In the early 50s, Mickey Thompson entered the world of motorsports turning it upside down with one innovation after another and taking it to another level. He set nearly 500 speed and endurance records and participated in over 10,000 races. Fifty years after his milestone Bonneville Salt Flats run and 22 years after his tragic death, the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and Gale Banks Engineering team up to create an exquisite exhibit paying tribute to Mickey’s motorsports’ milestones and life in the fast lane.

Fritz Voigt (his longtime mechanic), Dan Gurney (racecar driver), Danny Ongais (racecar driver), Collene Campbell (Mickey’s sister) and his son Danny were just a handful of the stellar crowd that made the opening of Mickey Thompson: First American to 400 MPH presented by Banks Power on Thursday evening (Feb. 11) at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum.

This marked the first-ever exhibit celebrating Mickey’s most memorable machines with special recognition of his 50^th anniversary of breaking the 400 mph barrier on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1960. More than 300 of Mickey’s loved ones, closest friends, crewmembers, and on- and off-track contenders gathered to celebrate the life of the fastest man on earth.

Guests and a dozen photographers arrived early to try to sneak a peak at the fast iron machines, artifacts, and rare photos. By the start of the program, the entire exhibit area was unrecognizable with the standing room only crowd that poured in front of the podium to hear Mickey’s family and his business partners speak so eloquently of a magnificent father, brother, rival and friend.

“When we heard that there was an opportunity to help the Museum pay tribute to Mickey,” Gale Banks explained, “My only question was, ‘How can we get involved?’”

The exhibit’s opening night proved to be more of an overdue reunion. Crewmembers who once worked for Mickey brought their grandchildren to see for themselves just exactly what they did and how much fun they had working for Mickey. From Bonneville to Off-Road Racing, it seemed like everyone had a moment in time that they shared with Mickey.

“The Museum and Gale Banks managed to showcase my father’s many great accomplishments,” said Danny Thompson, “They’ve helped me remember so many great memories of my father that I even forgot. This exhibit commands attention!”

The crowd fizzled until the late hours of the night. A few lingered around the portraits of Mickey imagining just how one man could do everything he set out to do.

"To this day, no one has matched Mickey's numerous endeavors. He was a one-of-a-kind hot rodder," said Tony Thacker, Executive Director of the Parks Museum.

As Danny wrapped up the last signatures and posed for photos, he looked up at the Museum’s Curator Greg Sharp and with a heartfelt handshake said, “Thank you...Thank you!” Mickey’s memory will be forever cherished at the Museum.

The exhibit, sponsored by Gale Banks Engineering, features many of the innovative machines the Mickey Thompson designed, built, and drove into the record books including the incredible four Pontiac-engine Challenger I, the 1962 Indy race car, driven by Dan Gurney, the 1963 Z-06 Stingray Corvette with 427 Mark II “Mystery Motor”, his off-road 454 Chevy truck and many more.

The Mickey Thompson: First American to 400 MPH presented by Banks Power exhibit will be on display through early October, 2010. The Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum is located at Fairplex, 1101 West McKinley Ave, Gate 1, Pomona, CA 91768. For more information about the Museum, contact 909/622-2133. 

Photographs courtesy of Pam Schavrien and Darrell Conrad.

Gale Banks and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits chat about their crossing paths with Mickey Thompson.	Mickey's milestone record breaker, the Challenger 1, dominates the exhibit floor in the entry way of the Museum.	Collene Campbell, Mickey's sister, takes it all in as she poses next to one of her brother's legendary machines, the 1962 Indy race car driven by Dan Gurney.
Danny Thompson signs some autographs for fans, friends and family.	Mickey's off-road buggy is on display at the Museum along with his off-road truck.	Legends in their own field of motorsports, Ed Iskenderian and Don Garlits take some time out to remember a friend and legend Mickey Thompson.
Danny Thompson speaks about his father's ventures as well as some of his own to the standing crowd at the opening.	Mickey's majestic iron horses line up the exhibit area of the Museum. It's an amazing site!	Collene Campbell and Dan Gurney enjoyed the countless fond memories of Mickey. The exhibit opening resulted in a heartwarming M/T Reunion.
Museum Curator Greg Sharp spent long hours researching Mickey's many accomplishments. He mentioned that there were so many pieces and we wanted to tell the story of an amazing human being which resulted in one of our best exhibits thanks to our small Museum staff.	Alex Xydias, former business partner of Mickey Thompson which formed M/TAX, spoke of Mickey's many challenges and sleepless nights drawing up his next innovation. Gale Banks (back), exhibit sponsor, also had some tales of following in M/T's path.	Bob Muravez, aka Floyd Lippencott Jr., and his lovely wife Sharon were very close friends of Mickey. Bob raced numerous times at the legendary Lions track operated by Mickey Thompson.