The Rubber Hitting the Road – Mickey Thompson’s Involvement with Sick the Mag Events for 2024
Celebrating their 60th anniversary in 2023, Mickey Thomspon Tires and Wheels has been a part of the drag-and-drive game since it began in 2005. 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the ET Street radial, which has changed the landscape of not only tire technology, but also been a part of new and exciting classes based around radial drag racing.
Jason Moulton, Director of Motorsports, had a hand in the development of that first ET Street drag radial, and now he’s been a big part of Mickey Thompson’s involvement with Sick the Mag’s Sick Week and Sick Summer with not just being “on-site” during the events, but product and customer support.
“The drag-and-drive scene has exploded,” said Jason. “Now, there’s all these events, and they are really fun to go to. They are so popular; we have contests at Mickey Thompson to determine who gets to go.”
Sick The Magazine - the 200+ page magazine covering drag-and-drive and street car content like no other. Subscribe today!
Sick Week 2022 ushered in a new era for Mickey Thompson, as Jason and crew brought a brand-new truck and trailer to the event to more directly service the drag-and-drive market.
“We needed something to allow us to travel from track to track during these type events,” Jason said. It requires less time to set-up and operate versus an 18-wheeler, and that allows us to help competitors at the track and on the road as well.”
Drag-and-drive events also gives Mickey Thompson more data and information on how tires work. “It’s a great way to get information on customers, tracks and how the tires work for each,” said Jason. “We don’t develop tires sitting behind a desk; getting out there and working with multiple factors gives us the feedback needed to develop products that customers can use and be confident with the results.”
“When we have first-hand experience with a driver / car / tire and different tracks, that gives us valuable information we can pass on,” Jason continued. “One tire may work differently at two different tracks, and that data allows us to serve customers on tire selection, as well as connecting them with enthusiasts that have used that tire / raced that track to help them have better results.”
Part of Mickey Thompson’s customer service is Team Mickey Thompson. “It’s racers helping racers,” said Jason. “If someone is struggling with a tire, we can call on another racer that is making that tire work. It also plays into their ‘off-season testing’ during the winter months in Florida and Georgia.
“I think we’ve barely tapped the potential of the radial market. That doesn’t mean we’re ignoring the bias-ply market, as we have new products for the limited traction surfaces, as well as more options for the larger diameter modern vehicle market.”
Mickey Thompson will once again have their truck and trailer with product and tire changing equipment on site at both Sick Week and Sick Summer in 2024. “I can’t wait to be back on Sick Week in January,” Jason admitted. “We’ll be stocked up with dozens of tires for Sick Week and Sick Ward participants to check out, and spend a great week with several hundred friends!”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Mickey Thompson.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com