Mark Your Calendar: Cool Ford Truck Events Coming in 2019
2018 is over, but there are plenty of Ford truck-related events coming up next year, including off-road races and scenic drives.
That’s all, folks. 2018 is over. It was a big year for Ford. The blue oval found ways to make the Raptor more capable, put its high-output EcoBoost V6 in the 2019 F-150 Limited, and finally showed us the all-new Ranger. Next year is going to be a big year for all of you Ford fans, whether you’re into racing or restomods. Here’s a list of some of the Ford truck-related festivities scheduled to take place in 2019.
King of the Hammers Week: February 1 – February 9 (main race: February 8) | Johnson Valley, California
King of the Hammers Week is a festival packed with off-road racing action over rocky California terrain (aka The Hammers). In 2018, 50,000 people showed up to watch the various races. Those included The Shootout, in which contestants try to get their 4WD vehicles up a rock waterfall in the shortest amount of time; an eight-hour UTV endurance race; and The Every Man Challenge, a 10-hour race. Next year’s KOH Week will also have a Trophy Truck competition. Of course, the main event is the King of the Hammers race. If you’re going, bring a hat and plenty of sunscreen, and get ready to watch the sand, dirt, and off-road rigs fly.
Mint 400: March 6 – March 10 | Las Vegas, Nevada
“The Great American Off-Road Race” is a grueling test of man and machine against nature. One hundred and eighty racers entered the 2018 event, but only 80 crossed the finish line. The overall winner rolled through it in a Ford truck. Next year’s Mint 400 will feature an extra day of racing, giving you twice as many chances to watch Ford-based vehicles tear it up in Sin City.
Bronco Safari: April 30 – May 4 | Moab, Utah
Moab is not just for Jeep Wranglers. It has plenty of room for Broncos, too. There will be hundreds of them at the 2019 Bronco Safari and several chances to make friends with fellow enthusiasts and learn from experienced trail leaders. Trails range from scenic to extreme. It doesn’t really matter which of them you pick. Just choose one. Why should the Jeep drivers have all the fun?
Grand National F-100 Reunion: May 16 – May 18 | Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
There won’t be any strange cousins at this reunion, just lots of 1979 and older Ford trucks. You can swap tips and stories with other owners or buy replacement parts or upgrades from one of the several vendors on site. Whatever you do, make sure you go on the cruise through the Great Smoky Mountains from Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Overland Expo: Dates and Locations Vary
The Overland Expo is so packed with off-road driving classes, demos, discussions, programs, food, gear, and four-wheel-drive vehicles that it has to be split into two events. The good thing about that is you get two chances to attend in two parts of the country. Overland Expo West takes place May 17 – May 19 in Flagstaff, Arizona. Overland Expo East will go down sometime in October in the southeastern U.S. The exact range of dates and location isn’t out yet, but we won’t be surprised if the event happens in North Carolina, which hosted the 2018 Overland Expo East.
Carlisle Ford Nationals: May 31 – June 2 | Carlisle, Pennsylvania
This event will have a little bit of everything for those who bleed Ford blue. You can fill up your phone’s memory with pics of the 3,000+ Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles expected to to be on display. If you feel like getting behind the wheel, you can test-drive Ford vehicles, blast through an autocross course, or compete in a burnout contest.
Daytona Truck Meet: June 7 – June 9 | Daytona, Florida
Get ready for some fun in the sun with more than 25,000 other truck fans. People from all over the country will park thousands of lifted, wrapped, chipped, and otherwise modified pickups on the infield of the Daytona International Speedway. They won’t be there the whole time, though, because there will be plenty of opportunities for burnouts and drives along the beach.
4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals: Dates and Locations Vary
The south has a reputation for loving pickups, but there will be loads of Ford truck action up north next year. The first 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals event is scheduled for June 7 – June 9 in Lima, Ohio. Then the festivities move to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania and run from July 12 until July 14. Indianapolis, Indiana will host the third jamboree September 20 – September 22. Never been to one before? Expect a Show-N-Shine contest, mud bogs, and the chance to prove that your Ford is a Tough Truck.
Photo Credit: 4WheelJamboree.com
Fall Ford Festival: Dates TBA | Tennessee
We don’t know the exact dates of the 2019 Fall Ford Festival, but we won’t be shocked if it goes down in September. One thing’s for sure: It’s going to be a great time full of bonfires, raffles, Show-N-Shine contests, and group drives through the most picturesque parts of Tennessee.
Photo Credit: https://www.broncodriver.com/
Cruisin’ the Coast: October 6 – October 13 | Mississippi Gulf Coast
If you’ve spent time on the Ford-Trucks.com forums, you might’ve seen a thread about this event. It’s just what it sounds like. You gather with a bunch of other automotive enthusiasts (CTC 2018 attracted 8,444 people from 44 states, Canada, Germany, and Australia) at the Mississippi Gulf Coast and cruise. Other activities include autocrossing, vehicle auctions, swap meets, and a “Field of Wheels” car show.
Photo Credit: CruisintheCoast.com
SEMA: November 5 – November 8 | Las Vegas, Nevada
Custom vehicles don’t get any bigger or more outrageous than they do at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. This year’s event featured builds such as the ‘roided-up tow rig you see here and a modern Super Duty wearing a retro two-tone paint job. Who knows what next year’s show will feature. We’re confident there will be a lot of Ford trucks there and every one of them will be customized from tow hook to tow hitch.
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