people around Toledo to the brick and mortar restaurants and different places.

Some places on our vendor midway.

So it's a scavenger hunt.

It's all free.

You get little trinkets as you go along through the scavenger hunt, and then you get enter to win bigger prizes, like a new set of tires from our tire partner thundering.

To do.

Things like that.

Yeah.

That's awesome.

So, Jerry, there's so much going on for, you know, folks of all ages, this entire weekend, Thursday through Sunday.

If somebody has never done Toledo Jeep Trust, what, what how should they let's I'll use I'll use my family as an example.

I mean, I've, I've been there even by, let's.

Say my family is a really dumb dad.

So I'll use my family.

Yeah, yeah.

But what, you know, what can a family with young kids do?

What's.

How should they enjoy Toledo Jeep Fest?

Well, the first thing I would say is, you know, there's visitors guided.

We give you an example of today.

Take a look at that.

Because if there's there's not many complaints that we've had, we've been very lucky with Jeep Fest as far as you know we get we get a lot of suggestions.

We try to acknowledge those and, and adapt to which we've I am proud of the job we've done in that regard.

But one of the things that is a is an issue is that there are so many activities going on that some people say, gee, I really wanted to do this, but it was at the other end of town or whatever.

So I would say, get familiar with the visitor's guide for sure.

You're going to want to see, the parade.

Obviously that's your, you know, your main Saturday event.

I think if you own a Jeep or you're going to own a Jeep in the future, you're going to want to spend a little time on the vendor midway, talking to, sponsors and vendors and so forth.

You're going to want to, stop in the, last city convention center and, visit, the vehicles that are on display there from a history standpoint.

Unfortunately, we can't get every vehicle or examples of every vehicle that's been produced in, in 85 years.

But we do try to get, you know, a couple of fellows that work with me, Brant Cutts Lee in the, Bruce Shay back work very hard to get interesting and examples of vehicles and a lot of cases, some that people have never seen before.

And a lesser known gem of Toledo Jeep Fest is the middle grounds r g Fest base camp that we partner with the Metroparks on that.

It's a real dump.

Yeah, yeah.

So the teachers are overlanders and they absolutely love to camp.

Yes, the Metroparks in the middle grounds is a great place to do that.

So having this like urban campground downtown is something new and different.

And Jerry and I try and do something new and different every year.

This year is going to be this flyover.

Last year we did The Strongman contest and Toledo Jeep Fest Quest.

So lots of new things every year.

But we like to stick with the old things.

Where can people find this?

Obviously I've got the visitor guide in front of you, but folks that are watching this and listening to.

Toledo Jeep fest.com or our social media channels, there is a lot of information.

Out and it's really well organized.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Well done Whitney Jerry, thank you so much for joining us.

Congratulations on all the success.

Best of luck this summer.

We're going to take a break.

When we come back, we will be joined by Grant Robinson with Stellantis to talk about Jeep's involvement in Toledo.

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Welcome back into the 419 powered by ZTE Gear up Toledo Jeep Fest is this summer.

August.

See you like that.

I got it, okay.

Yeah, I get to call it out.

I know I'm late, but I still.

We're joined now by Grant Robinson from Stellantis and Jeep and Matt Sapphira from Mercy Health and Gretchen Debacker, welcome to the program.

Thank you so.

Much.

So, gentlemen, first of all, thank you so much for being here.

Thank you for your support of Toledo and Toledo Jeep Fest.

I guess let's start there.

Why why is this important?

Grant, I feel like it's a it's a closer connection than the more obvious connection for you.

But let's talk about why Toledo Jeep Fest.

Of all the things that Jeep can do, why's Jeep involved in Toledo G. Well, this is the home of Jeep.

It's been the home of Jeep for 85 years, and we're celebrating the 85th anniversary of Jeep and the 250th anniversary of the United States.

So it's a big year, big celebration downtown.

And there's an engrained connection between Tweedle, the region, and, you know, we've been doing this for a long time.

Great number of employees here.

The local 12 represents day in and day out every single day at that plant.

I mean, they they run like crazy.

They build like crazy when they're not running.

