This is the NHRA Museum in Pomona (71 Photos)

This picture has a great back story. The car is Mickey Thompson’s Challenger 1. The guy admiring the car is the legendary land speed racer and designer Denis Manning (aka BUB.) When Denis was a kid he was on a family vacation and they passed through Bonneville during Speed Week. Mickey Thompson was racing the Challenger 1 and went over 400 mph. The experience changed the young Denis’s life forever! He is often quoted as saying “When I was a kid all the other boys wanted to be Mickey Mantel, I wanted to be Mickey Thompson!”  Denis went on to build 7 of the 11 fastest motorcycles of all time! He is a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame among other numerous awards. Denis is also the Father/Founder of the only, motorcycle only, land speed racing event at Bonneville. In the world of land speed racing Denis is a living legend and this picture tells a story that will be made into a movie someday! Picture courtesy of my good friend Brad Williams. Of all the pics I have sent you, this one means more to me than most of the others combined. Imagine getting a guided tour of the Indy 500 museum with Mario Andretti as your tour guide. Going through the NHRA museum with BUB was like that.