Folks Of Interest Jr Thompson passes

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

(Rhonda Thompson Strickland).

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Condolences to his family. Met him at Bakersfield a few years ago. Nice guy!

 

I'm sorry to hear that. RIP Jr.

 

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

 

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.

 

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 .

 

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

 

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...

 

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.

 

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.

 

A thank you to Rob Frazer for all those photos

 

My condolances to the family.

Great photo representation of his racing passion.

 

A real racer! Gasser icon! R.I.P. Another legend leaves us, sad to hear this.

 

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.

 

RIP to a legend...first saw him race at Riverside in his Studebaker gasser...never forgot what a show he put on.

 

I have that tape.

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Everybody should have that tape. (or I guess, now disc)

 

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

 

Sad day. RIP JR.

 

Sorry to hear, another great one passes. RIP

 

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!

 

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.

 

Junior had one of these, for good reason. Thanks to Joe Russo at Overland Design and Gary Meadors.

 

Met him several times. He was good friends of several of my friends, always liked and respected him R.I.P. Roger

 

He was a Hot Rodder.