People are there making sure that they can run like crazy.

And it's not just Stellantis.

It's not just Jeep.

There's a supplier base, within about a 20 mile radius that is just absolutely packed with people that are impacted by this product.

Yeah, that's a good kind of reminder that it isn't just about the folks inside the plant, but there's so many different folks across northwest Ohio.

Jerry mentioned, you know, the glass, right?

And obviously we know Dana and the axles and, and everything else.

So there's a lot here in northwest Ohio.

Matt, for you in mercy help.

You know, why is why is it event like Toledo Jeep Fest important to mercy health?

First of all, thanks for having me.

You know, I remember when, Jerry Uber and Piqua can call me about this.

And I sat back and thought, what is that connection?

And it literally took me minutes to come up with 25 different reasons for what the connections are.

Yeah.

So mercy has been in the community since 1855.

You do talk about the brand?

Yeah.

You look.

Terrific.

So I well, you know, kind of tough.

But, you know, the green Owens came to Toledo because they, they were invited here to to deal with the cholera outbreak.

And you talk about toughness, grit, something that's synonymous with Jeep.

You know, these nuns carried kids patients up and down stairs to different floors of the hospital.

Instant connection with just, you know, who we are as a people.

You know, there's a growing body of evidence that the more that you're outside, the more apt you are to have healthy outcomes in life.

That's why we have such strong partners like the Metroparks, with our prescription, our acts.

And again, just realizing that our jeepers, they're always outside doing those kinds of things.

It was just an easy, you know, connection for us to kind of relate to and just the fact this is who we are as well, you know, we we just subscribed to the whole idea and the concept that, you know, we're, we're a tough community.

Mercy health is grounded in that.

And we share that.

And, you know, in common with our friends that you've.

Met so much of your of your work every day and you have multiple responsibilities, but is handling requests like this for money, and sponsorship and support.

And mercy is so generous to the community.

But I know you get so many asks why is it important for mercy in general to do things in the community?

You don't have to.

Why is it part of, what's important to the institution?

It's a great question.

And so the obvious to answer, to be honest with you, is that it's part of our responsibility to the community.

There are increasingly amount of, requests for, you know, support here in the community.

And we can't, you know, honor all of them.

We wish we could.

We have a very formal process about, you know, how requests come in.

We have a committee that answers those those requests.

But again, we look for those commonalities.

You know what?

What can we align with?

What's our mission?

Our mission is to deliver the highest, health care product in the community.

Again, when this came up, again, just very aligned with the Jeep brand, with what they bring to the table.

And that is one of the things that, you know, we just, we just surround ourselves with.

But yes, it's I wish there was more resources to go around because every year it gets more and more intense in terms of the requests that are made.

Grant, we we started off the segment, and Kevin mentioned that you got a little bit tighter connection to Jeep.

I don't want to blow by, that portion of it.

What is your role?

So, currently, I'm at Sterling Heights Assembly plant building the Ram 1500, but prior to that, I was, 13 years at the Guido Jeep plant.

Yeah, I started as a supervisor, on the line.

And then I worked my way up to, director of manufacturing, and manufacturing chief engineer.

I like I got a phone call like Sunday before Christmas, asking me to come up to the Ram 1500 plant, and I've been there for six months now.

But I still choose to live in Toledo.

I still choose to raise my family in Toledo.

Right.

I'm very, very connected to this community, and I'm.

I couldn't be happier to stay here, even if it means a very long drive for me to and from.

I still see a great amount of value in raising a family here in this region.

I'm curious.

You could be very successful and certainly have been, and still, to some degree, punch out at the end of the day.

Right.

You're here doing this show, which is probably one of the worst decisions ever made in your life.

But, you know, I can tell, even with our brief interaction before the show started, that there is a sort of a deeper connection to this.

Again, you could be extremely effective to some degree, 9 to 5 and punch out.

But the Jeep brand, as we mentioned, with Whitney and Jerry, means more for some reason.

I know that sounds, trite or certainly, hyperbolic, but there is a connection I can tell that you also feel that way.

How is that connected to you on a molecular level and.

On a molecular level?

