Don prudhomme story behind the snake book

Snakes remarkable driving career began in 1962 with his first top fuel victory at smokers march meet in bakersfield, calif. Don the snake prudhomme is one of drag racings greatest pioneers, having won nhra championships as both a driver and an owner. The snake and mongoose story has a lot of different twists, mr. Hal higdon is the author of 36 books, including a novel, marathon, and the. Its more than that, though, its a book about how drag racing went from an amatuer. Don prudhomme is probably one of the most revered snakes in the world. The book covers the 1973 nationals held in indianapolis, a race in which prudhomme was battling for his first funny car season.

The series don prudhomme is probably one of the most revered snakes in the world. Weve already looked in detail at most of the funny cars in the shop, so lets check out this special vintage cartruck race setup and parts of don s memorabilia collection. Don prudhomme at californias riverside raceway in 1967. The early career of don prudhomme is captured in this spinetingling account of the 1973 nationals at indianapolis raceway park. Here, finally, is the definitive biography of one of drag racings most irrepressible characters. Your are one hundred percent accurate in your assessment of these two. Jul 09, 2015 check out a timeline detailing the hall of fame driverowner. The book covers the 1973 nationals held in indianapolis, a race in which prudhomme was battling for his first funny car season title.

Original snake and mongoose haulers head to auction. Drag racing has enjoyed some colorful personalities over the decades but few can rival the aura of don the snake prudhomme. Celeste ng, ann patchett, min jin lee and others on the books that. This book tells of behind the scenes stories of how the mattel hot wheels sponsorship changed the lives and careers of don prudhomme and tom mcewen, as well as the business of the sport of drag racing.

Last weeks discussion about the notorious blackprimer snake iii barracuda of don prudhomme a car that was unveiled at seasons end in 1972 and competed at the nhra supernationals and the. The story behind the snake more editions of don prudhomme. Tommy ivos impact on the sport cannot be understated. Ok lets continue on with our visit to don prudhomme s snake racing hq. Mongoose tells the story of this very real rivalrythe drivers, the kids. Take a black mamba one of the worlds most poisonous snakes, notorious for its bad temper, set it loose in central park.

Master writer hal higdon spent the race weekend shadowing prudhomme during a race that was the turning point in the snake s dominating funny car racing career. The fireball race car, of don the snake prudhomme, and how only one kid was able to get a photo of it, in the air, nothing touching the ground, around 200mph, ablaze at that 1971 event at sir was a young boy going to the drags with his father. Looking back on prudhommes career competition plus. At the heart of this menacing looking shelby gt500 is a 5. Don the snake prudhomme retires after nearly 50 years in. Hes in a tshirt and firesuit pants, holding a jackrabbit at the starting line of fremont drag strip. Check out a timeline detailing the hall of fame driverowner. This is the official facebook page for don prudhomme snake racing. The book covers prudhommes career as a drag racer from the 1960s through the 90s, his tenure as an owner, and his subsequent retirement. Mongoose how a rivalry changed drag racing forever.

Don prudhommes early career is documented in the book, six seconds to glory by hal higdon. For this weeks journey into the national dragster photo archives, we are opening up the files of one of the sports most recognized names, don prudhomme. Shelby super snake prudhomme turns back the clock fuel. A storied rivalry put drag racing on the map the new. Find great deals on ebay for don prudhomme funny car and don prudhomme hot wheels. The time don prudhomme filled in for steve mcqueen what happened when drag racers tony nancy and don the snake prudhomme ran baja in 1968. Wins by larry dixon top fuel and ron capps funny car at the 1998 winternationals in pomona, calif. For nearly 20 years the place to hear those stories, told by the people.

A life story which has been told time and time again, this episode of legends. How a rivalry changed drag racing forever, written by tom madigan. The story behind the snake, prudhomme and stephens reveal the details of prudhomme s colorful life as one of drag racings most driven champions. With jesse williams, richard blake, ashley hinshaw, kim shaw.

