For Ivan (Ironman) Stewart, mapping out enterprise strategies is a change of pace from the years he had to figure the shortest and swiftest way from Ensenada to La Paz in off-road racing.
The 19-time winner in the Baja California wilds has developed a Protruck business in which he hopes to encourage new competition and, in so doing, give something back to the sport. His company in Lakeside has turned out 48 of them.
Ranging in price from $100,000 to $150,000, a Protruck is a V8-powered off-road race truck that utilizes a standardized chromoly chassis and numerous spec components. The changeable “option” is the engine, which comes in a small block, V8 factory crate configuration from Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, GMC or Toyota, and corresponding body work to match the manufacturer.
So many have been sold that drivers are competing in their own class in most off-road series in the desert or closed course tracks.
Stewart says a full sized Protruck, minus engine, costs around $125,000 or can be purchased completely assembled with engine and options for around $150,000 ” a far cry from the trophy trucks that run from $250,000 to half a million.
“Going into this Protruck business, I’m afraid I was naive,” said Stewart, the man with a national reputation. “I thought everyone would be wishing me luck. Didn’t work.”
So he worked harder on the project.
Since others were reluctant to open a spot, he established his own sanctioning body for individual promotions.
“My trucks can do Pike’s Peak, Champion Off-Road Racing (CORR) events or desert racing,” he said. “They told me I was one of the few guys who could pull it off.
“It takes two weeks to put one [Protruck] together, while it takes two years for a trophy truck.”
Off-road racing’s Ironman leaned back in his executive chair surrounded by a room full of memento photos reflected on his brilliant past while keeping an engaging eye on the future.
In his racing days, he drove Toyota-supported trophy trucks and gained his main fame in stadium closed-course competition. When Toyota pulled out in 2000 and headed to Indianapolis and now NASCAR, he retired.
Stewart is still under contract with Toyota for speaking engagements and other enterprises.
“I think it’s the longest driver-sponsor association in the history of racing,” he said.
He recalled how he got the label of Ironman.
“Valvoline put up a trophy for anyone who did the best job driving solo in the Baja 1,000,” he said. “I won the trophy twice and you writers tagged me with it ever since.”
Although the successful trips in Baja California boosted his name before the racing public, he said it was his achievements in stadium racing that did more for his career.
“It’s funny, but I felt at ease driving in Mexico and never fought the wheel like some of the guys,” he said. “I was more relaxed.”
To hear him talk, it was like driving on a freeway.
“But I never felt I was a good stadium driver,” he added. “I never liked to damage a truck, but in those races something was always being knocked off.”
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It’s the season for car and cycle shows and swap meets. On Memorial Day, a Salute Our Troops show will be conducted in the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is being put on by the Antique Military Vehicle Club.
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It’s getting to be an old story in May, but a lower number of car and driver entries may force Indianapolis Motor Speedway to start with fewer than 33 cars in the 500.
The expense of entering more than two team cars is taking its toll, as well as the open wheel split between the Indy Racing League and Champ Cars. Also, it’s strictly a Honda show since Toyota and Chevrolet pulled their engines. Last year, there were 22 car-and-driver combinations in regular IRL racing but that has dropped to 16.
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Autoweek reports that Volkswagen’s new Golf scheduled for introduction later this year is headed for a short term.
The German carmaker plans to cut two years from the model’s lifestyle in an effort to improve production efficiency and profitability to a car considered crucial to its financial future.
Watch for Johnny McDonald’s “Auto Biography” car column each month in the La Jolla Village News.