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 LAKEVILLE,
IN (January 5, 2007) -- It’s hard to believe that it has been fifty years. It
all began back in the early 50's when Robert "Bob" Newton, along with
his supportive wife Joyce, began a successful racing career on the small
asphalt tracks of northern Indiana. Bob, like many of his fellow drivers, was
not satisfied with driving on street tires with their limited sizing options
and uniformly hard tread compounds. It was during these early days of
"eating bologna sandwiches and sleeping on a creeper under his racer"
that Bob had a vision to produce his own tires specifically designed for
racing.
So,
in 1957, Bob and Joyce decided to begin producing their own race tires by
re-treading street tires with softer compounds. They began their business in an
old abandoned horse barn in South Bend, Indiana, selling their tires to local
racers.
While
the company had just two employees at first, it wasn't long before the business
began to grow. Soon family members, friends and neighbors were being recruited
to re-tread tires. As the fledgling company began to master the available
tire-making technologies, they set their sights on producing their first race
tire specifically designed for racing.
Then
in 1979 with just a handful of employees, Bob and Joyce made a decision to
build the world's first and only factory solely devoted to the production of
racing tires. Located in Plymouth, Indiana, just down the road from the
corporate office in Lakeville, the factory began production under the name
"R & J Mfg. Corp." (for Robert and Joyce).
Over
the next several years, additional professional staff were added, including
more engineers, compounders, product managers and track support personnel. The
company financed further plant expansions and added more equipment. More
production personnel and administrative staff were hired. All of this allowed
the company to continue participating in its existing racing venues even as it
penetrated additional markets while still assuring all of its customers a
reliable supply of high quality racing tires.
In
1998, Bob and Joyce made the decision to re-name "R & J Mfg.
Corp.," the manufacturing side of their growing company, as "Hoosier
Tire & Rubber Corp." This removed the shroud of secrecy which the
company had maintained within the community and industry concerning its
manufacturing base.
The
turn of the century also saw Hoosier Tire & Rubber Corp. complete a massive
multi-year plant consolidation and upgrade program, which brought all
operations together into one sprawling complex. Through the dedication and hard
work of countless people within the Hoosier organization, the 3-year project
was completed in just 18 months.
Today,
Hoosier is the largest race tire manufacturer in the world and all Hoosier race
tires are still proudly "Made in the USA." The company continues to
be privately owned and operated by the Newton family, and founders Bob and
Joyce remain actively involved in the day-to-day operations of Hoosier (as do
many Newton family members). Hoosier has grown to be one of the largest
employers in Plymouth, Indiana, and produces over 1000 different types of race
tires.
The
pride that exists among those associated with Hoosier continues to be the focal
point of the success the company has enjoyed over the years. Bob and Joyce, as
well as others involved in the racing industry, marvel at the success and
growth of the original business they started nearly 50 years ago.
At
Hoosier, we know that if you build a company with talented, hardworking people
who care, and produce a product that performs at an affordable price, you will
satisfy the needs of your customers and both you and they will be winners. This
philosophy has been, and will continue to be, the secret behind Hoosier's
success in building "Tires Designed for Champions."
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