Off-Road Course Construction
Another successful Ram summer ride and drive series has sadly come to an end. The 2015 rodeo and farm show tours saw the best weather and more importantly, the best crowds that we have experienced to date.
This year, both tours saw the addition of the 2015 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel, which was a great addition to the drive fleet! Guests were amazed by the torque, lack of typical diesel noise, and the amazing fuel economy (up to 29 mpg).
As the Ram Trucks brand continues to build momentum and win market share, we continue to see (and welcome) increased interest and participation in the ride and drive events.
Hats off to Ram on another great season!
Rodeo Tour:
Cheyenne Frontier Days – Cheyenne, WY
Colorado State Fair – Pueblo, CO
Oklahoma State Fair – Oklahoma City, OK
Heart O’ Texas Fair – Waco TX
Farm Show Tour:
Wisconsin Farm Tech Days – Madison, WI
Farm Progress – Decatur, IL
Husker Harvest Days – Grand Island, NE
Sunbelt Expo – Moultrie, GA
Jud Scott poses atop the ‘The Summit’, at the new Dick Scott Motor Mall off-road course
Gordinier Group was fortunate to have the opportunity to design and build an off-road course for the Dick Scott Motor Mall dealership in Fowlerville, Michigan this summer.
The Dick Scott dealership was an excellent candidate to have their own track, as they have a great piece of land adjacent to their lot. As it is visible from a major expressway (I-96), the track essentially acts as a billboard (vehicles are parked on the obstacles and lit at night) when it is not in use. To top it off, DSMM is a top Wrangler volume leader in the region, with a robust group of off-road enthusiasts that frequent the dealership to buy and up-fit their Jeep vehicles. Offering a place for these owners to do some wheeling just makes sense.
The plan was to create a challenging track to use as a Jeep sales tool for potential customers with the added benefit of becoming an attraction destination. DSMM sales staff were trained by GG to safely navigate the course as well as how demonstrate the Jeep off-road features and how they relate to each course obstacle.
The course design features elements that highlight and demonstrate Jeep’s Trail Rated attributes (traction, maneuverability, ground clearance, stability, and articulation. It was designed to accommodate all Jeep models including Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Renegade, Compass, and Patriot. If it has a Trail Rated badge and a transfer case that supports 4WD low, the vehicle can conquer the track.
Dick Scott Motor Mall has embraced the onsite, off-road track idea, using it to boost their Jeep sales and has also offered special events for their customers to give them a taste of how capable their Jeep vehicles are when taken off of the pavement.
You can see more info as well as a GoPro video of the track in action here.
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August 9 – 16, 2014
Gordinier Group pro drivers traveled to Whistler, British Columbia for Crankworx, the premier mountain bike free ride event in North America.
If there is a more natural backdrop for a Jeep event, we have yet to see it. Not only are the Whistler and Blackcomb mountains the ideal setting for the Jeep brand, but the Crankworx participants and fans are the right demographic as well.
This combination sets the stage for the perfect automotive experiential event, and the 2014 Crankworx did not disappoint. Great weather brought the crowds to Whistler and guests fell in love with the Jeep vehicles on our off-road course. The Wrangler seems to be the crowd favorite there, but we also had great interactions with guests in our Grand Cherokee and Cherokee Trailhawk course vehicles. We also ran a street drive, with 2014 Compass, Patriot and Cherokee vehicles.
All in all, Crankworx 2014 was a home run for Jeep. Great exposure and tons of off-road test drives, all targeted towards the right people.
Guests were super excited to be able to experience/drive the newest Jeep, several months before they hit the showroom floor. Likewise, GG drivers were dying to get behind the wheel and be able to put the Cherokee through its paces.First impression highlights were the smooth shifting 9-speed transmission, electronic locking rear axle, and 8.6” of ground clearance. Many guests commented that they really like the aesthetics, ergonomics and interior styling as well. Overall, the response to the Cherokee was very positive. With the exception of a few original Cherokee owners (who mostly just wanted a different name for the new vehicle), people were really digging the new Cherokee.
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