Power Studios: Danny Thompson’s Return to Bonneville

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Mickey Thompson Tires recently contracted Power Studios to create a narrative lifestyle video on Danny’s Thompson’s record-setting efforts at Bonneville.

Brandon McCray, one of the leading videographers from Power Studio’s video team, traveled more than 700 miles to capture this once-in-a-lifetime event: Danny Thompson’s 400 MPH attempt at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah. McCray attended the official “Speed Week” on August 11-14 to capture the Thompson team’s setup, qualifying runs, and return run.

The resulting video is spine-tingling and tells a story about the Thompson family that is a must-watch. Watch it below:

Known for his racing endeavors on the Bonneville salt flats, Mickey Thompson’s name became well known in the ‘60s for being the first American to break into the 400 MPH zone; but he never achieved his dream of officially entering the “400mph club.” Ever since Mickey’s death his son Danny has been chasing that unfulfilled dream of his father’s.

“It was crazy to think I was there to document something that could potentially be historical,” Power Studio’s McCray explained. “Since I was a kid, I’ve taken my dad’s Hot Rod magazines so I could check out the coverage from Bonneville. There is something about the idea of going as fast as you can that attracts a speed freak – attending that event had been something I wanted to do for years! It didn’t matter if you had a streamliner, a ‘30s Ford roadster, or a Honda Civic – people were there for the speed! For new and old car enthusiasts, it’s something you need to see at least once in your life.”

The vast expanse of salt flats includes both three courses and tracks, with the longest being five miles long with a three mile shut down. While many people were there in hopes of personal achievement, it is harder than it seems to hit that 200 mph mark. Danny Thompson made the attempt for more than five years to reach 200-plus mph, leaving the new goal of reaching 400 mph quite an undertaking for him and his team of volunteers.

Danny Thompson executed a 411 mph pass on his first Speed Week attempt with a 402 mph return pass – achieving an official 400 mph+ record at a qualifying average of 406.7 MPH. After 56 years of building, and many attempts, Danny said, “I’m proud to say that this weekend my crew and I were able to take care of my father’s unfinished business.”

As one of the leading automotive video production companies in the automotive industry, Power Studios has the experience necessary to bring your dream to reality. If you’re interested in a video project, fill out a quick contact us form here!

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Power Automedia believes in creating the best automotive content, to fuel the magic of the automobile. We believe in helping people achieve their dreams by building something special. We pioneered the automotive digital media revolution, and have continued to innovate to stay on the forefront of the digital landscape.