2013 Chicago Auto Show Blog

One of the most entertaining, hands-on attractions at the Chicago Auto Show can be found at the Jeep exhibit. The Jeep test track allows you to ride in one of its vehicles with a professional driver over uneven, slanted surfaces and a steep hill. The drive demonstrates the maneuverability, traction control and other features of the Jeep line.

Heidi and I took a ride in a dark green Rubicon through the exhibit’s course this morning. I have to say, I had my doubts that we wouldn’t make it through without tipping over or getting stuck along the way. We were jostled around as we went over some rocky terrain, but we made it through without a scratch.

As we sat at the bottom of a 35-degree angle hill, I felt like I was waiting to go up the first huge drop of a rollercoaster. I was nervous, but excited for the big drop on the other side. Our driver started moving, but then stopped in the middle of the steep slope. I thought for sure I would fall out the back! From the side, I imagine that we looked almost vertical in the air. As we reached the top of the hill, my nerves faded, and soon we were riding downward at the same angle we went up. The surprising part was that our driver didn’t even have his foot on the brake! We were just free falling. Well, almost; the car’s braking system kicks in automatically at steep downgrades.

After a few more bumpy roads and uneven terrain, we were back where we started in the circuit. The Jeep exhibit test track will be open all throughout the Chicago Auto Show for the public to take a ride. Check it out in the back of the South Hall.

Monday at the Chicago Auto Show is a flurry of activity, especially on the show floor. Boxes and crates fill the enormous space while forklifts and cars maneuver their way around the exhibits. It’s difficult to believe that by Wednesday morning McCormick Place will be spotless and filled with glossy, new cars.

Everyone is hard at work getting each exhibit set up for media previews on Wednesday and Thursday. As I walked around the South Hall, trying to stay out of everyone’s way, cars drove as slow as possible down the aisles to get to their destinations. Everyone worked around them until a bright green Lamborghini turned the heads of everyone in the vicinity. I stood in awe as it roared to a stop next to me. This is probably the closest I’ll ever be to a vehicle like that! I asked the man driving how he landed that sort of job. “It wasn’t easy,” he replied. Shame it was only driving at about three miles per hour. I’m sure the driver would have loved to take it for a spin around the city.