Ball Explorer Danny Thompson sets the track on fire!
BONNEVILLE SPEED WEEK 2018:
One to remember For Ball Explorer & Record Breaker Danny Thompson
A speed of 406.6mph was reached by Mickey Thompson in 1960, using his piston powered Challenger 1, but the record was nullified as he broke down on the return run. Following this unfavourable result, he spent years devoted to creating a new vehicle, the Challenger 2 and in 1968, the new streamliner was ready for the salt flats, however, this attempt was halted by adverse weather conditions, meaning that the vehicle had to remain in storage, and not break any records. His son, Ball Explorer, Danny Thompson has now devoted his life to motor sports, following in his father’s path, and has always dreamt of achieving what his father unfortunately couldn’t back in ’68.
Back in 2010, Danny decided to pull the Challenger 2 out of storage, and bring it back to life, he spent years improving and rebuilding the speed machine. Finally, on August 12, 2018, 50 years on from the creation on the Challenger 2, to the day, Thompson took the machine out on to the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah and incredibly managed to achieve a two-way AA/FS record of 448.757mph (average between 446.605mph and 450.909mph), which has now made him the world’s fastest piston powered record holder and allowed him to achieve his goal set out 8 years ago, and make his father proud at the very same time.
“In 1968, my dad, the mad scientists at Kar Kraft, and an elite group of Southern California gearheads created a vehicle that they believed had the potential to become the world’s fastest hot rod. It took five decades, a lot of elbow grease, and a few modifications, but I feel like I’ve finally been able to fulfil their dream, as my own. Thanks guys. I share today’s record with all of you.”
– Danny Thompson, Aug 12th, 2018
Danny achieve exactly what he set out to do, he has honored his father’s dream of 50 years ago, bringing the Challenger 2 back to life and running a record breaking time on the Salt Flats of Utah.
Ball Watch Company are extremely proud to have Danny Thompson as a member of their explorer club, and are continuing the search for more amazing explorers and limit pushers to represent their brand in the best way possible.
