Fifth Gear is a British motoring show along the lines of Top Gear. It does not have the U.S. distribution that Top Gear does through BBC America, or its own American version corresponding with Top Gear America, but you can still access all the shows on Final Gear.
In the following segment, they compare a new Jeep Wrangler JK to the original Willys Jeep:
Top Gear is an international phenomenon - a car show so good, it appeals even to non-car enthusiasts. Most car guys are familiar with the original British Top Gear, Top Gear America, and Top Gear Australia due to the series' availability on Final Gear. There isn't much of an audience in English-speaking countries for Top Gear Korea, but that doesn't mean their episodes aren't worth watching.
Behold Top Gear Korea's segment on the Jeep Wrangler JK:
While the host is obviously an inexperienced offroad driver, it's still an entertaining video with a Korean take on the successful British formula for automotive entertainment.
A silver lining has emerged from the black cloud of the devastating tornado that destroyed Moore, Oklahoma on May 20, 2013. The story of Bryan Hutton and his 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon "Stomper" begins with them leaving their home on Ohio to visit family in Oklahoma.
They got caught in the tornado's path. Their Jeep was locked in the garage while the family hid in their storm cellar. Once they emerged after the tornado passed, they found nothing left of their neighborhood. The Jeep was buried in what was left of the house.
Hutton started checking other homes for survivors and soon realized that the Jeep could be very useful in rescuing people from the rubble - if it could start up and drive. He dug through the rubble and was able to get the driver’s door open just enough that he could reach in and push the clutch pedal in with his hand and then turn on the ignition. The Rubicon fired right up. He reached in and jerked the shifter into reverse. The Rubi begin to dig and claw its way backwards out of the debris and out of the garage. Once it cleared the debris he was able to get it stopped in the driveway.
He cleared the wood and other debris out of the Jeep and drove up and down the neighborhood on three flat tires, offering help in any way he could. He used the Jeep's Warn VR8000 winch numerous times to uncover people trapped under debris. He transported injured people to medical personnel. He delivered food, water, clothing, and other supplies to people.
I've already blogged about the coolest toy ever created: the Axial Racing SCX10 Jeep Wrangler. This radio-controlled Jeep has conquered back yards across the country and even completed the Rubicon Trail under its own power. But now some creative minds have figured out how to make the normally backbreaking chore of shoveling snow off their walkways a much more rewarding and entertaining job by attaching a snow plow implement to the front of their R/C Jeeps:
*** UPDATE 1/8/2014 ***
Autoblog has also run a story on the Axial Jeep snow plow.
Jeep's Toledo South Assembly Plant is a busy place, cranking out Jeep Wrangler JKs as fast as possible. So many, in fact, that they recently celebrated the One Millionth JK Wrangler. This short video gives a look inside the modern Ohio assembly facility at the seamless blend of high-tech robotics and good old-fashioned American labor:
The Jeep Wave is a sacred tradition amongst Jeep owners, carried down through the generations from its origin with our military servicemen. Camaraderie amongst soldiers carried over to civilian Jeep owners after the war, and as the respect and mystique surrounding the Jeep brand grew over the years, Jeep owners became a prouder bunch.
Since the very beginning, Jeep owners have been a breed apart from typical motorists. Jeeps are driven by people who care about more than just a comfy ride and ergonomic controls; Jeeps are about fun, durability, and individuality. Jeeps aren't just transportation appliances, they're toys. We recognize other Jeep owners as members of an informal club of cool kids - when we see another Jeep coming our way, we can be pretty certain that its driver is someone with whom we'd get along well. Hence, the Jeep Wave.
As the popularity of Jeeps and the vehicles they inspired has grown, the Jeep Wave has expanded to include other worthy offroad vehicles.
Before I became a Jeep owner, I built several very trailworthy Suzukis, Toyotas, and military vehicles. I have always waved at well-built 4x4s, but now that I'm a Jeep owner, I wave at every Jeep I pass no matter how modified it is. Sure, soccer moms aren't very likely to wave back, but that's not the point.
This YouTube video caught my attention as it discusses the Jeep Wave:
Not all offroaders drive Jeeps, but all offroaders are Jeepers who share the love and appreciation for our sport and the wonderful people who partake in it. When you pass a nice 4x4, shoot your hand out the window and flash a smile - you never know whose day you'll make!