I guess, you know, it started with my father worked for developers for Philips Avenue, in the 80s.

He was, not directly employed by Jeep or AMC or Chrysler, but in that plant quite a bit.

It was one of the pioneers in electrostatic paint application.

Okay.

So there was he was in the Jeep.

Everybody claims their dad was a pioneer in electric static.

Whatever the solution, whatever it is, you say that.

Yeah.

Sorry.

If you're smart enough to think that I can't even.

I didn't pronounce Grant.

Right.

All right.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

But I can tell you care.

Well, of course I care.

I've got friends and family still at that jeep.

Yes, sir.

You know, there's there's a couple guys that I played T-ball with that are that are at the Toledo plant, and there's friends that they made over the 13 years that are now lifelong friends.

You know, some of the guys that that I fish with, and the limited time I have off are people that I met at the plant.

It's it's, a complete connection between the people there, everybody that works there.

And again, shout out to the local U8, UAW local 12.

It's it's, it's the inherent connection between each other.

Right.

We're there a lot.

The product is very, it's a very exciting product, a very important product.

But there's also the history behind it.

And then if you've ever taken a Jeep out, you know, more than driving on the concrete, going off roading, there's no other feeling like it.

Yeah.

I mean, there's something about taking the top off.

There's something about getting the tires dirty.

Really, really getting, you know, 25, 30 degree angle, incline and decline.

There.

And, you know, getting your, your tires won in the air that that is there's just nothing like it.

What was what is something you'd want our audience to know about the hard working men and women who are building these vehicles?

What?

Something maybe they don't know about their daily lives.

Well.

Their daily lives are, It's a grind, right?

We have to acknowledge that it is a grind.

It's a lot of hours.

The work is hard, right?

And any anybody that would say anything like, you know, any and all, you're lazy or, any sort of perspective like that, let me assure you.

Yeah.

No, they are very busy on those jobs.

And they're people.

They're real people.

Their families.

You know, there's multiple generation families in there.

There's first time gears in there.

And it's very important to them.

There's a ton of pride that goes into this vehicle.

Every single one that's build, every single piece that comes together, is done with purpose and pride and a lot of care.

Let me ask you a question and put you in a spot.

I presume it's similar to having to pick your favorite child, which no one clean.

I've already got my answer.

Okay.

All right.

Yeah.

Who was your favorite host on the show?

No.

No.

Yeah.

It's okay if it's no one.

I don't blame, but a favorite, a favorite product.

A favorite thing that you've been a part of is there's something that you feel particularly connected to you.

Yeah, I'd say my my favorite car product is the Willys 392.

Okay.

It's a 6.4l, 392, big power.

Yeah.

And in the Willys platform, you have a, the rear axle is got the locking differential, right.

And and it's got everything else about a Jeep.

Rubicon has front and rear locking differentials and the disconnecting sway bar.

A Willys is a Reardon.

It's a rear axle, with a locking diff.

That and a ton of power.

You can just basically go anywhere.

And I mean, you could you got that.

And there's nothing's going to stop you there.

Favorite historical product I'm really into Cherokees.

The original.

Yeah.

Cool.

I casually scan the internet, on a daily basis.

If I could find a two door Cherokee and a manual transmission.

That's like the Jeep.

If anyone has that, feel free to reach out.

Man, I bought.

A I bought a, postal Jeep, a number of years ago, and it's such a cool vehicle.

It's been so much fun.

You know, there is a every time I drove it, something else would go wrong because it's old and sat in a garage for decades before I got it.

But it's you pull up next to somebody, you know, first of all, in a, right hand drive vehicle, and they're very confused, but.

But to Jerry's point, I mean, everybody, you see it coming and everybody knows that's a Jeep, right?

It's such an iconic, such an iconic brand.

Matt, as we think about to the Jeep fest coming up August 6th through the ninth, what are you most excited for for Toledo Jeep Fest.

For sure of the event.

And bring all of the people, the outsiders, into our downtown.

It's, there's been such a revitalization of it over the last few years.

It's it's so exciting to show that off.

From Rotary's perspective, our health care corner at the Glass City Center is, something we're really proud of.

