53 replies to this topic

[D28]

Dr. Dick Thompson, "The Flying Dentist", longtime Corvette stalwart has passed at the age of 94. One highlight of a successful career was a 4th overall at Le Mans in 1961 for Briggs Cunningham's Tipo 63 Maseararti,  Maserati's best ever finish there.

See more at this link:

 

http://www.vintagemo...tm_medium=email

Edited by D28, 20 September 2014 - 02:38.

[buckaluck]

Wow didn't know he was that old but always saw his name in the race journals be it Racing or car and driver road and track, etc, I was never a corvette fan but knew his name and liked the fact he was consistant with a brand. I don't think anyone growing up in the late 60's to 80's did not know his name and his connection to chevy. God Speed Dick Thompson hope they have race tracks in heaven! and Corvettes of coarse!

 

Buck

[2F-001]

Rest in peace Dr. Thompson.
Always curious that he didn't seem to get mentioned too often in recollections of big-time sportscar racing.
Other notable moments: driving the Howmet, and the big Spa win with Ickx with the Mirage (despite the opposition from "2F-001"!); am I correct in thinking that was the first win for a car in the soon-to-be 'iconic' Gulf livery?

Edited by 2F-001, 20 September 2014 - 07:47.

[sterling49]

I was going to mention that too Tony, I think it was, and the 1st for a Mirage? Lucky enough to see him race, R.I.P.

[grimeheel]

Yes. This was the race result that separated the Mirage from the Ford GT.  Dick also debuted Bob McKee's Mk1, often referred to as a Chevette, at the 1964 Meadowdale USRRC race.  He finished in third place, behind the Chaparrals of Jim Hall and Roger Penske.  He also got a third place in the 1965 Road America 500, driving a 427 Cobra, with Ed Lowther.

[Jerry Entin]

Dick Thompson in Bill Mitchell's Sting Ray during the 1959 Nassau Trophy.

 

 

Photo by Bob Bellows

 

Willem Oosthoek Collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 20 September 2014 - 17:52.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Dr. Thompson had a long life, well lived.  

[jj2728]

RIP

[Jerry Entin]

His 1957 Eagle Mountain National victory made Dick Thompson the premier Corvette driver in the country. In 1958 he even co-authored a book on the subject:

 

The Corvette Guide: the Story of America's First Modern True Sports Car.

 

Thompson's co-author was Donn Munson.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 1]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 20 September 2014 - 21:18.

[Jerry Entin]

Eagle Mountain, June 2, 1957. Jimmy Stout waves off the field for the Feature race, with Dick Thompson's production Corvette behind Carroll Shelby's Maserati 300S and Ebb Rose's Corvette SR-2.

 

 

 

The 1957 Eagle Mountain SCCA National was the first Feature event won by Dick Thompson. Having captured the big production race that day in Lindsey Hopkins' Corvette, Thompson asked mechanic Red Byron to change the car's rear axle ratio for better traction in the wet. The Flying Dentist caused a major upset by leaving 17 modifieds and two other production Corvettes behind him in the pouring rain. He lapped the entire field, except the second-place Porsche 550RS of John Max Wolf.

 

Photo: Bob Jackson [from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 1]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 20 September 2014 - 21:36.

[JacnGille]

Sad news.

[E1pix]

Another from my childhood gone.

RIP.

[Jerry Entin]

Dick Thompson being congratulated after his upset win in the 1957 Eagle Mountain Feature.

 

 

Photo: Bob Jackson

 

[from Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 1]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 21 September 2014 - 17:41.

[Jerry Entin]

Another wet race, the Sebring 12 Hours on March 21, 1959. Dick Thompson shared this 3-liter Lister/Jaguar, entered by Briggs Cunningham, with Walt Hansgen

 

 

 

The Listers could not match the speed of the latest works Testa Rossas. In addition, the Thompson/Hansgen car lost more than an hour in the pits to have a broken deDion tube repaired. It finished 12th overall.

 

Photo: Flip Schulke

From Sports Car Racing in the South, Volume 2

Edited by Jerry Entin, 22 September 2014 - 02:51.

