New Vehicle Launches, Video Promotions and Lectures

     From the early 1980s forward, the popularity of 4WD and SUV models has grown steadily. Lifestyle vehicles and all-weather driving solutions, these models became a top priority with all vehicle manufacturers. Moses Ludel began testing and evaluating 4x4 vehicles for magazines in the mid-1980s. By the 1990s, his skills, insights and professionalism led to a variety of consulting assignments for major vehicle manufacturers.  

Moses Ludel, Sue Mead and Nick Dimbleby made up Team USA/UK in the 1996 Land Rover Trek Media Competition. This triathlon involved competing with 4WD vehicles, all-terrain bicycles, canoes, foot trails and orienteering. The team achieved a trophy finish... Left, Moses rides an ATB through Georgia's thick, red mud as Sue and Nick cheer him on! Middle, Sue and Moses do the heavy lifting in the winching competition. Right, Moses pauses briefly between events, readying for the next challenge. (Photos courtesy of Land Rover and Sue Mead.)

Moses Ludel has authored six lengthy, heavily illustrated automotive books on 4WD/SUV vehicles plus a Harley-Davidson motorcycle book (each published by Bentley Publishers). Several of these books earned manufacturers' part numbers and best seller status. Moses Ludel has served as an industry consultant, presenter, presenter and host for media launches, marketing videos and consumer events. Moses has earned a worldwide reputation as a four-wheel drive/SUV expert and promoter of low environmental impact ("Tread Lightly!") off-pavement driving.

Here is a recent magazine project vehicle. At right, the lifted XJ Cherokee negotiates a stretch of Moab, Utah, trail before a Four-Wheeler TV filming crew. The XJ features a 6-inch long-arm lift with 33" diameter tires, ARB Air Lockers front and rear, Warn winch and heavy duty bumpers. As customary: All work performed by Moses Ludel. These vehicles are always "overland ready".

•Organized, guided and fulfilled the mission, taking two Geo Tracker two-door models over the notorious Rubicon Trail, which led to a national ad campaign for Chevrolet/Geo. This was the first use of these vehicles over this route and resulted in the lead vehicle's display at the SEMA Show. Moses Ludel enlisted the support of Calmini Products and Warn Industries in the outfitting of the lead vehicle— the second Tracker was stone stock with skid plate upgrades!

•Chevrolet truck and SUV media launches at remote venues, including the 1995 Blazer and 1996 Tahoe media events that earned Motor Trend Magazine picks of the year. Driving environments included Moab, Utah, the trails and high passes in the Durango-Silverton-Animas Forks-Ouray-Telluride regions of the Rockies and San Juan Mountains, plus other notable routes across the United States. Moses Ludel was the presenter at nationwide Chevrolet/G.M. MasterCard consumer presentations for the Blazer SUV, promoted by General Motors as the "Like a Rock" campaigns.

•Co-trainer with Bill Burke (4-Wheeling America) at national 'Tread Lightly!' 4WD Clinics, conducting local training workshops for outdoor agency personnel and SUV owners. The program went nationwide, instructing new and more experienced four-wheelers. Participants included 4WD consumers and personnel from the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

•Conducting workshops with Cody Lundin—Cody Lundin is the founder of the Aboriginal Living Skills School and co-stars on the Discovery Channel's "Dual Survival" television program. Cody is a noted backcountry survival expert and author. Years before "Dual Survival", Cody attended a Moses Ludel Workshop at the Branson, MO, Camp Jeep event. Moses and Cody compared skill sets and subsequently developed a survival workshop program, combining four-wheel driving and mechanical savvy with on-the-ground survival skills.   

•Host and presenter in the 'Jeep 101' Mopar™/Jeep®   Accessories video, including script writing and filming at the Chrysler Studios, Troy, Michigan. The video campaign played at nationwide 'Jeep®  101' promotions for dealers, consumers and Jeep®  vehicle owners.

► Industry consultant on new 4WD/SUV vehicles and environmentally friendly four-wheel driving— clients have included Jeep®, Land Rover, Chevrolet/Geo, GMC, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Subaru.

► Past Media Representative on the 'Tread Lightly' Board of Directors—conducted regional 4WD Clinics for consumers and agency personnel training, served as spokeperson at 4WD/SUV new vehicle launches and vehicle promotions on behalf of Chevrolet/Geo, GMC, Land Rover and the Mercedes-Benz ML320.

Moses Ludel first drove the Rubicon Trail in the summer of 1967, repeating the notorious run in Jeep®  4x4s, a Toyota FJ40 Landcruiser and, yes, two Geo Trackers! At left is the stone stock Geo with Moses at the wheel in a 'Sluice Box.' Moses drove the lead vehicle, shown winching a large rock out of the way (right), just part of the 46-hour marathon that proved the mettle of the Geo Tracker for Chevrolet engineers. This Rubicon feat, a first for the Geo Tracker, launched a national press campaign for the brand.

