Don prudhomme the story behind the snake book

Higdon takes the readers behind the wheel, into the pits and back along the. 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. The time don prudhomme filled in for steve mcqueen hot rod. Discover the stories behind the success of one of drag racings best. The story, he says, is that a group of racers were standing around waiting for. Wins by larry dixon top fuel and ron capps funny car at the 1998 winternationals in pomona, calif. But there was a threeyear period when drag racings poster boy don the snake prudhomme went the. 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. Don the snake prudhomme retires post by diana the doc. Don the snake prudhomme is one of the most legendary names in drag racing, logging 32 seasons behind the wheel as one of the sports elite drivers. Check out a timeline detailing the hall of fame driverowner. 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. Hal higdon is the author of 36 books, including a novel, marathon, and the. I knew the guys who said nasty things behind my back, and i kicked their.

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. Snake and mongoose is a 20 film about don the snake prudhomme and tom the mongoose mcewen, the greatest rivalry and friendship in drag racing history. If youre still reading this, chances are you remember seeing either live or on tv a moment of drag racing history. Don the snake prudhomme and tommy ivo joined jack beckman on. One of mcewen s top funnycar rivals was don prudhomme, a lanky driver from. 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. Celeste ng, ann patchett, min jin lee and others on the books that. 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. Beginning in 1962, he logged 49 career victories and won 389 of 5,989 competition rounds.

A storied rivalry put drag racing on the map the new. 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. The story behind the snake, prudhomme and stephens reveal the details of prudhomme s colorful life as one of drag racings most driven champions. One was california roadster association driver troy ruttman, who at 22 became the youngest driver to win the indianapolis 500 in 1952. Don prudhommes early career is documented in the book, six seconds to glory by hal higdon. With jesse williams, richard blake, ashley hinshaw, kim shaw. 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. Fiftyfive years ago, at the 1965 winternationals, nhra legend don prudhomme scored his first of 49 career victories.

Rivalry that helped turn pastime into a profession the new york. 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. A storied rivalry put drag racing on the map the new york times. Mongoose tells the story of this very real rivalrythe drivers, the kids. Written by tom madigan, 160 pages and published in 2009. Don prudhomme nicknamed the snake, is an american drag racer. Though hal higdon wrote this true story over 40 years ago, it is still an excellent read.

Born in 1941, californian don the snake prudhomme earned the best win record in the nhra with his greerblackprudhomme top fuel dragster. Don snake prudhomme orange county hot wheels snake ii funny car 8x10 nhra photo2. Prudhomme did not stop rewriting the nhra record books despite leaving his. Don prudhomme the snake on his racing success, funny cars, and. Don garlits 1964 426 hemi build cacklefest swamp rat 8 duration. This story not only gives readers an insight to what goes on in 1973 at a drag race but also a glimpse into prudhommes career up to that point. 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. If youre at all interested in the story of tv tommy ivo, this book is a must read. The snake and mongoose story has a lot of different twists, mr. They made history don prudhomme, left, this month at his shop in vista, calif. Winter rod show to feature snakemongoose movie writer. Don snake prudhomme 8x10 nhra army funny car color photo 6. It is the inspiring tale of two revolutionaries whose battles on the track stood in stark contrast to deep and profound friendship.

Its more than that, though, its a book about how drag racing went from an amatuer. 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 track prep when this little critter came running right down the drag strip. Since 1962, don the snake prudhomme enjoyed many winning victories before deciding to campaign funny cars in the 1970s. Theres a photo of don the snake prudhomme above from the. The story behind the snake, prudhomme and stephens reveal the details of prudhommes colorful life as one of drag racings most driven champions.

Don prudhomme relives his breakthrough win at the 1965. Prudhomme won four nhra funny car championships during his 35year career, and was also the first drag racer to exceed 250 mph. Don prudhomme nhra fan apparel and souvenirs for sale ebay. The book covers the 1973 nationals held in indianapolis, a race in which prudhomme was battling for his first funny car season title. A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to spend the day with prudhomme at famoso raceway in bakersfield. The book covers prudhommes career as a drag racer from the 1960s through the 90s, his tenure as an owner, and his subsequent retirement.

The early career of don prudhomme is captured in this spinetingling account of the 1973 nationals at indianapolis raceway park. Don the snake prudhomme in his earthshaking barracuda facing off with tom the mongoose mcewen in his firespitting demon, the duster. 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. This is the book ive been waiting for and i am not disappointed. Car and the story behind the notoriouslycool black snake iii cuda. Don the snake prudhomme retires after nearly 50 years in. Don prudhomme and tommy ivo star in night of champions at. Don the snake prudhomme has been my favorite drag racer since day one. Prudhomme grows steadily more agitated watching the destruction. Snake prudhomme archives motorsportstalk nbc sports. Memorable stories from the greatest drag racer of all time. 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. Get the best deals on don prudhomme nhra fan apparel and souvenirs when you shop the largest online selection at. Tracing the careers of the drag racers don prudhomme and tom mcewen.

Prudhomme did not stop rewriting the nhra record books despite leaving his role as a driver to become a multicar team owner. I feel like together were creating this great history book of our sport that. Don prudhomme at californias riverside raceway in 1967. The snake relives that magic moment with nhras lewis bloom. Prudhomme leaned down and snatched him up, to the surprise of man and beast. Mongoose how a rivalry changed drag racing forever. Original snake and mongoose haulers head to auction. Legendary drag racer don snake prudhomme gave nbc sports a firsthand account of tony stewarts accident in the southern california sand. Shelby super snake prudhomme turns back the clock fuel. This book is well written and very hard to put down as. A day at the races with drag racing royalty hagerty media. How a rivalry changed drag racing forever, written by tom madigan.

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. 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. I get asked that question a lot, but theres really no great story behind how i. Don the snake prudhommes hairraising 1973 nhra funny. At the heart of this menacing looking shelby gt500 is a 5. 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. A history of chryslers iconic v8 in competition 169,947 views. 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. Two young southern california hot rodders took on the very best seasoned teams and drivers and beat them. Here, finally, is the definitive biography of one of drag racings most irrepressible characters. For nearly 20 years the place to hear those stories, told by the people. Awards edit in 2000, he was inducted into the international motorsports hall of fame. I hate to get into how expensive it is, but people don t realize what it costs when you hurt em. This is the official facebook page for don prudhomme snake racing.