Who Murdered Mickey Thompson? | Up to Speed
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- čas přidán 22. 12. 2021
- Thanks to NBC’s American Auto for sponsoring today’s video. Check out the first two episodes of the all-new comedy here pck-nbcapp.co/american-auto and watch the premiere on NBC January 4 at 8/7c.
Mickey Thompson shaped American motorsports more than any other figure, and he didn’t deserve to die. But he was murdered in cold blood in his driveway. You probably know Mickey from his tires, but there was much more to him than a name on a sidewall. He was a drag racer, a land speed record holder, an inventor, and so much more. Who killed Mickey Thompson, and why? Join host James Pumphrey for a deep dive into this racing icon, and a look at the mysterious murder that brought his life to a tragic end.
Thanks to Mike Schafernak for the dope edit. Check out more of his stuff at: www.checkoutmikes.work
And thanks to Megan Stump for her rad animations. Dig more of her work at: www.megantstump.com
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Donut Media is at the center of digital media for the next generation of automotive and motorsports enthusiasts. We are drivers, drifters, and car enthusiasts who love to tell stories. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
My grandpa had a '69 Mach 1 back in the day. Growing up, he would tell me stories about throwing on his Mickey Thompson slicks and race up and down the streets of Detroit.
And also, both black people has now been identified real name and arrested in 15 years after the death of Mickey thompson shooting in their house
@@muhammadwahyuhidayat21498 theres got to a way you can talk without telling everyone youre racist immediately
@@meangreen99 how is identifying people racist? 2 white people killed a man yesterday. So racist...
That's still one of my dream cars
@@meangreen99 i hope they got arrested for life.....
About the legend of dragster driver Mickey thompson.
Suddenly I feel like telling this story to anyone who sees my Tires 🤣
@Vacana Salma run
@Pita Sinca run
Whoo weeeee ure pockets are empty then 🤣😂🤣😂 M/Ts are so over priced great tires but there are so many good choices out there now
@@bmanclassics4350 some peeps like buying into the prestige
You sure your not a car guy
I remember reading about his murder in Hot Rod magazine back in 1988. He was a legend, it seemed so weird, sure he had a reputation of having a hard adge to him, but not to the point of being murdered in cold blood.
Right? And his personality was certainly par for the racing course. A racer with an ego? No way!
Warm blood sure
i'm pumped you guys finally did a show on mickey. my dad introduced me to him when i was a kid; maybe a couple years before he was murdered. i barely remembered him, lol. i remember he was nice to me and not a dick like a lot of the drag race guys my dad rolled with.
i remember my dad crying when he heard about the murder more than i remember mr thompson. it is what it is.
I'd bet money that my uncle was one of those "dicks" you remember. He's a great driver and mechanic, but kind of an asshole, even to our family members. I apologize on his behalf.
I'd bet money that my uncle was one of those "dicks" you remember. He's a great driver and mechanic, but kind of an asshole, even to our family members. I apologize on his behalf.
HOLY SHIT FINALLY HE'S BEEN GIVEN THE ATTENTION HE DESERVES
Hardly
RCR did like a whole ass documentary on this.
They did a 2 part episode of their podcast on Mickey a while back, was really good
@@jayhonmerks4637 and easy to find a 2 black person who killed mickey thompson has been found next year.
@@siggy6044 i remember 2 part of donut pas gas podcast about 2 black men shooting a legendary of Dragster Mickey thompson and also 1 person (Mickey Gordon) has now in prison after plead gulity against Attorney who killed him as reward of 1 million dollars has now received a person to catch 2 black person has been arrested to this day. 15 years later found them......
Congrats for 6 MILLION Subs
Following you from 150k and you r just getting better and better. Proud of you guys😄
F... I edited my com after ❤️
Can i get my ❤️ again🥲
Damn, you an OG. Thanks for hanging so long!
@@kimirox1762 I don't think they can. I've seen it before and people haven't been able to get their ❤ back. Sorry bud, that sucks. You got a comment tho!
@@matthewmcclain1316 its back
@@GanjaNinja nice! I'm ok with being wrong.
An episode on the land speed record itself would be great, all the cars and attempts through the years
Im 90% sure they did one a while back.
