Town, Dealers Team up for Test Track

dealers who were also interested in the track. The next step was finding the land.

That became available when Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad sold its 60-acre auto storage facility to a consortium that included the city and local car dealers.

A focus group then collectively worked to determine which features and amenities should be included in the design. A design team took the ideas and incorporated them, along with addressing safety and maintenance issues.
A project this size came with a large price tag.

The land was close to 2 million, engineering was around 150,000 and construction was just more than 1.5 million - all of which the city covered.

A group of 12 dealerships signed on to use the track and split the annual 50,000 operating costs. Ten currently belong to the group.

All of it is definitely worth it, especially to dealers like Danny Wolf of Dan Wolf Automotive Group.

Wolf's Lexus and Toyota stores are the main users of the test track, accounting for roughly 65 percent of each month's use. Wolf serves as president of the Naperville Test Track Association, as well.

"I have been in the automobile business for nearly 25 years now," he said. "This is the first I've heard of something like this where the city and the dealers formed a partnership to build and maintain such a facility."

The track's popularity among customers can't be denied.

"It gives us a unique opportunity and environment to demonstrate our vehicles and their features," said Joel Weinberger, dealer principal at the Continental Motors Group.

"It enables us to provide an extra Wow' experience during the test drive phase that cannot be duplicated by our same-brand competitors in the Chicago market."

Weinberger uses the track and he serves on the executive committee of the track association.

The track benefits the city, too.

"It reduces congestion on our roads and provides a safe driving environment for potential car buyers," said Hallgren.

"It is a great economic development tool that supports our local car dealerships."

The track is used for community events along with test drives. A local politician used it recently for a green car show, which highlighted the Naperville Green Fuels Depot project.

Weinberger said cities that follow in Naperville's footsteps need to be sure to utilize a track if they invest in one.

"It can be a valuable asset and differentiator to help attract business to the area, but only if supported by the dealer body through consistent usage and making sure the test track experience is an integral part of the sales process," he said.

Wolf said he can't see selling without the track.

"It works out well for us on so many levels," he said. "I think we would be somewhat lost if it was taken away from us at this point."

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