We'll be doing screenings there.

There'll be an urgent care, center there for, you know, God forbid we have, medical issues.

The emergency health m emergency E-m-s team will be there providing that medical support as well.

That's a really big deal to us.

And it was one of those things where, you know, we didn't know how it work the first year.

But year after year, it becomes more and more important.

You have all these people coming downtown and it's just when you can provide that health care service at a convenient point.

Right?

It's the blood pressure.

It's the glue, clothes, all those things are so important and to take care of the community.

And that's our goal and that's what excites us.

I've got a question, and the answer can't be till your Jeep fest.

Which would be a great and honest answer, but you've had sort of an interesting career path, right?

Talk to me a little bit about staying here, or some moments.

And it's not too similar to putting grand on the spot with a favorite product, but, you've you've done a lot for this community and talk about a grind.

I know a little bit about, all the hats that you wear and, and that's a grind as well.

And there's no way to do that without caring about the people in.

There's no way of caring about the people without truly being able to punch out either.

Not to someone, to yourself.

But talk to me about this region, what it's done for you as well, because it has to be fulfilling after you get done weeping and hiding and, whatever cause and you can lock yourself into and smashing yourself on the ground.

It's, you know, it's just it's been the honor of my life, to be honest with you, to be here in northwest Ohio.

I was, I was very fortunate to come here in 1991.

And, when my dad was transferred, he was an auto industry and was transferred here, transferred from Springfield, new Jersey, to come here.

And I went to UT.

And about the minute that I graduated, I was to go back to the East Coast because I just loved, you know, that that pace of life, the, the.

Basketball Hall of Fame fall apart after your dad left Springfield.

I did not know that on yet.

Okay.

The, And then I ended up going to law school here, and then I was fortunate enough to come out and and get a job with the Port Authority.

And, the honestly, the highlight of my career, and I stand by this was walking on the overland site, 112 acres of, of heavily contaminated site where they built these jeeps for years and years and years and having an opportunity to redevelop that with so many talented people.

And now, you know, everyone drives by it and there's 1700 people that work there.

We have the one remaining smokestack there.

It's so symbolic of, you know, of what's been done in that plant.

And it was I would go out there every day while they were digging up foundations, and I was actually told by one of the old timers that, you know, during the war, they created up these jeeps, or they didn't just put these jeeps on rail cars, they actually created them up.

And we were told that there was 12 crates out there somewhere, and we dug forever and ever and ever, and all we found was contamination.

We didn't find any.

Of that in the crates, By Jimmy Hoffa.

No, no, that's not to say that.

Don't start that.

That's all just a part of.

There's nothing to be found out there.

It's just digging away.

But it was.

But it was.

Incredible.

Incredible.

And it was even more so.

It was just the people from the neighborhood that came out.

Right.

I've met so many people that said, you know, I worked there.

I think it's only the comment before about, you know, they put the door on, you know, for 40 years, you know, people would come out and they would talk about they would paint.

All I did was paint that Jeep for all those times.

Yeah.

And then it begs the question, how many weddings did that pay for?

How many education?

Right through there in the thousands and thousands of hardworking northwest Ohio, you know, community members who work there.

And that was, that's something very special to me.

I, I brought my son there when we dedicated those sites, that site.

And it was just we still talk about he's 22 years old now.

We drove by it the other day.

He said, dad, remember we were out there and I remember it.

I remember being up to my ankles in mud.

And it's just.

And that was more symbolic to you?

Yeah, sure.

It was out there, but it was, it was an incredible experience, one that I'll never forget.

Yeah.

Thank you so much for your sponsorship and support of this event.

We're excited for Jeep Fest August seventh through the ninth.

All right, buckle up.

It's now time.

For Gretchen's wacky quiz.

Your favorite I love it.

All right, I'm going to ask you for rapid fire questions.

Gretchen's going to ask you to describe Toledo in one word.

And you'll both work together with Matt to list the nine best things in Toledo.

It's a special Jeep Fest edition, so I've got this multiple choice because these are tough questions.

