At the Brickyard Invitational: Stutz making good today

The tagline of the Stutz automobile business when it was launched at the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911 was, "The car that made good in a day." The new company entered the big race to promote their market entry using a largely stock, four-cylinder car. It finished the grueling test of nearly seven hours in 11th position. The Indianapolis-built machine was constructed at a factory downtown in the Hoosier capital.

The factory, which steadily expanded in ensuing years, survives today, a marvel of Indianapolis heritage and its racing culture. It consumes an entire block bordered on the south and north by 10th and 11th Streets, with Senate Avenue on its west and Capitol on the north side. The man behind not just the massive building's preservation but also its ability to thrive as a flat-out cool business center is Turner Woodard, one of the city's leading lights.

Woodard (LEFT) is not only a hugely successful real estate developer but also an unabashed racer competing this weekend in two of his racecars at the SportsCar Vintage Racing Association Brickyard Invitational hosted by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His two cars are a 1979 March Formula Atlantic (SVRA Group 9) and a 1975 Chevron B Sports Racer (Group 7).

While many of the SVRA car owners outsource car preparation to vintage racing garages Woodard has his own team who work out of the Stutz Building. He has been a racer since the late 1960s, harboring dreams of making the field for the Indianapolis 500 until the economic realities of life forced him to turn his energies into a more lucrative career.

From his teenage years he took an interest in restoring things – first cars, then buildings – and found financial rewards in doing so. His mother, Edna Woodard, served on the board of the Indiana Historic Restoration Association and her influence fueled his interest in history. Still, when he took on the project of reviving the abandoned Stutz Building in October 1992 it was not for his love automobiles, it was simply a business decision.

"I saw its potential as a multi-purpose facility," Woodard said. "It was only after I bought it did I understand its significance in automobile history and racing."

Harry Stutz founded his company in 1911 and used auto racing to build the brand's reputation. The company's "White Squadron" race team of 100 years ago was widely regarded as America's top equipment. In 1914 Barney Oldfield scored the highest finish by an American car in the Indianapolis 500 with a fifth and later that same year drove the machine to victory in the "Cactus Derby," a torturous off-road test between Los Angeles and Phoenix. In 1927 a Stutz set the world speed record for 24 hours at 68 mph and the following year finished second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans which remained the best finish by an American car until Ford scored its legendary victory in 1966.

Harry Stutz left his company in 1919 after a dispute with his board of directors. Like many automobile businesses the company did not survive the depression, closing its doors in 1935.

"Even though I always loved cars I learned about this great history only after purchasing the building," Woodard says. "Sometimes things in life happen in ways that only unfold themselves to you after time passes and you have perspective."

Now the Stutz Business Center is home to dozens of small and medium-sized companies and the old factory still capably serves its tenants with office, manufacturing and warehousing space as well as loading docks and more (see images below). Inside it is an appropriate shrine to both Woodard's passion for cars and Stutz automobile history. His magnificent car collection of dozens of outstanding racing and street machines are on full display to anyone roaming the halls.

What's more, thanks to both Turner Woodard and the Brickyard Invitational, the Stutz name is once again emblazoned on the side of wicked-fast racecars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On Saturday, Woodard brought his March home 26th in the Group 9 feature race and scored 29th in Group 7 with the Chevron.

"We love to go fast, we love to drive," Woodard says. "This is a great sport that is a lot bigger than winning – but I want to do that too."

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

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Here's a quick look at the Brickyard Invitational, especially what is on tap for today, Sunday, June 13.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the SVRA are producing what is already one of American vintage racing's premier events. Today, June 14, is the closing day of the event. The big attraction of the day is an "Unser Family Reunion." This commemorative event kicks off with a fan pit walk starting at 11:50 for autographs and photos. At 12:35 all five of the Unser family Indianapolis 500 veterans will take to the track driving "500" race cars significant to their careers. It will be the first and perhaps the only time all five: Al Unser Sr., Bobby Unser, Al Unser Jr., Robby and Johnny will be on the Brickyard together.

The racing will begin at 8:25 am with a 60-minute vintage/classic endure for SVRA Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5a, 6a and 8. A second endure for Historic GT and GTP cars will run 90 minutes and start at 9:55 am. The rest of the day will present oval exhibitions all SVRA run groups. Of particular interest to fans are Indianapolis 500 "roadsters" and pre-war cars.