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CHRR 2010 - October 15-17
Here you see the legendary Ed "Isky" Iskederian are shown shaking hands in front of the Stude, the car that started the famed CAM WARS later termed the GASSER WARS. The 1320 Foundation had on display the reproduction of the famed “Old Black Studebaker” gasser car built by the legendary Junior Thompson and Sonny Messner, a clone of the car Junior campaigned in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Junior was on hand to talk about the car and sign autographs.
Joe Mondello & Jr. Thompson
Joe, you are missed, so glad we got to visit with you…
Firing up the Opel Kadett at the 08 CHRR
Jr's 41 Willys 1/18 SOLD OUT
SCALE LIMITED EDITION DIECAST
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WAS LIMITED TO ONLY 750 ~ SOLD OUT(as of 10-26-11)
Came Packaged in a collectors box ~ Autographed on outside of box~
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(For out of the country the shipping there are additonal charges - the PayPal shopping cart will reflect that charge when ordered.)
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Jr. Thompson's 41 Willys Johnny Lightning:
1:64 Willys Gasser
Autographed
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From NHRA article on website: In 2008 - 50 years ago in 1958 - "Little Eliminator, pitting the winners of the A through E Gas classes, was run the following day for the new Coca-Cola trophy, though, like in Top Eliminator, two winners in the slower classes conceded their chances, and only the A, B, C winners took part. Abilene, Texas' Carroll Howard, the A Gas winner, received the bye into the final, where he faced Junior Thompson and his South Gate, Calif.-based blown Chevy-powered '41 Studebaker. Thompson, the B winner, already had ousted C champ R.C. Jasper's '56 Chevy-powered '34 Ford coupe out of Grand Prairie, Texas. Thompson them trumped Howard's '58 Olds-powered '31 Ford with a 13.06 to become NHRA's first Little Eliminator winner."
2008 - Honorees were chosen for the 17th annual California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. The 3-day festival of speed and rods takes place at Auto Club Famoso Raceway near Bakersfield. The Honorees are Grand Marshal Junior Thompson, Steve Davis, John Edmunds, Georgia Seipel, Walt Rhoades and Butch Maas. The Justice Brothers' Reunion Spotlight will shine on Gas Ronda.
"This year's Honorees are a highly eclectic group of deserving individuals who have dedicated their lives to hot rodding and drag racing," said Greg Sharp, curator of the nonprofit Wally Parks NHRA motorsports Museum, which produces the Reunion. "I'm glad we can honor folks like this who have meant so much to the sport." Junior Thompson (2008 NHRA CHRR Grand Marshal), a Gasser Great is, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of his Little Eliminator victory (the first ever event) at the third NHRA Nationals held in Oklahoma City. From a '40 Ford convertible in the early '50s to a Corvette alcohol funny car in the late 70's, early 80's, Thompson enjoyed a 30-year drag racing career as a driver and was still actively involved as an engine builder for nostalgia vehicles.
To view some photos from the event go to: Rhonda's CHRR Photos
Jr's Other Kid & Webmaster
Here's a section for drag racers that may not have been quite legends but had a big part of drag racing history none the less. Check this area out.
Do you know someone who was there during drag racing's gasser wars? Are YOU that someone?
Contribute your stories or pictures here by sending me an email and we will post it at our DRAG RACING MEMORIES page.
Ed Neumann of Bohica Grafix is shown here presenting Jr. the cartoon portrait painting he did for his Opel Kadett. This was at the
California Hot Reunion at Famoso Raceway Oct. 2007.
Though Ed is retired from creating art his work can still be seen here:
Turning your Vision into Reality Graphic Design & Digital Art:
RestLeSs D Graphics
JRTHOMPSON.NET and JRTHOMPSONRACING.COM, online since 1998. We are the most comprehensive GASSER LEGEND website in the world. This is the only website sanctioned and authorized exclusively by the Gasser Legends themselves. Thank you for visiting.
Doyle Hatfield has contributed COOL PHOTOS TAKEN AT LION'S, POMONA AND IRWINDALE FROM THE 60'S & 70's
These pages are dedicated to the past. . . The past in drag racing. And to the present. Drag racing is as current as anything new, space travel, the Internet, even the nostalgia race cars and awesome street rods. As the sport has evolved so has the spectator. Ever demanding, speed the ultimate goal, racers have kept pace with the need for speed. And having a really cool looking car doesn't hurt.
At a peak of a successful racing career Jr. was in a serious crash. After several years of recovery Jr. again became involved in racing.
Enter these pages and check out the career of one of the legends of drag racing. He was there when it started and he is still involved. That's my dad. I hope you enjoy these pages. Check back often.
~ Thank you for making this site one of the Internet's favorites since 1998 ~ ~ Mostly by your word of mouth ~ THANK YOU ~ COME BACK SOON!
From the January 2001 issue of Rod & Custom Magazine.
Jr. Thompson's Scrapbook Pages Check out the article on the Prefect restored and turned into a street rod by Jr. & Tom Thompson in the November issue of Drag Racer Magazine.
If you attended the California Hot Rod Reunion (October 15-17, 2010), we hope that you stopped by the Quarter Mile Foundation booth where they displayed the restoration of the Old Black Studebaker. The famed “Old Black Studebaker” gasser car built by the legendary Junior Thompson and Sonny Messer, a clone of the car Junior campaigned in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Junior was on hand to talk about the car and sign autographs.
The event at Thompson Drag Raceway, Ohio for the Gasser Reunion 2002 was one to be remembered.
To See Pictures of the 2002 Event
Click Here
Event was held Friday, Saturday and Sunday ~ July 2, 3 & 4, 2010 at Summit Motorsports Park.
A good time was had by all!!
Mid America Willys Club and Gasser Magazine sponsored a booth where these Gasser Legends met fans and signed autographs at the 2001 GoodGuys March Meet at Famoso Raceway. Thanks to Ken and Ernest McIntyre.
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