BFGoodrich came up with an entertaining short film advertisement for their Radial All-Terrain T/A-KO tires entitled Playground Earth. They set up a series of five different extreme outdoor sports, and in place of a baton the teams passed a single set of tires from one vehicle to another to demonstrate how these versatile tires are designed to handle just about anything thrown at them.
Of note to Jeep owners is the fact that two of the five short films featured the Jeep Wrangler JK, one in short-wheelbase 2-door form and the other in long-wheelbase 4-door form. You can watch the videos on BFG's website, or as a series posted below:
Every year, the Rubicon Trail's biggest fundraiser Cantina for the 'Con gets bigger and more fun. Numerous local and distant companies sponsor and exhibit at the event, while the Rubicon Trail Foundation cooks tacos and holds a gigantic raffle to earn money to be put towards keeping the trail environmentally-healthy and open to the public year-round.
This is an annual fundrasier for the 501(c)3 Non-Profit Mission: To enhance the future health and use of the Rubicon Trail while ensuring responsible motorized year-round trail access. Rubicon Trail Foundation advocates for your continued motorized access to the trail and surrounding public lands.
Rubicon Trail Foundation's website has a Cantina photo album. GenRight Offroad also put together their own photo album from this year's event here on their website. Bower Motorsports Media made this video of the event:
BFGoodrich® Tires, in collaboration with Tread Lightly! ® and United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA), today announced the winners of the 2013 Outstanding Trails program. Nominated for uniqueness, terrain type and enthusiast following, the trails selected for this year’s program are:
Dutch John Trail at the Uwharrie National Forest in Troy, North Carolina Kansas Rocks Recreation Park in Mapleton, Kansas Truckhaven in Salton Sea, California
Since its inception in 2006, The Outstanding Trails program has been dedicated to the responsible use and preservation of off-road trails. In the last eight years, Outstanding Trails has recognized more than 30 off-road trails throughout the country and has awarded over $115,000+ in grants in support of trail conservation efforts.
“The legacy of the Outstanding Trails program is a great source of pride for BFGoodrich,” said Duane Thomas, brand communications manager for BFGoodrich Tires. “We’re grateful for the efforts of the many four-wheel drive clubs and their volunteers for working with us in our quest to help maintain some of North America’s most beautiful trails.”
BFGoodrich Tires 2013 Outstanding Trails
During the course of the year, BFGoodrich Tires will be at club events associated with these trails to highlight the uniqueness of each location, educate off-road enthusiasts on the responsible use of the trails and present a $4,000 grant to each club to assist in the preservation of trail access.
Dutch John Trail at the Uwharrie National Forest is a 2.1-mile trail maintained by The Carolina Trail Blazers 4WD Club, a family oriented club formed in 1971. The Carolina Trail Blazers 4WD Club was instrumental in the development of the Uwharrie Off-Highway Vehicle trails, which it has been maintaining since they were first opened to 4WD use.
Kansas Rocks Recreation Park is a not-for-profit park open to the public, boasting trails for beginners and experienced outdoor enthusiasts alike. The park is maintained by The Brush Beater Jeep Club and is open to all makes of four-wheel drive vehicles.
Truckhaven is the host of the annual Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari. The trails consist of sandy washes, rocky canyons, deep gorges with near perpendicular walls and great hill climbs. Tierra Del Sol has a history with this area going back over 50 years and is involved with constant renovations and improvements for Truckhaven to improve the quality of its off-road trails.
“The three trails and clubs recognized in 2013 are some of the best we’ve seen to date,” said Lori McCullough, executive director of Tread Lightly!. “We are excited to see the great work that these clubs will do to help improve and conserve access to these trails.”
”For the past eight years, UFWDA has been honored to be a partner in the Outstanding Trails program,” said Jim Mazzola, President of UFWDA. “The more than 30 grants provided by BFGoodrich as part of the Outstanding Trails program have made a tremendous impact helping preserve some of the most beautiful off-road trails available.” About the Outstanding Trails Program
The BFGoodrich Tires Outstanding Trails program was established in 2006 to raise awareness for responsible use and preservation of off-road trails while providing support in the trails’ conservation efforts. Through 2013, the Outstanding Trails program has recognized over 30 off-road trails and clubs across North America. The program has provided more than $115,000+ in grants in support of the various trails conservation efforts.
Both Tread Lightly! and UFWDA are non-profit organizations dedicated to responsible and ethical outdoor recreation. BFGoodrich Tires collaborated with these two groups to select the finest off-road trails and continues to work with these organizations on restoration and education initiatives.
