Motorbooks international also published tom madigans book mongoose vs. Any redblooded race fan lucky enough to have been born of that era remembers these famous funny cars deckedout in bright hot wheels badges screaming down the 14 mile in a furious blur that lasted all of 5 sweet seconds. Don the snake prudhomme and tom mongoose madigan the racing feud between these two had been making headlines for years, but it was not until mattel became interested in this bitter battle that drag racing became a multimillion dollar industry, and made their funny car rivalry a hot wheels promotion. Jan 18, 2014 snake and mongoose transporters and funny cars. The explosive, heartpounding tracks of 1960s southern california set the stage for dueling drag racers don the snake prudhomme and tom the mongoose mcewen. According to mittendorf, the book is about 50 pages and tells a. The announcer over the radio conjured dramatic visions in a voiceover, and in the background you could hear the roar of nitroburning funny cars, dragsters.
Apr 03, 2020 don the snake prudhommes birthday is next week, april 6. I grew up wanting the mongoose and snake drag race set, and finally got a way overpriced one in the 90s which is in my garage, and the remake version. How a rivalry changed drag racing forever, written by tom madigan. The story of don prudhomme and tom mcewens drag racing career is told in a richly illustrated book by historianenthusiast tom madigan. Winter rod show to feature snakemongoose movie writer. The snake and mongoose prudhomme and mcewen fed off each. Don the snake prudhomme versus tom the mongoose mcewen one of the greatest rivalries in all of drag racing history.
Selling off some of our snake and mongoose personal collectors items. Master writer hal higdon spent the race weekend shadowing prudhomme during a race that was the turning point in the snakes dominating funny car racing career. When mcewen partnered with don the snake prudhomme and enticed mattel toys in 1970 to create the snake and mongoose hot wheels cars, it changed the sports landscape, transforming it. It is directed by wayne holloway, and stars jesse williams and richard blake as the namesake racers.
Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. The early career of don prudhomme is captured in this spinetingling account of the 1973 nationals at indianapolis raceway park. Make offer hot wheels drag strip demons don prudhomme s army snake cuda 1630 1983 don prudhomme pepsi challenge pontiac 1. Rivalry that helped turn pastime into a profession the new. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Don the snake prudhomme flopper from the pages of car craft hot rod magazines don prudhomme snake and mongoose model cars kits power metal funny cars vintage humor drag cars school humor car. Don the snake prudhomme is one of drag racings greatest pioneers. Make offer hot wheels drag strip demons don prudhommes army snake cuda 1630 1983 don prudhomme pepsi challenge pontiac 1. See more ideas about don prudhomme, car humor, drag racing cars. With jesse williams, richard blake, ashley hinshaw, kim shaw.
By almost anyones definition, it was an ambitious lot. Mongoose racing feud had been making headlines long before they got their funny cars, but it wasnt until they made a deal with mattel that drag racing became the. 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. Dixon reaches 14 finals and wins 9 races to win his first nhra top fuel championship the 5th championship overall for snake. Don prudhomme snake racing, 1232 distribution way, vista, ca 2020. Tracing the careers of the drag racers don prudhomme and tom. Don the snake prudhomme in his earthshaking barracuda facing off with tom the mongoose mcewen in his firespitting demon, the duster. Don prudhommes hot wheels yellow feather top fuel dragster campaigned against its great rival, tom the mongoose mcewen during the 1972 racing season. Other than the slightly chopped tops, its a pretty cool drawing of the old rivals racing each other.
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. The snake and the mongoose the american society of. One high bid would have been enough to take home the original transporters used by don the snake prudhomme and tom the mongoose mcewan, along with prudhommes original rapid transit 1970 plymouth cuda and a reproduction of mcewans. Why is don the snake prudhomme the most famous drag racer. Don the snake prudhomme is one of drag racings greatest pioneers, having. It would take teamwork between these rivals and a canny corporate partner to put drag racing on the map. See tom the mongoose mcewen take on don the snake prudhomme in a bestof3 allout match race. Mpc don snake prudhomme dragster scale auto magazine. Auto world legends of the quarter mile snake vs mongoose. Don the snake prudhomme flopper from the pages of car. New listing 20 the floppers don prudhomme the snake army nitro funny car 1. This includes data values and the controlled vocabularies that house them. In nature, the snake and mongoose are the deadliest of enemiesgenetically encoded to eternally fight to the death without mercy. According to mittendorf, the book is about 50 pages and tells a story.
Please see our other auctions for more one of a kind items. Don the snake prudhomme flopper from the pages of car craft hot rod magazines don prudhomme snake and mongoose model cars kits power metal funny cars vintage humor drag cars school humor car humor. A storied rivalry put drag racing on the map the new york times. Jun 02, 2014 tom mongoose mcewen upsets don the snake prudhomme in the final to win his first u. 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. Don prudhomme nicknamed the snake, is an american drag racer. 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. This was the battle cry that once stirred excitement in the mid1960s and early 1970s. Don prudhommes early career is documented in the book, six seconds to glory by hal higdon.
Yknow, i thought i was one of the biggest snake and mongoose fans in. Yknow, i thought i was one of the biggest snake and mongoose fans in the world, but jeff mittendorf has me and just about the rest of you beat like the army monza did the world in 197576. They made history don prudhomme, left, this month at his shop in vista. 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. 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. Don prudhomme diecast nhra funny cars for sale ebay. This is the official page for don prudhomme snake racing. The linked data service provides access to commonly found standards and vocabularies promulgated by the library of congress. How a rivalry changed drag racing forever 9780760334867 by. They compete for dominance in their dangerous sport but soon find their unmatched thirst for fame and compensation transforms their aggressions into something greater a kinship that. The book covers prudhommes career as a drag racer from the 1960s.
Don the snake prudhommes birthday is next week, april 6. Why is don the snake prudhomme the most famous drag. How a rivalry changed drag racing forever tom madigan isbn. Snake and mongoose haulers and funny cars dont meet. Snake and mongoose at the 20th anniversary of the california hot rod reunion 2011. Madigans book not only details drag racing in california during 60s from match racing to. Rivalry that helped turn pastime into a profession the new york. But for all the hooplah about african american history and digging up dozens of people that i mi. It is the inspiring tale of two revolutionaries whose battles on the track stood in stark contrast to deep and profound friendship. New listing don prudhomme snake racing vintage drag club 2008 t shirt white color size 2xl. Nicknamed the mongoose in 1964, largely to entice don the snake prudhomme into a highexposure match race, tom mcewen won only five nhra national events during his 35plusyear career, but his ability to generate sponsors and publicity made him one of the sports most influential and controversial figures.
Custom legends to life don the snake prudhomme animated 1. This was a very emotional moment for both tom and don, as toms son passed away a. Don the snake prudhomme and tom the mongoose mcewen. Winter rod show to feature snakemongoose movie writer news. This is the official facebook page for don prudhomme snake racing. Beginning in the 1960s, the nature of that dynamic was. The story behind the snake prudhomme, don, stephens, bill on. Don prudhomme snake racing, 1232 distribution way, vista, ca. If youre still reading this, chances are you remember seeing either live or on tv a moment of drag racing history.
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