by Liberty Best, with contributions by Kylee Boyter
lbest@cherryroad.com
Anyone who has been out on Jeep trails knows that Jeep is not just a brand, it is a noun, adjective and, yes, a verb.
Josey Visnovske, of Georgia, is moving the action of Jeeping the trails in Utah, and across the country, to a whole new level. The goal is to move from raising awareness of autism to embracing autism.
His 1967 Jeepster Commando recently underwent a makeover, at JRS Repair in Richfield, to help bring embracing autism to the forefront.
“I don’t want to stomp on autism awareness,” Visnovske said. “But we need go one step further and embrace it.”
Visnovske is retired law enforcement of 30 years, former Marine, an author and currently helps where he can and dedicates his life to making the world a better place, as well as establishing a business, Hog Cutters, to trap the nuisance hog population in the south.
His life took a turn when he met Colin, the inspiration for the Colin Project.
“The theory around the project is we are wanting people to embrace autism. Not just be aware of it.” Viscnovske said, “The whole idea of embracing autism is for us to select a family and bring them to Utah and give them an opportunity to embrace, experience, and be accepted for who they are.”
How it started
Several years ago, Visnovske’s truck broke down and went to Andy Inman’s shop for repairs, and that is where Visnovske met Colin (Inman’s cousin through marriage).
While at Inman’s shop, Visnovske got the idea to ask if Inman can put a deisel engine into a Jeep (or rather, the Jeep).
By the time Visnovske picked up the Jeep, his perspective and ideas had changed.
“[When I dropped off the Jeep] it wasn’t about autism, it didn’t dawn on me till Andy said it was ready to drive.” Visnovske said, “It’s not about me. I want Colin to drive it, and that’s how it developed.”
Visnovske said, that even though Colin cannot drive the Jeep on legal roads, having an experience like that is what he envisioned for Colin.
“We’ve got to teach the world how Andy has taught the world to embrace Colin,” Visnovske said.
Visnovske saw an opportunity. He has experience in helping others, and has a 501(c)(3), Aunt Kathy’s Rockhouse Foundation, which is being used as a parent organization to get the Colin Project underway.
“When Inman read Colin the mission statement for the Colin Project he lit up with joy,” said Visnovske.
The 1967 Jeep has been through almost as much as Visnovske and Colin, which makes it a fitting representation for moving through obstacles life throws your way as well as pushing the limits of perspective.
A bit of history
The jeep came from Utah climbing rocks, and Visnovske wanted to bring it back to Utah.
The Jeep was originally featured in 2007 in Motortrend as the “drug running commando,” when the Jeep was owned by James Ray Kelley.
By 2007 the Jeep had already undergone quite a few repairs and upgrades, from axles to exhaust and motors, which made it trail ready and an unbelievable force on obstacles.
The article said Kelley was full of anecdotes and stories about the Jeepster, and he had told the story:
“I originally found the Jeep behind a buddy’s shop and purchased it from the current owner. The Jeep had the wrong VIN tag, so I did some research to find the owner before the guy I got it from. I came to find out a different guy bought it from a dentist in Providence, Utah, back in 1982 to take into Mexico and use as a drug-running vehicle, so the VIN didn’t matter.”
This Jeep has a long rich history that is just about to get more in-depth and incredible.
A blog regarding the acceptance and embracing of autism will be available on theroadmapcompany.com (a trauma company that gives inspiration about trauma).
Information on Aunt Kathy’s Rockhouse Foundation can be found on Facebook.
More about this can be found on a YouTube channel dedicated to Colin.
