I make no claims to be a technical guru, nor do I make any claims that I am an experienced reviewer of motorhomes. However, I've owned and driven my fair share in my lifetime and certainly can speak from an experienced consumer viewpoint and that's really the message contained in this article.

I had the opportunity to drive the Spartan Me2 chassis that was equipped with the new Intelligent Suspension System at the Louisville show. Although the ingenious engineering work of art will not be available until the 2003 model year, Director of Sales and Marketing Jim Calderbank said Spartan wanted to introduce the technology to their OEM clients at the Louisville Show.

For years the industry has talked about the "driving experience" for the next generation consumer who was never had to drive that old beat up Ford or Chevy. Their graduation gift from high school wasn't a used car, it was a new car. Not only was it a new car, it was often a BMW, Lexus or even a Mercedes-Benz.

I use to joke with my daughters that there were more Mercedes-Benz's in the student parking lot than the teacher's parking lot at our local high school. This is the audience that RV manufacturers must court into the RV lifestyle. Consumers that demand ride and handling they get in their SUVs.

They are not going to want to drive a "box" down the street. They are not going to want to feel "timid" behind the wheel of a diesel pusher that can not get out of its own way on the highway.

And they are not going to want to drive something that does not provide them an enjoyable driving experience ... something they have enjoyed their entire life.

Spartan has probably come as close to that experience as any chassis manufacturer with the introduction of the Intelligent Suspension System.

This is an air suspension integrated with a hydraulic tube system that is based on active sensor input that automatically adjusts to road surface conditions. The unique engineering built into the system actually levels the coach in sidewinds, road crown, and sharp turns ­ providing the driver with total control of the motorhome In a non-threatening environment.

The ISS uses similar technology to that found on the bullet trains in Europe and Japan. This active system offers a smoother ride, and much greater handling than with the current suspension systems being offered today.

I witnessed the power and capabilities of the ISS from the co-pilot's seat as the test pilot, Tim Gearhart, took the coach through a series of maneuvers in the parking lots and roads surrounding the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center on the last day of the show. If you were there, you'll also remember that it was raining that day, and there were plenty of puddles along the way.

This was no Sunday drive down the back roads of Kentucky, this was fast, aggressive, and exciting driving designed to simulate what one might do in their Corvette or BMW Z3 Roadster, and it did.

Along the way Tim would explain the maneuver prior to implementing it. I think he did this so that I would not be shocked that someone would actually try to drive a motorhome this way. This was a four-slideout motorhome built on the Spartan Me2 mid-engine chassis, and it was almost 40' long, not something you take home and park in the garage so that it doesn't get dirty after you wash it and put it away!

After carefully observing how Tim drove the coach, it was my turn. With a slight twinge of intrepedation, I switched seats with my test pilot and took on his personality and talent in an attempt to duplicate the maneuvers he mastered so easily with this coach.

Three situations quickly showed the capabilities of the ISS system in real world driving conditions.

First I took the coach up to 65 MPH to simulate a normal drive down the highway. Assuming a vehicle stopping or slamming on their brakes, I immediately turned hard right into the next lane and then turned just as quickly to the left to get back into my normal lane. The coach never dipped or rolled ... the unit stayed stable and even throughout the drill. Just like a sports car.

Next I took it up to 70 MPH and slammed on the brakes. No dip, no sway, no loss of control and a dead stop on wet pavement.

For a true test of the system's give and take, I took the vehicle into a 360 degree left hand turn. Taking the wheel to its extreme left turn position, we rolled around in a circle while accelerating up to 15 MPH. There was no dip to the left or pull to the right. The coach remained level at all times. Then I simply let go of the wheel and the coach jerked to the right and straightened itself out ... without dipping or losing control.

This is a driving machine.

This is exhilaration behind the wheel of a large motorhome that simulates a world-class sportscar driving experience. Mr. Calderbank said, "Spartan wanted to have the ride of a Prevost Bus combined with the handling of a sports car, and Spartan has achieved that!"

As OEM manufacturers learn more about this Intelligent Suspension System, it won't be long before they plan to integrate it into their production schedule.

As dealers learn that this type of driving experience can change the way their customers think about driving a motorhome, they will want it on their lots.

As consumers learn more about this system, they will demand it.

Although ISS is supposed to stand for Intelligent Suspension System, it could easily stand for Incredible Sportscar Simulation.