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Jon Lundberg


Jon Lundberg
Jon Lundberg was seeking his place in the world.  His father was a bi-plane-flying pioneer aviator.  Jon’s grandfather, a Swedish immigrant, started the family’s manufacturing company and lived the American dream. Lundberg first laid eyes on a “Deuce coupe” hot rod in 1949.  He witnessed a primitive drag race event one year later.  Those occurrences transformed an impressionable teenager into a lifelong racing enthusiast and car guy.  Jon was “off to the races”. 

• 1951-55 - Built three cars and raced at early events (‘29 A Roadster-pickup, ‘34 Ford Victoria, ‘50 Olds coupe).
•      1955 - Announced his first race at yet-to-be-paved Central Michigan Dragway (now the Mid Michigan Motorplex) and completed the day standing on a hay wagon, announcing through a bullhorn.
• 1957-61 - Surface paved and Jon meets several touring pros during track’s major events.
•      1960 - First puts-on signature Black Stetson & sunglasses to both protect head and mask youthfulness.
•      1962 - Duties expand to include Detroit Dragway (launch-pad for the Super Stock, AF/X and Funny Car era).
•      1963 - First national tour, announced AHRA Winter Nationals – and their complete event schedule - as well as the Smokers “March Meet” and eastern Drag News Invitationals.
• 1964-72 - Successive national tours included as many as 42 separate weekend events of national, premier independent and regional stature.
•      1972 - First called “Thunderlungs” by Jeff Crowther (Candies & Hughes AA/FD) at Popular Hot Rodding Meet.
• 1972-81 - Awards banquet host for Car Craft Magazine, ISCA, NHRA Division 3, UDRA and SEMA.
• 1972-73 - Announced the first two PRO National Challenge events.
• 1973-89 - Aftermarket industry career demands reduced schedule.
• 1989-2001 Schedule concentrates on nostalgia drag race events.
•      2001 - Retired as event announcer having appeared at 130 North American drag strips during a 46-year career.
Career Firsts:
•      1954 - First TV experience.  Consultant to kinescope recording of NHRA “Safety Safari” event at Livonia, MI, for local PBS broadcast (WKAR-TV @ Michigan State University).
•      1961 - First on-the-album recognition as event announcer for 33-1/3 rpm “long play” vinyl record of a drag race.
•      1963 - First autonomous (voicing other events) broadcaster hired for a national event tour (AHRA full schedule). First published announcer. Wrote articles printed in national magazine, “Today’s Motor Sports”. First called “the Voice of Drag Racing”.
• 1964-65 - Live-action announcer for Hurst Performance Records covering both straight-line and circuit events.
•      1965 - First to voice-over the “pay-per-view” TV presentation of a drag race (AHRA Winter Nationals). First weekly TV show on motor sports in Midwest market (WKBD-TV, Detroit). First live-event coverage presented simultaneously to: attending fans, radio and TV audiences.First magazine article featuring a drag race announcer (Drag Racing Magazine – September).
•      1966 - First organized and prepared PA announcements for event sponsors.
•      1968 - First to work the new car show circuit under contract to a car maker (Lincoln-Mercury’s “Streep Scene” performance exhibit).
•      1969 - First to tour nationally with a packaged racing program (Coca Cola Funny Car Cavalcade).
•      1972 - Touring announcer with U.S. Racing Team (packaged Pro Stock events).
•      1988 - First to announce under 5-second (4.99) elapsed time Top Fuel dragster run by Eddie Hill at Texas Motorplex; also voiced first under-7 e.t. and over-200 mph pass for Pro Modified cars at Bristol (TN).  

Accomplishments:
   •     Announced national and regional events for every sanctioner (AHRA, ATAA, IHRA, NASCAR, NHRA, UDRA, VRA).
   •     Multi-year contracts to announce major national and independent events:
• 1963-73 - AHRA – Full Schedule
• 1963-87 - March Meet, Bakersfield, CA
• 1965-73 - Super Stock Magazine Meet
• 1969-81 - Popular Hot Rodding Magazine Meet, Martin, MI

   •     Aftermarket career has encompassed roles as participant/owner of three companies, being elected by peers to three terms on the SEMA Board of Directors and serving as consultant on many business development projects.
Lundberg currently resides in Oro Valley, Arizona, with wife Sandra.  Jon studies with the American Society of Appraisers to achieve ever-higher certification as a Personal Property appraiser of unique, exotic and racing motor vehicles – his current enterprise.  To date Lundberg has written value opinions for more than 200 such units.  He also very much enjoys an extended family which includes seven offspring, thirteen grandchildren and his first Great grandchild.  At 70, life remains a participant experience for Jon “Thunderlungs” Lundberg, the Voice of Drag Racing.

             

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