First off, I cant tell you how excited I am to be doing this project. I can honestly say that this is one of my FAVORITE off road race cars of all time. I first saw it at the 1978 MINT 400 and fell in love with it on the spot. I saw it again at Parker and could not believe how much bigger it was than the other class 1's, and sporting a V8 and a MONSTER wing! I'm still working on trying to get the most acurrate info I can so i might be off on a couple things.......so far this is what I've got.
This shot was taken by Trackside photo at the 1979 MINT 400 (I think).
Built in late 1977, Challenger IV replaced Mickey Thompsons single seat Marines class 1 buggy. The racer debuted at the 1978 Mexicali 300 and was running strong until MT lost a trans at speed sending the beast end over end. After repairs between races, it was given another shock in the rear, a 41" rear shock that was the talk of off road racing at the time. I'm thinking the first states race was the MINT 400 in 1978 when MT and Danny Thompson were leading the field by a pretty good margin until Danny hit a slower race car in the dust ending there day. MT lead Parker one year all the way till 8 miles from the finish when his motor went south. He got a tow close to the finish line then pushed it across for an apparent win. Turns out MT was DQ'ed for getting a tow within 1 mile of the S/F which is still a no-no today. MT did some improvements here and there, added a bigger wing to the rear, switched from regular smoothed bodied shocks to coil overs (rear) but could never seem to get the car to the finish line (as far as I know). I think a lot of that had to do with him driving the wheels off the thing instead of pacing himself (sounds a little like RG). Getting to know what MT was like, I started thinking I knew why his cars had a hard time finishing races. MT always had his hands in something. While we might be prepping, testing and working our 9-5 job, MT would be designing tires, shocks, engines, planning stadium races, hunting down sponsors, PR stuff and a bunch of other stuff, THEN getting back to the race car for prep and MAYBE some testing. If he was able to focus on any of these cars like normal people did and develop them, I'm pretty sure MT would have won a hell of a lot more races. But, like everything else, Challenger IV was retired for Challenger V a faster, smoother, bigger vehicle in late 1980 (see video/photo below).
Another Trackside photo from the Parker 400 in the early 80's of Challenger 5.
I'm pretty lucky, the car is still in great shape even after sitting in a loft for the past 17 years. A majority of the parts are still there although most will have to be replaced or rebuilt. The big thing is most of it is there so there will be limited guess work on what will go where, which is a good thing since MT did not do anything conventional.
Here's an example, MT had a bad back so he grabbed a couple MT motorcycle shocks and mounted them to his MasterCraft seat......
Another nugget, not sure if this was his idea or taken from a different sport back in the day or one of MT's inventions, but if you look in the lower left of the picture you can see 2 brake pedals. Hit them both and all the brakes work, hit the bottoms it locks up the rears to help you slide around the corners. I know some short course guys are using this now but in 1978?!?!??!?!
Well, I think you guys get the idea. Plan is to start gathering hard to find parts and getting this beast back on all fours so i can get a motor and trans back in her. There is still a hell of a lot of work a head but I can't wait to dive in head first.
I need some help from you guys too. Any of you guys that might have some pictures of this car from back in the day, that would HELP greatly (if you have the race and date the pic was taken from that would be better). The car went through a couple changes and I'm trying to document some of that stuff. Let me know what you got.........Rory.
Membership in the largest desert racing community has its advantages
- Participate in Forum Discussions
- Send and Receive Private Messages
- Maintain Public Photo Albums
- Access to Groups
- User Profile in our Social Network
- Increased Access to more Sub Forums
- Reduced Online Advertisements
Hey, at least the shop looks cleaner then when I was there before the NORRA race. Looks like you could even walk around in there. Any how it was a great find Rory and I hope to see it at the Norra race next year.
when i saw that thing for the first time i was just a kid, It was mid to late 70s cant remember exact race or date but it ....scared the __ out of me nothing like it for the time.
Interesting project for sure. The suspended seat concept was on a few cars way back when. Not sure which engine block that car used, but some of the earlier ones had "MICKEY THOMPSON" casted into the aluminum back by the distributor. In the 60's and 70's, an aluminum (or mag) SBC was about as exotic as anything could possibly be. Somebody else started to make some very long shocks sometime later, but they obviously didn't catch on. That car and especially the next one looked like more modern RC cars, which should be telling us something. It is very possible that some of the concepts that M/T used will yet bring important changes to present art.
Support Our Troops ------ If you can't stand behind them, feel free to walk in front of them.
If your looking for something blingy and complex, I'm delighted to disappoint you!
"[Nye Frank] built the best, and never looked to anyone for recognition, the mark of a true man, one of the last true cowboys of our sport!"
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance -- it is the illusion of knowledge"
If you are racing a fair race...your strategy sucks!
Deserts of California/Arizona, Sierra Madre Mountains of Jalisco MX
Miles
176
Re: **Mickey Thompson Challenger IV restoration**
Originally Posted by FABRICATOR
Interesting project for sure. The suspended seat concept was on a few cars way back when. Not sure which engine block that car used, but some of the earlier ones had "MICKEY THOMPSON" casted into the aluminum back by the distributor. In the 60's and 70's, an aluminum (or mag) SBC was about as exotic as anything could possibly be. Somebody else started to make some very long shocks sometime later, but they obviously didn't catch on. That car and especially the next one looked like more modern RC cars, which should be telling us something. It is very possible that some of the concepts that M/T used will yet bring important changes to present art.
Contact Paul Pfaff Racing Engines for the engine details. Pfaff did alot of work for Mickey back in the day including this car.
Still haven't torn into the car yet, just making phone calls looking for parts as of now. Searching for a Left front Halibrand hub, 4 pressure plates and 5 knock offs. Turns out Halibrand IS still in business but they don't have any of the old stuff. Still looking for a magnesium Dana 60 center section, nothing yet but have just started looking. Believe it or not this is the fun stuff, getting to talk to a lot of cool people and they are turning me to other people that might know this or that. Also, still looking for a phone # for John House and Smokey Alerman, if you have it please PM or e-mail it to me, not sure if they would want it posted in a public forum. It was nice to talk with Danny Thompson for a little bit although he is elbows deep into his Bonneville project. Thanks to all who are throwing out clues of people to talk to, I'm getting to them and will give you the results of what I find.
Reply With Quote
" F..k you kid this is my goose killing hat " -Ted Nugent, Riverside Raceway
Originally Posted by FABRICATOR
