entrepreneur
’90 Pedal to the Metal
IAN PROUT
Even at Deerfield, Ian Prout ’90 was a “gear head.” He loved being near cars, he loved working on cars, he loved driving cars, and he loved to drive them fast. It’s no wonder then, that 22 years later, not only is Mr. Prout still driving cars, but he’s also the proud owner and founder of one of the most successful non-competitive motorsports organizations in the Northeast. Founded in 1995, the Sports Car Driving Association prides itself on the notion that competition isn’t necessary for drivers to enjoy the excitement of performance motors, and provides enthusiasts with a safe, encouraging environment to discover and hone their skills. There is also no doubt that professional racing is a multibillion-dollar business, but Mr. Prout couldn’t be more pleased with the success his organization has seen over the years. “We’re not trying to compete with NASCAR. We’re just a small business that thinks outside the box,” he explains. The SCDA welcomes all drivers with zero discretion based on skill or background, and incorporates a large team of professional instructors to best match the personalities of each customer. This open attitude results in a diverse ecosystem of drivers and machines: There are few (if any) other situations where a Mini Cooper lines up on
a track against a Ferrari 360 Challenge . . . but at the Sports Car Driving Association, it’s just another day on the tarmac. Amazingly enough, only five individuals staff the SCDA, four of whom hail directly from the Prout family. “It’s fun to have my family around,” says Mr. Prout. “In the age of big business it’s great to have such a mom and pop family-oriented organization.” When Mr. Prout’s sister and fellow alumnus Ashley Prout ’92 isn’t busy taking care of her two children or managing her own work as a private development consultant, she spends most of her free time helping as the SCDA pit lane coordinator and registrar. “I think it’s inspiring that since he could talk he loved cars,” she explains. “And [that] he honed his driving and business skills, built this incredible success on the track himself, and now shares the track with his SCDA drivers—making some of their dreams come true!” Staying true to that idea of making their customers’ dreams a reality, the SCDA is also dedicated to serving and—most importantly—maintaining strong ties with each and every one of their members. “The best barometer is repeat business,” says Mr. Prout. “It’s the people that come back. In any business if you have customers coming back that means you delivered a product that was solid. And that works the same with Deerfield,” Mr. Prout mentions, alluding to his experiences at Deerfield, and how he’s regularly reminded of them in his professional life. “I maintain the website, I process all the entries, I do all the negotiations, and certainly my education at Deerfield was a good platform on which to build an open mind and a broad discipline of skillsets.” Mr. Prout recently connected with another Deerfield alumnus, when the SCDA joined forced with Ray Walker ’92 and the Stokes Foundation, an organization geared toward expanding the lives of students through building extracurricular, athletic, and residential life programs. “We envision that the SCDA is prepared to donate a few days next year that Ray can hopefully use as revenue at fundraisers for his organization,” says Mr. Prout. As his program grows and continues to influence more lives, he proudly looks toward the future, safe with the knowledge that whatever it might be, he’ll be getting there in style.
deerfield.edu
the common room
< Ian Prout and pro driver, Eric Curren
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