Do an up to speed on Tatra finally. They have everything. 3rd oldest car manufacturer, being copied by Porsche, Dakar trucks, Mad Max trucks, starring in Kanye video, big aircooled V8s, killing nazis. Like what more do you want?
SHINY AND CHROME!!!
an up to speed on Abarth, obviously.
@@alexander1485 the objective of these guys isn't to make good videos, it's to make money, they're a company. They don't make a Tatra video because there is no way it would get a lot of views. Because Tatra has never been really present in any English speaking country
@@XxmatixX6videosdiariosdenadav Brah maybe if this was back in the start of this channel that would be the case but if you don’t think they could put out a UTS on literally ANYTHING automotive and get views today you’re high.
Plus their CZECH
But the Czech are far better at making guns than cars
Up to speed suggestions:
- Aryton Senna
- Ferrari
- Audi r8
- Mazda 787b
- Lamborghini Countach
- Ferrari 250 GTO
- Michael Schumacher
- Porsche's racing history
- DeTomaso
- Pontiac Firebird
My life becomes full of joy every time donut drops a video
*YES*
About murder? You disgust me, sir. Someone write this guys name down, he’s a definite suspect.
14:25 I don't appreciate being targeted like this, James. )';
Crying is what babies do 👩🏼🍼
Hee hee...That was good
16:04 "mike was clearly crazy" perfect use of that clip lmfao
Lol damn i missed that refernce the first time around
perfection 👌
Earliest I've been on a donut media video
Congrats on the 6 million subscribers!
You guys deserve it
The sad thing really is, Mickey Thompson's murder is much more well known and documented than Mickey Thompson's life and achievements.
Niche vs. eesh
That " Mike is crazy" when he shoots that crazy look under the dirt bike is perfect perfect timing.....
"but to be fair, Ted Nugent advises everyone to carry a gun"
fell out of my seat.
Well if he listened we wouldn't be watching this.
Everyone should carry a gun. The police sure aren't going to protect them.
@@kdrapertrucker or solve the case either.
@@kdrapertrucker When seconds count, the cops are minutes away
As it should be. "An armed society is a polite society."
Very sad how a race/automotive Icon ended. Note; that photo of him with that engine is a alum Buick 215; noticed oversized sleeves &
rev kit. He actually achieved many first ever developments & mfg parts for both the Buick/Olds 215 engines.
He also made hemi heads for the Pontiac, among other head designs. 406mph in 1960 with Pontiac power, truly a great mind.
Also Chevy 3v for indycar, that thing looks like a firebreather
@@SweatyFatGuy Yeah thats pretty insane, If i remember correctly the land speed record for nonturbine engined cars uses his first landspeed powertrain combo two boosted 426 Chrysler Hemis except i believe they were twin turbocharged instead of supercharged. The 426 elephant really is the best v8 engine ever built but that pontiac engine with hemi heads sounds awesome too. Theres another engine designer/land speed record guy i forget his name but hes on youtube and hes like 82 years old but hes designed his own 4, 6, 8, v12, and v16 engines, the v12 makes over 1000hp naturally aspirated. Hes also made dual overhead cam small block chevys and has made an overhead cam ford flathead, the guy is genius and cut from the same cloth as Micky Thompson except hes alot more hospitable without the ego lol. You can find him by searching "Sheet metal engine"
@@Lotek117 The piston driven LSR record is held by Danny Thompson... yes with twin 426 style hemis. Technology has come a long way from 1960. The Pontiac had hemi killing heads in 1962, but they only built one set of those and they went on McKeller's 421. It was a set of SOHC heads. The RA V was a serious piece as well, the valve layout of the FE Ford, but with ports rivaling the hemi. Easy 800hp on a 428 or 455. A 455 with RA IV heads and cam is a serious piece.
Its not that they could not come up with something, its that they were not allowed to use it by GM. When Pontiac was 2# in sales only behind chevy with all the taxis, fleet vehicles and barely adequate daily drivers chevy sells, because Pontiac was the performance division, GM decided to hold them back.
Pontiac we not allowed under the table things like the copo, you could not get a 428 or 455 in an A or F body until 1970, when everything weighed enough to slow them down, and then only low compression round ports. GM really hated it when Pontiac would stomp a chevy, particularly corvettes.
If they had been turned loose like the Dodge boys were, it would be a completely different performance world today.
