BACKWOODS BASH

In the summer of 2020, the Backwoods Car Club of Randolph found themselves in a tough spot after they had spent the previous winter preparing their home-built hot rods for Ohio’s unofficial car season. Without warning, the season which was normally filled with car shows, cruise-ins, and races had become void of all events. Determined to make the best of their summer, they decided to create their own gettogether. They called it the Backwoods Bash.

Hosted at founding club member Joshua Heeter’s shop, the concept was simple: a gathering of friends to celebrate their shared love for building, breaking, and fixing cars. No schedule, no trophies, no drama—just food, friends, a bonfire, and maybe some burnouts up the driveway.

The inaugural event was planned and executed within two weeks, resulting in a showing of around a dozen vehicles. It was a small start, but a start nonetheless. As such, they decided to host another Bash a month later. This time, the club cooked dozens of burgers and forty-eight chickens over an open fire and asked anyone planning to come to bring a side dish. Attendees were also welcome to camp overnight, and the second official Backwoods Bash garnered twice as many people.

The club hosted two more events in 2021 before making the decision to cut back to just one Bash per year. In 2022, a concrete pad was poured next to the shop to create a dedicated “burnout box” much like at the drag strip. Chains were added for additional safety--though spectators are still encouraged to remain outside the “safety tape” strung between some trees and a camper.