A first-time Ford Bronco owner and a veteran auto journalist tackle the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo, a day-long intensive on Bronco off-roading.
We got started early and set off on an epic adventure.
“Sorry to wake you up so early,” I called out to my 21-year-old niece, Olivia Wehner. It was 3:15 a.m. at my New England home and we had a long day of travel ahead of us to get to Austin, Texas, where Olivia would start her Bronco Off-Roadeo experience. For her first new vehicle, Olivia recently purchased a Bronco (in Big Bend trim), and that meant she had a golden ticket to the Off-Roadeo. I’d been to the Off-Roadeo’s grand opening in the Hill Country of Texas and thought nothing would be better than joining her for another go; Olivia is tough (she’s a nursing student who works nights on top of school) but she had no idea what she was getting into!
Off-Roadeo Origin Story
The Hill Country location was the first of five locations that Ford opened to offer instruction (and some recreation) for new Bronco owners looking to learn the ins and outs of off-roading the right way. Since then, more than 60,000 people have attended the program, which offers eight hours of instruction, lunch, dinner, and a campfire at the end of the day. All new Bronco owners are eligible for a free full-day program using a vehicle from the driving school; they can bring up to three guests for a small fee. There are also half-day programs for Bronco owners who want to drive their own vehicle, and for the Bronco-curious who haven’t yet taken the plunge.
“Our curriculum teaches participants the hardware of the vehicle, such as engine, transmission, transfer case and drive gears, “ Jessica Moore, one of the Off-Roadeo instructors, said about the program. “Next, we use an obstacle course to provide demonstrations and tryouts for the participants, who … get behind the wheel as well as observe others. Following that, we go out on the trail system where we have 360 acres on the ranch with a variety of tracks over different terrain that provide different experiences and opportunities to test the technologies of the Bronco.”
The Long Road To Off-Roading
But first we had two flights to get there, and our first was departing at 6 a.m. I mentioned Olivia works nights, so needless to say, her sleep schedule was off. On top of that, I’d alerted her to some special requests, which included being present for some press interviews on our trip, and starring in some video we’d be shooting. Normally gregarious, she was a bit quiet on the way to the airport, but her mood was buoyed when I gave her my first-class seats on both flights. I wanted to make this fun and share some special travel perks.
I was thrilled when Olivia purchased her Bronco. As an automotive test driver, and a bit of an expert in off-roading, I approved of her choice of a big and brawny 4WD that would aid her commute from her rural home to school and work. She typically drives a few hundred miles a week, and her daily drive includes travel over dirt roads and motoring through inclement weather during the winter season. The Off-Roadeo was the perfect chance to learn how to handle that, and much worse, in her new vehicle.
Resort Life
Upon our arrival in Austin, we were delighted to find a Bill Stroppe Special Edition Bronco as our personal Uber to get to the Horseshoe Bay Resort. The resort, which partners with the driving school, is where we would spend two nights as participants of the Off Roadeo. We sat for an hour-long interview with a guest manager and learned about the five golf courses, private jet airstrip, multiple pools, boat rides, fishing and other amenities.
I could see Olivia was fading, but her excitement returned once we got to hit the pool before we headed to the marina for a sunset cruise, followed by dinner. After all that we could finally sit still for a moment before heading to bed getting up early to do it again. This is the life of an automotive journalist! I was used to it but it was new to Olivia.
The Day Arrives
Morning came soon. We had to be at the nearby Grey Wolf Ranch, home campus of the driving school, at 8 a.m. for the start of the day’s program.
It was almost time for the real fun to begin… but not quite yet! First we met the group of other Bronco owners and, after introductions and chalk-talk in the school’s indoor campus in an adventure-themed building, we headed to the outdoor demonstration site to learn all about the Bronco.
We started with a presentation about the vehicle’s hardware and its special off-road talents and technology. A few demonstrations were all that stood between us and getting behind the wheel of a Bronco. “They learn how to use the technologies that are on-board the Broncos, such as locking differentials, traction control, trail-turn assist, GOAT mode, One-Pedal Drive, and use the low and high gears,” explained Moore, who was our guide for the day.
Rubber Meets (Off) Road
Olivia tackled the first obstacle course, which featured a small set of trails over rocks, uneven terrain, a water crossing, among other hazards. Next, we made our first foray onto the woodland trails as a small follow-the-leader group. So far, so good — I fired up the camera to get some video.
I soon realized she was a bit overwhelmed and needed to take time to absorb what she was learning! I may have seen her wipe a bit of moisture from her eyes…
My primary goal was to make her a safer, more confident driver in her own vehicle at home, as I know that the challenges of off-road driving help with skills that translate to better on-road driving. It was time for me to let her go at her own pace and remember that she grew up riding an ATV in the woods near her home.
Onward and Upward
A break for lunch provided everyone with the opportunity to catch their breath, chat about the morning’s fun, calorie load, and relax for a short time. Back out on the trail, our intrepid trail guide Jessica stepped up the pace and the learning curve. I noticed Olivia was more comfortable returning to the Bronco’s saddle, and had bonded with her vehicle and others in our group.
The afternoon was spent on a collection of trails that synthesized the learning from the morning. A mid-afternoon break at a pavilion that overlooked the beauty of the Texas Hill Country provided an opportunity to learn about recovery gear that’s used in off-roading for applications when a vehicle is stuck or in a dangerous situation. Moving on, we ascended steep up-and-down hill tracks, as well as climbed up and over tall, slick rock faces. This also included the skill set of guiding and helping each other from outside of the vehicle. It was a great bonding technique and, by the time we headed to the last section of the track, it was a tight-knit and encouraging group who had only met a few hours before.
A Speedy Closer
The grand finale of the day was a chance to finally turn the Broncos loose on a small flat track edged by cactus, brush and saplings. It’s tight and twisty, the perfect place for the the drivers to open it up — the first time we were encouraged to drive with any speed all day. All the other motoring had been deliberately slow.
“We teach slow mistakes are small mistakes and try to avoid any fast mistakes that can become big and expensive,” Moore reminded us.
Now, though, we were encouraged to drive a little faster and enjoy ourselves. Olivia began to laugh out loud and even yelled out that this was more fun than she could’ve ever imagined. I nudged her on to increase her speed at every corner and she handled her driving with great skill. Her fatigue from travel was gone, replaced by confidence and joy, and I cheered her success and resilience.
The Takeaway
And when it was all over, what did she think?
“I learned how to use all the features on the Bronco to do things myself,” she told me. ““I learned how to do things that I didn’t know were possible to do in a vehicle! I do feel more confident now”
Editor’s note: Ford Motor Company provided airfare and covered the entry fee for Sue Mead’s attendance..
Have the Ford Bronco Off-Roadeo experience yourself at http://broncooffroadeo.com (don’t forget, a special program is available for those who haven’t taken the plunge; it also offers Advanced Recovery programs and opportunities for corporate events and training). Ford supports Bronco Wild and Tread Lightly! Also make sure to check out the enthusiast site, Bronco Nation.
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