Arneson Books

02/09/2026

A familiar face - this conversation with Shannon Spake is worth you time 💪

Six months before the crash that would end his driving career, Darr...

14/07/2026

Paula Murphy news reel 💪

Barbara Nyland & Paula Murphy in Los Angeles get into car to start ...

09/05/2026

Great read! 👇

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DoH3EqZDS/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Mickey Thompson was one of the most innovative and influential figures in the history of American motorsports. Born in Southern California, Thompson began his racing career in 1947 competing in dry lake speed trials with the legendary Russetta Timing Association. His passion for speed, engineering, and experimentation quickly established him as one of the sport’s most creative minds.

As organized drag racing began emerging in the 1950s, Thompson became deeply involved in the rapidly growing sport. In 1956, he became manager of the famous Lions Drag Strip in Long Beach, California, one of the most iconic drag racing venues in history. His ability to promote events and attract fans helped elevate drag racing from a regional hobby into a nationally recognized motorsport.

Although Thompson later gained fame in off-road racing, stadium racing, and land-speed competition, his contributions to drag racing were groundbreaking. He pioneered the use of braking parachutes in drag racing, dramatically improving safety as race cars reached increasingly dangerous speeds. The innovation soon became standard equipment throughout the sport.

Thompson also played a major role in developing Funny Car chassis technology. His engineering concepts influenced the modern Funny Car layout still used today, combining lightweight construction, improved rigidity, and better weight distribution for maximum acceleration and stability.

Always fascinated by aerodynamics, Thompson advanced streamlining science in both fuel dragsters and jet-powered race cars. His work with high-speed vehicles helped push the boundaries of straight-line performance and inspired future generations of engineers and racers.

Beyond drag racing, Mickey Thompson achieved success in nearly every form of motorsport imaginable, including land-speed record racing, oval track competition, boat racing, and off-road events such as the Baja races. His relentless pursuit of innovation made him one of the most versatile motorsports pioneers of the twentieth century.

Today, Mickey Thompson remains remembered not only as a racer and promoter, but as a visionary engineer whose innovations permanently changed the landscape of drag racing and high-performance motorsports worldwide.

01/12/2025

Worth your time 👇

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BajtDaSUj/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🔥 In the next edition of In His Words with John Force — he pulls the curtain all the way back on the early days of his racing life: the fires, the hustle, the borrowed sponsors, and the Bank of America sign that somehow doubled as both a muffler patch and a spoiler.

Read it here ➡️ https://competitionplus.com/in-john-forces-words-the-hustle-the-fires-and-the-sponsor-chase-that-built-a-dynasty/

26/11/2025

12/09/2025

Great stuff on M/T from Brian Lohnes 👇

https://www.facebook.com/share/19cD51F6aT/?mibextid=wwXIfr

14/08/2025

Hope you get a chance to read this one - an amazing ride 👇

10/09/2024

A little love for M/T 👍

On this day, 64 years ago, Mickey Thompson, driving the Challenger I at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, US recorded a one-way run of 406.60 mph, becoming the first American driver to break the 400 mph barrier, although the run was not recognized as a land speed record.

07/05/2024

An excerpt from The Life of Paula Murphy: The Fastest Woman on Wheels courtesy of Octane Press ...

https://octanepress.com/content/land-speed-record-women-broken-bonneville-salt-flats-paula-murphy