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Folks Of Interest Jr Thompson passes

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Speed Gems, May 29, 2016.

  1. Speed Gems
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 6,433

    Speed Gems
    Member

    Jr. passed peacefully at 7:15 this evening, May 28th, 2016

    (Rhonda Thompson Strickland).

    Sent from my Nexus 5 using H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    Last edited: May 29, 2016
  2. Condolences to his family. Met him at Bakersfield a few years ago. Nice guy!
     
  3. Gotgas
    Joined: Jul 22, 2004
    Posts: 7,175

    Gotgas
    Member
    from DFW USA

    I'm sorry to hear that. RIP Jr.
     
  4. rfraze
    Joined: May 23, 2012
    Posts: 2,008

    rfraze
    Member

    Junior, I will miss you. My best to Anita, Rhonda, and Tommy.
    He never quit being a true Gasser Legend.
    Rob Frazier
    9361684_orig.jpg
     

  5. rfraze
    Joined: May 23, 2012
    Posts: 2,008

    rfraze
    Member

  6. rfraze
    Joined: May 23, 2012
    Posts: 2,008

    rfraze
    Member

  7. rfraze
    Joined: May 23, 2012
    Posts: 2,008

    rfraze
    Member

  8. rfraze
    Joined: May 23, 2012
    Posts: 2,008

    rfraze
    Member

  9. rfraze
    Joined: May 23, 2012
    Posts: 2,008

    rfraze
    Member

    I don't think I have any shots of the BB/Funny Car that almost took his life when it hit a block that had been left on the track.
    He raced the best, beat the best, and was as good of a racer as there ever was.
     
  10. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,801

    Marty Strode
    Member

    I got to know Jr. and his Son Tommy back in the 80's at Fremont. Tom Willford and I showed up with the Ron Bizio Willys PU, and the Thompson's brought their Prefect. I had the task of racing them in the first round of A/GS, and what a clinic they put on ! There is a great little interview and interaction with Jr, K.S. Pittman, and Ron Nunes in the Jackson Bros, Gasser Files, taped in our pit at that race. Jr was always dealing parts with Willford, and treating him fair, I really appreciated that. He was a Legend in the Gassser community, and will be missed. RIP Jr . Jr. Thompson\'s Prefect.jpg
     
    Speed Gems and oj like this.
  11. rfraze
    Joined: May 23, 2012
    Posts: 2,008

    rfraze
    Member

    Junior built a Prefect for Nostalgia Racing that was one of the first in the 7s with his son Tommy at the wheel. Tommy has carried on the banner racing gassers with Michael Troke and Charlie O'Neill. Looking for pics
     
  12. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,133

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    Sorry to hear this. I've bought stuff from Jr at the Long Beach swapmeet going back decades. He was always friendly, humble and very patient...he was a good guy...I've met his son too...always would ask about Jr. Tommy is a chip off the old block...great people. RIP Jr...
     
    chopper99 likes this.
  13. olcurmdgeon
    Joined: Dec 15, 2007
    Posts: 2,289

    olcurmdgeon
    Member

    another legend passes, been a tough couple of years, lot of heroes of my youth have moved on. RIP Jr and condolences to his family.
     
    chopper99 likes this.
  14. oj
    Joined: Jul 27, 2008
    Posts: 6,454

    oj
    Member

    What a great racer, he stuffed the biggest engines into the littlest cars and sent them down the track, just incredible!
    RIP, he is in good company now.
     
  15. A thank you to Rob Frazer for all those photos
     
  16. AVater
    Joined: Dec 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,148

    AVater
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Connecticut HAMB'ers

    My condolances to the family.

    Great photo representation of his racing passion.
     
    chopper99 likes this.
  17. A real racer! Gasser icon! R.I.P. Another legend leaves us, sad to hear this.
     
    chopper99 likes this.
  18. elgringo71
    Joined: Oct 2, 2010
    Posts: 3,823

    elgringo71
    Member

    Hate to hear this, condolences to the family. Rest in Peace Junior. He was one of the ones that started the gasser wars. With the Studebaker posted by Rob and this Willys also posted above. This is the best picture that I have ever seen of it. Among other things he was also known for wringing all of the horsepower out of 392 Hemis.

    image.jpeg
     
  19. 296ardun
    Joined: Feb 11, 2009
    Posts: 4,673

    296ardun
    Member

    RIP to a legend...first saw him race at Riverside in his Studebaker gasser...never forgot what a show he put on.
     
  20. Speed Gems
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 6,433

    Speed Gems
    Member

    I have that tape.

    Sent from my GT-P3113 using H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  21. rfraze
    Joined: May 23, 2012
    Posts: 2,008

    rfraze
    Member

    Everybody should have that tape. (or I guess, now disc)
     
    Speed Gems likes this.
  22. JC Sparks
    Joined: Dec 8, 2008
    Posts: 733

    JC Sparks
    Member
    from Ohio

    I knew him when he was part of a BB/FC group that ran around the mid west. He had a bad crash at Norwalk Ohio one night in his Corvette funny car and that was the last time I saw him. He was a good guy. JC
     
  23. Sad day. RIP JR. :(
     
  24. Hotrodmyk
    Joined: Jan 7, 2011
    Posts: 2,302

    Hotrodmyk
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Northwest HAMBers

    Sorry to hear, another great one passes. RIP
     
  25. CalGasser
    Joined: Apr 11, 2005
    Posts: 793

    CalGasser
    Member

    Damn, lost another Gasser great! I knew Jr., Anita, Rhonda & Tommy personally - all great people! Jr. had a few rough years but now released from his confines. Deepest sympathies to the Thompson family, RIP Jr.! Glad to have known you and we'll miss you in the Gasser world!
     
  26. Condolences to the Thompson family at this sad time. My partner and I spent a lot of fun saturday nights racing in A/GS shows around socal in the 60's and 70's. The gasser world will miss, but not forget the legend of Junior Thompson. RIP Junior.
     
    rfraze likes this.
  27. rfraze
    Joined: May 23, 2012
    Posts: 2,008

    rfraze
    Member

    100_2516.JPG Junior had one of these, for good reason. Thanks to Joe Russo at Overland Design and Gary Meadors.
     
  28. rfraze
    Joined: May 23, 2012
    Posts: 2,008

    rfraze
    Member

  29. Roger O'Dell
    Joined: Jan 21, 2008
    Posts: 1,150

    Roger O'Dell
    Member

    Met him several times. He was good friends of several of my friends, always liked and respected him R.I.P. Roger
     
  30. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    He was a Hot Rodder.
     
    rfraze likes this.

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