Conversation so far:
where was Mickey Thompson born?
Thompson was born in Alhambra, California.
who was his father?
he worked as a pressman for the Los Angeles Times while pursuing a lifelong love of hot rodding.
did his father get him involved with racing?
Tireless and innovative, he found success as a championship driver and instinctive automotive technician.
who was his mother?
Over the course of his career, Thompson set more speed and endurance records than any other man in automotive history.
how many records did he set?
He is credited with designing and building the first slingshot dragster, in 1954, moving the seat behind the rear axle to improve traction.
is there anything else interesting in his early history?
Thompson collaborated with Fritz Voight on a 1958 twin-engined dragster.
This car achieved a best speed of 294.117 mph.

Question: how did they end up collaborating together?
Self-contained rewrite: how did Mickey Thompson and Fritz Voight end up collaborating together?