Being an automotive journalist allows one to drive vehicles in some pretty unique environments. Race tracks, off-road courses, exotic destinations, it's a really rough life. The good thing is that as a general consumer, you can find some fun too. This afternoon, we tried out a ride and drive event with the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It was at an off-road test course that Jeep set up for anyone to participate in at the OC Fair in Orange County, California.

Ride and drive events are great opportunities to feel like an automotive journalist, and give you first hand experience behind the wheel of a vehicle without the dealer pressure of a test drive. These events can be at auto shows, concerts, local events, and in our case, county fairs. If you're considering a new vehicle, a ride and drive event is something I highly recommend.

When Jeep develops one of these events, it goes all-out. From a rocky riverbed crossing, to steep dirt slope ascent and descent, to un-even railroad ties, what is a vehicle torture test ends up being incredible amounts of fun. It also lets you see what the 2011 Grand Cherokee is made of. I found it to be incredibly capable, but now you have the chance to find out for yourself. If you live in southern California, I highly recommend visiting the OC Fair for a test drive. If not, check out the Jeep website, or contact your local Jeep dealer for any events in your area.