► Presenter and trail guide for new vehicle launches—tested 4WD trucks and SUVs and led two Geo Trackers over the notorious Rubicon Trail on behalf of Chevrolet/Geo engineering and corporate media communications. Led new vehicle launches at Moab, Utah, the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest, guest on  Truckin' U.S.A. television and  Four-Wheeler TV, consultant to Nissan Pathfinder engineering staff at Moab, Utah.

►  Corporate assignments— video script writing, press releases, host/presenter, trainer, backcountry 4WD trail guiding, pre-running for media events and publicity tasks. As a 4WD and SUV consultant, Moses Ludel has worked with major corporations, including Chrysler/Jeep®,  Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, Toyota and Subaru. Assignments have included new vehicle launches, ride-and-drive planning and trail selection, press event trail guiding, consumer presentations, dealer promotions, 4WD driving clinics, training workshops and 4WD publicity demonstrations.

Here, Moses Ludel conducts workshops on behalf of Mopar™/Jeep® Accessories at the annual Camp Jeep® events. These popular sessions enable consumers to ask questions and learn more about their vehicles, four-wheeling and how to best accessorize and equip a 4x4 for backcountry use. Moses Ludel also signs copies of his books (top right), each an official Mopar Performance "part" available at the Mopar™ 'Jeep® Store.

►Conducting annual workshops for consumer/owners at the Camp Jeep® events on behalf of Mopar™/Jeep® Accessories, presenting candid information on how to outfit a Jeep 4WD for backcountry use. These popular seminar workshops and 'Q & A' sessions provide consumers with insights and details on driving technique, accessorizing and equipping a 4x4 for various kinds of backcountry travel and terrain.

► Consultant to vehicle manufacturers and Mopar™/Jeep ®  Accessories—created and hosted a marketing video (filmed at the Chrysler Studios, Troy, Michigan) that served dealerships and the nationwide 'Jeep® 101' promotion for Mopar™/Jeep® Accessories; presenter and spokeperson at annual Camp Jeep®  workshops in the Mopar™ Tent.

• Hosted and presented at the initial launch of the Mercedes-Benz ML320 SUV, Vance, Alabama—Working with Caribiner, Moses Ludel shared  technical points of the ML320 with journalists and Mercedes-Benz staff (Mercedes-Benz of N.A. as well as Daimler/Benz staff from Germany). Subsequently served as a consultant, trail guide, route developer and spokesperson at the nationwide media launches of the new ML320.

• Selected vehicle venues and driving routes for the Subaru 'SUS' automobile launch,  a route stretching from Portland, Oregon, to Glacier National Park at Montana. Pre-ran and selected backcountry routes, led journalists in 'ride-and-drive' sections of the promotion and consulted to Subaru staff on the driving points of the vehicle.

• Co-host in the video production of Toyota's initial Sequoia launch plus the redesigned Tacoma and RAV4 re-skin—Alongside John Davis of  PBS MotorWeek, Moses Ludel presented on-camera for these point-of-sale videos distributed by Toyota to all dealerships in the United States. Production crew and program development by Jackson-Dawson Marketing Communications.

• Lecturer for clubs, groups, agencies, businesses, auto dealerships, educators and museums on postwar classic cars, muscle era cars, 4WD Jeep®  vehicles, light trucks and SUVs—Became the first lecturer in the Larz Anderson Museum of Transportation's history to present on the subject of Jeep®  vehicles. Lectured at the NACAT (North American Council of Automotive Teachers) 1996 Convention, University of Southern Colorado at Pueblo, on the subject of four-wheel driving techniques that minimize environmental impact. Accompanied NACAT attendees on a four-wheel drive tour/demonstration in the Rocky Mountains.

► Trainer, lecturer presenter and motivational speaker—Moses Ludel has presented to corporate staff in the automotive industry, lectured at the Lars Anderson Museum of Transportation, Brookline, MA, and conducted educator workshops at events like the NACAT Convention. His areas of expertise are automotive technology, four-wheel drive vehicles, minimal environmental impact four-wheel driving techniques plus the mechanical restoration of classic and muscle cars, 4WD utility vehicles and vintage trucks. Industry professionals rely on Moses Ludel's experience and evaluative skills. If your organization, group or business needs training or an interactive presentation, Moses Ludel is an engaging and motivational training resource.

To contact Moses Ludel with your project needs, visit the 4WD Mechanix®  Magazine  Website.  Click here!