Mickey Thompson's son Danny sets WR 448 mph in his dad's 50 year old car

October 18, 2018, 08:07 AM

Danny Thompson took his dad's 50 year old racer out of mothballs, installed 2 2500 HP dry Hemis, replacing 600 and 1200 HP Ford 427s. Average of two runs was 448 MPH. The engines are cooled by fuel and burn 50 gallons in a 5 miles run. Fasted ever piston engine, wheel driven, naturally aspirated (no supercharger) car.

At the bottom of the ABOUT page on this linked site is an in cockpit video showing Danny correcting a slide with near lock to lock steering at 430 MPH. The photos page has many great photos of car construction and archives of Mickey Thompson.

I didn't know it until yesterday that Mickey Thompson and his second wife were murdered by hit men hired by a former business partner of Mickey's who is still serving time.

http://thompsonlsr.com/news/

October 18, 2018, 08:34 AM

TigerDore

Thanks for sharing this, pbslinger.

I know we have some watch collectors here. For those who are interested, BALL Watch has created a special edition for this event:

https://shop.ballwatch.ch/rc18...2rFnpm5HOs64UZmSvbCA

.

October 18, 2018, 08:37 AM

Southflorida-law

Cool. And i did not know about his murder either!

October 18, 2018, 08:48 AM

Georgeair

quote:
Originally posted by TigerDore:
Thanks for sharing this, pbslinger.

I know we have some watch collectors here. For those who are interested, BALL Watch has created a special edition for this event:

https://shop.ballwatch.ch/rc18...2rFnpm5HOs64UZmSvbCA

.

Very cool. Wonder if David has had one of those pass through his shop?

October 18, 2018, 09:02 AM

smschulz

I recently saw him and the car and the story on Fox's Strange Inheritance with Jamie Colby.
He was jut then bringing it out of mothballs and starting the run.
Very cool story.

October 18, 2018, 09:35 AM

Perception

I love how the "function test" is a 186 mph run!

"The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people."
"Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy."
"I did," said Ford, "it is."
"So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?"
"It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want."
"You mean they actually vote for the lizards."
"Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course."
"But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"
"Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in."

October 18, 2018, 10:42 AM

DSgrouse

His murder was a unsolved for a number of years.

October 18, 2018, 11:13 AM

az4783054

I do remember their murders in 1988, in their residence driveway. The day it happened sent shock waves through the automotive industry since Mickey Thompson raced in many different types of events in addition to his signature line of products.

He was an amazing enthusiast who lived life to the fullest.