DANNY THOMPSON SETS LAND SPEED RECORD ON MICKEY THOMPSON TIRES – A Family Legacy Realized


DANNY THOMPSON SETS LAND SPEED RECORD ON MICKEY THOMPSON TIRES – A Family Legacy Realized

When Danny Thompson went ripping down the salt on Sunday morning at Bonnville the entire place held their breath. He had qualified on a record at more than 400mph and there was not one person either at the salt flats or listening from home that was rooting against him. The twin, injected and fuel burning hemi engines crackled to life and the Challenger 2 began to bulldoze its way down the salt. There was an eruption at the starting line when the speed was announced and his average speed of 406.7mph was calculated. The accomplishment validated all of the years of hard work, sweat, and hustle that Thompson and crew have put into the car. It also validated the custom Mickey Thompson land speed tires that the Challenger 2 was wearing. The entire scene was awesome.

It would have been virtually tragic if the Challenger 2 went down the salt on anything but the tires that bear the late family patriarch’s name. The full story is below –

DANNY THOMPSON SETS LAND SPEED RECORD ON MICKEY THOMPSON TIRES

Stow, Ohio – Aug. 18, 2016 – Danny Thompson, son of the legendary Mickey Thompson, set a new land speed record for a piston-powered vehicle in the Challenger 2 streamliner during Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt Flats on Mickey Thompson Bonneville LSR tires.

On Saturday, Aug. 13, Thompson set a new AA/FS record with a speed of 411.191mph. Thompson backed up Saturday’s run with a 402.348mph run on Sunday, Aug. 14, and completed the weekend with a record-setting 406.769 mph official average, a significant margin over the previous record of 392.503mph.

Made in the United States, the Mickey Thompson Bonneville LSR tires used are prototype nylon constructed tires with banded steel and just 1/32 of an inch of tread rubber, size 24.5×7.50-16, weighing 13.0 lbs., with a tread width of 5.2 inches, a diameter of 24.2 inches and a section width of 7.5 inches.

“Sunday’s record-setting run was 50 years in the making,” Thompson said. “Bonneville put my dad on the map as the ‘Speed King,’ but he wasn’t able to fulfill his dream of setting the new 400mph record on the salt prior to his death. I’m so proud that my team and I were able to achieve what my dad had always wanted.”

“On behalf of our team, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Danny, his family and the crew that have helped Danny achieve this incredible milestone,” said Chris Barbara, President of Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels. “Mickey Thompson’s legacy lives on in Danny and this historic land speed record. The years of preparation, including the restoration of Mickey’s Challenger 2 is inspirational, and is a reflection of the spirit of innovation and passion that is the heart of our company.”

In 1960, Mickey Thompson became the first American to exceed 400mph on the salt. On the 50th anniversary of his father’s original 406mph run, Danny Thompson removed the Challenger 2 from storage and brought it to his Huntington Beach, Calif., shop to begin the extensive process of restoring, retrofitting, and updating the streamliner – a process which took several years. “We have stood shoulder to shoulder with Danny since he began the restoration of the Challenger 2,” said Ken Warner, Vice President of Marketing for Mickey Thompson. “Sometimes it was an uphill battle, sometimes it seemed like it was impossible, but Danny persevered. He is steadfast, committed and passionate. He embodies the spirit of a true racing legend, and we could not be more proud to share this moment with him.”

“None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels,” continued Thompson. “The company remains the definitive name in Bonneville race-tire technology. Massive thanks go out to them and to all of our generous sponsors, my crew and my family – the best a guy could ask for.”

For more information about this historic journey, watch Danny Thompson’s Mission video and the recent Running for the Record video.

Trusted by racers around the world, Mickey Thompson tires are engineered for maximum traction with superior construction and compounding for nearly every racing application. For details, visit http://www.mickeythompsontires.com.

About Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels

Max-Trac Tire Co., Inc., DBA Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels, markets racing and high-performance tires and wheels for street, strip, truck, and off-road applications. The company was founded in 1963 by racing legend Mickey Thompson and is headquartered in Stow, Ohio, USA. For more information, visit www.mickeythompsontires.com. Connect on Facebook and Instagram. Media contact: Don Sneddon, Advertising Manager, 800-222- 9092, ext. 3750, [email protected].

Challenger 2 Danny Thompson 2016- Holly Martin(1M)


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6 thoughts on “DANNY THOMPSON SETS LAND SPEED RECORD ON MICKEY THOMPSON TIRES – A Family Legacy Realized

  1. Chevy Hatin' Mad Geordie

    Well done – your dad would have been so proud of you! Now chuck in a bit more pop and go for 500mph…

  2. Dave Allen

    This has made my day.
    Revell need to make a model of the car so i have both mickey’s and danny’s cars!

  3. Jerry

    WOW! Awesome stuff. The American can-do hot rodder spirit lives on! Just shows that if you can dream it then all it takes is getting off your butt and doing it! Great job Danny! Congratulations.

  4. GO-GO GO-GO-GO

    Many things to consider,one of which is the run was on M/T Bonneville tires.
    Something old,something new,something borrowed and something blue.

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