Danny Thompson

Danny Thompson’s path to the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame has been a long, historical trek. The son of legendary motorsports hero Mickey Thompson, Danny made motorsports history and fulfilled a lifelong dream when he shattered the world land speed record for piston-powered, wheel-driven vehicles with a two-way average of 448 miles per hour on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2018.  His dad had gone to Bonneville in 1960, when he piloted a car he had built and titled Challenger I to a 406 miles per hour run.  The streamliner featured four supercharged Pontiac engines, and Mickey was the first American to top 400 miles per hour.  He was unable to make a return run, which was a requirement in setting the land speed record.   It was eight years later when returned with a new car, Challenger II, to make another record attempt.  Rain halted the 1969 event, and Mickey was never able to return again to Bonneville in pursuit of a record.  After his untimely death in 1988, Challenger II was put into storage.  In more recent years, Danny put together a grass-roots fund-raising effort to bring the two-engined streamliner back to the Salt Flats in pursuit of the land speed record in his class.  In 2016, he made a run at just over 406 miles per hour, and knew there was more speed to be found.  On August 12, 2018, Danny clocked a run at 446.605 miles per hour.  He made his backup run the next day, and reached 450.909 miles per hour on the five mile course for a two-way average of 448.757 miles per hour.  The record was his, set in the car built by his father in 1968 and improved over the years by Danny and his crew, as they upgraded Challenger II with two nitro-fueled 2500 horsepower hemi engines and an improved drivetrain.  The run was not without its drama.  He is quoted as saying “It got a little squirrely, I was almost lock to lock at around 430 miles per hour, which was quite an experience.”  Video footage confirmed it, and it was amazing to see his hands move the wheel quickly to keep the car in line and not lose momentum.  It was a world record, but meant so much more.  After the run Danny said: “This year’s Speed Week marked the 50^th anniversary of the Challenger II’s construction.   In 1968, my dad, the mad scientists at Kar Kraft, and an elite group of Sothern California gearheads created a vehicle that they believed had the potential to become the world’s fastest hot rod.  It took five decades, a lot of elbow grease, and a few modifications, but I feel like I’ve finally been able to fulfill their dreams, as well as my own.  Thanks, guys.  I share today’s record with all of you.”  For this remarkable story, and for an accomplishment that could only be a dream for almost anyone else, we proudly induct Danny Thompson into the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame.