What: Ralph Kluseman, Johnnie Walker, and Friends Beatles Tribute, sponsored by Runde Auto Group When: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20 Where: Dubuque Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, 3800 Arboretum Drive, Dubuque Cost: No admission, free will offerings Runde Auto Group is proud to once again sponsor the Ralph Kluseman/Johnnie Walker and Friends Beatles tribute at Music in the Gardens! The performance, set for 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20, is a celebration of The Beatles with a bit of storytelling mixed in, as well as other well known songs. It includes local musicians Johnnie Walker, Mike Lieb, Denny Troy, Brian Marceau, Rick Hoffmann, and Ralph Kluseman. “They are back by popular demand,” said Sandi Helgerson, the executive director of the arboretum. “I encourage people to come over a little early so they have parking [...]

Like supercharged sports cars? How about a supercharged SUV? Jeep has announced the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, calling it the most powerful and quickest SUV ever. The vehicle has a supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine, with 707 horsepower and 645 lb ft of torque! It goes 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph. It has a 60-0 braking performance of 114 feet. “The new Grand Cherokee Trackhawk delivers astounding performance numbers, backed by renowned SRT engineering that combines world-class on-road driving dynamics with luxury, refinement and an array of innovative advanced technology,” said Mike Manley, head of Jeep Brand – FCA Global, in a press release. It comes with more than 70 safety and security features, and plenty of advanced technologies like Uconnect 8.4-standard touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The aggressive exterior includes quad-tip exhaust and standard 20×10-inch Titanium-finish wheels. The vehicles are set to arrive at Runde [...]

Schedule Friday, Aug. 11: Show downtown at South Franklin St. from 5-10 p.m. Games, food, and trophies. Saturday, Aug. 12: Car show line-up starts at 2:30 p.m. at EZ Pickin’s. Cruise starts at 5 p.m. and ends at the Bacon ‘N Hops Festival in downtown Manchester. Live music by Time Machine. Sunday, Aug. 13: Car Show at the Delaware County Fairgrounds from noon to 3 p.m. (registration 8 a.m. to noon). Awards presented at 3 p.m. Entry fee $15, spectator fee $2. Runde Auto Group is a proud sponsor of the Country Cruisers Car Cruise and Show in Manchester, IA! The annual event, set for Aug. 11-13 this year, features vehicles of all makes and models, games, food, live music, and more.

There are some interesting characters behind the wheel of the Chrysler Pacifica lately. As part of a sponsorship of the PBS show “Sesame Street,” Chrysler is creating a multimedia campaign that pairs Sesame Street muppets and the all-new Chrysler Pacifica minivan. The first four videos feature muppets riding in a Chrysler Pacifica while playing a new game show called “Listen, Drive, Surprise!” The game show tests the characters’ ability to follow directions. Children help explain the vehicle’s features along the way. “’Sesame Street’ has a powerful connection with families and this partnership allows the Chrysler brand [...]

Runde Auto Group is a proud sponsor of the inaugural Warriors Summer Adventure Camp! The camp, which is held on Monday-Thursday mornings from July 10 to Aug. 3, will focus on reading and math using non-traditional teaching formats. This year, 32 children in grades 1-6 signed up. So far, they have completed “getting to know you” activities, started their Summer Adventure Journals, created bracelets, participated in a math scavenger hunt, read books, and performed shows. “Every day before we start camp and before we leave, we find ‘hidden numbers’ using a laser thermometer,” said Kristi Alvarado, one of three teachers at the Warriors Summer Adventure Camp. “Campers take turns using the thermometer to record the temperature of the concrete and blacktop. We [...]

Runde Auto Group is proud to support various aspects of many tri-state local county fair activities!  Here are some area fairs to check out: Delaware County Fair, July 10-16 in Manchester, IA Check out bands like Eve 6, Sawyer Brown, and The Beach Boys, plus rides, a parade, motocross, a demo derby, fireworks, and a draft horse show. Don’t miss the vehicles on display and on the track from Runde Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram! Learn more   Lafayette County Fair, July 12-16, Darlington, IL Events include stock car racing, a talent show, a kiddie [...]

