History Four Pontiacs and a one-way 406.60 MPH

I can only imagine what it's like strapped into that thing with shit hitting the fan...sheesh.

 

Here's another good story.
When Thompson returned for the 1960 racing season the salt was in poor condition. On his first run the car shook so hard that when he was decelerating from a 372.7MPH pass he vomited in his face mask. He didn't run anymore that day deciding to return later in the week to fill a spot left by Donald Campbell. Hmmm.
More on this later.

 

Goodyear was the only tire company willing to undertake the development and risk of the tires necessary for the demands of a 3000+ hp, 7000 pound 400 mph vehicle. Considering the conditions of the salt, and the relative uncertainty of the tires' ability to survive the stresses, Thompson was a brave man indeed. The technology achieved in the trails of this machine proved useful for future high-speed and practical road tires for Goodyear.

 

Whats the red streamliner in the 2nd picture?

 

Thats the "Red Head" currently owned by Jim Lattin.

 

...

 

That Redhead has to be a 36-24-36! I have always loved that bod!

Hey Rootie, is that a BRM flippin' over in your avatar?

 

Yeah, thats Hans Herman at Avus 59.

 

Thought so, he just "fell out" and walked away didn't he?

 

not to veer the thread, but this is priceless!

 

Yep, just bruised. The flat hairpin was a favorite for the photogs, it was well documented:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VbwD5rZZkU&feature=related

 

My best memories of MT are later, in the desert & at Riverside when he was racing the off road sprint car, that thing was awesome, could hear it coming across the desert for a mile before it got to us, I have some super 8 movies of that thing.
Mickey was always the inovator, always the individual, always reaching way up out of the box, don't you know if he was alive today he would have some kind of alternate fuel vehicle setting records in every venue...

 

my tribute...

 

anybody have any info of Mickey running at March Air Force Base in Riverside Ca. I have found records of him running there but never any pictures of him or anybody else for that matter on the strip here. .. pictures would be awesome.

 

Yeah, there are pics from his time at March AFB in '61 at least. I remember seeing a pic of several Pontiac powered cars lined in a row for a photo shoot. including a '61 Catalina coupe and a few streamliner rails. there must be pics of that somewhere on the net.

anyone?

Steve

 

Hrm-9/61

 

nice! thank you. anyone got anymore??

 

yes, any more?