LEGENDS THE SERIES - THE LEGEND OF DON "THE SNAKE" PRUDHOMME

Don Prudhomme is probably one of the most revered snakes in the world.
A life story which has been told time and time again, this episode of Legends: The Series takes an inside look into the mindset of drag racer who described winning as everything.
Prudhomme talks about the joy of traveling the country match racing with his friend Tom McEwen as well as the pressure and subsequent fatigue of maintaining the high level of competition.
In episode #8 of Season Two of Legends: The Series, you'll see Prudhomme open up about his storied career.

[@iw1149]

Don Pruðhomme was and still is one of the true heroes in my life...

[@jwise7114]

Garlits and Prudhomme are the greatest in history. There are other greats but you can't compare the history of both.

[@tonybattaglia6358]

At the hot rod reunion at Bakersfield, Don needed a hand putting his restored dragster back in the trailer, he asked if would steer it and apply the hand brake as needed, funny i was excited and nervous doing just a little task for "THE SNAKE" a great memory for me, he thanked me, a very nice man!

[@iw1149]

Back around 1972 I bought a magazine that had all the top funny car drivers in the magazine, My Mom always took me to Dragway 42 in West Salem Ohio for the Funny Car nationals than. I met Don P, Tom M, and most others. Jungle Jim was my favorite..Such good memories..

[@tommyfrombama4834]

A true living legend. Not many of them left guys.

[@happydays8171]

Don Prudhomme was so focused at the track. As a fan, you just didn't want to get in his way. Match race or National Event, Don was in it to win it. He didn't take losing well, and the press respected that at the end of the strip. 13:45 when Tom won that race, he said something told him to go with a higher rear end gear for that pass, his crew was against it, Don smoked and Tom made the right call. They've said they were both in tears under that funny car shell, very emotional.

[@robertlloyd7167]

"Snake" was the coolest when I was a kid. At the '71 Winternationals, he let my Dad take a picture of me sitting next to him on the front tire of his funny car. How cool was that?

[@BTFOOMNY]

I went to college in Chicago in 1971, and lived in Chicago until 1985. I was fortunate enough to watch the Snake and Mongoose race at Raceway Park in Union Grove, WI in the early 70s. It wasn't a big stop for the top names in NHRA, but they got there sometimes. Wonderful times. The Chi-Town Hustler. The jet engine exhibition car, damn near set the corn field on fire with the afterburner. There was also the gas powered rocket, the Blue Flame. I'm reading this in 2020, and unfortunately Tom McEwen passed away in 2018. Both men helped make drag racing what it is today. Thank you.

[@litestuf]

When I was the official NHRA photographer for the Canadian Nationals I met Don Prudhomme. He must of been 28 or 32 I asked him if I could take his picture. He was sooo cool, not at all the superstar he was. I snapped one picture of him sitting on the wall at Sanair Dragway in Quebec. I was really awed by his quiet demeanor and gentle personality. What A Guy.

[@vince065us]

One of the all time greats!

[@johnbutler4319]

That's the most insightful interview with Snake I have seen, very open and heartfelt.👍

[@hippie564]

'I guess we {he and Garlits} understood the machine really really well!' - that was the truth

[@unclemuir]

Watched him at Lions Drag Strip racing his first digger when I was a young child. He was kind enough to pick me up and stood me on the seat holding onto the steering wheel so my Dad could take a picture. Still have that picture somewhere in my Family collection. I was always a fan of his and have been around racing my entire life, just different types ( sports cars,etc.) But I always tell people how nice he was to my Dad and I. Much different than the sport today. Not saying it is bad but much different than today.

[@aaronanderson7619]

I bet he was happy to do that too. Not for money.

[@2fast65]

We owe every thing fast and safe to Don Prudhomme and a few others or we wouldnt be where we are today he is truely a legend thank you Don and great video thanks have a great night be safe.

[@dynodon1969]

Been a fan since I was a little kid, they did a lot for the sport!

[@maxsmodels]

Good, honest interview of a very interesting guy.

[@photogl]

The man is a CLASS ACT!!!!!

[@strangersound]

His competitive spirit reminds me of Tony Alva. They both would settle for nothing less than #1. Thanks for producing these Legends videos. They're a great tribute and documentation of history. You've done a great service capturing these memories while you still can. Cheers! :)

[@thecarolinashreds196]

Only one word describes this man, Badass. I am a southern boy and I would turn NASCAR off to watch NHRA drag racing. There were to Don’s that ruled that era. Garlits and Prudhomme.