[Jerry Entin]

Dick Thompson and Bill Mitchell's Sting Ray during the October 1960 Times GP at Riverside.

 

 

For 1960 the Sting Ray came equipped with a thinner and lighter fiberglass body, as well a new silver metallic paint job. But its drum brakes were still the main weakness and Thompson finished the Times GP in 11th place, virtually without brakes.

 

Photo: Jim LaTourrette

 

Willem Oosthoek Collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 22 September 2014 - 03:05.

[Jerry Entin]

Riverside, October 1960. A good side shot of Dick Thompson in the Sting Ray. By 1963 its general features were used for the production model of the Corvette, also named Sting Ray and to be raced by Thompson for Grady Davis of Gulf Oil.

 

Photo: Bob Tronolone 

 

Willem Oosthoek Collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 22 September 2014 - 03:11.

[Jerry Entin]

Dick Thompson takes a filthy Cunningham Maserati Tipo 63 to the finish at Le Mans in 1961. The car carried a 3-liter V12 engine for the first time.

 

 

D28 mentioned it previously: Le Mans 1961 saw the highest finish in Maserati history, after Dick Thompson and Augie Pabst took the Cunningham Tipo 63 to a 4th overall finish. It didn't come easy. Thompson could not get the V12 fired up at the start and lost almost a lap before he turned a wheel. Overheating forced frequent spark plug changes and the drivers were forced to run the car well under its capacity. After Le Mans the short-wheelbase chassis, originally designed for a 4-cylinder, was scrapped and replaced on behalf of Cunningham by a longer wheelbase version with the same chassis number: 63.002.

 

Photo: Geoffrey Goddard  [Willem Oosthoek Collection]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 23 September 2014 - 00:19.

[2F-001]

Over half-a-century on, the Bill Mitchell Stingray still looks strikingly futuristic, doesn't it? Almost like something from a Syd Mead illustration.

[Jerry Entin]

In 1962 Dick Thompson returned to Le Mans to drive this 4-liter V8 Maserati Tipo 151, entered by Briggs Cunningham. His co-driver was Bill Kimberly, who took the start.

This time there was no holding back like the year before. The Kimberly/Thompson car ran in the top three until the beginning of Thompson's second stint, when on lap 62 he lost his brakes to crash at the Esses before Tertre Rouge. Thompson used both sides of the earth banks to rub off speed, mostly with the Maserati's tail. The car slowed down enough to take Tertre Rouge, but landed on its side. The impacts broke one of the rear-mounted oil tanks and the car was finished for the day. Later on it was discovered that unbedded brake pads had been fitted during the pitstop.

 

Photo: Flip Schulk

 

Willem Oosthoek Collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 24 September 2014 - 01:14.

[Jerry Entin]

Laguna Seca, October 1963. Dick Thompson at the wheel of the Maserati Tipo 64 Supercage during the Pacific Grand Prix. Owned by Briggs Cunningham, the car's original 3-liter V12 Maserati engine had been replaced by a 289 Ford V8.

 

 

The history of this car was a disappointing one. In its first appearance at Sebring in 1962, assigned to Walt Hansgen and Dick Thompson, it dropped out after only one hour due to suspension problems. By 1963 it carried a Ford engine and Thompson  ran fast at Laguna Seca, until a pit stop for rear tires and two more stops to fix a leaking radiator dropped him back. The Supercage finished 16th overall.

 

 

Photo: Bob Tronolone  

 

[Willem Oosthoek Collection]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 24 September 2014 - 22:37.

[fbarrett]

He will always be affiliated with Corvettes and such classic Eastern tracks as Marlboro. Thanks for posting the great photographs, Jerry.

 

Frank

[jj2728]

Great photos Jerry and thanks for sharing them.

[Jerry Entin]

Nassau 1963. Some participants of the Chevrolet juggernaut unleashed on Carroll Shelby's Ford team that week: Augie Pabst, Dick Thompson and Zora Duntov, responsible for the Corvette Grand Sport that Thompson raced.

