Dick Thompson (racing driver)

Richard " Dick" Thompson ( born 1921 ) is a retired American race car driver.

Dick Thompson was working a day job as a dentist in Washington DC, what him in his racing colleagues nicknamed "The Flying Dentist " earned. Thompson was active from the late 1950s until the 1970s and won several SCCA sports car championships.

In the U.S., he was popular as "the" Corvette driver and gave the now legendary race cars, the first great successes. He thus 1956, 1957, 1960, 1961 and 1962 won five SCCA championships. In 1963 he won a Corvette the sports car race at Watkins Glen.

Thompson, who also works driver Briggs Cunningham, came up with the U.S. team in 1960 to Europe and made ​​his debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His best finish was fourth place overall with Augie Pabst in the Maserati Tipo 63 1961. 1967 he won with Jacky Ickx as a partner on a Mirage M1 1000- km race at Spa -Francorchamps.

Thompson never deserved the racing enough money to make a living exclusively from it. That's why he remained until old age working as a dentist. Thompson now lives in Wellington and is enjoying his retirement.

Le Mans results

  • Racers (United States)
  • Drivers in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
  • World Sports Car Championship racer
  • Americans
  • Born 1921
  • Man
Watkins Glen International 1000 km Spa Wellington (Florida) 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans 1961 24 Hours of Le Mans 1962 24 Hours of Le Mans Maserati Tipo 151 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans Shelby Daytona 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans David Piper 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans Howmet TX
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