Daniel Wahlert always enjoyed driving his late father’s 1966 Shelby GT350. And now he has his own … that he recently purchased from Runde Ford in Manchester, IA.   Yes, Daniel recently bought one of his dream cars — a 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 – the same car as his dad’s ’66, just 50 years newer. Dan used to work as a service consultant at Runde Chevrolet in East Dubuque.  He now works for Joe Hesselman over at Autolink in Dubuque.  Daniel’s love of vehicles was inherited from his dad. Jim Wahlert was an avid local classic car collector.   “Out of all the cars he had, the ’66 Shelby GT350 is my favorite to drive,” Daniel said.

Runde Auto Group is proud to be a title sponsor of this year’s America’s River Festival, sponsoring Thank You Thursday — a FREE night of admission for all! See Brandon Lay and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for free on Thursday, June 8 in the Port of Dubuque!  The Runde Service Department staff has been talking about going.  They all seem to be looking forward to it as it’s sure to be fun time for all. The doors open at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 8. Brandon Lay will perform 7-8 p.m., followed by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 8:30-10 p.m. Lay, a Tennessee native, has toured with country acts like Old Dominion, Eli Young Band,

The 14th annual Dubuque-Wisconsin High School Rodeo competition will be May 20-21 at the Dubuque County Fair Grounds/Tri-State Equine Park. Runde Auto Group is a proud sponsor of the free pony rides prior to the main event! “One thing that is really wonderful about this event is that it brings something different to the community that families and people of any age can enjoy,” said Heidi Gansen, a member of the event committee. “There are so many different events within the rodeo, activities for the kids before and during, and a delicious food stand on site! Best of all, we are keeping alive an over 100-year American tradition with the sport of rodeo; which is based on sportsmanship, dedication, teamwork, family and respect.” You can get $5 advance tickets at Longhorn Saddlery in Dubuque and at Theisen’s stores in Dubuque, Dyersville, and Maquoketa. Admission at the gate is $8 for adults, $5 for ages 7 to [...]

We are proud to welcome Rick Valcin as our newest Chevrolet salesperson at Runde Chevrolet in East Dubuque, IL.  Rick currently lives in Dubuque with his family and is very much looking forward to working for Runde’s.  He has been in automotive parts sales for 1 1/2 years which has provided him with knowledge that will benefit him greatly as a new Chevrolet salesperson. He also has a degree in Sports Marketing and Management from the University of Dubuque. “I chose automotive sales because I grew up around cars and love learning about them,” Rick said. His favorite vehicle is the 1969 Chevy Chevelle because of the old body style. Rick is from the Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia and moved [...]

It’s almost here! Each day of the Julien Dubuque Film Festival offers a variety of film, music, and entertainment. The sixth annual festival, set for April 20-23 in downtown Dubuque, will show films from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (with a few other screenings slated until 10 p.m.), and feature nightly events.  We’ve heard members of the Runde Sales Staff talking about which films they want to see.  Everyone who works here at Runde’s seems excited about this year’s offerings. “We have a variety of events this year which means people of all ages and interests can find something to do,” said Susan Gorrell, executive director of the festival. “The events, plus the filmmakers here from all over the world, make this a unique event you don’t want to miss.” Thursday, April 20

JDIFF is here again!  This is the third installment of a weekly #FilmFestivalFriday series focusing on the sixth annual Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, which is April 20-23 in downtown Dubuque. Runde Auto Group is proud to be the driving force behind JDIFF… from the start!  The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival will welcome filmmakers and special guests from all over the world. Here are some of this year’s notable guests: Maggie Grace (Taken, Lost, Twilight: Breaking Dawn 1 & 2) will attend her screening of the nominated film “The Scent of Rain and Lightning.” She will be accompanied by director Blake Robbins (The Office, Oz, The Sublime and Beautiful). The 1-hour, 40-min mystery drama tells the story of a young woman who learns her parents’ killer has been released from prison. She is forced to revisit old wounds and discovers the destructive power of hate and the true cost of family secrets. The film is based [...]