 

Photo: Flip Schulke 

 

[Willem Oosthoek Collection]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 September 2014 - 05:14.

[Jerry Entin]

1963 Pacific Grand Prix, Laguna Seca. Another shot of Dick Thompson in the Ford-powered Supercage, chased by Ed Leslie [Webster Lotus 23] and Graham Hill [Ian Walker Lotus 23]. Skip Hudson seems to have misjudged turn 9 completely with the Chevy-engined Nickey Cooper Monaco.

 

 

JJ2728 : Glad your enjoying seeing these photos of Dr. Dick Thompson in his prime

 

 

Photo: Willem Oosthoek Collection

Edited by Jerry Entin, 25 September 2014 - 21:43.

[Jerry Entin]

Le Mans 1966. Dick Thompson was assigned to share this 7-liter Alan Mann-entered Ford GT Mk 2 -seen here in practice- with Graham Hill. It was not to be.

 

During practice Thompson's Mk 2 made contact with an errant private Ford GT-40. Stopping at the pits to report the incident, Thompson was accused by the ACO officials of "leaving the site of an accident". They intended to ban the #7 entry from the race entirely.

 

Incensed, Ford execs threatened to withdraw all other seven Mk 2s, those entered by Alan Mann, Shelby American and Holman-Moody. The ACO suddenly found reason again and to let the #7 Mk 2 take the start, turning Thompson into the scapegoat by banning him from the race. Ford flew in Brian Muir on Saturday morning, just before the start, to serve as Graham Hill's co-driver.

 

 

Photo: Henri Beroul  [Willem Oosthoek Collection]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 26 September 2014 - 00:16.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Thanks for the pictures and stories, Jerry!

 

Jack

[Jerry Entin]

Road America 500, September 1965. Dick Thompson raced the Essex Wire 7-liter Shelby Cobra/Ford a number of times that season, seen here entering the corner on the outside of the track.

 

 

Since the SCCA refused to consider the 427 Cobra a production car, Thompson was forced to race it against pure-bred sportsracers in CM class. His disadvantage shows at the Road America grid, led by an Excalibur pace car. Qualifying ahead of Thompson were Walt Hansgen [Mecom Lola T70/Ford], Jim Hall [Chaparral 2], Ralph Salyer [McLaren/Chevy], Jerry Hansen [McKee/Chevy], Skip Scott [Essex Wire GT-40], Charlie Cox [Cooper Monaco/Ford], Dave Causey [Lotus 19/Ford] and even an under-2-liter entry: Gerry Bruihl's Lotus 23/Climax. It was a long race, though, and the 427 Cobra, co-driven by Ed Lowther, finished third overall behind the two Chaparrals.

 

Jack the Lad: I"m glad you are enjoying seeing the photos of Dick Thompson in his racing days.

 

Photo: Bob Siebelink   

[Willem Oosthoek Collection]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 27 September 2014 - 21:30.

[group7]

jerry, thanks for posting those images of thompson's cars. the last one , above of the excaliber  leading the field at elkhart lake is so evocative of a different  time.

 

group7

Edited by group7, 03 October 2014 - 01:38.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Is that Hap Sharp following Thompson in another Chaparral?

[Jerry Entin]

Jack the Lad:  Yes, that is Hap Sharp following in the second Chaparral, which based on its grid position, must have encountered a problem during qualifying.

Hap Sharp and Ronnie Hissom co-drove Jim Hall's winning Chaparral, while Bruce Jennings and Hall helped taking the Sharp Chaparral to second overall.

[Jack-the-Lad]

About 30 years ago I went to a polo match in Wellington, Florida, and out there playing like a 25 year-old was....Hap Sharp!  Has anyone written his biography?  He must had led a helluva life.

[Jerry Entin]

Hap Sharp, Ronnie Hissom and Alan Connell were all heavily involved in polo. No one has ever done a book on Hap. He was quite a character, especially later in life when he moved all his assets in his wife's name [the former Mrs. Hissom] to evade the reach of the IRS.

 

all research: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 28 September 2014 - 17:08.

