[1]Photo: AutoTrader [2]
Mickey Thompson–the man whose name, exploits, company [3], and legacy forever reverberate within the walls of automotive history. Although no longer with us, Mickey’s legacy was honored recently with the Shav Glick award by the Justice Brothers [4].
Done at the Fontana Speedway back in March, the award, presented by Justice Brothers, recognizes industry figures who have made valuable or distinguished contributions in the state of California. Mickey was aptly chosen for such an honor, and joins the likes of, among others, recipients Dan Gurney, the famous Indy racer and Newport Beach resident, and Robert Petersen, the renowned publisher and founder of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Pasadena.
[5]Photo: Off Road Action [6]
Other nominees for the award were prolific drag racer Tom McEwen, and Chris Pook, founder of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Said Ken Warner, VP sales and marketing, Mickey Thompson Tires and Performance: “We are very proud that Mickey Thompson has been selected to receive this very special award in recognition of his substantial contributions to the industry here in the state of California. It is especially meaningful to us and to the Thompson family as we celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary this year.”
Mickey Thompson greatly affected the automotive world: from his early days as a record setter in his Challenger I on the Bonneville Salt Flats, to his days racing funny cars in the late 1960s, to the creation of SCORE and the Baja races, the man has set the benchmark for measuring ingenuity, promotion, and innovation. It’s fair to say that without Mickey Thompson, the racing world would be a lot less exciting.
For some more on the man and his legacy, you can check out an article we did about his salt flat days here [7]. Or you could read about the induction of the company’s Sportsman Pro tire, the widest high-performance, street-legal tire in existence, into the Hot Rod Magazine Speed Parts Hall of Fame for 2011 here [8].