Remarkable was the word of the day: Bronco Off-Roadeo

Story and photos by Shelley Krehbiel

You’ve seen the hype! You’ve compared the specs! Is it worth it?

If you ask the participants of the Bronco Off-Roadeo, they’ll tell you “Absolutely!”

With the help of Ford, Jackson-Dawson Motorsports has created a brand-loyalty experience that has never been matched. Four locations around the U.S. provide the Bronco Off-Roadeo for new owners or soon-to-be owners to learn to love their Bronco.

Austin, Moab, Las Vegas, New Hampshire are the locations of a dedicated experience.  Each site is a feature at a resort that does not cater to off-road but instead caters to luxury and adventure. Jackson-Dawson made a two and ½ year commitment to the Experiences.  Most have just come online; it has been challenging to stock them with the 32 Broncos each location has.  Only the Texas location has Bronco Sports available; all others have the full-size 4-wheel drive.

Aside from generating brand loyalty, the experience is designed to teach everyone how to drive their rig.  The new Ford Bronco has features never before seen in a production vehicle.  The unique technology includes the Trail 1-Pedal Drive, 4×4 operation, and eight G.O.A.T. modes available at the turn of a button. The G.O.A.T. modes are 1) Normal – for everyday driving, 2) ECO – to conserve fuel, 3) Sport – to add a boost of power, 4) Slippery – for rain and snow, 5) Sand – for loose surfaces, 6) Mud/ruts – for those wet trails, 7) Baja -for navigating deserts, 8) rock crawl – for what we love most.  Every model comes with a selection of the G.O.A.T. modes.

The Bronco has integrated trail maps, stabilizer bar disconnect, front and rear lockers, and 360° cameras to tackle the obstacles on the trail.  Other skills taught at the Off-Roadeo are how to use recovery gear, jacks, and winches. It’s a complete experience for new and experienced off-roaders.

In Moab, Blake is the site producer; his job is to ensure each participant comes back happy. The guides act as spotters/trainers as they tackle Dome Plateau behind the Red Cliff Lodge.

Moab is the only location where the Broncos are first driven on-road before hitting the trail. Driver Matthew Largent flew out from Austin to experience Moab; by the time the day was done, he was calling all his friends to get online and buy their Bronco so they could come too.

The Bronco Off-Roadeo is only for legitimate Bronco buyers.  Eventually, the program may open for others, but it hasn’t happened yet, and it certainly won’t be for a $35 registration fee!  You do not have to have taken delivery of your Bronco yet, but you must have one on order.  A deposit is paid and then refunded when you take delivery of your Bronco.  You won’t be driving your own anyway; only company vehicles are allowed in the mix.

Plan on a ten-hour day for your experience.  Starting with Orientation and Introductions, moving into Ground School, and then the on-property training course, once completed, the Trail Drive begins.  The Trail Drive will be approximately four hours but will include time for lunch at a scenic location and recovery training. The return back to basecamp is followed by dinner and entertainment.  As cooler weather prevails, a campfire will be included for s’mores and fun.

Each location is just a bit different. Moab uses a public trail; Austin is at a private ranch; New Hampshire takes on Gunstock Mountain, and Nevada is located just outside of Las Vegas at Mt. Potosi.  There are expansive playgrounds for off-roading action near all the locations. The best part is you can choose which you attend.

John Chinuntdet and his wife, Tanya, consider themselves neophyte rockcrawlers. They drive a Nissan Armada or a pick-up on their hunting adventures. Tacking the Off-Roadeo experience on a planned hunting trip, they chose Moab because they needed to travel to Bluff anyway.  “This is nuts, we should not be doing this!” exclaimed John as they descended a steep area on the trail.  The word heard most often from the participants after the day was Remarkable!

Over and over, remarkable was the word of the day.