Nissan’s Proving Grounds are usually shrouded in secrecy. At the Stanfield track, the Japanese car corporation puts its vehicles through pressure tests before they’re ready for primetime.

Engineers from that facility stepped into the spotlight today for their first-ever pop-up car dealership in the back lot of Duke’s Roadhouse. Tall bar tables, smoking grills and a row of new Nissans stood shoulder to shoulder as trains whizzed past.

The two-day event, organized with AutoNation Nissan stores in Tempe and Chandler, offered test drives, food and a meet-the-engineers showcase that pulled back the curtain on one of Pinal County’s most guarded neighbors.

“This is our home,” said Dusty Pierson, a senior Nissan engineer who said he has worked most of his 34-year career with Nissan at the Maricopa proving grounds.

“I watched Maricopa grow from just farmlands. I see a need that’s unmet here. There isn’t a dealership. So, I said, Why not? We’re the neighbor here.”

Pierson said Nissan’s Arizona Proving Grounds, established in 1987, span more than 3,000 acres and employ some 160 engineers and technicians who live in Maricopa, Casa Grande and the southeast Valley. He called the pop-up a way to introduce the community to what happens beyond the fences, including development work on prototypes.

“That is a legit camouflage Sentra,” he said, gesturing to a wrapped test car on display. “We disguise the body because there are a lot of photographers who want a picture of the latest cars. It’s lit up with cameras and thermocouples. We collect everything from brakes and chassis and thermal data. It’s been through Alaska winter testing and all over the U.S, too.”

AutoNation brought sales staff and a cross-section of vehicles for low-pressure drives closer to home than the nearest metro dealership.

“It’s in your backyard,” said David Workman, representing AutoNation. “You can come out and explore, see what the future is, see what the present is. Maybe you felt a little insecure going to the dealership because of the high pressure. There’s no high pressure anything here today. We just want to share with the people of Maricopa what Nissan’s about.”

Workman, who has lived in Maricopa for 12 years, called the roadhouse setting a feature, not a bug.

“Some of the best places for car shows are typically at places like this,” he said. “It’s where families gather. Why not gather in a place, look at vehicles and meet the people who’ve been here a little longer than they have? They get to see what goes on at the proving grounds.”

Always the salesman, Workman tried to get a reporter into a Nissan for a test drive. Next time.

Alongside the showroom-style tents, Nissan engineers set up displays on safety and driver-assistance testing. Pierson said the pop-up is a first for the company and for Maricopa, a trial run he hopes proves the city can sustain a full-service dealership in the future.

“Half the people don’t even know we exist out there,” Pierson said. “This is a great partnership with AutoNation and with Duke’s and a way to do something for the community.”

Event organizers said test-drive participants receive a free meal, with music and family activities rounding out the scene. Whether the concept returns will depend on interest, but on Saturday, the back lot at Duke’s looked, sounded and felt very much like a car lot.

The event runs until 5 p.m. this evening. It returns tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Duke’s, 19395 N. John Wayne Parkway.