More Mickey Thompson stuff
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From: Richmond Kentucky
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More Mickey Thompson stuff
Sorry, I know some of you don't have any particular interest in this stuff, but it fascinates me so please bear with me. I just scored this magnesium small block which GM cast specifically for Mickey Thompson to use at the Indy 500 in 1963. GM cast 31 of these mag blocks and this is number 22. Check out the video of Mickey's son Danny talking about his dad's Indy car. Pay particular attention to what Danny says about the mag block at the 1:12 part of the video.
Could THIS be THE block that MT used at Indy? Who knows? But I'm confident he had more than one block at his disposal, should he need it.
I would love to hear from ANYONE who knows ANYTHING about these mag blocks.
As always, thanks in advance.
Rex
http://mickeythompson63tanker.com/vi...ianapolis-500/
Could THIS be THE block that MT used at Indy? Who knows? But I'm confident he had more than one block at his disposal, should he need it.
I would love to hear from ANYONE who knows ANYTHING about these mag blocks.
As always, thanks in advance.
Rex
http://mickeythompson63tanker.com/vi...ianapolis-500/
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Le Mans Master
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From: Richmond Kentucky
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Joined: Jan 2016
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From: st charles IL
Great post, I enjoyed the out of the box improvements in that video of MT. I would love to see that mag engine put together to determine if it could stay together. I have never seen one before.
Last edited by bigbrakebob; Feb 5, 2016 at 10:25 PM.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
Have you read the book by Art Garner, Black Noon?
The book is about the Mickey Thompson's disastrous 1964 Indy 500, that ended with a horrendous crash that took the life of his driver Dave MacDonald, as well as Eddie Sachs. There are only one or two lines in the book about Thompson's 63 effort, but if you're interested in Mickey Thompson and/or his time at Indy, it's an interesting read.
The book is about the Mickey Thompson's disastrous 1964 Indy 500, that ended with a horrendous crash that took the life of his driver Dave MacDonald, as well as Eddie Sachs. There are only one or two lines in the book about Thompson's 63 effort, but if you're interested in Mickey Thompson and/or his time at Indy, it's an interesting read.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Richmond Kentucky
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Have you read the book by Art Garner, Black Noon?
The book is about the Mickey Thompson's disastrous 1964 Indy 500, that ended with a horrendous crash that took the life of his driver Dave MacDonald, as well as Eddie Sachs. There are only one or two lines in the book about Thompson's 63 effort, but if you're interested in Mickey Thompson and/or his time at Indy, it's an interesting read.
The book is about the Mickey Thompson's disastrous 1964 Indy 500, that ended with a horrendous crash that took the life of his driver Dave MacDonald, as well as Eddie Sachs. There are only one or two lines in the book about Thompson's 63 effort, but if you're interested in Mickey Thompson and/or his time at Indy, it's an interesting read.
That was a memorable day for sure, and for all the wrong reasons.
R.I.P Dave MacDonald and Eddie Sachs.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
I remember that Hot Rod Magazine did an article on one of Thompson's Indy Cars in the 60's. I use to have a copy of it, and I think it was the 63 Titanium Special. If I get a chance, I'll look for it, but it's stored with thousands of other magazines on the second floor of an unheated building, and it's 35 degrees here right now.
Hot Rod also had an article last year, about a guy who worked for Thompson in the late 60's, and had a collection of all kinds of old race cars (mostly Fords), and speed parts. I think he had the body from Thompson's 63 Indy Car.
I love racing, but it is a cruel sport. It's hard to imagine how many of my heroes, it has taken over the years, Donohue, Clark, Earnhardt, Senna, Revson, Villeneuve, Titus, the list just goes on and on.
I've been lucky. I've attended hundreds of races, maybe a thousand, since first going to a Langhorne Indy Car race in 67, and I've only had the misfortune to witness one death. Unfortunately it was a driver that I knew, Jim Fitzgerald, Paul Newman's teammate.
Hot Rod also had an article last year, about a guy who worked for Thompson in the late 60's, and had a collection of all kinds of old race cars (mostly Fords), and speed parts. I think he had the body from Thompson's 63 Indy Car.
I love racing, but it is a cruel sport. It's hard to imagine how many of my heroes, it has taken over the years, Donohue, Clark, Earnhardt, Senna, Revson, Villeneuve, Titus, the list just goes on and on.
I've been lucky. I've attended hundreds of races, maybe a thousand, since first going to a Langhorne Indy Car race in 67, and I've only had the misfortune to witness one death. Unfortunately it was a driver that I knew, Jim Fitzgerald, Paul Newman's teammate.
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