News
Fleet Drive Day Gets New Name And New Features
Eastern Creek International Raceway’s successful fleet industry drive day will expand in 2010 with a new name and several additional features, which are aimed at providing a more informative and enjoyable experience for fleet managers.
Fleet Drive Day (FDD) 2010 will include a new, all-weather four-wheel drive test track, a low-emission vehicles demonstration and the addition of light truck demonstrations and heavy truck displays.
A joint venture between Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway, the Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC), and event organiser Driving Solutions, FDD 2010 aims to build on the success on the 2008 and 2009 events.
“The first two events were successful in giving fleet managers and their senior management a unique opportunity to comparison shop a wide variety of potential fleet vehicles,” said the ARDC’s Chief Executive, Geoff Arnold.
“For exhibiting automotive brands, the event has proven to be an opportunity to get on the shopping list of potential customers who might not otherwise have considered their vehicles.
“We’ve listened to the feedback of both automotive brands and fleet customers and we’re refining the next event to better meet their needs.”
More than 200 customers attended the last fleet day at Eastern Creek, but organiser James Stewart expects that will grow to over 300 at the event next May.
“Word-of-mouth among fleet professionals has been hugely positive and I think we’re well on the way to making Fleet Drive Day the must-attend event for the fleet industry in Australia.”
Mr Stewart says the appeal of the event will be boosted by the addition of Australia’s leading Fleet Management Organisations (FMOs) to the ranks of exhibitors.
“There’s a growing trend towards FMOs being the organisations that actually purchase the vehicles and take the financial risk on behalf of their clients,” said Mr Stewart.
“We think it’s important to have FMOs present at Fleet Drive Day because, in many cases, they are the link between the automotive brands and the end users of the vehicles.”
To register as a guest or enquire about sponsorship for this event please contact jo@drivingsolutions.com.au.
New All-Weather 4WD Track Gains Traction
Earthworks have commenced at Eastern Creek Raceway for the construction of a permanent all-weather four-wheel drive demonstration track.
The track will feature two courses to demonstrate the varying abilities of all-wheel drive Sports Utility Vehicles, as well as more specialised body-on-frame 4WDs.
“The courses are designed to test experienced drivers and also provide total novices with the opportunity to experience off-roading,” said Fleet Drive Day event organiser, James Stewart.
“Each guest will have the opportunity to drive several vehicles over the courses, with instructors providing guidance and tuition.”
A feature of the new four-wheel drive track will be a hard-packed marshalling area, which will allow guests to comfortably enter and alight from vehicles without having to worry about muddy shoes.
Levs To Show More Than Just Environmental Performance
Low Emissions Vehicles (LEVs) are usually judged solely on their environmental performance, but Fleet Drive Day (FDD) 2010 will confound expectations by focussing on their dynamics as well.
A selection of LEVs, including hybrids and diesels, will be driven on Eastern Creek’s skidpan to demonstrate their handling and roadholding.
Each guest will be given the opportunity to drive several of the vehicles on the skidpan under the tuition of a driver training instructor.
“Automotive brands are keen to reassure consumers that, as we shift towards LEV vehicles, they will still be fun to drive,” said FDD organiser, James Stewart. “The skid pan demos will open a few eyes to just how much fun they can be.”
Mr Stewart said the focus of activities would also be on safety as well as enjoyment, with demonstrations of Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) included in the skid pan program.
A One Stop Shop: From Light Cars to Heavy Trucks
Fleet Drive Day 2010 will feature the addition of medium and heavy trucks for the first time.
Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) of up to 2.5 tonnes will be available for test drives on a road course incorporating the famous Corporate Hill section of Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway.
“A key learning of the last two years at Eastern Creek was that up to 70 per cent of attendees have fleets that include LCVs and in some cases Heavy Commercial Vehicles as well,” said James Stewart, event organiser.
“In keeping with the one-stop shop concept of this event, our customers want us to demonstrate or display larger commercial vehicles as well.”
Driving Solutions’ instructor Joey Foster wins the 2009 Australian F3 Championship and the prestigious Gold Star
For the second year running the Australian F3 Championship and the Gold Star have been won by a Driving Solutions instructor, with Joey Foster in 2009 and James Winslow in 2008. All eyes are now on Ben Barker, another member of our team who will be competing in 2010, can we make this a hat-trick?
An article on this can be found at http://www.joeyfoster.co.uk/news/show/0/2009.