Before Willys Overland won the primary production contract for the military Jeep, which company designed and built the original prototype that the Army evaluated in 1940?

Was it a Ford B Bantam C Studebaker or D Dodge?

I'm saying oh, sorry, me?

Can I recuse myself?

Or, you.

Know, you're probably the only one that knows.

I think it's b b Bantam.

That is correct.

All right.

Nice job.

Question number two, in what year did Willys Overland finally receive the trademark rights to the name Jeep?

1945, 1948, 1950 or 1953?

It was 1950.

Yeah, there was a big challenge about that.

But they finally got credit in 1950.

Well done.

I mean, great, you got to pull your weight around.

Yeah.

I mean he's the lawyer.

So that's okay.

Okay.

University of Toledo history degree.

That's true.

You know what?

Whatever he says has to be true.

All right, which iconic Jeep model production was moved from Canada to Toledo in 1991?

Was it the Cherokee, the Liberty, the Gladiator or the Wrangler?

This is the square body or square headlight that came back to Toledo.

So it was the Wrangler.

There you.

Go.

All right.

And final question.

By the end of World War two, approximately how many jeeps had Willys Overland produced in Toledo for the war effort?

Was it a 100,000 B 225,000, C 360,000 or D 500,000.

I think it's CV.

Yeah.

362.

Look at the job.

360,000 jeeps for for four.

Guys know what you're talking about.

Okay.

What's the one word you would use to describe the city of Toledo?

For me, it's authentic.

Okay, I love it.

Yeah.

Great.

Great.

Got it.

All right, gentlemen, you just throw them at me.

Now, one of your favorite things about the city and or region.

Sure.

I always advocate for for public schools.

And I love the chance to say that I love the school system in this region.

No matter what district you're in, I think the schools are one of the greatest strengths of northwest Ohio.

Southeast Michigan.

Kid.

I was, Sylvania.

Okay, so.

Mangia.

Gotcha.

All right, keep going, guys.

Fire away all the churches.

Yeah, absolutely.

Toledo.

Okay.

All right.

Mommy!

River.

Mommy!

River.

Yes.

Thank you.

Keep going.

I can't say without you know, Tony Pecos, Tony Packer.

All right.

Yeah.

Lake Erie, Lake Erie, I love it.

Yeah.

The zoo.

Halfway home zoo.

All right.

Metroparks.

You know, it's an that's a zoo.

First.

Grant, I've always liked you, Mark.

Okay.

Keep going.

I just generally just the people.

Yeah.

Our work.

Ethic.

Yes, sir.

Yes we.

Do.

We build things here.

Close, strong.

We've got one left.

Jeep.

Jeep.

It is.

There you go, Ron Grant.

Thanks, gentlemen.

Thank you.

Sir, I've got some gifts for you.

Oh my gosh, thank you.

I'm super proud to be representing scientists in Jeep.

Is one of your, title sponsors.

And in cooperation with mercy this year.

Terrific.

Everybody come out to Jeep Fest.

Let's have a good time.

Saturday.

All day Sunday morning.

I'll see you at the Jeep four miler.

I guarantee you will be me.

All right.

I'll take that.

Bet.

You do.

Thank you so much.

We're gonna take a break when we come back.

Jeff Young from the Glass City Crawlers will join us here on the 419.

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Welcome back into the 419 powered by GTE.

We're talking all things Jeep and Toledo Jeep Fest.

We're joined now by Jeff Young from the Glass City Crawlers.

Jeff, welcome to the 419.

Appreciate you having.

Me.

What is the Glass City Crawlers?

It is an off road, family friendly club here in Toledo.

That we like to encompass anything that has to do with off road 4x4 and community.

So in a nutshell.

You guys have, got about how many members and what kind of what's the the next upcoming event for you guys?

Sure.

We are, about 230 family memberships.

It's funny when you say that because a membership is basically per Jeep, so you could have five people or, you know, husband and wife want their own memberships, right?

Because they have their own jeeps.

So we're about 230 memberships, which could vary from one person to five people, you know, or whatever.

Our next big event is the Toledo Speedway event on July 17th.

So fun.

It is absolutely probably one of our most anticipated events.

