Drive time in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay for the WAPA Rally.
Once each year, members of the Washington Automotive Press Association gather at a special location in the DC area to test drive new vehicles. The annual WAPA Rally is an important event, which also allows members to network with each other and meet and greet manufacturer representatives.
Like last year, this year’s event was held at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club on Kent Island in Maryland, about an hour east of the center of the city. For only the second time I managed to attend this event, this time taking with me my friend and contributing photographer, Arsis Fruritch. Arsis and I split behind-the-wheel and behind-the-camera duties, affording both of us the chance to enjoy the event.
This year, 55 models were on hand, including such hard-to-get vehicles as the Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge and Acura’s NSX hybrid sports car. Alas, those two vehicles along with the Lexus LS 500 and Honda Civic R Type escaped us, as long lines effectively shut us out.
We did manage to get some wheel time with several vehicles for the first time. Some had yet to pass through my fleet rotation, while a few simply aren’t offered by distributors at all. In any case, we enjoyed what we drove with the following photos and captions attesting to that fact.
1. Mazda MX-5 Miata RF
2. 2018 BMW 530E PHEV
3. 2018 Kia Stinger
4. 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
5. 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
6. 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia
7. 2018 Mercedes-Benz C350E
8. 2018 Ford F-150
9. 2017 Jeep Compass
10. 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Arsis Fruritch
Matt Keegan
WAPA Rally: Thanks for the Memories!
It takes a lot of work to pull off the annual WAPA Rally, so hats off to WAPA President William West Hopper, Rally Director Philip Van der Vossen, WAPA board members and OEM contributors for this year’s event. The location was fantastic and the drive routes, food, drinks and prizes were all top notch.
WAPA Rally photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. Please check out my friend’s website at ArsisFruritch.com for highlights of his work.
[…] the Durango SRT is a hoot to drive. My driving partner (Arsis Fruritch) and I secured one at the 2017 WAPA Rally held on Kent Island, Maryland, earlier this month. It was one of the last vehicles we drove for the […]