TestFest

Many of you probably think that we have great jobs. Well, you'd be right. It is however, lots of work. In the last 48 hours, all Test Fest enrolled AJAC members have had to evaluate a minimum of 18 vehicles and some nuts have actually driven over 25 in the same amount of time.


Each journalist has maximum of 45 minutes (minimum 30) per vehicle in order to take it through the track or off-road course and the regular driving loop. This period of time is generally sufficient to get an appreciable idea of what the car is. In most cases, we have already driven the vehicle either on a press launch or on a regular road test.

Perhaps the most important factor to ensure the highest standards for rigorous, objective testing is the essential back-to-back comparison testing. The assessments must take place under identical conditions. This means driving a similar group of vehicles using the same roads, on the same day in order to fine tune the distinctions between them.

Let me tell you that after two days of intensive, super-concentrated driving, note-taking and scoring, we are exhausted. But, it's all worth it!

Here's what comes next:

Friday, October 30, 2009: Category winners announced at 10:00 am followed by the testing of category winners.

Thursday, January 14, 2010: Best New Green Technology award announced at Montreal Auto Show.

Thursday, February 11, 2010: Overall 2010 CCOTY, CUVOTY, Best Design, and Best Technology announced at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.

Stay tuned to Auto123.com as the moment the category winners are announced, we will publish them.