Because you get to take your Jeep on the speedway and, you know, just driving around the track alone is is very cool.

What percentage of people, if, you know, use their jeeps in the in the off roading way?

I mean, some people like the look of them.

Some people like the duck, some people like the history.

But there's a percentage of owners that really like to do it.

Have the Jeep just for the off roading for sure.

Yeah.

And that is one thing with Jeep, there are very different types of Jeep people.

But at the end of the day, it's a Jeep and everybody likes to do Jeep things.

I would say, you know, the percentage of our club as an example is probably 30 to 40% who like to send it and see what happens.

Kind of thing.

How did this.

Start?

I mean, this is a bit of being able to be Peter Pan, right?

So first of all, congratulations for living my lifelong dream for, to be able to smash things and drive wherever I want.

What how how are you able to carry on what had to be something from your childhood, I would imagine, into adulthood or some for sure.

Come of adulthood for sure.

Yeah.

I've always been.

And I started out into trucks, but I've always been in a four wheel drive vehicle, all right?

Getting dirty, playing in the mud kind of thing.

Sure.

And actually, what really, brought me into Jeep was the commander when they released the commander.

Okay.

Back in oh six.

I don't know what it was, but I was like, man, that thing is sweet.

And I ended up getting one of those in 2011.

That was my first Jeep vehicle.

Okay.

I built that thing, well beyond natural capabilities.

But it was awesome.

I spent a lot of time in that Jeep.

And then I had it up until 2021, when I switched to the Wrangler.

If they had to name a Jeep after you, what would they name it?

Oh, that's a good question.

FCC regulations.

Sure.

Oh, man.

I honestly, that's a good question, I don't know.

Yeah.

Where do people go around here to go off roading, where they're trails or locations to do that?

Sure.

South Michigan, like Bundy Hill is probably the go to because it's the closest.

But then you go a little farther up to Fenton, Michigan.

And then if you want to even farther north, the more you get.

And these are like set up courses that people can go on and drive or they.

Some of them are.

And then, Michigan has, a natural off road system that are just public trails that you can go on as well.

Yeah.

If you drive fast enough.

I've heard you can get through, Wildwood.

Yeah.

You got to move pretty fast for sure.

Well, good luck with the hospital, right?

Why would.

Straight to the.

Hospital.

But I so talk to me about, like, actually, like the the act of off roading with your Jeep.

Yeah, I have done it on a closed course with a guide.

I don't trust.

Was not so correct.

Yeah.

Come on, I don't I don't.

Sweat the helmet and let.

Me let me get to the question in.

A the day.

So out for the first time in what's, what's the I mean the real risk for somebody that's saying like, I want to go do this for the first time.

I mean, what's the likelihood that they flip their Jeep?

Well, that's a good question.

You know, first and foremost, safety is always the number one, because, things can happen very quickly.

But that being said, you never off road alone, and you always have somebody experience with you is the rule.

So so we we apologize.

Thank you.

Question.

Actually, how often do you say the word sedan out loud?

1 to 2 times a day.

You refer.

To the Jeep as a. He said, you know, you were trying to put this guy that was referred to under the age of that.

People able to use that.

Talk to me about terminology Fest.

Obviously you guys are all in on the Jeep.

This is a big ev What does this event mean to the city crawlers?

And what does it mean to the bro Toledo community?

Sure.

It's huge.

The Glass City crawlers have been part of G Fest since day one, and, our partnership with Jeep Fest has grown tremendously.

It is.

Everything we do throughout the year is, anchored around Jeep Fest.

Everything we plan, you know, G.P.S.

is number one, and we work around it.

And we've grown.

Like I said, the speedway, we've added these side events that have really added some extra pizzazz to Jeep Fest.

And then our, our our big event, the block party on Friday night is kind of the, culmination of everything we do.

We go all in and try to make it the biggest party we possibly can.

Talk to me about the block party, because I've I have, I've been out to it.

I've and I've certainly I've seen videos you guys have posted from every year that it's happened.

Talk to me about what?

Some of the cool things that happen at the block party.

Sure.

Sure.

