Most influential icon Shelby, Mickey, or Don?

[CoBro]

Of all the American motoring icons I can think of three that stand above the rest. Carrol Shelby, Mickey Thompson and Don Garlits (sp)
All were racers & innovatiors and changed the sport of motor racing. Who's the most influential?

[Kramer]

Wow that is tough. I like all three. I guess it depends on your perspective and style of racing you like. If you know all three well (like I think I do), I suspect one has to go with Don Garlits. I grew up at the race track (my father drag raced) and I have also been to DG's museum in Florida. This guy truly was an innnovator...constantly trying all kinds of idea's, engine configurations etc. Side engine mounts, rear engine, turbos, wings, wheel base..you name it he tried it.

[LMH]

Well Petty is pretty widely known. I'm not into NASCAR at all and I know who he is.
Larry

[Kramer]

No doubt Petty is strong, but I don't know that he would fit into the innovator Category....but I too, don't know too much about NASCAR.

[decapello]

I like Jim Hall, and his Chaparrals. He won in both Can-am & Indy with innovative race cars. I'm not even a chevy guy.

[bran3b]

I would have to go with Mickey Thompson. He raced in multiple race series and was competitive in all of them. Plus, I have a set of his tires on my Jeep.

[Jerry Clayton]

I have known all 3 of them and would have to say Mickey Thompson--especially if he had lived longer---he did stuff in drag racing, land speed (Bonneville) off road, and was a manufacture who built a lot of stuff that the others used---

Don Garlits, who I probably know best, has done a lot, but mainly in drag racing--and his museum is a must see any and every time you are going down I75 thru middle Florida

Shelby, altho I admire him for what he has done , was my landlord, my accountant had an office in the same building as him, had Competition Tire West(Goodyear) where we got our Goodyear slicks and truck tires(we were sponsered by Goodyear) has mainly only been in sport car racing.

[Bill Bess]

What about Frank Kurtis, first American sports car builder, numerous Indy cars, midgits, Kurtis 500S, Muntz jet...& drag boats.
Check out on line...pretty darn impressive record.
Bill

[rodneym]

You can't take anything away from the others but I'd have to hand it to Shelby. His efforts transcended niches. People all over the world know of him, his World Championship driving, World Champion race cars, the baddest street car made, badass Mustangs, leading the Ford GT40's to victory, chili, Pit Stop deodorant (but I digress).
He's certainly influenced all of us.

[rjbh20]

I'd go with Jim Hall if the choices are limited to Americans, Colin Chapman if not. Honorable mentions for Dan Gurney and Andy Granatelli

[LMH]

Also Simpson. I think he has done a lot for the sport of racing and safety.
Larry

[CoBro]

There is no right or wrong answer to the question really! Thanks for the history lessons of all the American motorsport innovators, and they should be recognized. Please post more about these men and their accomplishments if you can.

*Shelby whooped Ferrari's butt in their own back yard. That's good enough for me.
*Mickey triumphed in road racing, Indy, Bonneville and my personal favorite, off-road racing. Didn't he campaign a Bronco?
*Garlits changed an entire motorsport segment and saved a lot of lives with the rear engined dragster. All the aero innovations he devised are still evident today.
*Special mention to drag race legend Shirley "Boom Boom" Muldowney who inspired many female drivers of all disciplines, and broke the stereotype that women can't or shouldn't go fast.

If I had to make a choice I'd have to say Mickey Thompson.
The sheer number of different types of motorsport he competed in and innovated is astounding. He had the career of 4 or 5 people combined!

[gsharapa]

10 years ago I'd probably say Don Garlits but with rebirth of Shelby in the 2006 with Ford, I'd say Shelby now is on top as he has the older generation (us old farts) plus a whole new generation of kids and young adults that love his cars.

[CoBro]

BTW, where is Micky Thompson's racing collection? Is it in a museum or is it spread throughout the country in private collections? Shelby's and Garlits' cars are well accounted for, for the most part.
I have to say I haven't seen many or any of M/T's surviving cars up for sale in the usual places.

[Tom Kirkham]

I think you are leaving off some very important names off that list, such as:Henry Ford, Fred Offenhauser, Harry Miller, Augie Duesenberg (A popular cliche "What a Duesy" is in reference to his cars.)

[Buzz]

The material value of each of their contributions could be debated ad infinitum, and most arguments would be seasoned with a healthy dose of bias based upon era, motorsports category, brand loyalty and reaction to the individual personalities themselves.
My take is that Shelby has crossed disciplines, generations, brands and nations. His name recognition trumps anyone else in motorsports and he's still going strong with significant new products. Love Shelby or hate him (or both); in terms of sheer automotive iconic status, the other names are not even in the same league.

[rjbh20]

Originally Posted by CoBro

There is no right or wrong answer to the question really! Thanks for the history lessons of all the American motorsport innovators, and they should be recognized. Please post more about these men and their accomplishments if you can.

*Shelby whooped Ferrari's butt in their own back yard. That's good enough for me.
*Mickey triumphed in road racing, Indy, Bonneville and my personal favorite, off-road racing. Didn't he campaign a Bronco?
*Garlits changed an entire motorsport segment and saved a lot of lives with the rear engined dragster. All the aero innovations he devised are still evident today.
*Special mention to drag race legend Shirley "Boom Boom" Muldowney who inspired many female drivers of all disciplines, and broke the stereotype that women can't or shouldn't go fast.

If I had to make a choice I'd have to say Mickey Thompson.
The sheer number of different types of motorsport he competed in and innovated is astounding. He had the career of 4 or 5 people combined!

I believe Shirley Muldowney's nickname was Cha-Cha, not Boom Boom. I also understand that she hated it.

What were Mickey Thompson's triumphs at Indianapolis? My recollection is that his cars seldom (ever?) finished and he's best known for the disastrous Allstate Special in 1964 that Dave MacDonald used to kill himself and Eddie Sachs.

[snakebittexan]

Add Lee Iocca--father of the Mustang and brought Chrysler back from the depths.

[TN Shelby Cobra]

Sorry guys I had to laugh when I first saw this I thought you were comparing Shelby to Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck!!!! I have read a lot of hate on here about old Shel !!!

[Ralphy]

I'll go with Smokey Yunick. Greatest cheater of all time.

‪Smokey Yunick v1‬‏ - YouTube