Think outside the box a little

[chromebumpers]

You must consider this guy and others like him as artists. I have always admired the guys who think and develop cars (in their minds). No computer, no clay or Styrofoam modeling and certainly no laser point geometry! We're not talking about some pos those guys from 5th Gear (the TV Show) put together. It just amazes me that someone can come up with the crazy combinations of parts and somehow know it will work.

http://www.highperformancepontiac.com/f ... c_sunfire/

 

[grumpyvette]

theres zero doubt the guys got impressive skills in fabrication, frame work, body working, interior and painting

 

[87vette81big]

Kinda Neat Rich.
A revamped 1969 GTO Judge.

I think Mickey Thompson was one of the Greatest Fabricators & Racers of all time.
Drag Racing.
Boat Racing.
Indycar Racing.
Offroad Baja Racing.
Bonneville Salt Flat Racer.

Its not very well known today but he designed every car & chassis he raced.
Welded together tubing himself to form Chassis.
He hardly ever slepted. Worked non stop.
Overcame partial Paraysis as a child. Was supposed to die then.
Blew away Long standing FIA Records in 1 day with 4 purpose cars he built at Edwards Airforce Base.
His 4 Pontiac V8 Supercharged Nitro methane

 

[87vette81big]

Challenger 1 was his greatest feat.
All said it was impossible.
10 miles WOT Salt Run each way.
Return run he was clocked at 420 mph.
Frame Chassis was made from Junkyard WW2 Warbird salvaged tubing.
All his design & welded together himself.
Done in 1959-1960.
Pontiac took a chance, Bunkue Knudson. Backed him

 

[87vette81big]

A Hotrod Trivia question Rich...
The 4 Pontiac Engine Streamliner Challenger 1 had no radiators for engine cooling.
How did Mickey Thompson accomplish it ??

 

[chromebumpers]

Mickey Thompson, "The Maniac." I don't know why Hollywood never made a movie about his life, he was as much to the auto racing world as Jimmy Hendrix was to the music world! It's still weird how the slaying of Mickey and his wife Trudy was hushed so well - like a conspiracy of some sort. I have an autographed poster of Challenger I (555) by MT and a Gale Banks. I don't recall anything about Challenger's cooling other then there several water tanks recirculating water through a maze of lines inside the frame?

 

[87vette81big]

Mickey Thompson, "The Maniac." I don't know why Hollywood never made a movie about his life, he was as much to the auto racing world as Jimmy Hendrix was to the music world! It's still weird how the slaying of Mickey and his wife Trudy was hushed so well - like a conspiracy of some sort. I have an autographed poster of Challenger I (555) by MT and a Gale Banks. I don't recall anything about Challenger's cooling other then there several water tanks recirculating water through a maze of lines inside the frame?

Correct Rich.
After every salt run the cooling tanks were replenished with fresh cool water.
A seperate Water Tank Truck was part of the Pit Crew Gear.

That's my Old Nickname. The Maniac.
My late Bud Bill Gave it to me.