Not the same animal Caz.
An Aussie 'Ute' is built on a passenger car platform, the original concept being a vehicle that paired sedan comfort with carrying capacity for half a dozen Hay bales, a few Sheep, or a couple of 44 gallon drums of diesel.
In other words, a vehicle aimed squarely at the 'man on the land', a 'Utility Vehicle'.
When we were kids Utes were the popular means of hauling two dirt bikes, four surfboards, a pile of skin diving gear and a 'rib' with bonus sleeping and/or fornicating space!
The nearest thing to an American 'Pickup Truck' was the 'One Tonner', a much heavier chassis with a plain flat bed, retaining the basic Ute cabin.
Only Tradies and Farmers bought them.
Today's 'Ute Racing' is pretty much the bottom of the food chain, the bulk of the grid is made up of drivers who never made it up to Level 1 or Level 2 in the Supercars, except for two reserve Supercar drivers who run a few races to keep their hand in, and who eat the regulars, along with people who can't get a drive in Supercup or GT.
Originally intended as a basic 'fun' series for the less financial enthusiasts [similar to the mind numbing 'Kingwood' and equally boring 'Gemini' series] they were rapidly taken over by well funded but talent-poor Muppets.
The present series are quite expensive to prepare, despite the sold rear end and road rubber, these cars are a long way from the road versions, but the Bogans love them.
I tend to regard them as comic relief, if I want serious racing at lower levels it comes in spades with Formula Ford or the Aussie Legends [borrowed from the US Legends] series.
