MillenWorks
{{Infobox company
| name = MillenWorks (Textron)
| logo = MillenWorks logo.png
| type =
| location = Tustin, California, U.S.
| key_people = Rod Millen (founder)
| industry = Motorsport
Automotive engineering
| products =
| subsid =
| homepage =
}}
Image:MillenWorks2006SCORERaceTruck.jpg MillenWorks vehicle]]
MillenWorks, known as Rod Millen Motorsports until 2005, was an American automotive technology company started by Rod Millen in 1980.{{cite web |url=http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=227540&FS=VINTAGE |title=News channel |publisher=Motorsport.com |accessdate=2011-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606150140/http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=227540&FS=VINTAGE |archive-date=2011-06-06 |url-status=dead }} The company began by preparing Millen's rally cars, and evolved into designing and building them.{{cite web|url=http://www.rallybase.nl/index.php?type=profile&driverid=2893 |title=RallyBase |publisher=Rallybase.nl |date=1951-03-22 |accessdate=2011-11-27}} The company developed vehicles, high performance auto parts, and technology for racing, concept cars, and the US military.[http://www.allbusiness.com/government/3569067-1.html MillenWorks Wins $313,331 Contract | Company Activities & Management > Contracts & Bids from AllBusiness.com]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}
MillenWorks was acquired by Textron in 2011.
Race cars
Some of the first cars designed and built by the company were the Pikes Peak Toyota Celica and Toyota Tacoma which Millen drove to overall victories in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999.http://www.millenworks.com/html/aboutus/ch/Rod%20Millen%20Career%20Highlights.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://www.millenworks.com/html/motorsports.htm?&navItemIndex=9 |title=Driving Innovation |publisher=MillenWorks |date= |accessdate=2011-11-27}}{{cite web|url=http://www.millenworks.com/html/motorsports.htm?&navItemIndex=8 |title=Driving Innovation |publisher=MillenWorks |date= |accessdate=2011-11-27}}
Other cars include the Championship Off-Road Racing Pro 4 Toyota Tundra and the SCORE Toyota FJ Cruiser which competed in the Baja 1000.{{cite web|url=http://www.millenworks.com/html/motorsports.htm?&navItemIndex=10 |title=Driving Innovation |publisher=MillenWorks |date= |accessdate=2011-11-27}}{{cite web|url=http://www.millenworks.com/html/motorsports.htm?&navItemIndex=11 |title=Driving Innovation |publisher=MillenWorks |date= |accessdate=2011-11-27}}{{cite web|url=http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/34835/ |title=COMMENTARY - The Online Motorsports Authority. NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Racing, Moto Racing, Cars, Bikes, PINKS and more! |publisher=SPEEDtv.com |date=2007-01-15 |accessdate=2011-11-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163920/http://www.speedtv.com/commentary/34835/ |archivedate=2012-02-07 }}
Concept cars
MillenWorks was often contracted to develop technologies for upcoming concept cars. They developed the revolutionary drivetrain seen on the Jeep Hurricane, which allows it to spin in place using independent four wheel steering.http://www.millenworks.com/html/aboutus/news/MillenWorks_Jeep.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120140336/http://www.millenworks.com/html/aboutus/news/MillenWorks_Jeep.pdf |date=2008-11-20 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}} They also developed the hybrid electric four wheel drive system seen on the Ralliart Mitsubishi Eclipse concept car, and many of the mechanisms seen on the Scion FUSE.http://www.millenworks.com/html/aboutus/news/MillenWorks_Ralliart.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714095130/http://www.millenworks.com/html/aboutus/news/MillenWorks_Ralliart.pdf |date=2011-07-14 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}http://www.millenworks.com/html/aboutus/news/MillenWorks_Scion_Fuse.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120121524/http://www.millenworks.com/html/aboutus/news/MillenWorks_Scion_Fuse.pdf |date=2008-11-20 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}} Other projects included the Chrysler ME Four-Twelve, Lexus IS430, Porsche Carrera GT Concept, Toyota Ultimate Celica, Lexus Streetrod, and the Toyota Retrocruiser.{{cite web |url=http://www.millenworks.com/html/concept_vehicles.htm |title=Driving Innovation |publisher=MillenWorks |date= |accessdate=2011-11-27 |archive-date=2011-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002055750/http://www.millenworks.com/html/concept_vehicles.htm |url-status=dead }}
