Everyone likes Ron’s rear end…oops I mean everyone likes Ron’s Rear Ends…not the tush he sits on but the very important element to a race car, if you want to win, that is.
We have all seen RON’S REAR ENDS on the bumper of a whole lot of cars or on the pit boxes of some pretty famous teams…but who the heck is Ron?
Oh sure, some of you are thinking everybody knows Ron…but not true…there are many new teams that could use someone like Ron…and there may even be a few things you don’t know about Ron…read on.
RacingWest: Ron, before we get to the business side of things,
there is a question I think a few of us would like to have answered. Where did
you meet your very supportive wife, Wendy?
Ron Zajicek: I met Wendy at Saugus Speedway in 1974. I was
working with Jim Gilliam selling and servicing Goodyear Tires at the racetrack.
Her cousin Larry introduced me to her.
RW: Well…we need to do a Q&A with Wendy, too. Hoping
she agrees. Anyway, here goes… A lot of times people stumble into their
life profession by accident, how did you come to have Ron’s Rear Ends
and was it planned or did it just sort of happen?
RZ: It just sort of happened as a hobby helping drivers in
their garages at night. I have always been around racetracks and cars my whole
life and I had the good fortune of learning about Rear Ends from a heavy line
mechanic who worked for Ford, Wendy’s father, Wayne.
RW: What all do you do as far as sales and services?
RZ: Ron’s Rear Ends provides quality rear end parts,
9” Ford and Quick Change parts, and is a dealer/distributor for many well
known companies like Speedway Engineering, G-Force South, Tex Racing, Motive
Gear, Quick Change Exchange, Wilwood Engineering, ARP, Ace MFG, and many more.
Ron’s supplies quality service giving the best price available.
RW: How long have you been doing this?
RZ: Approximately 35 years.
RW: Long time…I bet over the years you have fixed the
“rear end” of a few drivers…ok not the drivers, but their
car at least. Can you do a little name dropping?
RZ: Working just from memory alone here goes, Sorely missed
and much loved Larry Krieger & Chris Trickle, Craig Rayburn, Frank Deiny
Jr., Rodney Peacher, Greg Pursley, John Watkinson, Dave Hessing, Guy Trip, Rick
Crow, Austin Cameron, Kenny Sapper, David Gilliland, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch,
Ron Hornaday, Bill Sedgwick, Todd Burns, Brian Kelley, Gary Collins, Eric Richardson,
Frank Maronski Jr., Ken Brown, Rip Michels, Jason Small, Eric Holmes, Mike Duncan,
Timmy Woods III, Julianne Seeley, Logan Henson, Amee Blue, Danny O’Donnell
Jr. & Sr., Jimmy Insolo, Jameel & Mathew Saied, Jim & Travis Thirkettle,
Tru Cheek, Darren Cheek, Lee Ladd, Andrew Phipps, Keith Spangler, Pat Mintey
Jr. & Sr., Lloyd Mack Jr., Todd Souza, Stan Silva, Brett Thompson, Brian
Harrell, Joe Herold, Kevin O’Connell, Darrell Lamoure, Chris Clyne, Alex
Haase, Ben Walker, Justin Lofton, Tommy Fry Jr., Rod Johnson, Steve Portenga,
Mike David, Brandon Loverock, Jason Bowles, Mike Price, Mike Johnson, Rick Rubarsky,
Eric Hardin, Eddy McKean, Terry Henry, Brian Richardson, Scott & Nick Lynch,
Tim Huddleston, Jeff Schrader, Sean Woodside, Jeff Siefert, Auggie Vidovich,
George Ruark, Jimmy Sloan, Jim Conklin, Burney Lamar, David Mayhew, Dan Moore,
Eric Norris, Doug McCoun, Doug McComb, Brandon Miller, Mike Mendenhall, Rick
Wall, Dennis Dyer, Bobby Dezarov, Cory Fancy, Lonny Rush Jr., Tim Morris, Miles
Coperhaver, Sean Monroe, Chris Peedan, Mike Walker, Nathan Wolfe, Jeff “Habachi”
Grill, Kevin Wood, Satoshi, Scott Youngren, Tony Toste, Ray Hooper Jr., Boris
Said, James Bruncati, Jess Flores, Brian Barron, Jonathan Greaney, Dennis Arena,
Rich DeLong III, Scott Davidson, Craig Raudman, Brian Wu, Bob Kendol, sorry
if I forgot anyone ;-)
RW: So on people have rear ends that are all different…he
he…are Ron’s Rear Ends different than other Rear Ends and how so?
What is it that makes you proud of your product and service?
RZ: I care about my product and my customer - Plain and simple.
RW: When you go out to a race where some of your customers are running, do
you have the same stress that maybe an engine builder has?
RZ: Yes, I do worry about harsh conditions that happen mostly at road course
type race tracks due to wheel hopping, down shifting, getting in the dirt, right
and left turning which all factor into wear and tear on a rear end, but there
are more parts that can go wrong in an engine than a rear end.
RW: Ron, if you will bear with my ADD, I would like to ask you about your personal
vehicle. Are you driving your dream ride? If so what is it? If not what would
it be?
RZ: My dream ride is a 1956 Chevy… which I am currently working on fixing
up.
RW: Can you think back over the years and share with us a favorite racing memory?
RZ: Craig Road Speedway 1976 October Classic and later that evening at a trophy
presentation having a gentleman by the name of Kirk “the German”
introduce a very young (16 years old) Mark Martin to Ron and talked about the
in’s and out’s of racing.
RW: What was one of the happiest days you ever had at a race track?
RZ: Frank Maronski Jr’s first South West Tour win – July 1999.
RW: If you were selecting a driver to go on Comedy Central, which drivers comes
to mind first?
RZ: Kenny Wallace would be my first pick because he’s just so funny and
entertaining, then Brian Kelley because he is so quick witted, humble, and loveable.
RW: If you and Wendy could go out to dinner with anyone in the world, who would
that be and what would you be asking them?
RZ: A psychic and what are the winning lottery numbers???…. seriously
I need more time to think about this one.
RW: When not working on the business how do you relax?
RZ: Playing with my grandson, Aidan and watching racing on TV. On just about
any Sunday you can find Wendy riding her bike all over the San Fernando Valley
and/or hiking in the mountains.
RW: Thanks Ron for taking the time…oh and one other question, how can
people get in touch with you?
RZ: They can call me at (818) 361-5457.
