#MAMA24SR: Being There Again – Part 1
Media associations, such as MAMA, will put on events that engage its members and the automotive industry towards connecting with vehicles for some testing.
Eleven years ago, I arrived at Road America for the first time. It was to participate as a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association in their signature annual event – the Spring Rally.
Media associations, such as MAMA, will put on events that engage its members and the automotive industry towards connecting with vehicles for short term testing. We have access to Road America’s four-plus mile road course, along with the surrounding countryside, an off-road course, and the karting course for some autocrossing.
It all sounds fun, but we come to work. To immerse ourselves with the latest and greater vehicles available in the marketplace – or, coming soon to showrooms across our region.
With the notable exception of a few years, I attended these signature events since my first one in 2013. Mainly to experience vehicles I will never get a chance to work with on a regular schedule. Also, to see what’s coming down the pipeline for our eventual workflow.
Not to mention, to meet up with colleagues and industry contacts I rarely see these days. Perhaps to meet new members who are pursuing the same professional trajectory as George and I are on.
Speaking of George, he is on his third consecutive MAMA Spring Rally. He came solo two years ago, while I was learning how to put 212 pages together for my “day job’s” signature issue. Rather, to put on the finishing touches before it goes to the printer.
At this point, I have officially lost count as to how many MAMA Spring Rallies I’ve attended. Considering my current professional status, I can only blame my loss of memory to the stresses I’ve dealt with leading into – and looming beyond – our arrival into Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, the Osthoff Resort, and Road America.
One thing I do recall was how each MAMA Spring Rally would begin. At the Lake Street Café, we had our annual all-you-can-eat fish fry. George and I took our spots and enjoyed the meal presented to us. One round was good enough.
Afterwards, George informed that we are now under a tornado watch in the area. This was confirmed by alerts on our phones and a subsequent knock on the door. That lead us to the parking garage where we waited until the “all clear.” The storm wave came through after we returned back to our rooms. Lights flickered, thunder heard, lightning was visible, and the winds kicked up.
This is not the first time dealing with a tornado. Back in 2011, a tornado touched down southwest of my then-place of residence in Robbinsdale. It came within blocks of my house. I was coming back from a ballgame in Saint Paul when it touched down. All I saw was the aftermath with trees down, debris scattered everywhere, and the electricity went down. I believe the house’s basement got flooded after that storm.
These flashbacks did not deter me from moving forward from this storm. Nor did it deter us from moving forward with the Rally.
The residual winds kept on blasting through Elkhart Lake and Road America on the first full day of the Rally. It looked like we’ll add some impromptu aerodynamic testing that is heavy on vehicle stability control.
Over breakfast, we were formally introduced to the 2025 Toyota Camry and Crown Signia. These will be important vehicles to the lineup, as both are powered strictly by hybrid drivelines. We expect the Camry to continue its leadership in its size class, while the Crown Signia will inspire consumers to give this some consideration.
Later in the day, I drove the Camry XSE on the “street route.” I will confirm that this is indeed a better Camry. They took what worked best, expanded on it, and delivered on a up-to-date design inside and out. You can count on Toyota continuing to lead the mid-size sedan segment with this new version.
Somehow, I got myself into a Polaris Slingshot. One with the automatic transmission. Just like a motorcycle, you have to drive with a helmet on. So does your passenger. It is a very interesting experience knowing you have an in-house engineered Polaris ProStar four-cylinder – that revs above 8,000 rpm – up front and a single rear wheel out back. The Slingshot rode stable and you get a full open-air experience.
From there, I switched to the off-road course. The night before brough a lot of rain and wind to Road America. The result was a lot of mud equaling to a quagmire at spots. One of my contacts jumped in on the passenger seat of a 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road double cab. This “Taco” had the iFORCE turbocharged engine and the automatic. I was happy to see that Crawl Control and Downhill Assist Control were equipped on this truck.
Set on 4-Low, I tried to ease the Tacoma through the mud, the muck, the rocks, the hills, and some narrow passages through the forest. The Toyota contact was pleased on how I did, despite the sounds of the bash guards bottoming and the rocks making things uneasy. The Tacoma is a good truck. The driver needs some improvement.
After lunch, I was reeling from some professional drama on a couple of fronts. Once I resolved one issue, I jumped in a few other vehicles towards end the first day at Road America. One was the 2024 Ford F-150 SuperCrew Platinum with the PowerBoost hybrid driveline.
The truck itself was fine. Plenty of updates all around for the mid-cycle refresh. I have to admit my trepidation about the PowerBoost driveline. I wished the regenerative braking was better – perhaps seamless. The internal combustion/electric powertrain combination was fine, but I really need to see it in real world situations to gauge fuel consumption and performance.
Later on, I jumped in the 2024 BMW i5 eDrive 40 for a quick spin. It instantly reminded me of the brief drive I took in a different specification inside McCormick Place prior to the Chicago Auto Show.
It was exactly how I remembered it. The i5 itself is smooth riding, luxurious battery-electric vehicle that offers an honest BMW experience. It did not matter which power level it had, as this i5 made for solid driving that is relaxed to the core.
One special moment on the first day was a ride-along with Zack Pradel of the YouTube channel “Shooting Cars” and his 1931 Ford Model A four-door sedan. Sitting in the back seat with room for my rollator, it was a hoot! Death wobble aside (which Pradel corrected after a short moment), the experience was memorable. You felt how cars evolved through the first few decades of the 20th Century.
More professional drama awaited after my last drive at Road America before heading back to the Osthoff for the dinner. It took some time to navigate and recover, yet I felt this round of drama almost ruined my time at #MAMA24SR. Further, it induced some anger and frustration towards practically ending my career in the media business.
For the past couple of years in my career, I have danced between the delicate balance of two distinct worlds as part of my workflow. One, where the passion for the work exists because of my own professional engagement with the subject matter. The other that yields mixed results both personally and professionally because of the nature of the demographic and the subject matters pertaining to it.
Which professional world would I rather be in?
Instead of answering that question here and now, there is more to talk about at #MAMA24SR. Another half day’s worth…
DISCLAIMER: All travel was by Victory & Reseda. All logistics were provided by the Midwest Automotive Media Association, the Chicago Automotive Trade Association and their sponsors
All photos by Randy Stern