Significantly extra individuals on the planet find out about Mickey Thompson’s loss of life than his life. The unconscionable contract killing of one in all Southern California scorching rodding’s favored sons and his beloved spouse over a enterprise merger gone awry was a darkish cloud hanging over the gorgeous sunshine that was his lengthy and illustrious profession. Mickey may need been probably the most influential determine in SoCal scorching rodding historical past, and he pushed on daily basis to interrupt new floor. Whatever you realize about him, you don’t know sufficient, and Mickey Thompson: The Fast Light And Tragic Death Of A Racing Legend is the guide it is advisable to learn to repair that.
Countless velocity data are attributed to him; he was the primary man to interrupt the 400 MPH barrier, he pushed innovation on the Indianapolis 500 and in desert racing, and he invented stadium truck racing. Mickey moonlighted as a journalist. He ate burgers and drank Cokes like they had been going out of favor. He developed progressive engine, suspension, tire, and security merchandise. He ran and promoted racing occasions all around the nation. Each of these steps in Mickey’s journey may have been a complete profession for mere mortals, however Thompson was by no means happy with only one factor.
If you realize one factor about Thompson, it’s most likely that he was a velocity seeker at Bonneville. Erik Arneson, creator of this sprawling biography, most likely may have devoted a complete tome to Mickey’s time on the salt, however within the vastness of his profession, the 400 mile per hour effort earned only a single chapter. It is, admittedly, a 38-page chapter, however a chapter nonetheless.
The impression I get of Mickey studying this guide is that he was deeply dedicated to the church of going fucking quick. He was a posh man, and possibly not the perfect dad on the planet to his kids, spending loads of his time travelling to races or engaged on race machines in his sprawling scorching rodding empire. He was a profitable businessman, and didn’t endure fools flippantly. He may need been a brash asshole, however he’d by no means do you soiled. I feel Arneson efficiently painted the image of the form of man Mickey was. I’m undecided I’d have favored him, however I rattling certain would have revered him. And I do.
I feel Arneson was profitable in his telling of Thompson’s life. It’s a well-written testomony to a life lived pedal to the steel. Each chapter is crafted in an thrilling, however not overly-dramatized approach. I don’t assume Arneson needed to embellish a lot to make this story fascinating, as a result of Mickey kicked all types of ass all over the place he went, nevertheless it’s a succinctly and elegantly crafted narrative.
At simply shy of 300 pages, the guide is one you may be capable to put down in a weekend. I learn one chapter per evening over the past couple of weeks, and I used to be all the time a little bit bit unhappy to be closing the guide, desirous to learn onward. Rave critiques of books usually use the trope “I couldn’t put it down.” I may put it down, however I didn’t need to.
After The Unfair Advantage, I feel Mickey Thompson simply rocketed to second place in my all-time favorites automotive guide listing. While it got here out fifteen years in the past (we even reviewed it again then), and it’s out of print now, you may seize it on e-book for ten bucks. I discovered my copy at a Half Price Books, and it was properly price it only for the images.
Overall, it’s an important guide. Go learn it.
Source: jalopnik.com