TEXT BY: GRAY VAN DYKE PHOTOS BY: BOONE FAMILY ESTATE
In 1977, a rookie racer named Jerry Boone entered the Class III category of the grueling Baja 1000 with his production-spec Super Scout II. Despite having only a month to prepare and relying entirely on self-funding, Boone never shied away from a challenge. The competition was fierce, with vehicles that far outmatched his own, including factory-sponsored Scout racers. Just finishing the race was a significant accomplishment in and of itself — only nine out of the 21 entrants in Class III even completed the course. Remarkably, Boone not only finished but bested the second-place CJ7 by nearly two hours, ultimately claiming the Class III title and earning a newfound fame for himself — and his Scout — in the world of off-road racing.
A hay-hauler by trade, Jerry Boone relocated from Downey, California to Parker, Arizona in 1971 at 25. Once he’d made his stake, he approached his in-laws — Wayne, Byron, and Bruce Rexwinkel — about the prospect of opening an International Truck dealership. Armed with the mechanical inclination and a fascination with all things four-wheeled, the family agreed, christening their shop the “Truck n’ Tractor” in 1976.
After I kicked some of the factory guys’ butts a couple of times, they thought I might be a good addition to the team.
During the 1960s and 70s, “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” was a proven tactic to sell vehicles, and desert racing was exploding in popularity with factory race teams like Ford, Jeep, and Toyota competing for the podium. Eager to capitalize on the marketing potential, International Scout sponsored a series of factory racers, providing full support with funding, trucks, and parts.
While attending the 1977 Super Scout II product launch in Chandler, Arizona, Jerry Boone finally had a chance to meet a pair of the International race team face to face. Hooked on adrenaline and the promise of competition, he saw an opportunity to get the Truck n’ Tractor name into the public eye. He purchased a truck that afternoon, drove it to the Truck n’ Tractor garage, and proceeded to race-prep it over the next ten days. By the skin of his teeth, Boone had the rig ready to go in time for his first-ever race, the Parker 400. He bore number 372L — the L for “late designation,” but Boone was confident in both his truck and his secret weapon: the Rexwinkels.
Even though the Truck n’ Tractor Scout was running the stock 345 engine, the Rexwinkels came up with the idea to update the Scout with reinforced front hubs and custom thin leaf spring packs. Despite the Truck n’ Tractor Scout’s power disadvantage, it could float over bumps at much higher speeds with lower failure rates than the competition. It was a combination that enabled a strong start to Boone’s rookie season, and other teams were quick to notice. The Rexwinkel’s designs soon became common amongst the Baja Scouts lining the grid.
As the season progressed, Boone proved too quick to ignore. His early efforts earned him a series of rookie awards and showed he was a consistent finisher. However, it was the Baja win that finally got him the call from International Harvester’s Light Truck Marketing Manager, Dick Bakkom to join the team. As Boone humbly put it, “After I kicked some of the factory guys’ butts a couple of times, they thought I might be a good addition to the team.”
With a Baja 1000 win under his belt and the advantage of factory support, Boone was set to be an even stronger candidate for the event’s 1978 running. Thanks to the extra prep time and the added financial assistance, the Truck n’ Tractor Scout benefitted from upgraded cams, pistons, and breathing as well as a front shackle reversal. Boone showed early promise and developed a commanding lead; however, an unfortunate sand pit hours from the finish put him second to veteran (and eventual 17-time Baja 1000 winner) Rod Hall in his Dodge Power Wagon.
Ever the competitor, Boone also campaigned the Truck n’ Tractor Scout on the short-course racing circuit. Despite some early growing pains, he quickly found his footing, winning the SCORE Riverside event in 1978 against a tough field. Then, at Mickey Thomspon’s Off-Road Championship Gran Prix in 1979, Boone took the Class III title. There were 40,000 race fans filling the LA Coliseum that day to see the Truck n’ Tractor Scout cross the finish line.
Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse at International Harvester. A strike led by the United Auto Workers halted production for 172 days straight, eating into profits and necessitating immediate and aggressive cost-cutting measures. International withdrew all support from the factory teams and put an end to the promotional events. Several factory racers would continue to make appearances up until 1982, but the company had stopped writing checks, quietly planning for the eventual sale of the Scout division.
Racing ran thick in the Boone family blood, and they were determined to put on a good showing through the end. To celebrate their anniversary in 1980, Jerry Boone and his wife Cleone entered the Parker 400. They drove the Truck n’ Tractor Scout to a second-place finish with Cleone calling the course as co-driver.
Not long after, Jerry Boone’s son Rick, a high school senior, also wanted in on the action — a fitting opportunity for him to carry the torch and race under the Truck n’ Tractor banner one last time. With “Class of ‘81” painted across the hood, Rick worked alongside his uncles to secure a few sponsors and ready the Truck n’ Tractor rig for the 1982 Parker 400. By that point, however, the Scout was starting to show its age, resulting in numerous mechanical issues and an eventual DNF (Did Not Finish) for the rookie Rick Boone.
After the race, Jerry Boone and the team mended the damage and garaged the Truck n’ Tractor Scout, with hopes it would one day race again. Having proven his mettle in the company of factory and pro racers alike — in local desert events, short-course races, and even the illustrious Baja 1000 — Jerry Boone was finally content to settle down and resume life running the Truck n’ Tractor dealership. And when the shop eventually closed, Boone returned to his roots by hauling hay.
Jerry L Boone, age 79, of Parker, Arizona passed away on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.
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