24 Hours of Appalachia: Buckeye Blitz 2025
May 2-4, 2025 | Southern Ohio
The latest installment of the 24 Hours of Appalachia series unfolded across Southern Ohio in early May, and it delivered exactly what the name promises: 24 straight hours of backcountry navigation, endurance driving, and community spirit. Known as the Buckeye Blitz, Backroads of Appalachia's (BOA) first rally in Ohio, drew in a total of 97 registered vehicles and riders, ranging from dual-sport motorcycles to fully-built rock bouncers. All ready to test themselves on a course that wound through rain-soaked forests and gnarly unmaintained roads.
The route was created by Ohio resident, Zach Gray, and some help from Backroads of Appalachia organizers. Zach is a competitor and top 5 finisher of a previous 24 Hours rally in March 2025. Together, they mapped the 517-mile course prior to the event, and although they drove it in clear dry weather, they incurred vehicle damage in one of the rowdiest sections. Strategically, they leveraged the town of MacArther, OH as a central hub for the route—accommodating both the start and finish lines. It is encompassed by Shawnee State Forest, Tar Hollow State Forest, Zaleski State Forest, and both the Ironton and Wayne Units of the Wayne National Forest.
Competitors queued at the start line.
The rally began around sunrise, with the first competitors heading out at 6:00 AM and the last at 8:07 AM. The course was plotted to highlight the remote beauty of southern Ohio’s dense forests, quickly turned into a gauntlet of mud, slick hill climbs, and deep creek crossings as steady rain soaked the region from start to finish. Despite the conditions, this was the first time all of the competitors finished under the 24 hour mark—the last vehicle rolled through the finish line at 5:07 AM Sunday morning.
Did Not Finish's (DNFs) are common for a 24-hour rally, but the particularly high ratio underscores just how demanding the route became once the rain settled in. Riders and drivers faced slick mud, flooded roads, and mechanical issues that resulted in about half the field not able to finish.
The Numbers
In total, 97 entries left the start line:
31 bikes: 14 in Class A, 17 in Class B
66 full-size vehicles: 21 in Class A, 31 in Class B, 15 in Class C
But only 47 completed the entire course:
Bikes: 20 DNFs, 11 finishers
Full-size vehicles: 30 DNFs, 36 finishers
Riders taking respite at a fuel station (CP2).
Behind the Scenes Support
Behind every competitor making their way through the rain and muck, there were people who weren’t in it for trophies or podiums. Check-pointers, sweep crews, and media personnel provided safety coverage, navigational help, and morale boosts throughout the event. I personally served triple duty as a scribe at Checkpoint 2, mobile support vehicle, and photographer.
And chaos there was: one full-size truck arrive missing half of its rear end, one lost a wheel while driving, and another severely damaged its rooftop tent. Riders braved cold chest-high water, failed GPS units, and desperate fuel stops. Those are just some examples of the determination of these men and women. The volunteers deserve an equal amount of respect and thanks for supporting these brave competitors.
Jedediah Smith chatting with competitors at the start line Saturday morning.
The Men Behind the Maps
At the center of the event's orchestration was Jedediah Smith, Director of Operations and lead organizer for the 24 Hours of Appalachia series—and Shawn Amory, the Coordinator for the Gambler 500 in KY, WV, and OH. Each installment of the series brings a new opportunity for improvement, and they don't waste it—always listening to driver/rider and community feedback.
This time around, they introduced a class-based system for both bikes and full-size vehicles—breaking them down by capability, purpose, and build level. The result was smoother logistics, fewer bottlenecks, and more balanced competition throughout the event. It was an improvement that didn't go unnoticed.
The philosophy is simple: every rally should support a cause, give back to Appalachia, and grow the off-road community without sacrificing safety or integrity. And that spirit was evident throughout the weekend.
Fundraising and Purpose
Each 24 Hours of Appalachia rally is more than just an off-road event—it’s a fundraiser aimed at helping grassroots organizations in the communities that host them. The Buckeye Blitz raised $6,100 for the Vinton County Project Backpack, a non-profit program dedicated to providing weekend meals and more for school children in need in one of, if not the most, impoverished counties in the the state of Ohio.
The money raised will help fund essential nutrition for students across Vinton County, helping to fill the gaps that free or reduced school lunches don’t cover. For many volunteers and participants, the opportunity to contribute to this cause was just as important as completing the route.
Driver Gregory Martinek crawling through Tar Hallow in his ‘74 Jeep J20 dubbed “Crustina”.
Just Appalachia
There’s something raw about the 24 Hours of Appalachia. Weekend warriors and volunteers making it all happen. Despite the weather, despite the breakdowns, and despite the sleep deprivation, most teams crossed the finish line grinning, covered in mud, and already talking about the next one.
The 24 Hours of Appalachia series continues to carve out a unique space in the off-road world—less polished than professional rallies (for now), but more connected to the land and the people it serves. It’s a proving ground, a community builder, and a reminder that the toughest roads often lead to the best stories.
With improved class structure, strong turnout, and money raised for a worthy cause, the 2025 Buckeye Blitz may have been the muddiest yet, but it was also one of the most successful. As the rain fades and the mud dries, Appalachia is left just a little better than it was before the rally showed up.
Class B 1st-place driver Colton Schweikert and his co-drivers.
