Danny Thompson / Challenger 2.5: 317MPH test

[Ace-Garageguy]

A few days ago, Danny Thompson, son of racing legend Mickey Thompson (who went 406.6 MPH to become the "fastest man on wheels" in his 4-engined, Pontiac-powered Challenger I in 1960) ran 317MPH in the Challenger 2 at Bonneville, to top off 2 back to back successful days of high-speed testing.

Originally built by Mickey back in 1968 as the "Autolite Special" running two 427 Ford SOHC engines, the now twin-dry-block, nitro-burning car (sometimes laughingly called Challenger 2.5 because of the extent of the modifications since then) was back on the salt for the first time in 46 years. Mickey's son Danny has completely rebuilt it using updated technology and engines, and is going to be shooting for a 400MPH pass in August.

Danny Thompson's ultimate goal is to surpass 500MPH, but at least to break the current wheel-driven Land Speed Record of 439MPH, set in 2012 by George Poteet.

If you have a love of racing anything, and understand the amount of work, sweat and tears that go into trying something like this, here's a link to the Thompson LSR site. Be sure to watch the in-car and engine-test videos with commentary by Danny Thompson.

These guys are real American heroes, and I wish them the best of all possible luck. http://thompsonlsr.com/news

Edited July 18, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[cobraman]

Bill, did you ever finish that streamliner you were working on or should I not ask ?

[MachinistMark]

best of luck to Thompson and his crew, following along with baited breath! go challenger!

[Ace-Garageguy]

Bill, did you ever finish that streamliner you were working on or should I not ask ?

Still working on it, Ray. Thanks for remembering. Finished the body for the NNL South meet back in November, and that was the last model work I've done until this past week. The move and getting up and running again, plus other real-life obligations, have taken just about every waking moment.

I need reference pix of the Challenger I engines and guts in the original configuration. I'd honestly planned to contact Danny Thompson to see if he had anything floating around, but I figure he's probably kinda busy right now.

[1930fordpickup]

I hope and pray he gets the record for his dad.

[wayne swayze]

With a name "Challenger" coupled with the salt of Bonneville..this is just magical! Good luck!

[Greg Myers]

Not to forget The Summers brothers Bob and Bill that broke the LSR in November 1965 at 409.227 MPH with an official two way record they held till 1991.http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2011/05/17/rip-bill-summers/