To many Mickey Thompson was a true Legend partly because he won over 500 speed and endurance records in the field of auto racing. To others his fame was due to being a promoter of Stadium Racing events held all over the country. Some might be more familiar with his high performance auto parts line which included the famous Mickey Thompson all terrain tires. His name is synonymous with being the fastest man on wheels when he set the speed record of 406.6 mph in 1960. No matter how the public came to know him he was the ex-Marine man's man who could do anything and be successful at it.
What's so remarkable about him was not his accomplishments but the fact that at the height of his career his life was snuffed out while leaving for work. On March 16, 1988 he and his wife were executed in their driveway for no apparent reason by two young men who afterwards escaped on bicycles. The nation was shocked at the cold-blooded manner the shootings were carried out. The big question was who did it and why? The Sheriff's Homicide unit went all out checking every possible lead. Could it be a possible robbery? However, the shooters didn't take $4,000 in cash that Mickey was carrying nor the jewelry his wife had on her. Both had been shot numerous times with a final coup de grace bullet to the head.
Eyewitnesses describe the shooters as two young black males with large backpacks riding bikes through the gated community of Bradbury. This little equestrian community is listed as having the most expensive homes in any zip code in the country. Since the Thompsons were white and certainly would be considered well to do, could this be a Robin Hood copycat crime to take from the rich to give to the poor or part of a race war? Initially there was fear among the wealthy whites. Immediately the media down played this possibility and toyed with the possibility that it might be the result of a business dispute. Names were mentioned, one was of a former business partner. However, he had a solid alibi since he was working out in a Costa Mesa gym with dozens of character witnesses.