Contact among eastern four wheelers began in 1965 when Pittsburgh's Triangle Jeepers held their first East Coast Four-Wheel-O-Rama in Wellsboro, PA. Other competitive and trailriding events followed and attracted many four wheelers. The occasional camping weekends became annual events and ultimately friendships developed between clubs, families, and individuals.

Realizing the need to standardize running classes, rules and safety considerations, Triangle's club invitied Tri-County (Lisbon, OH) and Allegheny (Oil City, PA) four wheel drive clubs to send representatives to an inter-club meeting in February, 1969. The sixteen who attended the meeting formulated and approved the 1969 competition rules while discussing the need for an East Coast Four Wheel Drive Association (EC4WDA), set a date for the first meeting in State College, PA, inviting all known eastern clubs to send representatives.

Since that meeting in the fall of 1969, EC4WDA has grown to include membership encompassing eleven (11) states. The association is regionalized so club directors don't find it necessary to travel great distances for region meetings, which are held twice a year (Spring & Fall). The annual convention of all five (5) regions is conducted in November in Dubois, PA.

Initially, EC4WDA was formed primarily to regulate competitve events. Since the inception of EC4WDA, we have become involved in other organized four wheeling activities such as recreational activity (trail riding), conservation of resources, working together to prevent the closure of public lands, public and membership education, search & rescue operations, and getting involved with our local communites through a variety of community services.

The East Coast Four Wheel Drive Association is America's second largest regional four wheel drive association.