This is one of our local riding areas. Looks like they got another major event. They just won one of the BF Goodrich 10 best trails awards.
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http://gcdailyworld.com/story/1233479.html
Redbird SRA to host North American auto writers for unveiling of 2008 Jeep Liberty
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
By Nick Schneider, Assistant Editor
DUGGER -- About 150 North American auto industry journalists and photographers will converge on Redbird State Riding Area, located between Linton and Dugger, next month for the unveiling and test driving of the 2008 Jeep Liberty and Dodge Caliber SR-T4 compact sport vehicle manufactured by Chrysler Group -- headquartered in Auburn Hills, MI.
Chrysler Group has leased the Indiana Department of Natural Resources owned facility that is operated by a private management group for this event that will be closed to the general public.
An advance Jeep team will arrive at the site sometime during the week of Aug. 13 and the actual unveiling and test driving of the new vehicles will take place on weekdays between Aug. 20 and Sept. 1, according to Chrysler Group communication spokesperson Diane Gutierrez.
Redbird will remain open on the weekends to the general public.
Gutierrez said the event is a time to showcase the newly-designed Jeep Liberty and she said Redbird offers an excellent location to highlight the vehicle.
The writers will actually drive the vehicle in the field over a special course that will be set up by Jeep engineers. After driving the vehicles extensively, the writers will then file a variety of review stories for international publications.
This group of writers will come from the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Gutierrez noted that the writer's group will be housed in Indianapolis and will drive Jeep Liberty's to Redbird and then engage in some serious off-roading events. They will also be driving the Dodge Caliber SR-T4 vehicles to Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville where they will be field tested under race track conditions.
"We think the Jeep Liberty is a great vehicle and Redbird is a great location to show it off," she said.
Gutierrez said the Redbird site was selected after someone at a Jeep event suggested it might make a good place to test drive and unveil a product line.
Chrysler officials followed up on the suggestion -- visited the site -- and made the arrangements after liking what they saw there, she explained.
Chrysler Group on Monday announced the production launch of the all-new 2008 Jeep Liberty, which is being built at the company's Toledo North Assembly Plant in Toledo, Ohio. The all-new Jeep Liberty is being built alongside the Dodge Nitro which began production in August 2006.
All-new from the ground up for 2008, the Jeep Liberty remains true to its legendary 4x4 heritage by offering two Jeep Trail Rate four-wheel-drive systems -- Command-Trac and the all-new Selec-Trac II. On-road ride and handling have been improved and refined with the new independent front suspension, new five-link rear suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, according to company officials.
The Liberty's exterior has been redesigned, and takes on a more rugged, classic Jeep look that is sure to captivate the attention of current Jeep Liberty owners and broaden its consumer appeal. Inside, cargo and storage space increases and seat comfort improves. Making its world debut is the new Sky Slider full-open canvas roof, an industry-exclusive; giving the Jeep Liberty that "Only in a Jeep" open-air experience. Remote start, rain-sensing wipers, memory seats and mirrors, and express up/down windows are added to the vehicle's ever-growing list of available features and options. There are two models -- Jeep Liberty Sport and Jeep Liberty Limited.
One of the local people who put the Redbird deal together with Chrysler was Tim Garrett, of Sullivan, who serves as president of the Redbird Management Association.
"This is very exciting for us," he said. "This facility has a lot to offer as far as trails and training."
"We are providing the facility basically," Garrett said. "We don't know who and how they will do it or the logistics of it."
He stressed that the Chrysler event will not interfere with the normal weekend operations at Redbird and will provide the entire area with an excellent economic development opportunity.
"This is a private booking during the week when we are normally closed," he said.
Garrett said part of the plan is for Chrysler to do several "cosmetic" improvements at the park -- such as landscaping to make it more eye-appealing to the visiting writers.
"A lot of those (improvements) are already underway. They are planting some additional trees and scrubs and giving it more of a look," he said.
Garrett said Redbird officials are grateful for the opportunity that is being provided to them by Chrysler.
"We are so thrilled to be able to host this. It has taken a lot of work by a lot of people to make this happen," he said.
Garrett said Chrysler officials first contacted him about 10 months ago and made an initial inquiry about the availability of the off-road riding facility for a closed, private booking.
About 30-days later he got another call from Chrysler personnel who wanted to come down and take a look at the facility.
The deal was then made.
"They have been wonderful people to work with. They are putting a lot of money into this and there will be a lot of money put into the community," Garrett said.
He added, "There are a variety of companies putting this thing together. They (Chrysler) have a lot of subcontractors and a lot of promotional companies helping with this."
Garrett said a host of local merchants are also involved in the project.
"Everybody is bending over backwards to help them," he added. "There are a lot of hours being put into this."
Garrett continued, "From a community standpoint and from an economic development standpoint, it's a great opportunity for us. We are really excited at this point. They (Chrysler) is so happy with what has been done so far. Most of these companies talk with other companies. Dugger, IN and Redbird State Riding Area will be in the loop from now on. It will bring in outside revenue into the community."
DNR Redbird Property Manager Nila Armstrong says the state is thrilled to be hosting the Jeep event.
"It's a big deal for all of us," she said. "We're excited about it. They (the writers) are from all around the world. This is good for the whole state."
The Redbird facility formerly served as a coal mine.
In 1943, the Friar Tuck mine opened in Greene County, and until it closed 1952, was reported to have produced three million tons of coal. Two years later in 1945, the Redbird Coal Company began mining on the west side of Friar Tuck in Sullivan County. After producing 2 million tons of coal, Redbird closed operations in 1950.
Reclamation efforts at the time consisted of planting some pine trees and moving on. Left behind were acid lakes and extreme hills. In the 1970's, off-highway, motorized vehicle users found the area to be a perfect place to test machinery and driving skills. As sales of Jeeps and motorcycles increased, so did unregulated activity at the area commonly known as "Redbird."
In 1972 the Indiana Department of Natural Resources completed a report on ORV trends and environmental impacts. Based on recommendations from the report, the Natural Resources Commission adopted a policy prohibiting ORV/OHV's on DNR properties.
After interest in the area resurfaced in 1987, 1990 and 1995, internal meetings at DNR recommended the Division of Outdoor Recreation assume the responsibility for handling a strategy for the Redbird site. In December 1996, the division reported to the Natural Resources Commission to address the issue anew.
A first, although abbreviated, riding season at Redbird began in 2003.
Redbird has flourished into 800 acres of off-roading enjoyment.
Directions to Redbird from Linton.
-Heading West out of Linton, Indiana on State Road 54 towards Dugger.
-2.5 miles west of the Highway 54 - 59 split turn right (North) onto 1500 West. (Approximately 5 miles west of Linton.)
-Traveling North on 1500 West, take your first gravel road to the left (West) or 350 North.
-The Main Entrance is about 1 mile West on County Road 350 North.
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