About BFGoodrich Tires
Using motorsports as a proving ground for more than 40 years, BFGoodrich Tires is involved in every type of racing, including sports car, drag, desert, dirt, rally and extreme rock crawling. BFGoodrich Tires combines technological expertise with vast motorsports experience, delivering a high-performance tire for every type of vehicle. Visit BFGoodrich Tires at www.BFGoodrichTires.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/BFGoodrichTires or on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/BFGoodrichTires.
About United Four Wheel Drive Associations
United Four Wheel Drive Associations is the world’s leading representative of all-brand, four wheel-drive enthusiasts. UFWDA benefits, developed and tested over the past 30 years, include four-wheel-drive safety and awareness education; such user ethics programs as adopt-a-road, conservation volunteer and volunteer trail patrol; assistance with new club formation; education seminars to aid four wheelers through complex state and federal programs affecting trail access; internet forums designed to instantly connect members globally; a legislative advocate and nationally recognized attorney who works exclusively for four-wheel-drive enthusiasts to protect access and prevent road and trail closures. For more information on the UFWDA log on to www.ufwda.org, or call 1-800-44-UFWDA (800-448-3932).
About Tread Lightly!
Tread Lightly! is a national nonprofit organization with a mission to promote responsible recreation through ethics education and stewardship programs. Tread Lightly!’s award-winning educational message, along with its training and restoration initiatives are strategically designed to instill an ethic of responsibility in outdoor enthusiasts and the industries that serve them. The program is long-term in scope with a goal to balance the needs of the people who enjoy outdoor recreation with our need to maintain a healthy environment. Tread Lightly! offers unique programs and services to help remedy current recreation issues. Individuals and businesses can commit to Tread Lightly! and protect outdoor access by becoming a member at www.treadlightly.org.
Rebel Offroad is one of the fastest-growing Jeep Wrangler JK aftermarket companies, and they've been hosting a number of awesome trail rides around the country. One of their favorite playgrounds is Moab, Utah and they've put together several videos from their trips there. Their latest one shows a wide range of built Jeeps on some of Moab's most famous landmark trails from 2013's Easter Jeep Safari:
The Troller T4 is a Brazilian-made offroad vehicle "inspired by" the Jeep TJ and JK Wrangler. It is a fiberglass-bodied, turbodiesel-powered, Dana-axled jeep that fills a giant void that Jeep themselves have left wide-open in the Brazilian market.
Before you dismiss this vehicle as nothing more than a cheap wanna-be like the notoriously crappy Chinese knockoffs, you should understand that the Brazilian market demands tough vehicles. The T4 is built with solid components, engineered for extreme offroad abuse, can be upgraded with offroad equipment such as lockers and lift kits, and has competed in the Dakar Rally. The Troller T4 may not be the real deal, but it's a worthy Jeep replacement nonetheless.
Ford of Brazil seemed to be sufficiently impressed with Troller that they purchased the company in 2007 and have continued development of the brand's offroad vehicles. As Fiat/Chrysler continue to expand the Jeep brand into foreign markets, it will be interesting to see what trademark conflicts may arise in Brazil and Africa where the T4 is manufactured and sold.
This first video shows the T4 in action off-road:
And this 2nd video is a Brazilian TV commercial for the Troller T4. It uses actual news helicopter footage from the massive December 2009 floods in São Paulo:
Back in September, Team Lerner Reina and their American Expedition Vehicles-built Jeep Wrangler JK 231R took on one of the toughest endurance motorsport races in the Asia-Pacific region, the Australasian Safari. Similar to the Baja 1000 and the Dakar Rally, this is one of those races where it's an achievement to even cross the finish line. Their awesome driving and navigational skills, along with a reliable and capable Jeep, meant an outstanding finish. Here is a summary of their outstanding performance:
• 100% Safari Finisher - Their AEV Wrangler was the ONLY production vehicle to finish 100% of the Safari • Fastest Safari Female - Amy Lerner • Winner Production Class A1.2 • Winner Overall Safari Production - Their AEV Wrangler had the best performance of ANY production vehicle entered in the Safari • Winner of the Dakar Challenge - This earned Team Lerner Reina an entry spot in the 2014 Dakar Rally
Tricia and Amy are both awesome competitors and fantastic role models. The capability and durability of the Jeep Wrangler and the AEV suspension is exactly why I chose this combination for my own backcountry adventures. Check out the video below for footage from the 2013 Australasian Safari.
