It's no secret that today's auto racing is expensive no matter what series type you may be talking about; Formula 1, NASCAR, IRL, Champ Car, ALMS, NHRA, Grand Am, SCORE off-road, etc. Pick up a number of the current magazines, ROAD & TRACK included and you'll find articles about the cost of today's racing.
With that in mind,I'm going to talk about what it took to win the Indy 500 in 1950 as the main sponsor, a experience that my family lived first hand.
Continue reading "What it took to sponsor the 1950 Indy 500 winner" »
I don't remember when my dad first introduced me to Mickey Thompson, because he was always just there. By being just there I mean Mickey Thompson was everywhere. His name was associated with Bonneville and breaking speed records. For a young guy in my age group, the CHALLENGER streamliner was big stuff. To put it in perspective, Mickey was breaking speed records in the CHALLENGER on the ground, at the same time that the legendary X-15 was breaking speed records in the sky and space. I built the plastic model of it with my dad. I like many other guys my age knew every inch of this car. This was an incredible time in U.S.A. history. Then there was Mickey at Indy with the coolest cars of the time. They were low, wide and very different. Mickey ran Buick engines, he ran Pontiac engines. What a different time. Don't forget Mickey at the drag races, Mickey in off-road, Mickey at boat races. As I said, he was everywhere!
