Don "the Snake" Prudhomme: Still racing at 81

[Hagerty]

Six-time NHRA champion Don Prudhomme made a living piloting eye-catching race cars down the quarter-mile. Early in his career he drove the Hawaiian rail for the Leone family, and in the Seventies, he campaigned an Army-sponsored Chevy Monza.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/people/don-the-snake-prudhomme-still-racing-at-81/

[CitationMan]

What an inspiration! I love the American snake on his helmet.

[Gary_Bechtold]

Love to see that at 81 he isn't slowing down. Full speed ahead!

[Tsaxman]

Saturday night! Saturday night!

"Big Daddy" Don Garlits! Don “The Snake” Prudhomme! Shirley "Cha-Cha" Muldowney!

US 131, Martin Dragway!

[1fastcat]

Good reading , good luck Don !

[Tinkerah]

To me, front engined slingshots are among the most beautiful, most terrifying automobiles ever conceived. I got to sit in a friend's a few times, it wasn't even running but with the pumpkin between my knees and legs hooked over the axles I couldn't imagine pushing that machine to its, and its driver's limits. Kudos to all the madmen, like Don, who pushed those envelopes ever further.

[Huntwt1]

I hope I age the same way he has.

[Topduarte]

Remember seeing him, Garlits, Muldowney about 3 or 4 times in the early 80's at El Paso Dragway. Good times.

[SteveReid]

Who remembers the Freight Train? I saw it at Bristol Tn, Va. Thunder Valley Spring Nationals in 1962. One of the guys (I can't remember his name) had a relative in Manchester Ky and they were at their garage and parts store working on it a few days before the race and all of us young rod'ers (if thats a word) we excited to see bigtime racers and their Rod. I was 21 living the best part of my life.

[Bird52]

Go see the movie Snake & Mongoose.
Lots of vintage race footage and a great story...
A must see for any car guy or gal.

[egaudet]

One small correction; the Hawaiian was owned and campaigned by Roland Leong (not Leone).

[Pcfray]

When did the Snake start racing into ice cream in the dessert? Where were you when your English teacher explained the difference between desert and desert?

[Sajeev]

Making that fix now, thanks for pointing that to us.

[Aquay_Mizmo]

I recently ran into Snake at the San Diego airport and he looked 51!