Event Coverage The Thompsons: Father (and now Son) Bonneville Legends.

Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post:

The Thompsons: Father (and now Son) Bonneville Legends.

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Here's Danny's time slip from Saturday's Qualifying Run:

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... and his time slip from Sunday's Record Run:

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Fantastic! Mikey and Danny.....congratulations, job well done!

 

Wow, What an Accomplishment! In a Class by Themselves.

 

WOW! I had no idea that this was going on. I had just graduated from high school in 1960 when Mickey made his original record run and I followed his progress as well as I could from the woods in Minnesota. I remember the hype about the 406 mph run, but since it was not backed up, it wasn't the "real" record. I felt it was like "kissing you sister".

Seeing this makes that all moot, since Danny has the "real" record. It's still quite an accomplishment.

 

Dang. Just...dang.

 

God speed, Mickey and Danny...

 

4 cars over 400 this year, and it's only Tuesday. Wow

 

Yep ... as of this morning:

• #496 "Carbiliner" AA/BFS (Blown Fuel Streamliner) ... Rob Freyvogel ran 406.750 mph with an exit speed of 411.813 mph (on Sunday, 8/12).
  
• #492 "Challenger 2" AA/FS (Fuel Streamliner) ... Danny Thompson ran 446.605 mph with an exit speed of 453.682 mph (on Saturday, 8/11) & 450.909 mph with an exit speed of 459.588 mph (on Sunday, 8/12) ... setting a new AA/FS record: 448.755 mph!
• #7151 "Speed Demon" B/BFS ... George Poteet ran 452.255 mph with an exit speed of 464.246 mph (on Monday, 8/13).
• #111 "Team Vesco Turbinator II" 3/T (Turbine Vehicle) ... Dave Spangler ran 463.038 mph with an exit speed of 470.605 mph (on Monday, 8/13) & 447.175 mph with an exit speed of 454.193 mph (on Tuesday, 8/14) ... setting a new 3/T record: 455.106 mph!

NOTE: The "exit speeds" are only noted here for the purpose of crowning the winner of the "HOT ROD MAGAZINE TROPHY" (awarded annually by HRM for the fastest one-way time recorded at Bonneville Speed Week).​

 

How long before someone hits 500?

 

Thanks for the updates

 

Dad, can I borrow the car?
r


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

You are right in that Mickey is not an "official" 400 MPH Club member, but he is in the 300 MPH Club:
http://www.bonneville200mph.org/300.html

Look how small the 400 Club is (including my buddy Charlie Nearburg!):
http://www.bonneville200mph.org/400.html

 

A good news story if I ever heard one.

Well done Danny.

Rest in Peace Mickey. You taught your son well.

 

By the way, great short film of Danny explaining his father's legacy and innovation at Bonneville, Indy, Off Road, etc.

 

Here's some great photos commemorating Danny Thompson's new AA/FS record of 448.755 mph:

all images by Bubb Lannan
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Again, I will profess my ignorance about the current record breaking attempts, so I'll guess. I'll bet he's using Chrysler hemi's, not Pontiacs. Does anyone know; is the original 4 engine Challenger still around?

 

Several years ago Challenged 1 was in the NHRA museum at Pomona. Maybe 2008.

 

A couple friends just left here, all excited about witnessing this. Congrats, Danny, well done.

 

Way too cool. Only a matter of time before someone hits 500

 

Hi Jive-Bomber.Thanks for a great thread and videos.Keep up the good work.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

Fabulous pictures. Thanks for sharing them.

 

Sadly to me Poteet averaged 452 to take the record, a single twin turbo 393ci engine powered the speed demon

 

Danny and his mother Judy at the 7 mile after Saturday's qualifying 446+. She was in the push truck for both runs.

 

Mickey Thompson's (circa 1960) CHALLENGER I streamliner was powered by four GMC 6-71 supercharged Pontiac V8 engines:

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Mickey Thompson's (circa 1968) CHALLENGER II / AUTOLITE SPECIAL streamliner was powered by two Ford 427ci SOHC V8s (front engine was normally aspirated & rear was supercharged) driving each axle individually:

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Danny Thompson rebuilt his father's (circa 1968) CHALLENGER II / AUTOLITE SPECIAL streamliner to become his (circa 2018) CHALLENGER 2 streamliner ... powered by two fuel-injected 500ci "Chrysler" HEMI V8s driving each axle individually:

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As @ironrodder already mentioned, it is still around ... and was displayed at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum in Pomona, CA:

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... but now resides in the World of Speed Motorsports Museum in Wilsonville, OR:

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What cool deal.
From what I’ve read Danny has put heart, soul, blood, sweat & tears into this project.
I hope he keeps on - 500 is just around the corner!

 

Way to go Danny, well done not giving up and chasing the record. I spent way too much time today at work explaining to my co-workers what land speed racing is. This was awesome to see and I'm excited to see what the runs for the rest of the week produce.

 

Danny and his family put everything into this project. From what I heard in his pit this is it.. It's museum time for the car. There would need to be a large "step-up" person to change this. Anyone around his pit area would have seen what it takes to do what he and his wife have done. His team of guys believed in him and did a fantastic job of making it happen.

 

Nope ...

Poteet ran 452.255 mph on Monday, August 13th with the "B" motor in his Speed Demon blown fuel streamliner to qualify for the B/BFS record (i.e., the 'liner spent the night in impound).

Unfortunately, the this morning (Tuesday, August 14th), the 'liner experience some issues and George did NOT set a new B/BFS record.

So as of Tuesday, August 14th 2018, Danny Thompson's "CHALLENGER 2" AA - Fuel Streamliner is the World's Fastest Piston-Powered, Wheel-Driven vehicle.

NOTE: The "Team Vesco Turbinator II" driven by Dave Spangler is the World's Fastest Turbine-Powered, Wheel-Driven vehicle (i.e., Dave bumped the Engine Class 3 - Turbine Vehicle record up to 455.106 mph on Tuesday, August 14th).

 

Nope ...

As @jimmy six stated, Danny has already announced that the CHALLENGER 2 'liner is "RETIRED" (i.e., a museum piece).

He (& his crew) have accomplished what they set out to do ... and without some corporate backing or very large donor, he simply doesn't have the $$$ to pursue loftier goals/records.