---
title: "Jeep Festival’s “Babes of Bantam” Will Teach Women How To Drive Off-Road"
description: "Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival organizers want to provide a place for women to learn \"without the stress of their husbands' [judgment].\""
date: "2017-06-07"
modified: "2017-06-07"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/11279/jeep-festivals-babes-of-bantam-will-teach-women-how-to-drive-off-road"
categories:
  - "Jeep News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "bantam"
  - "Off-Road"
  - "women"
---

# Jeep Festival’s “Babes of Bantam” Will Teach Women How To Drive Off-Road

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/06/jeep-wrangler_rubicon_10th_anniversary-2013-1600-0c.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

It's no secret that the automotive world is fairly male-dominated, and that's certainly true when it comes to the rough-and-tumble culture of [off-roading.](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/10154/watch-an-idiot-do-everything-wrong-off-road-almost-destroy-ford-f250>) That's not to say there aren't any women [who can hold their own](<https://www.off-road.com/competition/race/meet-the-women-of-competitive-offroad-racing-54168.html>) in the dirt, but the gender balance at your average off-road park is probably pretty out of whack. That's why this weekend's seventh-annual [Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival](<https://www.bantamjeepfestival.com/>), one of the largest Jeep gatherings in the country, will feature a new trail ride event designed and run [entirely by women, for women.](<https://www.bantamjeepfestival.com/babesofbantam>)

The aptly-named "Babes of Bantam Trail Ride" is a response to [what organizer Wendy Callahan said](<https://www.post-gazette.com/life/lifestyle/2017/06/07/Bantam-Jeep-Heritage-Festival-babes-women-confidence-off-road/stories/201706050007>) was a growing interest in off-roading among women. The course winds through the western Pennsylvania woods, giving women of all ability levels the chance to conquer obstacles like boulders and fallen trees under the tutelage of around a hundred female volunteer trail guides. They'll be walking alongside as the women traverse the trickier sections.

“It’s all about no intimidation. I wanted to make the trail challenging yet simple for ladies to help build their confidence," trail designer Christie Vinson said.

Callahan herself learned how to handle her [Jeep Wrangler](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/11004/jeep-wrangler-theft-ring-busted-in-san-diego>) off-road from her husband more than two decades ago, but she acknowledges that a life partner doesn't always make the best teacher. Just ask anyone who's tried to teach their spouse (male or female) how to drive stick.

"We wanted to construct an environment where women can learn how to off-road without the stress of their husbands’ \[judgment\]," Callahan told the *Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.*

Unfortunately, if you're reading this it's too late—all the driving spots are reserved for this weekend. But that just means it's likely the event will make a return at next year's Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, which brings [thousands of Jeepers](<https://www.fourwheeler.com/events/1701-the-bantam-jeep-heritage-festival-never-disappoints/>) of all stripes back to the brand's mecca in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the very first Jeep rolled off the American Bantam Car assembly line in 1940. The weekend-long gathering features off-road events, demonstrations, historical exhibitions, and the world's largest Jeep parade through downtown Butler.

And now, of course, the Babes of Bantam Trail Ride.

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)