Jeep off-road
2017 was a monumental year for FCA experiential marketing at the Chicago Auto Show! Not only did the automaker roll out a gigantic new build for Ram called the Ram Truck Territory (built by partner George P. Johnson Co.), but it also offered guests the ultra-popular Camp Jeep track and the City Drive, a showcase of FCA’s Dodge, Chrysler, and Fiat brands.
All 3 of these tracks gave guests the opportunity to ride in the newest vehicles offered by FCA, with Gordinier Group drivers behind the wheel. Tasked with delivering detailed information about each vehicle while piloting guests up over and through technical obstacles, the GG drivers made countless positive impressions on CAS guests. All 3 tracks operated at full capacity, bell-to-bell, for 10 days, setting a new record for registered guests at an auto show ride and drive.
Below, you will see a brief time-lapse video from a static location on each of the 3 tracks:
Ram Truck Territory-
This track consisted of specific turn-offs for each model Ram truck: a load-leveling demo for 1500, torque-wall pull for 2500 and max weight towing demo for 3500.
Camp Jeep –
The Camp Jeep track is always a crowd favorite in Chicago. This is no surprise, given the infusion of massive amounts of organic material (dirt, boulders, mulch) alongside the mobile properties that make Camp Jeep a thrilling ride that shows off the brand’s off-road prowess. The track features an 18-foot tall, pass-through mountain, staircase, Trail Rated pass, side-hill traverse, breakover and several other challenging obstacles.
City Drive –
The 2017 CAS City Drive track gave customers the chance to experience a ride in 2017 FCA vehicles such as Chrysler 300 and Pacifica, Dodge Charger and Challenger, or Fiat 500 and Spider 124. The track featured an ambient sound zone, Pacifica walkaround lab, vehicle info center, and everyone’s favorite, the acceleration/braking strip,
January 26-29, 2017
The 21st Annual Winter X-Games came back to Aspen, CO for 2017. More than 200 of the world’s best action sports athletes competed in skiing, snowboarding and snowmobile events at Buttermilk Mountain for the premier Winter X-Games event.
Jeep offered event guests, athletes, and VIPs the opportunity experience the 2017 vehicle lineup while traveling from downtown Aspen to the mountain venue. 12 shuttle vehicles were used, consisting of a mix of Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee vehicles.
Amidst the fabulous winter backdrop of Aspen and the buzz of Winter X-Games, the Jeep shuttle service was a huge success again in 2017!
July 13- September 10 2016
In an effort to improve morale and productivity at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) in Detroit, MI , Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and UAW started a program to give employees a different perspective about the Jeep Brand. By inviting all plant employees to the FCA World Class Manufacturing Academy (WCMA).
All plant employees were invited to the FCA World Class Manufacturing Academy (WCMA), to spend the day partaking in team building activities. After spending time in a classroom setting, JNAP guests were brought outside and given the opportunity to drive the Jeep vehicles that they spend their days assembling.
The driving portion was divided into 3 groups – an on-road drive, a full lineup Jeep Trail-Rated off-road drive, and an extreme Jeep Rubicon off-road ride.
The off-road tracks were built by Gordinier Group/Dirt Designs and featured challenging obstacles for the Trial Rated track and downright severe features on the Rubicon track, which actually pushed the limits of the Rubicon Wrangler’s capability.
This program ran for 6 days/week and we were able to give all plant employees an opportunity to learn more about the vehicles that they build, not to mention learning a bit about proper off-road driving (from Gordinier Group drivers), and having a lot of fun and thrills along the way!
May 11-15 2016
When Gordinier Group was asked to be a part of the first annual Jeepin’ Beach Jam in Panama City Beach, Florida, it was a no-brainer.
JBJ promoters and founders Mark Hess and Matt McKenzie of JBJ Productions reached out to GG looking for an event partner to design, build and operate an off-road course adjacent to the event site, to be used by Jeep guests in their own vehicles during the event.
With the obvious challenge of creating challenging obstacles in sandy soil – both for stock Jeeps and heavily modified Jeeps – GG took on the task.
We trucked in topsoil, logs, and rock and went to work, creatively using the vast space that we were given to build a unique course that had something for everyone (including a new Renegade owner who was able to navigate parts of the course that Wranglers needed to be winched from).
The inaugural event drew over 1,000 Jeeps – a great turnout for a first-time gig. We hope to be back in 2017 to build on the success of this unique and growing event!
Here is a description of the event and activities that appeared in Four Wheeler magazine.
Overhead pics courtesy of Sky Pro Imaging.
