Earlier this month, the Jeep® Blog asked what “Freedom of the Open Road” means to you, our loyal readers and Jeep brand enthusiasts. The contest is over, and the response was, in a word, overwhelming. From simple responses about letting the open air flow through a topless Jeep vehicle to stories of the freedom that our ancestors fought to secure for America, your writing was thoughtful, passionate, and gave everyone a look into the authentic, rugged voices of Jeep brand fans.
We chose our three favorite responses. In addition to having their exceptional responses featured on the Jeep Blog, they’ll each receive a $500 REI® gift card. Two winning entries are below. Come back to the Jeep Blog for the third winning entry.
Michael Hraba
“Freedom of the Open Road” is obviously an American concept that is deeply, and profoundly, rooted to our heritage of discovery and exploration. The Jeep vehicle is something that embodies the values of intrepid seekers and curious adventurers.
The greatest explorers of our time, who set out, in part, to define the landscape of America, did so with little else than trusted friends and confidants – a band of travelers as dreamers, seeking a better life with new opportunities, finding a deeply transformative experience that defined our country.
Only the entrepreneurial and curious would go; only the types who were both strong and nimble, prepared and daring. This pervasive memory culturally courses through us to this day, and there isn’t a make of auto anywhere in the world that better represents this fearless and intrepid attitude than Jeep.
Jeeps have been air dropped to every part of this world, and have explored more continents than any type of vehicle. They have been alongside almost every single defining moment of 20th century American culture and history. They symbolize a time when pragmatism and practicality were championed values over ostentatious or mindless aesthetic. With the all-American “can do” and “get it done” attitude, a fleet of Jeep vehicles ramble across this land, passing lesser vehicles in a reassuring way… because everyone knows there’s a Jeep around in case someone gets in trouble on that sprawling, lonely, endless open road.
Seeing a Jeep vehicle along that road is a reassuring and calming moment…you know you aren’t alone. The classic, timeless connection our culture has with Jeep is an affair with the values of versatility, reliability, and confidence. Being on the open road without one simply feels wrong – a Jeep vehicle is something that *IS* the open road, and it’s not an open road until you see one blazing that trail, forging that path.
I have had my 1995 YJ for 17 years. It’s been to every national park (almost). It’s been in every weather condition you could imagine. It’s helped plenty of people out of plenty of sticky situations – from tows to jumps, and more. In my paybed, I built in a versatile storage system under a flatbed for my pups, for an extended camping trip. It’s hard to imagine my life without it. This is the way people feel about their Jeeps – they are the most loyal fans in the world, because they understand that a Jeep isn’t just fun on the open road, it defines it.
So, in essence, “The Freedom of the Open Road” is about owning my Jeep vehicle.
Dustin Gerstel
The freedom of the open road is to, exponentially, feel the extreme relief of removing yourself from conformity; to release yourself from the stresses and worries of the modern civilization. I own a 1999 Jeep Wrangler Sahara. She has, without hesitation, been the greatest asset to my short life so far! It began with a simple yet impulsive purchase to buy a Wrangler! My mother, being the woman she has always been, has argued the fact that they are irrational, illogical choices for vehicles unless they would be used to their full potential. Taking trips to see my sister, in college at the time, was such an amazing adventure to behold in the eyes of a young boy, a boy who took a ride in what he thought was the most brilliant piece of machinery (which I still believe)! This vehicle has served me in every way it can! I believe it to be one of the strongest lifelines I will ever hold dear in my life! Icy roads have caused close family members to be in automotive accidents and other hazardous conditions have left others stranded, but with the epic capability of the Jeep Wrangler Heritage, there has never been a doubt in my mind that I can get myself out of a dangerous situation regardless of the circumstance of the moment. My Wrangler has brought me the closest friends I will ever have. They are my brothers and sisters; they are more than just friends; they are family! Taking the “open road” causes me to feel like I own the world; I can conquer anything in my path with faith in mechanics! My mother, after having argued against the Wrangler name, is now the owner of one herself! She now owns a 1971 Jeep CJ-5. Me and my mother have never been this close, and I am so grateful that this simple yet sophisticated piece of machinery has caused the important relationships in my life to only grow stronger. I will push this motor to the limits of its longevity, knowing I will be more satisfied with this vehicle than any other vehicle I will ever own.
I am, and will always be, grateful to the day I die and beyond that, that this vehicle has represented the mental attitude and perseverance of this country as strongly as the citizens living within it. My Jeep has won wars, saved lives, and left people wanting more; and it DELIVERS. And you know what? IT IS A JEEP THING. People don’t understand until they have been behind the wheel of a vehicle that can give you none other than the feeling of gratitude and helplessness to the grasp of happiness.