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| Among the
classes dominated by Thompson and
Pontiac was NHRAšs four-cylinder-dragster
category. Because PMD offered no four-banger
at the time, Mickey chopped a standard
V8 in half and added the 4-71 blower. |
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The Mobil Gas Economy Run was a great experience
for both of us. We ran for four years, both
of us winning one year for Pontiac. I was instrumental
in the construction and running of what I feel
was the greatest drag racing facility anywhere:
Lions Drag Strip. Of course, that was an experience
I will remember always. We were there eight
or nine years before we opened our own strip
in Fontana, and C.J. Hart took over at "The
Beach."
There were several years at Bonneville, running
different cars before we embarked on the Land-Speed-Record
car. The Challenger was built in our garage
in El Monte, Calif. The design for the frame
was laid out in chalk on the garage floor. I
remember so well Mickey talking to Donald Campbell
from England, of "Bluebird" fame, at Bonneville.
He was there with his entourage of designers,
engineers, architects, etc., to run for the
LSR. He asked Mickey about his blueprints and
plans and was told they were in chalk on the
floor of our garage. He was appalled, and was
sure we would never run fast, much less stay
together.
We spent a long time away
from our two children while waiting for the
right weather, especially wind, to make our
run. This was both in 1959 and 1960. This alone
would fill the pages of a book.
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| The Thompsons,
Judy (second from left) and Mickey
(far right), teamed up with longtime-sponsor
Pontiac Motor Division to win two
different classes in the prestigious
Mobil Economy Run. (Also shown are
Annette Swanson and Bob Newell, a
Pontiac engineer.) |
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After the 406-m.p.h. run, we had a party at
the State Line Casino in Wendover for all the
people we had gotten to know in the long time
we were there - including the maids at the motel,
the waitresses, gas-station attendants, timers,
USAC officials, etc. The English crew was appalled
at the fact that we would invite the "working
class" to a party. That was hard for us to understand;
we considered them all a part of our success.
After we returned from Bonneville, Mickey went
to Europe on business. He soon sent for the
three of us, and we had the awesome experience
of following the Formula-1 Grand Prix racing
circuit. What a thrill that was.
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