Well thanks for the tip kris!
I have just sat through 12 pages of Googles idea of Mr Lightning and his toys. I even think I won a free dvd on page 9!!
Seriously though, (well maybe not too seriously) I can remember in the early 70's a car in HOT ROD magazine on the short circuit racing scene called the JOHNNY LIGHTNING SPECIAL PARNELLI JONES COLT FORD and after going goggle-eyed with Google, I can only assume that the fellow didn't exist at all and some body just made up the caracter and it has certainly caught on.
Thats my revised opinion.......unless someone else knows better!!