2010 Toyota Tundra Work-Truck Test Drive: New V8 Offers Back-to-Basics Utility

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.—The pickup truck has been twisted into everything it was never invented to be. There are luxury pickups, family-hauling pickups, high-performance pickups, pickups built solely to crush junk cars in stadiums and pickups so gosh darn cute you want to cuddle up with them in the garage. But like donkeys in a coal mine, the majority of pickups are, in fact, beasts bred for burden.

Toyota brings its Tundra back to basics for 2010 with the introduction of a new Work Truck package that strips away all pretense and accentuates the utility at this pickup's core. Carpeting is gone, the upholstery an unabashed gray vinyl, the dashboard is mostly flat black plastic, and the windows roll up with six hand-wound turns of a crank. It's everything you'd have wanted and expected in a 1955 Chevrolet Series 3100 done with 21st century technology and Toyota quality.

The current Tundra was born back in 2007 as an overkill response to all those who criticized the first-generation (2000 to 2006) Tundra as both too small and too modest. And even though Toyota boldly erected a brand-new factory to build this full-sizer in San Antonio, Texas, it hasn't sold in the numbers Toyota expected.

In some fundamental ways, the Work Truck feels like atonement for the big Tundra's sins of immodesty. Our test vehicle was even powered by a new, smaller, all-aluminum 4.6-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 that neatly mixes more-than-sufficient power with the promise of better-than-expected fuel economy.

Maybe this is the start of Toyota's return to easygoing, unpretentious and confident pickups. You know, the virtues that made Toyota trucks so attractive in the first place. —John Pearley Huffman

The Specs
Fundamentally, the 2010 Tundra has only a few updates from the last redesign. The most significant developments are a new base V8 and two new trim packages.

Read complete article in PopularMechanics.com

RJ Johnson Wins Third Super Trucks Race In A Row

R.J. Johnson, a driver from Canyon Country, won his third NASCAR Super Trucks race in a row at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale on Saturday night. The odds were not in his favor before the races started.

He had to replace the shocks on his trucks and make other adjustments after qualifying. Johnson has been setting fast time in qualifying on a regular basis at the track, but on Saturday night, he was fourth.

In addition, Bill Sedgwick, a driver from Acton who used to race in the early days of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, was entered in the race. Sedgwick was the fast qualifier and was expected to be a contender to win the race.

Johnson worked his way to the front, battling Grant Hebner for the lead. Sedgwick fell back and finished fourth.

Pat Mintey Jr. of Quartz Hill, the leader in the Super Trucks standings at Irwindale, was fifth.

In the Classic Stocks race, Tommy Mason of Canyon led a race for the first time this season, but Ken Michaelian rallied from the rear of the field and won. It was Michaelian’s seventh win of the season. He has yet to finish worse than second.

Mason had to withdraw midway through the race with transmission problems and finished ninth.

In the Legends Cars race, Kenny Maler Jr. of Acton finished ninth and Alex Pacheco of Saugus was 16th. Donny St. Ours won the race, his third of the season and his third in the past four races.

Read complete article in HomeTownStation.com

Monster Truck Driver Has Healthy Appetite For Destruction

When Steve Koehler is stuck in traffic, his mind wanders.

"You wish you were in a monster truck, so you could just drive over everyone," the 35-year-old said as he prepared for Saturday night's Monster Spectacular tour stop at the Barrie Molson Centre. "You don't actually want to hurt anyone, but you wish you could just drive over them, to beat the traffic."

Koehler wasn't behind the big wheel Saturday night, but his brother, Jim, was. Steve was working behind the scenes on this night. He drives Wrecking Crew, while Jim is the face behind always-lethal Avenger.

The duo are in the monstrous business of crushing beat-up cars and catching massive air backed by the brute strength of their larger-than-life trucks and ridiculously powerful engines.

And this life that revolves around destroying anything and everything from the comfort of a brutalizing vehicle is a fascinating, but busy one, said Steve, who hails from Columbus, Mich., not far from Port Huron.

"It's non-stop," he said, adding Wrecking Crew, a 12-foot-fall mammoth sporting 66-inch-tall, 43-inch wide, 875-pound buns, is a thrill to pilot. "It's a crazy feeling."

Imagine, for instance, a power surge overtop a half-dozen banged-up vehicles, fueled by an incredibly beefed-up engine, in front of thousands of adoring fans.

"You're looking at the rafters," he said.

"And when you're at an outdoor show, crashing is the ultimate in destruction."

Koehler drives a Chevy S10 when he's not wreaking havoc in an arena or at an outdoor complex.

While the monster truck circuit eats up most of his time, he also helps with the family marina business back home.

Read complete article in TheBarrieExaminer.com

Monster Truck Show Leads To LaPorte Worker Suspension

First monster truck show results in two alcohol-related arrests.

By STAN MADDUX
Tribune Correspondent

An employee of the LaPorte County Highway Department has been suspended for allegedly playing monster truck driver in a county-owned vehicle after a weekend show.

Meanwhile, a crash involving a pickup that overturned with five children who just attended the monster truck event riding in the bed has left fair officials saying they'll review their rules involving alcohol sales.

Bryan Batchelor, 38, of Kingsbury, a general foreman with the LaPorte County Highway Department, is charged with Class A misdemeanor operating while intoxicated.

LaPorte County Highway Department Superintendent Bob Young said Batchelor has been suspended indefinitely.

A decision on his job status will be made once Young and the LaPorte County Commissioners review the facts.

"We got to discuss how to handle the situation," said Young, who declined further comment.

According to LaPorte County Police, the Friday night edition of the RPM Fest at the LaPorte County fairgrounds had just finished.

Read complete article in SouthBendTribune.com