Mickey Thompson, who has been called the greatest hot rodder who ever lived, is being honored through an awesome exhibit at the Wally Parks NHRA Museum. Our pal Dave Wallace was able to sneak inside and check out all the neat stuff that museum curator Greg Sharp pulled together to give a glimpse into the mechanical madness that he created throughout his life. Below is a lnk to the Wallace story in the New York Times.
The collection of cars is stunning. It includes Challenger I, the car that vexed Thompson in 1960 by running 408 mph one way at Bonneville, breaking in the process. This did not allow for a return run, and therefore, Thompson could not earn an official record. Wallace reports that Gale Banks and Mickey’s son Danny, may bring another of Mickey’s streamliners back to the salt for a record attempt. That would be a great moment if it comes off.
Thompson built and raced an amazing amount of stuff. Dragsters, trucks, Indy cars, etc. They are well represented at the exhibit and Wallace does a nice job of weaving the man’s unparalleled gearhead history with the nuts and bolts of the museum exhibit.
Thanks for the tip Darr Hawthorne!
Source — The NY Times Wheels Blog — Honoring Mickey Thompson, First American to 400mph