I think I think the, the biggest thing is we do the car crushing.

And last year we started doing four cars, so we put two cars back to back.

And so you go up, across and down and, so you're.

Saying up across it down, meaning a cars driving or.

Other jeeps are driving over the basically like monster trucks crushing.

Cars.

Okay.

I think they're actually crushing sedans.

That hit us.

Yeah, definitely sit in it.

Yeah.

Everyone gets a point every time.

You can still be put into it.

That's it.

Yep.

But yeah.

So I think that is definitely the car crushing in general.

We do it at the speedway.

That's always.

Everybody loves seeing that.

Sure.

Because you're taking your your daily driver and doing things with it that you never thought you would do.

And, So, yeah, the block party, we got the car crushing.

We have, tons of vendors.

We have a huge raffle.

That's our biggest raffle of the year.

5050 DJ.

Just good old hanging out with your buddies.

What a. I asked this question for Jerry.

I'm curious your perspective as well.

Jeep fest weekend.

There's a ton of things that are happening.

Thursday through Sunday.

If somebody has never been to a Jeep fest, give me an insider's guide.

What's something that they, they can't miss the parade.

The parade is the, If there's anything you're going to pick.

You got to see the parade just because of the the sheer volume.

And and the crowd is nothing like I've ever experienced anywhere else.

Same here.

The first time I, Have you ever been in it?

No.

Actually, we we are our range of vehicles or jeeps.

The large portion of the.

We being Metroparks.

Forgive me.

So we are always in it, but I think I was I had a little kid.

Yeah.

Or dad duty.

So we've certainly been in the crowd, but not have been able to participate in.

I drive a Jeep as well.

But I haven't been there.

From the outside looking in.

The thought of a parade with a bunch of the exact same thing.

Right.

Or driving by for, you know, an hour, hour and a half does not seem all that exciting.

But not dissimilar to the reason why Jeep Fest is great.

It's the people that make it great.

That's right.

And so even if you've got two identical vehicles, which rarely are two jeeps actually identical, especially in the hands of the Glass City Crawlers.

You know, what does Jeep stand for?

Just empty every pocket.

So.

You know, I mean, there's so many different accessories that folks want on their Jeep.

Absolutely.

To make them special.

And and they become, you know, really floating parades, you know?

It's pretty impressive.

And it's a lot of fun.

I've it is one of the highlights of my year.

My kids ask to go, and they love it.

So, I love it.

What's the what's the coolest thing you've ever done with your Jeep?

Oh, man.

I've done quite a few things, I would say.

Probably the most recent, as short as, I think a week and a half ago, I drove it across the country to, Arizona.

And hit trails and route 66, scenic sites.

And, that was probably the most fun I've had in, in a long time.

And when you are in your downtime, how all consuming is this?

One of the things it's always interesting to me is talk to you about the same thing people old joke about, you know, NASCAR racing or on road races, watching people make, you know, consistent left turns.

But the amount of precision it takes to execute that sport, is unbelievable.

You know.

Yeah.

People doing gas mileage calculations in real time.

Operating these vehicles.

And maintaining them, or designing them is truly world class ingenuity.

That's not dissimilar to the hobby you've picked up.

Sure.

Ultimately, you do get smash stuff, which is a lifelong dream of all of ours.

Gretchen's is most.

But, you know, you are looking at parts.

You are figuring out what works and what doesn't.

There's a safety portion to this.

You already made that.

A large portion of what you're talking about early.

Earlier in the segment.

So when you are dreaming on this or getting some downtime, where do you look?

Where do you go?

Are you sketching things?

What is what is inside your brain.

A little bit?

Sure.

I think being a Jeep owner is 24/7.

Sure.

It doesn't, you know, shut it off.

And that's the thing about the Jeep is there's so many parts and accessories and things that you can do to it that you may do something and then decide you want to do something else.

So it's forever.

You may think you're done, but you're really not.

There's just there's always something else.

Something new comes out or you want to change something.

And and like the parade.

You know what?

1500 jeeps in the parade.

And not one of them is exactly.

Everybody's personality comes out in the Jeep.

