BajaNomad

Danny Thompson selling "Challenger 2"

thebajarunner - 1-6-2020 at 06:19 PM

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/more-racing/a30394623/why-la...

Really great article, mostly about Mickey.
What great memories this brings back.
After SCORE was "invented" all of us pickup class 8 guys clambered for some definition in the rule book.
So Mickey invited all Class 8 guys down to his shop on Atlantic Blvd for a confab.
We were all there.... Walker, Ak Miller, Stroppe, Dugan, Mickey and Danny. My partner Darold (Old Blue) and I flew down with NASCAR West Coast champ Jack McCoy.
Along the shop walls were stacks of racing history. Indy cars, some exotic drag stuff and of course the blue "Challenger 2"

The evening was amazing, as we hashed out all kinds of details as to weight, materials, safety equipment etc.
It was pretty amazing how open and agreeable we all ended up.
The one thing I remember was that all of us were convinced that Mickey had acid dipped his Chevy truck and it was super lightweight, so we agreed on a minimum weight of something over 4000 pounds. Then he put scales under his rig and it came up well over 5000, so that sort of put all of that to rest.

Back then there were not many secrets. We had an in with the Stroppe folks and when we built our truck we went down and old Bill gave us carte blanche to his shop and all of the vehicles under construction.

Great memories.

John Harper - 1-7-2020 at 06:46 AM

I camped one night adjacent to the Bonneville Salt Flats this summer on my way to Wyoming. Quite an extraordinary sight. There was nothing going on at the time. Just kind of drive to a big asphalt turnaround, and you're on the salt. I did not drive out on it and there were signs saying it was not allowed. I don't want that salt crap on my underbody anyway, so no big deal. I guess the course is a few miles north of the road access, so pretty far north from Highway 80. It would be interesting to see the place when it's occupied. Northern Utah sure is blessed with salt, salt lakes, and small salt icebergs floating in them. A very bizarre and otherworldly area to drive across.

John

BajaNomad - 1-7-2020 at 10:07 AM

Enjoyed the story. Thanks for sharing.

satmike - 1-7-2020 at 10:17 AM

I was at Bonneville at the 5 mile when Danny made those runs in 2018. Huge cheers as he went out the trap.

[Edited on 1-12-2020 by satmike]

[Edited on 1-12-2020 by satmike]

[Edited on 1-12-2020 by satmike]

[Edited on 1-12-2020 by satmike]

satmike - 1-11-2020 at 09:25 PM

sold for 510 grand

55steve - 1-12-2020 at 09:29 AM

We raced at Riverside as well.

Way too cheap!!

thebajarunner - 1-12-2020 at 10:33 AM

Quote: Originally posted by satmike  
sold for 510 grand


I feel bad for Danny
That is a million dollar icon
Hope it goes in a museum and on permanent display

John Harper - 1-12-2020 at 12:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by satmike  
sold for 510 grand


Wow, just some of the parts are probably worth that.

John

55steve - 1-13-2020 at 09:13 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by 55steve  
We raced at Riverside as well.


Great event... Score at its finest. What class did you race in?
The Class 1 single seat-unlimited buggy battle between Parnelli Jones and Rick Mears had to be one of the finest finishes I saw there!


The classes have changed but we were in a 2 seat buggy with a 1600 CC VW that I believe was class 10 at the time. We broke both days unfortunately - first day was the throttle linkage and 2nd day an axle gave up. The off camber muddy section was a blast and it was certainly an experience haulin' butt along the pavement section in front of the grandstands!

[Edited on 1-13-2020 by 55steve]

thebajarunner - 1-13-2020 at 11:28 AM

And the original Bullitt beat up Mustang just sold for a tad short of $4 million.... What a joke!!

By the way DK and Steve
If you want to start a thread on Riverside racing just take it over there,
No sense camping on Danny T for your side bar stuff....

I also raced in the SCORE Riverside events, and when I want to discuss that I will start a new thread and do so.....:)