[Manfred Cubenoggin]

Hi, Jerry.  Thanks so much for posting these grand images.  And lest I forget to mention, RIP, DT. 

 

I came across a yarn about Hap Sharp many moons ago in either Road & Track, Car and Driver or Sports Car Graphic.  I believe that it was Jim Hall himself saying that Hap came up with 10 ideas a minute to improve the car.  Nine of them were hopeless/useless/irrelevant/etc.  But...  That meant that he came up with one good idea every minute.  Not bad! 

[Jerry Entin]

Dick Thompson was back for the 1967 edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours, sprinting toward his JW Automotive 5-liter Mirage/Ford #14, between Dick Attwood [#23 Ferrari 330P3] and teammate Jackie Ickx [#15 Mirage/Ford].

 

 

 

Depending on the source [3'37"0 vs 3'38"0 according to the Le Mans newspapers; 3'36"3 vs 3'37"0 according to Wimpffen], the Ickx #15 qualified slightly faster than the Thompson #14. They were still only 15th and 16th on the grid, outgunned by the 7-liter Fords, 7-liter Chaparral and P4 Ferraris.

 

In the end it did not matter. Ickx retired at 18:09 PM [cause: "bielle"], while Thompson and his co-driver David Piper followed suit two hours later, at 20:05 PM [cause: "moteur bloque"].

 

 

Photo: Henri Beroul   [Willem Oosthoek Collection]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 29 September 2014 - 23:55.

[David M. Kane]

Dr. Thompson was my 1st racing hero. He let me sit in Bill Mitchell's Stingray at Upper Marlboro one Spring weekend.

The dream for me began that day. RIP. I will miss him greatly.

[Jerry Entin]

Le Mans 1968. In his final appearance at Le Mans Dick Thompson co-drove this Howmet TX turbine entry with owner Ray Heppenstall. After a troublesome run, the car was a DNF after nine hours when it crashed at the end of the Mulsanne straight.

 

 

Due to the student riots in the summer, the 24 Hours were postponed until the end of September. In July the Thompson/Heppenstall Howmet still finished 3rd overall at Watkins Glen, but at Le Mans it never ran higher than 19th overall. Although reports blame the car's brakes for Thompson's crash at Mulsanne, the driver revealed in a 1996 interview that it was really oil dumped by a competitor that caused the crash. Le Mans 1968 turned out to be the end of Thompson's 16-year race career.

 

 

Photo: Henri Beroul   [Willem Oosthoek Collection]

Edited by Jerry Entin, 02 October 2014 - 21:11.

[group7]

thanks for posting jerry. nice shot of the howmet, one of my favourite cars. I think that's bob tullius on the far left ? looks like it's going through tech, and the gentleman on the right with hand on chin, is probably thinking, merde! there has to be something illegal ! so that it might be excluded.

 

group7

[Louism]

Thanks for the picture.

Jabby Crombac at the back of the car, wearing his cap as always...

José Rosinski at his left (driver/journalist at Sport-Auto with Crombac) ?

Scrutineers are weighing the rear axle of the Howmet.

 

Jerry, "May events" as we say in France started with students but affected the whole society and ended in June.

 

Regards

Louis Monnier

ACO

Edited by Louism, 03 October 2014 - 05:37.

[RA Historian]

Howmet car, a/k/a McKee Mk IX.

[Jerry Entin]

West Palm Beach, 1996. Two retirees from the racing circuit: a fit 75-year old Flying Dentist and one of his dogs, an adopted greyhound too old for the rabbit chase.

 

 

In a 1996 interview Dick Thompson mentioned that he had retired from his Washington dental practice only the year before. Now heavily involved with golf and horseback riding, he would occasionally visit the vintage racing circuit to be re-united with one of his former cars.

 

When asked about the favorite competition car in his career, his answer came as a surprise: not a Corvette, but the 7-liter Ford Mk 2 he ran in Le Mans practice in 1966.

 

 

Photo: Willem Oosthoek

Edited by Jerry Entin, 03 October 2014 - 22:30.

