First-timers scoop Jubilee Award

Fiat Chrysler New Zealand has won the Jubilee Award for Fieldays 2014 – and it is their first time at the event.

Circling their Fieldays site is a large muddy track that they use to demonstrate their Jeep Wrangler JK-8 Ute to Fieldays’ goers.

When driver and Fiat Chrysler NZ Commercial Vehicle Sales Gary Sanders asked if I wanted to “jump in” and have a ride, I blurted out yes without thinking it through.

Before I knew it I was buckled in and ready to go.

But there was one big, giant catch – a massive drop, halfway through the track, was waiting for me.

Approaching the drop, Gary looked at me and said “you must hold on to the bar there Rachael, it’s steep” – not something I want to hear.

We drop down in front of a large crowd, many capturing the moment on their iPhones. Oh that wasn’t too bad I thought…

“Wanna go again?” he asked.

“Of course,” I answered over-confidently.

We approached the drop, second time round, and Gary left us hanging at the top for what felt like an eternity. The suspense was killing me.

“Do you trust me?” said Gary, smiling.

We dropped more suddenly and faster than last time.

I decided it was time to get out of this thing.

Fiat Chrysler NZ brand activation manager Rebecca Joyce said the team almost didn’t turn up to the awards evening, held on Thursday night at the Village Green, Mystery Creek.

“Some judges said we should come along to the awards yesterday, so yeah about five of us rocked up.

“It feels great. It’s been six months of planning and to be rewarded for it is very satisfying.

“Everyone back at head office is really, really stoked for us.”

The Jeep Wrangler JK-8 Ute was brought over from Australia especially for Fieldays, and Joyce said they are looking to sell the kit.

“You can fit it [the kit] into any 4-door Wrangler.”

The track itself was designed and built by Showscape, a Hamilton-based company.

Joyce said it wasn’t a costly project and that they wanted to “keep it local”.

“A few other companies approached us but we decided we wanted to use a local company to support the community down here and because they have everything on site.”

She added that Showscape moved onsite a month before Fieldays to start the excavation of the track, and the track’s design took roughly 3-4 months to decide on.

“We went back and forth for a good couple of months.”

Will they be back next year after their massive success this year?

“Absolutely.

“Next year we’d like to be in a more prominent position. We know spaces book out pretty quick.”

The team plan on celebrating tonight and having some fun because, according to Joyce, “Hamiltonians know how to party”.