I am kinda thinkin I need one of those new truck hemis in my 70 Cuda... for science of course.
wow! I've wondered for over 30 years about MT and Trudy's murders...I'm sooo glad the most important part is resolved! thank you 😊
If only he'd listened to Uncle Ted...
This is amazing content. I'm 43, used to get like 10 car mag subs as a kid/teen, back in the hey day of auto mags (90s). I knew some of this stuff about M/T, but he founded SCORE?! and all his inventions and dramatic impacts on everything he touches, pretty amazing guy
Mickey *cofounded* SCORE with a gent named Sal Fish who ran it until he sold it off a couple years ago to somebody in Mexico.
I'm an avid collector of anything magazine related to hot rods and vw's Mickey Thompson story needs to be on the big screen I read his book and he was just one unique person with some odd habits he used to like having vanilla ice cream on top of a burnt steak and like to have five TVs going at once, he barely slept ,his mind was just too busy creatingvand innovating. rest in peace Mickey Thompson✌
@@evilbeetlekustomscreations4965 A movie was made about Mickey's life a few years before his murder. It's called The Man In The Iron Cage - and it starred Mickey himself. It's out there somewhere.
@@RReese08 thanks😲✌
Hey James, I have a up to speed video idea:
Everything you need to know: Smokey nagata [up to speed]
Thank you for telling this story and telling it to newer generations, etc. Great work
Gotta say. This is the only channel that I subscribe to that I’ll always watch the sponsor segments. Appreciate the effort to make them interesting.
should do an episode on 70/80/90s Florida offshore power boat racing history
Be hard to find information but I have seen the poker run several times and it is beyond cool
I found out about micki tompson tires through rc cars. rc cars have a full range of micki tompson tires. So this video is awesome to me ive learned loads. Ultra scale realisistic rc truck tires, drag car tires mayb even monster truck tires. But mostly theyre used on the Axial brand of rock crawlers and mud bogger builds or just scale jeeps etc ultra realism rc jeeps warn winch. King shocks its crazy rigid industries. Anything for cas they might make for rc too.
Most scale items are rc4wd, the king shocks look sick. Love crawlers.
They make entertainment systems for RC cars?
God bless you
@@mycosys yes, my sister's model Barbie car had one in like 2003
at least spell the man's name right bro
An Up to speed on the Dakar rally would be awesome!
It’s crazy how the podcast channel has become my main go to channel it’s dope and they covered this story in depth!
James, that was a great story and your attention to detail is most appreciated. Micky Thompson was a well respected motor sports pioneer. It's important people don't forget this tragedy. Peace.
That dudes face at the end right before the Donut ad "I wish I knew who killed Mickey Thomoson" Bro you Do!
Up to speed is by far my favorite series on CZcams ✊🔥
This episode was way more interesting than I thought it would be. Good stuff lads.
" I wish I knew who killed Mickey Thompson" and then he smiles!! Guilty as can be. Thanks for your video 🙂
Mike Goodwin really loved to play act and go for the drama. Thing is, he's a sh*tty actor.
I am sure he was searching all of the Golf Courses looking for the real Killers...
Reminded me of another murdering creep--OJ Simpson.
This episodes are getting better n better
What an awesome story James, please do more videos like this one. MT was an amazing innovator in everything racing. I love you
They did a great job with him on the podcast!
I have a set of M/T valve covers on my Oldsmobile 350 engine. RIP Mickey. I had no idea he was murdered.
Haha, i drove from Guatemala to Texas in a 92 Geo Storm once, very pretty drive
A Geo Storm ... you could say you drove "La Niña Pan Americana."
mike will be forgotten but micky will be remembered as a legend & more people will buy his stuff
I love the piston rings in the corner of the screen when James was talking about Mickey getting married.
I remember watching the Mickey Thompson offroad series on TV when I was but a wee lad. Loved it, the racing was so good!
Great vid!! I knew a guy who was good friends with him, always heard lots of stories about him
About time ya do one one Mickey.
Landspeed car didn't have a driveshaft tho....shift linkage failed and put one of the 4 engines into neutral and blew it up, he didnt wanna make Pontiac look bad so they said it was the driveshaft.
I think there was a past gas on this too
Zach was a big hit in "Heat" when he played Waingro. Not suprised he aced the audition.