The story behind the snake by don prudhomme, bill stephens isbn. Oct 22, 2009 they made history don prudhomme, left, this month at his shop in vista, calif. To clear a few things up, this is video is of the original shelby super snake, complete with don long chassis, ed pink cammer and none other than don prudhomme behind the wheel. Throughout, the tales behind ivos career and cars are generously complemented with commentary from such racing luminaries as don garlits, don prudhomme, and shirley muldowney. Theres a photo of don the snake prudhomme above from the. I really admire the team for that, thats big in my book. The novel coronavirus covid19 pandemic has changed everyones lives. January 17, 2017 international motorsports hall of famer and drag racing legend, don the snake prudhomme, roars back to the desert with three of the most significant, original and restored funny cars in drag racing history during the 46th annual barrett. Don the snake prudhomme movie tamrazs parts 800 4424601. One of mcewen s top funnycar rivals was don prudhomme, a lanky driver from. Born in 1941, californian don the snake prudhomme earned the best win record in the nhra with his greerblackprudhomme top fuel dragster. Since 1962, don the snake prudhomme enjoyed many winning victories before deciding to campaign funny cars in the 1970s.

Don the snake prudhomme, one of the most accomplished drivers and revered team owners in the history of motorsports, announced his retirement today, thus ending a career spanning five decades in the sport of drag racing. See more ideas about car humor, don prudhomme and drag racing. The story behind the snake prudhomme, don, stephens, bill on. I hate to get into how expensive it is, but people don t realize what it costs when you hurt em. They made history don prudhomme, left, this month at his shop in vista, calif. One of mcewens top funnycar rivals was don prudhomme, a lanky driver from southern california who was so cobraquick off the starting line that he was known as the snake. Unfollow hot wheels don prudhomme 1969 to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Prudhomme won four nhra funny car championships during his 35year career. Prudhomme grows steadily more agitated watching the destruction. Don prudhomme and tommy ivo star in night of champions at. They werent just trucks to carry our cars, don the snake prudhomme said of the pair of crewcab dodge haulers that he and tom the mongoose mcewen drove cross country during the heyday of their rivalry. The limited edition gt500 super snake is a collaboration between carroll shelby and don the snake prudhomme who successfully drove a top fuel car for shelby in the 1968 nhra season. Don the snake prudhomme and tommy ivo joined jack beckman on. Don and co have gone to the trouble of completely recreating their.

Higdon takes the readers behind the wheel, into the pits and back along the. For orders to canada and other international locations, please contact don prudhomme racing for shipping options via phone. Big daddy don garlits, mark oswald and don snake prudhomme, all the people i looked up to. The guys put their heads together and came out and ran really well. Don prudhomme returns to scottsdale with three iconic funny cars during 2017 barrettjackson collector car auction vista, calif. A story in hot rod magazine three years ago that detailed prudhomme s 1968 unfulfilled adventure planted the seed that led to prudhomme returning to the scene for this years fiveday event. One of the bestrecognized names in drag racing, californias don prudhomme was on top of the sport as a driver for over three decades, before transitioning into the role of team owner for an additional 16 years. Legendary drag racer don the snake prudhomme looks back on his career and shares his thoughts on topics ranging from his best cars, best seasons, and best pals like tom mcewen and roland leong. Aug 11, 20 how did your nickname the snake come about. The fireball race car, of don the snake prudhomme, and. Master writer hal higdon spent the race weekend shadowing prudhomme, and captured the weekend drama minutebyminute as snake fights for a chance to make history. With the novel coronavirus covid19 pandemic postponing or. Last weeks discussion about the notorious blackprimer snake iii barracuda of don prudhomme a car that was unveiled at seasons end in 1972 and competed at the nhra. One of the crew guys from back in the early days made the comment that when i left the starting line, i had a quick reaction, like when a snake strikes.

Apr 03, 2020 don the snake prudhommes birthday is next week, april 6 like everyone else in california, prudhommes under a stayathome order during the coronavirus pandemic the damndest thing ive ever seen out here but the winner of 49 nhra national events and four titles is far from inactive. Prudhomme won four nhra funny car championships during his 35year career, and was also the first drag racer to exceed 250 mph. Don prudhomme s early career is documented in the book, six seconds to glory by hal higdon. Rivalry that helped turn pastime into a profession the new york. Calm and collected when sitting behind the wheel of five tons of metal, read was more. Don prudhomme of santa fe, california, was born in l. Don prudhomme nhra fan apparel and souvenirs for sale ebay. Prudhomme did not stop rewriting the nhra record books despite leaving his role as a driver to become a multicar team owner. Discover the stories behind the success of one of drag racings best. A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to spend the day with prudhomme at famoso raceway in bakersfield. It is the inspiring tale of two revolutionaries whose battles on the track stood in stark contrast to deep and profound friendship. Tom mcewen, drag racings venerable old mongoose, is having the best year of his long career as he approaches 50, but he would enjoy it more if the snake, old rival don prudhomme, were racing. Feb 04, 2016 legendary drag racer don snake prudhomme gave nbc sports a firsthand account of tony stewarts accident in the southern california sand dunes sunday stewart and a number of current and. During a 32year career behind the wheel of both a nitro.