Hold on to your seats: Dodge has revealed what it says is the fastest production car in the world, the 2018 Challenger SRT Demon. This street-legal muscle car has 808 horsepower (!!!!) and 717 lb-ft of torque on 91 octane gas. The track version has 840 hp and 770 lb-ft of torque on 100-plus high-octane race fuel. It gets from 0 to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds, thanks to its supercharged 6.2L HEMI Demon V8 engine. To get from 0 to 30 mph, it takes 1 second. The Challenger SRT Demon has enough power that it can do a wheelie when it takes off. The Guinness World Records certified it as the first front-wheel lift in a production car — the front tires were 2.92 fee

Runde Chevrolet near Dubuque may soon be featuring a new special edition for the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban — the RST (Rally Sport Truck) that will give the vehicles a street performance look and a whole lot of power. Nearly all of the chrome trim on the full-size SUVs is eliminated, and the vehicles feature body-colored grille surround and door handles, gloss-black grille and mirror caps, as well as black roof rails, window trim, badging and bow ties. “The RST Chevy Tahoe is designed for customers who want a street performance look without sacrificing capability or refinement, along with the option of increased performance as well,” said Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet Truck Marketing director, in a press release. The Tahoe RST will be available with a new Performance Package that includes 420-hp, 6.2L V8 engine, Magnetic Ride Control with performance calibration, and an all-new Hydra-Matic 10L80 10-speed automatic transmission. “When you want to hustle, it is [...]

This is the second installment of a weekly #FilmFestivalFriday series focusing on the sixth annual Julien Dubuque Film Festival, which is April 20-23 in downtown Dubuque. Runde Auto Group is proud to have been a driving force behind JDIFF… from the start!  DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Julien Dubuque International Film Festival will kick off on Thursday, April 20 with a little help from the Canadian Consulate. “Celebrate Canada” will be the theme of Opening Night of the sixth annual festival. The feature film “The Land of Rock and Gold” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. at Five Flags Theater. The 1 hour, 31-minute drama follows a young Cree mother and son in a remote woodland community. They find themselves [...]

This is the first installment of a weekly #FilmFestivalFriday series focusing on the sixth annual Julien Dubuque International Film Festival, which is April 20-23 in downtown Dubuque. Runde Auto Group is proud to have been a driving force behind the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival from the start!  Want to know the inside details of this upcoming International Film Festival ? Attend the JDIFF Kick Off event at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, in the ballroom of Hotel Julien! Attendees will get to view trailers of some of this year’s Official Selections and nominees, hear about special guests and panels, and participate in a 50/50 raffle! “We are so thrilled to share what we are planning for this year’s festival,” said Susan Gorrell, executive director of the film [...]

  Kai Spande, the Corvette plant manager in Bowling Green, Kentucky spoke Friday at the University of Northern Iowa! James Mahoney, a salesperson at Runde Chevrolet in East Dubuque, attended the event with members of the Key City Corvette Club. “It was really cool,” James said. “He gave us some insight on the factory and while he couldn’t give us too many details, he said they will be switching up things on how they build the 2018 vehicles. They will be shutting down the factory for a little bit to re-vamp it.” The event attracted about 50 people, many of whom arrived in Corvettes. Corvette clubs from Cedar Falls, Dubuque, and Cedar Rapids were invited, but the rainy weather kept some of the sports cars in garages. “The drive over there would have been better if the rain would have stayed away,” James said. “But you can’t complain when you are driving a Corvette!” Kai [...]

Who: Maquoketa Valley Senior High School FFA Drive 4 UR Community What: Ford will donate $20 to the school’s FFA for each test drive When: 3-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 23 Where: Maquoketa Valley Senior High School, 107 South St., Delhi, IA Join Runde Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in supporting the Maquoketa Valley Senior High School FFA! Ford will donate $20 for every test drive at the Drive 4 UR Community event, 3-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 23, at Maquoketa Valley Senior High School, 107 South St., Delhi, IA. Join us to drive a new vehicle while also supporting the FFA! The funds continue accruing up to $6,000. Drivers must be at least 18 years old and have a driver’s license. Ford’s 4 UR programs have raised $35 million to date! [...]