[D28]

 

 

 

When asked about the favorite competition car in his career, his answer came as a surprise: not a Corvette, but the 7-liter Ford Mk 2 he ran in Le Mans practice in 1966.

 

 

Photo: Willem Oosthoek

 

He must have had mixed feelings, as this is the car he was pulled out of as a scapegoat for ACO officials to save face. See "leaving the scene of accident" incident above. A shame he didn't get to race in this mount.

[terry mcgrath]

Would this be the same Dr Richard Thompson who purchased a new Jaguar XKSS and raced it at Marlboro Maryland in june 1957 also Vitginia Bridgehampton and possibly for the last time at Virginia in October 1957 if it is I would certainly love to get a picture of him in the XKSS

terry

[Jerry Entin]

  Terry,

 

Yes, one and the same, although Thompson did not own the XK-SS. The owner was Steve Spitler. Also, various sites misidentify the driver in this car in some of the photos, actually Charlie Wallace, the Washington hairdresser, who also raced the car around that time.

 

Page 81 of Willem Oosthoek's Maserati 450S book has a shot of Thompson in the XK-SS at VIR in August 1957. He raced it in the feature, Spitler raced it in the prelim.

 

all research: Willem Oosthoek

[group7]

terry & jerry, there are two photos of the XK-SS at VIR august '57 with spitler, on the VIR history site. one of spitler standing beside it, and another on track. will try to do a link for one. hope it works

 

 

http://www.virhistor...hh-5708-036.jpg

 

mike group7 in canada

Edited by group7, 06 October 2014 - 20:28.

[group7]

well ! that worked, here's the second with spitler beside the car on the grid.       http://www.virhistor...7-aug/wh-33.JPG

 

 

jerry, is that spitler by the car ? on the VIR site the caption says it is he, but you do say the driver is misidentified on some sites.

 

 

mike group7 in canada

Edited by group7, 06 October 2014 - 23:38.

[terry mcgrath]

mike and jerry

thanks for the info and link to photos

I must ask What actual information is there that Steve Spitler was the first owner?

​I have information that a business Manhattan Autos of Washington DC was the first owner and I have seen info direct from Jaguar Cars that Richard Thompson was? Certainly both Spitler and Thompson raced it at Virginia 4th August 1957. Its very first race I believe was June 1957 Marlboro Maryland the 2nd Annual 6 hour race driven by Duncan Black and Jim Robinson with Thompson driving it at Marlboro 14th July 1957.

I have info it was sold to Dave Causey late 1957 who raced it at Louisville Kentucky by 4th may 1958 Jim Robinson ran it at Virginia, Causey 31st May at Bridgehampton, then 7th june Marlboro 6 hour race with Steve Spitler who crashed fatally in practice listed at Motorsport

Memorial.org.

By sept 1958 it was racing again at Road America #11 with Causey and Norris driving

[RA Historian]

Causey converted it to D specs and bodywork and raced it as such. A few years ago it was sold at a Gooding auction, back in XK-SS trim.

Tom

[Jerry Entin]

 

Mike:

 

We don't know what Steve Spitler looked like, but the guy with the Cromwell helmet next to the car is not Charlie Wallace, so it must be Spitler. Various VIR sites [and the VIR book] contain an image of Wallace at the wheel of the same XK-SS. He is wearing a Bell helmet and probably did a couple of shakedown laps with the car at VIR. He is misidentified as Dick Thompson in the image credited to Watts Hills Jr.

 

Terry, This comes from Willem Ossthoek

 

"Having done the 1996 interview with Dick Thompson, I can say that he denied ever owning the XK-SS. He said he raced it "for a rich Washington kid." I am not familiar with Manhattan Autos of Washington, DC, but perhaps Spitler was the owner. It was not unusual for owners to race their car in the prelim, only to give the wheel to a more seasoned driver for the points-counting feature. Thompson was definitely the more seasoned one by then. He already raced his Corvette twice on the new track that weekend."

[E1pix]

What a wonderful tribute, Jerry. Thanks.

[Haine Kane]

Hello from France,

 

Have you got a death place to complete my file please ?

 

Thanks a lot.