Military vehicles
MillenWorks also developed manned and unmanned ground vehicles and technology for the military, such as the MillenWorks Light Utility Vehicle.{{cite web |url=https://tagteamdbserver.mathworks.com/ttserverroot/Download/20383_91182v00_RodMillen_US.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2007-10-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101170317/https://tagteamdbserver.mathworks.com/ttserverroot/Download/20383_91182v00_RodMillen_US.pdf |archivedate=2007-11-01 }}{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071015021630/http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003781.html Defense Tech: A Little LUV for the Future Military Jeep]}} With Lord Corporation, they also developed an active magneto rheological suspension for the U.S. Army's Stryker, which was tested at the Yuma Proving Grounds.http://www.millenworks.com/html/aboutus/news/Stryker_Test.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071129094359/http://www.millenworks.com/html/aboutus/news/Stryker_Test.pdf |date=2007-11-29 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-5713599/Lord-Corp-inks-agreement-with.html |title=Lord Corp. inks agreement with MillenWorks.(News) Industry & Business Article - Research, News, Information, Contacts, Divisions, Subsidiaries, Business Associations |publisher=Goliath.ecnext.com |date= |accessdate=2011-11-27}}{{cite book|chapter-url=http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/2006-01-1379 |chapter=Magneto-Rheological Fluid Semiactive Suspension System Performance Testing on a Stryker Vehicle |publisher=Sae.org |date=2006-04-03 |doi=10.4271/2006-01-1379 |accessdate=2011-11-27|title=SAE Technical Paper Series |last1=Wray |first1=Andrea C. |last2=Jimenez |first2=Alexander R. |last3=Anderfaas |first3=Eric |last4=Hopkins |first4=Brian |last5=Lenoach |first5=Peter |volume=1 }} They teamed with Lockheed Martin on several other projects, including the RST-V, unmanned ground combat vehicle, Gladiator tactical unmanned ground vehicle, and the multifunctional utility/logistics and equipment (Mule) vehicle.http://www.millenworks.com/html/aboutus/news/Lockheed_SBA_Award_2006.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120152427/http://www.millenworks.com/html/aboutus/news/Lockheed_SBA_Award_2006.pdf |date=2008-11-20 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Lockheed_Martin_Reaches_Major_Milestone_For_The_Mule_Robotic_Vehicle_Engineering_Evaluation_Unit_999.html |title=Lockheed Martin Reaches Major Milestone For The Mule Robotic Vehicle Engineering Evaluation Unit |publisher=Spacedaily.com |date= |accessdate=2011-11-27}} They also developed diesel-electric drivetrains for the HMMWV, which were tested at the Aberdeen Proving Ground.{{cite web|url=http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/MarApr01/MS635.htm |title=Running on Empty—Hybrid-Electric Technology Offers Viable Fuel Options |publisher=Almc.army.mil |accessdate=2011-11-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928022132/http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/MarApr01/MS635.htm |archivedate=2011-09-28 }}
Gallery
Image:JeepHurricane1.JPG|The Jeep Hurricane
Image:FCS-MULE-ARV-2007.jpg|The unmanned Multifunctional Utility/Logistics and Equipment Vehicle
Image:Gladiator 240G.jpg|The Gladiator tactical unmanned ground vehicle
Performance parts
It also developed automotive performance parts for the Mazda Miata, and cooperated with Toyota Racing Development on parts for the Toyota Celica and Lexus IS300.[http://www.cryton.demon.co.uk/mx5/p-millen.html MX-5 Miata Tuning/Rod Millen] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819220610/http://www.cryton.demon.co.uk/mx5/p-millen.html |date=August 19, 2007 }}{{cite web|author=Neobyte - www.neobyte.sk |url=http://www.tuningmag.net/?name=toyota-celica-tuning-ultimate-rod-millen-tuning |title=Toyota Celica Ultimate – Rod Millen & TRD Tuning !!! | car tuning magazine |publisher=Tuningmag.net |date= |accessdate=2011-11-27}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.millenworks.com/html/index.htm MillenWorks.com] (old link which now redirects to [https://www.textron.com/About/Our-Businesses/Industrial-Segment?navItemIndex=2 Textron Industrial] page)
{{Textron}}
Category:Automotive motorsports and performance companies
Category:American racecar constructors