Thank You as an ATC 250R rider I love that you included footage of an ATC race. And when that criminal is inspecting a machine it is the Yamaha Tri-moto 250. I still ride monthly as well. Scares Kids and Adults.
For anyone wondering, the 7.50 in 1927 is equal to $119.18.
👍
👍
I really hope you guys make cameos on that show.
Needs an edit. Opening line should go “you see his tires every time you walk to your car”lmaooo if it ain’t a MT it better be a Hoosier
Mickey's daughter got all the drag racing cars and his son got all the salt flat cars. His daughter called my uncle "Army Armstrong" IRHA funny car driver in 2013 or so and asked if he wanted to buy the funny cars, so he did. Made a mold of the Original Revelator and raced it all over the US and New Zealand. Was sweet to see such a historic vehicle in our family's possession. He also used to race the Jungle Jim car with Jims's son Randy Liberman who is still a family friend. Awesome to see you making videos on things ive been apart of. Much love guys!
I used to water ski in colorado w/ mickeys son and his family (micks grandkids)... Some of the nicest and most humble people ive had the pleasure of boating with...
Congrats on 6mil boys!
I love these stories. But especially deep dive stories.
Thanks 4 doing this story. Mickey was a hero 2 alot of us back then.
I got to know Thompsons sister. I worked at a local moving company and moved her into a more secure house. She was busy with trying to get her brothers former business partner extradited back to California.
I found a loaded gun in every room. She was shooting with the o.c. sherrifs. If the hit men tried to kill her. They were about to retire permanently. His sister wasn't going to take shit from anyone who was getting in the way of putting the killer in prison or grave. I wouldn't want her upset at me.
amen brother
I never got the chance to meet Mickey's sister Colleen, but she was in the news a lot after the murders. My ex was so upset about the murders that she told me to not attend the funeral, so I didn't. I don't think Mike went to Mickey's funeral, but he was on TV almost immediately saying how much he was in fear of his own life - and then he vanished. Mike was a bad drama queen, but he could always find his balls when he needed them most.
Hell of a woman.
Always love a good up to speed
Good job at making one of my racing favorites talked about again, youll be surprised at how many peaple don't know who MT is or what he did for racing in America!! Good job brother
Congratulations on 6 mil guys you deserve it
The first fatality in organized drag racing occurred when a slingshot dragsters rear end exploded and drove the ring gear through the drivers body. After that NHRA changed the tech rules.
We all knew it was a "hit" when it happened and we knew who was responsible for the flashy murders.
damn
@@zephrinrondo4171 oh man, they (2 black people) got arrested for life who killed mickey thompson jr.
@@muhammadwahyuhidayat21498 ?
@@muhammadwahyuhidayat21498 dude stop
@@muhammadwahyuhidayat21498 The two guys who shot Mickey and Trudi were never caught. They're probably still somewhere at the bottom of the Catalina Channel, which is one of the deepest bodies of water off the California coast. Or so somebody told me back then.
He’s a legend!
Agree
Gotta get these bots out of here
Mike got those same eye Biden and Hillary have
@@SpaceRanger187 blue? Lol
Love the Motor City Mad Man!
much needed!! good job
I want to see an Up To Speed on Ivan "IRONMAN" Stewart.
Definitely! I know his old rival Huber very well.
The only series I watched when Mickey Thompsons Off road was on TV, and THE guy I always rooted for, Ivan Stewart.
I was nerdily into RC cars, and I had a truck body that I painted like his. Always thought Toyota Forerunners were the coolest looking trucks in the 80s, although I heard they were rust buckets.
Damn this was a good episode. We need more of these!
The rebuild of the land speedcar was sweet to was. Lots of it on youtube with Danny. The first fire up was so sweet to watch
Another great Up to Speed as usual.
since we're doing up to speed on drag racers, maybe do don garlitz next?
Big Daddy episode would be great.
Don Garlitz isn't just a drag racing hero, but the guy's a saint. I met him once, and he was as gracious as anybody could be. Once upon a time, they were going to make a big-time Hollywood movie about Don, after the success of Heart Like a Wheel which was about Shirley Muldowney. Don't know why that never happened, but Hollywood is a crazy business.
Damn - the Up to Speed I never knew I needed.
