Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: speedrelic on November 10, 2018, 05:39:32 PM
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In 1958 MT was on his way to a drag meet and decided to stop off at Bonneville to do some test runs. This was the black primer #555 car. He ended up setting some speed records. This got him hooked on Bonneville and in the next couple of years he went on to build the Challenger cars. I am looking for any photos of the #555 car taken at Bonneville in '58. Thanks for any help. Mike
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(http://www.dailysportscar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Mickey-Thompson.jpg)
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Here's links to a couple of pictures of it:
Mickey hisseff is with it in this one:
https://www.hotrod.com/articles/hollywood-stars-align-racers-rodders-1958-motorsports-events/#
This one shows a classified ad attempting to sell it:
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22mickey+thompson%22+bonneville+555&lr=&as_qdr=all&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=zUyD4TuW8zCHCM%253A%252CdQX7-KB8b_ZAdM%252C_&usg=AI4_-kRkbwrlo9RN_Ga7IBpUmwuOD91nwQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjt1sPp187eAhUFK3wKHdcoD74Q9QEwBXoECAYQDA#imgrc=rfwsrBsjZZ_-7M:
A very similar-looking MT car is in the World of Speed Museum (along with Challenger 1 and a couple others) in Wilsonville, OR.
Jeff in Boise
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More
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1958-original-mickey-thompson-photo-1882215581 (https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1958-original-mickey-thompson-photo-1882215581)
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Expanding the topic slightly, what record(s) did MT set at the 1958 Speed Week?
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In response to TrickyDicky's question, Mickey Thompson set a 2-way average of 266.866 beating the previous record set by Kenz & Leslie (266.204). They also made a series of one way runs of 272, 286.85 and 294.117, which according to Hot Rod mag was the fastest speed for an American car to date. I think if he would have broken the 300 mph mark, which he came really close to, you would have heard a lot more of this car! As it is, it's pretty obscure, but it did lead Mickey to building the Challenger cars and going over 400 mph. Mike
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In response to TrickyDicky's question, Mickey Thompson set a 2-way average of 266.866 beating the previous record set by Kenz & Leslie (266.204). They also made a series of one way runs of 272, 286.85 and 294.117, which according to Hot Rod mag was the fastest speed for an American car to date. I think if he would have broken the 300 mph mark, which he came really close to, you would have heard a lot more of this car! As it is, it's pretty obscure, but it did lead Mickey to building the Challenger cars and going over 400 mph. Mike
Thanks for the information.
With a bit of searching through old newspapers on line, I have learnt that 294.117 mph was achieved on the last day of Speed Week as MT tried to improve his new record. It was also Top Time at Speed Week.