Jeep Beach Storms Back for 2021 Daytona Beach Events

Jeep enthusiasts turned out in big numbers for charity and off-road-themed fun.

Last week, more than 200,000 off-road enthusiasts swarmed to Daytona Beach in Florida for the 2021 Jeep Beach event. Storms threatened the main events planned during the weekend, but it comes as little surprise that tens of thousands of people with the most capable vehicles on Earth weren’t kept away by a little rain. Even with early morning lightning coupled with heavy rains early on Sunday morning, more than 3,000 owners lined up for the Jeep Beach Sweep Parade on the sands of Daytona Beach.

According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, after the 2020 beach event was canceled due to the early stages of the Covid-1 pandemic, enthusiasts were clearly excited to get back to the fun for 2021. Starting with the Jeep Gives Back Night at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach and ending with the beach parade, it was a successful year that led to plenty of money being raised for charity.

Early-week Activities

The 2021 Jeep Beach festivities began on Monday with the Jeep Gives Back Night at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. This celebrity softball game was followed by the Jeep Beach Luau Meet and Greet at the Victory Circle at One Daytona on Tuesday, across from Daytona International Speedway.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the Hard Rock Café hosted Jeeps at the Rock, two days of beach-based activities, including surf school, beach games, vendors, raffles and, of course, food and drinks.

During the Jeep Beach weekdays, the sandy shores of Daytona Beach were predictably packed with Jeepers looking to soak in some rays. According to the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Ocean Rescue Capt. Alex Miller stated that there were no major reports through Saturday, so it seems that the Jeep owners were all staying in line for this year’s events.

Jeep Beach Weekend

Friday and Saturday brought about the Jeep Beach Main Event at Daytona International Speedway. More than 200 vendors lined in infield of the legendary race track, giving owners and enthusiasts a chance to spend money on all sorts of apparel and upgrades. Owners who brought their Wranglers to the beach could also test their off-road skills on the obstacle course at the track.

Sunday of the Jeep Beach weekend typically has a massive parade on the sands of Daytona Beach, but this year’s parade was in question due to a nasty storm that rolled into Florida early that morning. Thunder, lightning and heavy rains pounded the area, but that didn’t stop more than 3,000 owners from coming out to drive on the soggy sand.

Photos: Daytona Beach News-Journal

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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