His Stadium off-road racing events in the late 80s were awesome
I never knew this story, thanks for telling it!
When are we getting an Up to Speed on James's DAD.
What's his story?
Ask PaganiGaming 😭
Whenever he finally comes back from getting a pack of smokes, obviously.
I remember watching Unsolved Myserties with Robert Stack Telling Mickey Thompson's story. The man behind his death was a man named Nichael Goodwin, & I think he is still in prison somewhere in California>
Think they mentioned that.
That was awesomely awesome!
Best wishes from Australia, mates.
Much respect on this episode!!!
I would love to see a video on the history of Drag Racing and other racing styles
The biggest take home quote of this video, "Don't trust cyclists"
Been hoping for one on this for a while
Congratulations on SIX MILLION SUBS!
It would be cool to see an up to speed on a gm W-Body specifically the Buick Regal or the Pontiac Grand Prix
Interesting story about Mickey and Mike - and I actually hung out with both of them over the years at various times back in the day. I even visited both their homes - and the story about Mike's home being equipped with an indoor waterfall is true, because I was there. I even visited Mickey's house, which had an enormous two-story garage where he kept all - or almost all - of his race cars, which was really impressive. I lived about five miles away from Mickey's place at the time, and I'm totally familiar with the layout of the street and everything, including his next door neighbor who owned emus that always made noises anytime you got close to the property. That said, your video gets a bunch of stuff wrong or left out overall, but this doesn't let either Mike or Mickey off the hook in their respective ways. Especially Mike. Most what's wrong aren't necessarily terrible sins or deal-breakers, but it does pay to be right, especially when it comes to things like this. I know it's a video and there's only so much you can do, so there's that, I guess.
Wow
@@Ben.N Put it this way: Mickey Thompson and Mike Goodwin didn't need to hate on each other. They each had their own lists of enemies that they had acquired over the years before Mickey's murder.
ANOTHER AWESOME VIDEO!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK FELLAS!!!!!!!
congrats on 6 million 💜
*Day 26 of asking for an Up To Speed on*
1) Yamaha
2) Suzuki
3) MV Agusta
4) Aprilia
5) KTM
6) Triumph
6) Honda ( Motorcycles )
Neighbor sat quiet for 20 years....but then remembered who they saw sitting in a car? Hmm, I sure hope the judge tried this case well.
You guys always have the most entertaining approaches to highlighting your sponsors.
Congratulations on 6 mil!
I'd like to see a whole series of things surrounding mysteries of people involved with cars if there are any
DeLorean
Did I miss how the tires became a brand and when was the first Mickey Thompson tires released??
‘63
This felt like a That Chapter video well done guys
Your guys story on him is my favorite Passed Gas I know I’ll love this
Now if only we could get an episode on John Britten, the true genius from NZ/ Down undah
“Don’t trust cyclists” was a REALLY weird joke, but you still get credit for it… I laughed, despite myself.
A weird joke? You must not have watched Top Gear or The Grand Tour before
@@psychlops924 How long did your feeling of superiority last after you clicked “send?” 🤦🏽♂️
@@jakethet3206 car people crapping on cyclists is a long running joke, with a glorious history of hilarity. If you’re butt hurt about it, maybe you need to buy a new seat for your bike with more padding.
@@psychlops924 I REPEAT: How long did your feeling of superiority last after you clicked “send?”
@@jakethet3206 why are you accusing him of acting like he's superior? He was just explaining the joke...
This was really a shock to us all. Because his company really was looking at the future of drag racing...and by extension tire technology.
Never knew that before brilliant video 😃😃🇬🇧
You guys could make a Up to Speed about Ayrton Senna. Please 🥲
They djd
DOUNT, DO A VIDEO ON LEGEND CARS, look them up and you will love them!! There a race car, and they’ve been used on asphalt and dirt oval, they are also where a lot of nascar drivers start thier careers. There is also a bunch of people who road race them!
I actually titled mine as a kit car and have been dailying it
Congrats on 6million I'm glad to be part of the Donut Family
Great video. I lived in Pasadena when that happened and seeing this video hit home. Could you guys do a video on Jessie Combs.
That promo was actually entertaining as hell
"Be careful who you do business with...."
100%
Congratulations on 6 million
I’m Big Ronnie. From Clownado. Thanks for the mention.