They name them, you know, it's deep.

Sure.

And, that's something that, one thing as the president, I hear new people come in and they're like, I think I'm done with my Jeep.

I'm like, no, you're not.

No.

Know you just done today?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Wait till you come to an event tomorrow and see somebody.

You even be like, oh, I want that.

Yeah.

How can someone learn how to take their Jeep off road to go on trails?

Or how would they start that if she wanted to do it?

Sure.

The Glass City Crawlers, for for one, we do an off road, one on one style thing.

Or my good buddy Paul Porter, who runs discover 4x4.

He's he's the one that started among other people, started the Glass City Crawlers, and, he offers multiple times a year, an off road, one on one class, two.

Gotcha.

So there are definitely opportunities if, you know, if you just want to get to know your Jeep, learn how to use it kind of thing, and then actually put it in scenarios where you know, you'll learn how to handle it and how to respond to things.

Yeah.

Paul and Carry are great, great people.

Kind of cool.

Jeep.

I mean, they're a Jeep family.

Not dissimilar to yours.

Whitney brought us, some, Toledo Jeep Fest ducks.

If I know people see ducks on the jeeps all the time, but I'm not sure people actually understand what.

What is the story behind the duck?

Sure.

It was a Covi thing.

Because Jeep people are, social.

That's that's the whole the whole part of it.

So during Covid.

The van people.

Social.

So.

Yeah.

Okay.

So so yeah.

Yeah.

During Covid, the social aspect got taken away, you know, so you couldn't hang out and talk to people.

There was a lady, I believe she was from Dayton or southern Ohio, and started writing her Instagram name on ducks and leaving them on cool jeeps, and it just exploded.

The best news ever came out of Dayton.

What?

What is the reason why you would give it a duck to another Jeep?

And do you?

I occasionally, yes.

Something rare or something I haven't seen before that, you know, some sort of thing they've done that is not like a, you know, rare opportunity, rare part, rare or whatever.

That just eye catching.

If you were to look inside my truck right now, it would be one of the filthiest vehicles you've ever seen.

So that that would be.

That'd be unique.

Let's check for the boxes.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Check it out.

Yeah, right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, absolutely.

Yep.

I say we have so many ducks on the floor, right?

My truck.

My little girl.

Ruby, who's three, is fascinated with this conceptually.

Yeah.

And I think it probably tells a larger story of sort of a binding community.

Right.

So we've we've got I was a I was a Jeep owner, for a number of years.

My kids love fest, and they love the concept of the ducks as well.

So I bought a bunch of them.

And so I've got an entire bag of ducks that we drive around with.

And as my live ducks, and as.

You know.

Yeah, as we.

See cool jeeps, my kids are like, oh, that's sweet.

Can I put it on this?

And it's so funny to see it through their eyes, because the things that you're looking for like, for them, it's like, oh, that's a cool color or oh, that's clean.

Right.

They don't see that in our driveway races.

Yeah, yeah yeah sure.

But but I think that's you know, it's a cool part of the Jeep culture.

Jeff, if people want more information on Glass City Crawlers, where can I find it?

Facebook.

Glass city crawlers.

Love it.

Awesome.

Thank you.

So nice.

Jeff Young with the glass city crawlers.

We'll take a break.

When we come back, we'll wrap up this toledo.com community calendar driven by Tata.

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Welcome back into the 419 powered by GT torque in all things Toledo Jeep Fest.

We took a look at our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tada!

So much going on.

Of all the things that are happening, this weekend, what's the thing you're most excited about?

I am excited about the fireworks and just having Friday off.

Mostly.

Okay.

That's fair.

Chicago in concert?

Yeah.

Pretty.

Pretty sweet.

That's a fun.

That was a cool event that happened earlier this week.

I just think it's really cool.

Things like that to Toledo.

It is highlighting, and I'm excited for obviously, all of the fireworks across all of the West.

And Pennsville does a great job.

If you missed any part of today's show, you can catch it at 7 a.m.

on YouTube, 3 p.m.

on FM 91 or 6 p.m.

on connects channel 30.4 or online wjct.

That August, the 419.

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