After watching “Strange Inheritance” featuring Danny Thompson and his work on getting Mickey’s streamliner out on the salt flats, I was reminded of my time with Mickey in 1968 at Bonneville.
Although I had several years’ experience in drag racing back then, I had none in land speed record setting at Bonneville. So, at the advice of USAC headquarters, in the summer of 1968 I traveled to meet USA Steward Joe Petrali at his office in LaVerne, California. My objective was to learn whatever I could about the various requirements for setting international and world records under FIA sanction.
We discussed The Blue Flame LSR project and how we wanted to attempt a world land speed record in September, 1969. Joe gave me lists of names to contact at the State of Utah Bureau of Land Management in Salt Lake City, the Western Motel in Wendover, and said he would handle the paperwork with USAC, ACCUS-FIA and the FIA in Paris, France.
As I continued to ask him questions about running on the salt flats and the course layout, his eyebrows suddenly raised and he had a smile on his face. “Let me get this straight now”, he said, “You and your crew have never even been to the Bonneville Salt Flats, right?” I nodded affirmatively.
“And you intend to go out there next year and break Craig Breedlove’s World Land Speed Record, right?” Again I nodded.
“You do know his record is 600 mph!” “Yes”, I replied.
“You do know that you have to go at least 607 mph to set a new record?” he continued. “That’s what it says in the FIA rulebook, exceed the record by 1%.” I again responded by nodding my head.
“Well, then, we’ll have to help with your education”, Joe said, chuckling.
He suggested that I witness land speed racing first hand later that summer. Mickey Thompson planned to publicize the new 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1by setting numerous FIA international speed and endurance records at Bonneville on the International Course. Joe and his USAC crew would be out there timing and certifying the records, so he invited me to witness the event.
Mickey had set up an encampment with all of his Mustangs and service equipment near the mile six marker and off to the side of the course. He also had a double-wide trailer (a ranch house, really) parked opposite the USAC timing trailer. The Autolite Special streamliner was also parked near the trailer.
Inside the timing trailer, Joe and his crew fired up their generator and warmed up the timing lights, electronic timers, etc. They were to be out there for two weeks as Mickey and Hawaiian racer Danny Ongais set over 100 records for speed and distance on the international straight line course and the 10-mile circle course for class B (305 to 488 cu in) and class C (183 to 305 cu in) sedans.
As the Mickey Thompson team prepared the various Mustangs for their record runs there was plenty of down time for Mickey and the USAC crew. Joe introduced me to Mickey later in the day. “Mick, here’s a young man who will be coming out here next year to break Craig’s record.” Mickey looked me over carefully, and then exclaimed: “You’d better have a ton of money if you want to do that.” “We do,” I boasted. Then Mickey looked over toward one of the Mustangs and said “Let’s go for a little ride.”
We hopped into the blue 1969 Mustang which had been prepared for the flying start mile and kilometer speed runs. Mickey strapped himself in and put on his helmet while I crouched on the floor hanging on to the roll cage tubing. “What am I doing here?” I thought. Mickey then took me on a high-speed trip up and down the course at 150 mph, showing me how to spot soft salt and other speed killers.
“Thanks, Joe,” I shouted afterwards while climbing out through the window, “I think!”
I spent a few days watching Mickey and Danny setting lots of records with the Mustangs. The Autolite Special streamliner was just sitting there until I left. I always wanted to see that beautiful car run, and now Danny has made that happen. Keep going, Danny!