The first all-new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox has rolled onto the Runde Chevrolet lot! The redesigned vehicle features a new look, with sleeker headlights and chrome trim on all models, as well as improved efficiency and technology.  Dubuque Chevrolet customers are really going to like this new body style. “Customers who previewed the vehicle early on had a strong emotional response to the sleek and sophisticated exterior design,” said John Cafaro, executive director of General Motors Design, in a press release. “Those same themes are carried through to the interior, making the space beautifully intuitive.” The 2018 Equinox gives you plenty of choices for performance, efficiency, and capability, with a choice between three engines: 1.5L turbo, 2.0L turbo — matched with GM’s new nine-speed automatic transmission — or a 1.6L turbo-diesel. [...]

Runde PreDriven in Hazel Green hosted a goodbye gathering for Reconditioning Manager Gary Reiter today. Today was Gary’s last day of work after working at Runde PreDriven for 10 years! His daughter arranged for him to be dropped off in a limo this morning so he could arrive for his last day in style. “When it showed up, I thought, ‘They are going to think I am crazy!'” Gary said.  But if there’s anyone who truly deserved to be treated like this, it’s Gary.  For as long as we’ve known him, he’s been the epitome of “hard [...]

The 2017 Chicago Auto Show concluded earlier this week. If you didn’t get a chance to make it this year, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Scroll down and take stroll through the show with our recap.     -Chevrolet –   Lego® Batmobile from Chevrolet Perhaps the most interesting display in the entire show belongs to the Lego® Batmobile from Chevrolet. It’s 17-foot long, nearly 7-foot high and a little over nine feet wide. It weighs over 1,695.5lbs with each tire weighing over 100lbs! It took 344,187 Lego® bricks to create, using a total of 17 different colors. The interior frame weighs over 282lbs and is made of more than 86sq-ft of square-tube aluminum! The “vehicle” is featured in the upcoming Warner Bros. movie “The LEGO® Batman Movie”. Chevrolet created a hilarious [...]

Carolyn Kotz Rauen just won Valentine’s Day with the BEST gift ever! She surprised her husband of nearly 14 years with a pepperdust 2017 Silverado LT Crew Cab from Runde Chevrolet! They had been talking about looking for a new truck for Donald “Frosty” Rauen Jr. this fall to replace his 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab. “He’s been wanting a new truck for a long time,” she said. “He’s a hardworking guy, he deserves this 2017 Silverado. He’s a great husband and father. He’s a very giving person [...]

THANK YOU to all of our customers for voting us Best Car/Truck Dealership and Best Place for Auto Repair again in this year’s Dubuque BestFest! BestFest, an annual benefit for Hospice of Dubuque, recognizes the area’s best products, services, food, and entertainment. This year’s event will be 5-7:30 p.m. on  Thursday, March 23, at the Grand River Center. Tickets go on sale today, Monday, Feb. 13, at Hospice of Dubuque’s office at 1670 John F. Kennedy Road (open 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.) or at Dupaco’s 3299 Hillcrest Road branch location. You must walk in to purchase tickets, no over-the-phone sales will be honored. Tickets are $30 each. The Dubuque BestFest event is a fun time for a good cause. All event proceeds benefit [...]

Looking for something a little different on your next Chevrolet?  Well look to Runde Chevrolet near Dubuque and look to the new Chevy Silverado Redline. Check out the Chevy Redline special edition series! Nine vehicles in the Chevy car, truck, and crossover segments are available with this option, which features the “blacked out” bowtie and grille, black nameplates with a red outline, and distinct red hashmarks. It was debuted as a concept at the 2015 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in 2015. “Redline is another example of Chevrolet bringing SEMA concepts to showroom,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet. “Based on the strong interest Redline attracted at the show, we believe they will be very popular with customers looking for standout cars, trucks, and crossovers.” The Silverado [...]

Eye-popping color and fresh takes on familiar subjects will be the focus of the newest exhibition at the Dubuque Museum of Art. The Dubuque Museum of Art’s spring exhibition, “Shiny, Sticky, Smooth: Pop Art and the Senses,” includes more than 70 pieces made by Pop Artists of the 1960s and ’70s. Among those are artworks by household names like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Pop Art is a multi-sensory experience that combines bold colors with common subjects. Using carefully chosen materials, textures, and compositions, pop art is eye-catching, but also appeals to sound, taste, touch, and smell. The exhibition, which runs Feb. 18 to May 14 in the Falb Family Gallery, is from the collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation. Runde Auto Group [...]