Jon “Thunderlungs” Lundberg
Jon Lundberg was seeking his place in the world. His father was a biplane flying pioneer aviator. Jon’s grandfather, a Swedish immigrant, started the families manufacturing company and lived the American dream.
Lundberg first laid eyes on eight “Deuce Coupe” hot rod in 1949. He witnessed a primitive drag racing event one year later. Those occurrences transformed an impressionable teenager into a lifelong racing enthusiast and car guy.
Jon’s accomplishments include the following:
1951-1955- Built three cars and raced in early events (1929 A Roadster-pickup, 1934 Ford Victoria, 1950 Olds Coupe).
1955- Announced his first race at yet to be paved Central Michigan Dragway and completed the day standing on a hay wagon, announcing through a bullhorn.
1961- First on the album recognition as event announcer for 33-1/3 RPM “long play” vinyl record of drag racing.
1963- First national tour, announced AHRA Winternationals-and their complete event schedule-as well as the Smoker’s “March Meet” and eastern Drag News Invitational’s.
1964-1972- Successive national tours including as many as 42 separate weekend events of national, premier independent, and regional stature.
1965- First to voiceover the “pay-per-view” TV presentation of a drag race (AHRA Winternationals). First live event coverage presented simultaneously to attending fans, radio, and TV audiences. First magazine article featuring a drag racer announcer (Drag Racing Magazine-September). First weekly TV show on motorsports in the Midwest market (WK BB-TV, Detroit).
1966- First organized and prepared PA announcements for event sponsors.
1969- First to tour nationally with a package racing program (Coca-Cola Funny Car Cavalcade).
1972- First called “Thunderlungs” by Jeff Crowther (Candies & Hughes AA/FD) at Popular Hot Rodding Meet.
1972-1981- Awards banquet host for Car Craft Magazine, ISCA, NHRA Division III, UDRA, and SEMA.
1972-1973- Announced the first two PRO National Challenge events.
1988- First to announce under five second (4.99) ET top fuel dragster run by Eddie Hill at Texas Motorplex; also voiced first under seven ET and over 200 MPH pass for Pro Modified cars at Bristol Tennessee.
2001- Retired as event announcer having appeared at 130 N. American drag strips during a 46 to career.
Among all these accomplishments Jon announced national and regional events for every sanctioning body to include: AHRA, ATAA, IHRA, NASCAR, NHRA, UDRA, and VRA. Some of these sanctioning bodies even gave Jon multi-year contracts to announce that major and independent events.
Jon resides in Arizona with his wife Sandra. He enjoys an extended family which includes seven children 13 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jon studied with the American Society of Appraisers to achieve certification as a Personal Property Appraiser for unique and exotic racing motor vehicles. Lundberg has written opinions of value for more than 200 such vehicles.