Here’s a quick video biography of one of the most remarkable characters in motorsports history, Mickey Thompson. Strap yourself in and watch.
If they ever gave out an award for world’s greatest hot rodder, the prize would have to go to Mickey Thompson. A working-class kid from Southern California, Thompson was a pioneer all over the high-performance world, from the dry lakes to Indianapolis to Baja. Not just a racer and technical innovator, M/T was also a wildly creative automotive entrepreneur. Thompson was the original manager of Lions Drag Strip in Long Beach, launched his own tire and speed equipment companies, and invented a whole new form of motorsports, stadium off-road racing.
Narrated by Danny Thompson, Mickey’s son and collaborator and an accomplished racer in his own right, this film was produced by Mickey Thompson Tires, the racing tire company that still bears his name. In 13 minutes, the video manages to hit some of the high spots. If you are ever in need of a motivational aid to wind you up in the morning, simply ponder the remarkable life of M/T for a moment or two. Video below.
It is well known that racers like Ray Nichels, Smokey Yunick, ISKY, and Mickey Thompson were on Pontiac engineering’s payroll in the years 1957-1963. Bunkie Knudsen the General Manager of Pontiac Division and avid race car fan gave Mickey Thompson those four Pontiac engines to go to Bonneville as well as many other in house factory race parts, some of these parts were co-designed with the above racers mentioned above. The above video would have you think those engines came from junk yards is a bunch of baloney. Thompson, before the GM ban on racing in 1963 raced and set many records in drag racing and motor sports in general in Pontiac’s, and created cars with factory backing that led to A/FX and B/FX categories being created. These car eventually led to funny cars. If you don’t believe me look at the Hot Rod magazines of the day, or Hot Rod Magazine publication called Pontiac Performance Handbook as it shows all the types of Pontiac cars and classes that Thompson drove and his relationship with the bosses of Pontiac Division..
As far as Lyons Drag strip is concerned, it was a great place to race because it was at sea level, and plenty of humidity being so close to the ocean. I got my IHRA License there at the age of 14. Was very sad to see it close like many drag strips in the So. Cal area.
The Challenger I was early on in M/T’s Pontiac deal and the engines were castoffs, according to Fritz Voigt.