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Fleet Drive Day 2010
Eastern Creek Raceway 19th May 2010
 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."
 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."
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