Winter rod show to feature snakemongoose movie writer news. The chrysler hemi was king of the drag strip and slingshot top fuel dragsters, which put the driver behind a nitroburning time bomb, were all the rage. The story behind the snake book online at best prices in india on. Don the snake prudhomme is heartbroken following the death sunday of best friend. Spanning the 1960s through late 1970s, the film explores the early days of drag racing in southern california, the rise of success and popularity of the sport, the friendship between don prudhomme and tom mcewen, the origin of the widely famous hot wheels snake and mongoose promotion and the personal lives of both the legendary racers. If people can resonate with my story from where i came. The book covers prudhomme s career as a drag racer from the 1960s through the 90s, his tenure as an owner, and his subsequent retirement. February 4, 2015 for both old and new snake fans alike, heres a short video to get you fired up for the start of the 2015 nhra mello.

Sep 06, 20 born in 1941, californian don the snake prudhomme earned the best win record in the nhra with his greerblackprudhomme top fuel dragster. Tracing the careers of the drag racers don prudhomme and tom mcewen. Theres a photo of don the snake prudhomme above from the mid1970s that illustrates what made him such an intimidating competitor. A day at the races with drag racing royalty hagerty articles. A veteran of the top fuel and funny car nitro wars, prudhomme amassed a career four world championships and 48 national event victories. Along the way, higdon delves into prudhomme s history as a racer, giving the reader insight into how don prudhomme became a household name in the early 1970s. Don prudhommes snake ii 1972 plymouth barracuda sli.

A storied rivalry put drag racing on the map the new york times. Don the snake prudhomme s birthday is next week, april 6 like everyone else in california, prudhomme s under a stayathome order during the coronavirus pandemic the damndest thing ive ever seen out here but the winner of 49 nhra national events and four titles is far from inactive. As in legendary drag racer don snake prudhomme, who will take. For his career, prudhomme reached the finals 68 times. Don prudhomme snake racing, 1232 distribution way, vista, ca. Prudhomme did not stop rewriting the nhra record books despite leaving his. I used to walk from school to the body shop where my dad was working and just look at the cars.

Get the best deals on don prudhomme nhra fan apparel and souvenirs when you shop the largest online selection at ebay. Written by tom madigan, 160 pages and published in 2009. But there was a threeyear period when drag racings poster boy don the snake prudhomme went the opposite direction of the venerable. I flew in and out of orange county airport quite a bit in the last decade, and don prudhomme would be seated in first class when traveling between phoenix and john wayne, one day i asked the flight attendant to relay a message to him that i was a big fan from his racing days. It was great, but what was really nice was that it was a situation that we were able to do inhouse at our shop. Don prudhomme nicknamed the snake, is an american drag racer.

It is the inspiring tale of two revolutionaries whose battles on the track stood in stark contrast to deep and profound. After 47 years as both a driver and a car owner, nhra dragracing legend don the snake prudhomme retired from the sport on thursday. The time don prudhomme filled in for steve mcqueen hot rod. This 1975 chevrolet monza funny car was built according to prudhomme s specifications and driven by him at the national hot rod association nhra winston world finals. The story behind the snake, prudhomme and stephens reveal the details of prudhommes colorful life as one of drag racings most driven champions. The series takes an inside look into the mindset of drag racer who described winning as everything. Don prudhomme don garlits archives motorsportstalk nbc sports. I get asked that question a lot, but theres really no great story behind how i got that nickname.

Memorable stories from the greatest drag racer of all time. Car builder don prudhommes snakes nest pt2 speedhunters. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I knew the guys who said nasty things behind my back, and i kicked their. The untold story of how southern california drag racers, don the snake prudhomme and tom the mongoose mcewen combined with corporate giants to change the face of sports and ultimately became the most famous rivalry in racing history. Alan paradise produced a documentary about legendary drag racing stars don prudhomme the snake and tom mcewen the mongoose for mattel, wrote a book about them and wrote the script for the 20. Mix in a religious cult bent on killing the snake, an overworked police department, a herpetologist trying to save the snake and a pubic increasingly afraid of the snake and you have a real pot boiler of a novel. Dec 02, 20 don prudhomme of santa fe, california, was born in l. A day at the races with drag racing royalty hagerty media. Legends he series don the snake prudhomme on vimeo. If you like firsthand drag racing stories, some behind the scenes info and. The story, he says, is that a group of racers were standing around waiting for.