Quote:
Originally Posted by Axe77 @Tejas:
Super show and great read!
Is this the same track that was used by Shaman for the Merc event last weekend? I drove the GLC at that event. I think you guys must have been there. A GLE scraped its bumper off I believe. |
Thanks.
The venue was the same. The track was completely different. The tracks are custom built for cars that are to be showcased. We did the Shaman event as well.
I'm actually glad you brought up the GLE bumper issue. There's something i want to say here:
When we have meetings, there is always a conundrum in the minds of the dealer / company on who should drive the vehicles.
If experts drive, the tracks can be tough and the cars can be nursed. However, to sell a car, you need the prospective behind the wheel. BUT! If prospectives drive, there is always a danger that they may err - specially if they haven't in driven offroad conditions before. Plus, since its not their vehicle, they may be rash.
The briefs that companies give us is extremely complicated to execute:
- We want our entire bouquet of cars to be exhibited - so all angles go for a toss and the track is prepared with the least capable vehicle in mind
- The track must be challenging but should be done by a new driver
- The track must be scary and thrilling but not unsafe.
Most guidelines are like this. So building such a track is extremely difficult. We over leave clearances, stuff lot of people in the cars to make sure clearances are not an issue during testing.
Then in the briefings, we talk and talk about safety and driving aspects.
We reinforce it during demo drives.
We urge them not to drive fast over obstacles like rumblers, etc. You go slow, the suspension can recover before the next set of rumblers. You go fast and you are already at the next obstacle before the suspension has recovered. And thus you hit the bumper - which is what happened to the GLE. Once these plastic bumpers are hit and a clip breaks you need to replace the full thing. No other option. Which is not possible during an event where cars are limited. In the GLE, a chrome bit came loose and the front mud flap lost one clip (the flap in front of the tyre - attached to the bumper). The car was still in action till the end of the event.
If we really tame the obstacles down, then the companies will get a bad feedback that the track would have been done by my 2wd sedan.
So, it's not easy being in our shoes. As much fun as it seems driving great cars, there is a lot of stress. Now imagine: we are doing 100 rounds a day. That means we are sitting next to a customer who proudly says this is my first time offroad or i have never driven an automatic and promptly slams the brake with the left foot on a side incline! Or people who stop at wrong places for a selfie.
I'm not saying there are only bad drivers. Some are natural talents and most are willing to learn. But, they look to us as experts to keep them safe and it is our duty to keep them, us and the cars safe. So we cannot let down our guard.
Our stress and concentration levels are at an all time high and we always have a standby driver to keep replacing our experts and giving breaks.
We would love to drive around people all day without stress but we know that to sell a car means to let the prospective drive. We respect that and go along.
But we are extremely strict with rash driving and have made people get off in the middle of the course whoever they may be. That is the first thing that we make clear when signing up. Safety call is ours and it is non negotiable.