The Drive Away program for the 2013 Dodge Dart continues
this week as dealerships from more than a dozen states receive their first Dart
demonstration model at events yesterday, today and tomorrow.
These six new 2013 Dodge Dart drive away programs – which
are similar to the ones that took place in Texas, Washington DC and Michigan
last week – will take place in a variety of locations this week including Minneapolis
Minnesota, Chicago Illinois, Monticello New York, Las Vegas Nevada, Kansas City
Kansas and Denver Colorado this week. All said and done, over 1,000 dealerships based near those areas will
make the trip to pick up the first 2013 Dodge Dart.
If these 2013 Dodge Dart sedans are the same as those handed
out over the past two weeks, I would expect that they are red Rallye models
equipped with the 1.4L turbocharged motor from the Fiat 500 Abarth and a
6-speed manual transmission. These
initial Dart sedans are being handed out to dealerships from various markets
around the country with each dealership receiving a single demonstration car ahead
of the full scale rollout of the new Dart sedan around the US.Some dealerships are opting to sell these
demo models to first comers while other (seemingly larger) dealerships are
holding onto their red Rallye demo model so that more consumers can check it
out until the full spectrum of new Darts arrives next month.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
The Drive Away program for the 2013 Dodge Dart continues