[@Agislife1960]

The Mattel toy company with their Hot Wheels line of cars, is what kept the snake and mongoose duo together, in the minds of the kids across the country.

[@beenaplumber8379]

My brother and I had that set! It came with a launcher too so you could race them. I got the white Snake car because my real first name is Don, so my brother said "fine, 'cause the Mongoose is cooler and the Snake is dumb!" We were 6 & 7 years old, maybe 7 & 8. We raced them a lot, and I remember we both won plenty. Cool 70s toy!

[@CaptainScarlet1961]

When I was a kid I was lucky enough to be given about 5 years worth of 'Hot Rod' magazines by a family friend, this was England in the early 7o's so I've no idea where he bought them from. Two people pretty much dominated the front covers of most of them in every year & that would be 'Don & Tom' & would be where my love of drag racing started & for me both guy's are total legends.

[@michaelalvarado3379]

Orange County intl raceway ! he put his helmet on me and placed in the cockpit of his US ARMY funny car and my step dad took a Polaroid of it wish I still had it ! you're the best snake I will never forget that ! always cared about the fans and always was a all around good person

[@RotorMedic7]

They do not get any BETTER! It has been a pleasure to watch up thru the years. CHEERS!

[@kylewood8327]

Excellent video, i read about these two cats a lot back when i was in junior high and high school.

[@keithbailey540]

This is a great series you have put together. I remember watching all these racers growing up.

[@Brianscoronet]

RIP Tom

[@roastbeef441]

Thx Snake.

[@rickatchley9394]

I love the video from Mid America Dragway aka Muncie Dragway,,, first track I ever attended

[@traingraffiti5416]

Great Video!!

[@426dustya]

loved the VIPE

[@jerrycraig6522]

Those wins put lots of gray in your hair Don!!!

[@davidr4332]

Don Prudhomme biggest weakness was losing a race he would get angry so quiz

[@user-uv1ty6mw9q]

Vincent who did you like the 🐍 or the mongoose!?

[@tertessa]

thanks

[@grasshoppergreen6532]

Saw Don at the Gatornationals, Ask for an Autograph, and he ignored me, so I pick up John Force and he did sign my T-Shirt and so did Shirley Muldowney. The sake was a snake.

[@vwgurkan]

Those guys, good ..

[@randysiler7458]

👍👍🏁

[@Jbobloochjr3]

Holy Crap! The Snake! Thank you!!

[@williamtaylor9767]

jimbobv4 arniebeswick

[@williamtaylor9767]

jimbobv4 arniebeswick

[@williamtaylor9767]

arg

[@williamtaylor9767]

.ab

[@williamtaylor9767]

Ernie besswick

[@biscuit8641]

Muncie Dragway @9.57

[@Gump-tion]

@3:40 The Eagles!

[@rodromes7162]

I miss the old Grudge matches they were set up between Motor companies also whatever happened to the trick Mustang and Trek Camaro from 1970 there were other garage matches also I still have my Tyco HO scale race cars Trek Camaro and track Mustang a computer is not getting the spelling correct and I really don't give a s*** I miss the old Grudge matches Chevy GM they didn't NASCAR forever don't tell the public that they were up in the same upstairs duplex thingy eating together and watching their cars running around against each other competition means business who's got some more cars on Mondays what is saying they're both feeling good the drivers that's a different story Maybe Mongoose and the snake was another Grudge Match race I hope they both did good they helped broaden the scope and get more attention on TV then their promoters gave them credit for the promoters made money more than the driver's made best business the back in the day he is out cutting the driver short businessman and you old-timers remember please tell your younger counterparts the truth a tree is nothing without its roots

[@mikedonzero2692]

The story is a great one. The movie production sucked. I grew up through that Era. Funny Car Summer was more realistic.

[@joedert8567]

I seen him at green valley in n. richland hills tx his car exploded burst into flames skidded to a stop along guardrail jumped out of hatch car in flames... fireman spraying water on car him jumping up and down mad as hell because his flame retardant suit was smoldering and was extremely hot inside you could tell he was signaling him spray me not the car spray me you m.f. im burning up 1983-84

[@Chryco_5126]

I would do this for free ...... just put me in the drivers seat ....... true passion has nothing to do with $$