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Projects The Original "Purple People Eater" dragster 1957

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Fast Elvis, Feb 9, 2019.

  1. rd martin
    Joined: Nov 14, 2006
    Posts: 2,463

    rd martin
    Member
    from indiana

    wow what a kool pic of all the club jackets! mark you and russ have hit it out of the park on bringing back this history.... I sure hope the younger ones can get on board to keep the history alive.
     
  2. Those are all Ontario clubs Stogy..... at that time some of the local clubs came together to form the O.T.A. (Ontario Timing Assocation). Each club would take a turn to run a drag racing day at Kohler with the help of other clubs. O.T.A. ran up to about 1960 when it changed over to the A.T.A.O. (Automoble Timing Assocation of Ontario) which was still run by car clubs. By 1963 the ATAO was gone and soon in a few years it was a NHRA track. 21765032_10154834055545785_2352289984070198743_n.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2019
  3. Our guys of the ELTA (East London Timing Assocation) or also known as the "Disciples of Speed" have been perserving and show casing Ontario's rich drag racing for many years. It's pretty cool when we get so many out to our anual event (ELTA Summer Bash & Big Go Drags) and see younger hot rodders having a blast running their cars and rubbing elbows with alot of the original guys from back in the day who always come out for the hot rod/drag racing reunion part of the weekend event. This year its Aug. 9 to 11 at St. Thomas Dragway. You can tell by our ELTA shop....we love the history.....lol.
    20767734_10155344476406690_2491470381921557298_n.jpg 38250988_242823379696405_196065901307494400_n.jpg 38783159_2200254226870174_3943933850756841472_n.jpg 39278367_2383357625015405_7452160440613732352_n.jpg
     
  4. I love this Kenny Kroeker shot of the "Purple People Eater" sitting in the old black smith shop with that xray effect of seeing the new chassis through the old original fiberglass body..... it really captures how cool these early dragster were. It's just too bad the old dragster can't talk...lol.

    29432472_2104776073084657_6434124411162329088_o.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2020
  5. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,340

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Fantastic thread and thanks for that and a very Rich History lesson indeed...;)
     
  6. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,274

    loudbang
    Member

  7. catdad49
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 6,389

    catdad49
    Member

    FE, please keep this post going. Anything related to the early days is So interesting to All of Us. Thanks again, Carp. Oh, by the way, my favorite color happens to be purple. Those club coats must have been Special!
     
  8. Mark, glad to see you got a thread started on this. Such a cool piece of Ontario drag racing history! You're an excellent caretaker.
    Looking forward to seeing it roll down the track this summer...
     
  9. Thanks loudbang...the black & white looks very ghostly.
     
  10. paul55
    Joined: Dec 1, 2010
    Posts: 3,490

    paul55
    Member
    from michigan

    Will we see it at Cobo?
     

  11. The story about the purple jackets that the Galt Strokers wore was that no one back then had alot of spare money. One of the local clothing stores had some purple jackets that they couldn't sell and it wasn't long that the Strokers made a deal to buy them for a great price. Soon after that the song "The Purple People Eater" came out so it all came together nicely for that club colour of purple...lol. The old Kohler track actually played over the loud speakers the song , "she's a one eyed flying purple people eater" everytime the Strokers brought the dragster to the starting line... another cool fact.


    strokers-plaque-t_1.gif StrokersCourtesyCard.jpg
     
  12. Still working on the dragster Paul....I'm shooting for 2020 for Detroit. Do you remember many years ago, I and the rest of the guys parked near your Nomad and your friends downstairs at Detroit?.....man where do the years go...lol....loved your 55 brother.
     
  13. Rare colour film of the dragster at Kohler Dragway about 1958.... too cool!! Look at the size of the crowd!!

     
  14. paul55
    Joined: Dec 1, 2010
    Posts: 3,490

    paul55
    Member
    from michigan

    Yes, I do remember! Great bunch of guys. Would still like to get some guys from here and come to your open house. Love the dragster project!
     
  15. Thanks AJ for the kind words.... hope to have the dragster moving under her own power for this years ELTA Big Go brother.... truly blessed to beable to bring her back from the grave to the track. Hey brother...here's a picture from a few years back....lol....you remember that guy! DSC06546.jpg
     
    chryslerfan55, Hombre and loudbang like this.
  16. Paul, it would be outstanding to have you and some of your pals up for the action at the ELTA Summer Bash and Big Go Drags..... let me know....it's always a blast..... we get lots of friends up each year from the USA.
    2018-elta-big-go-summer-drags-dave-thomas-37-1200x800.jpg 39077934_2207047479524182_8334600753347821568_n.jpg
    25014194_314133385744379_3670807680584253440_n.jpg 15thseltasummerbashposter (1).jpg
    13914164_10153546713692202_3541063988278266848_o (1).jpg 2018-elta-big-go-summer-drags-dave-thomas-34-1200x800.jpg
     
  17. Here are some of the "Purple People Eater" dragsters original trophies from the 1950's plus a cool Kohler jacket. 23844630_2047923345436597_4760566381991476235_n.jpg 30710230_2118552185040379_8466949371710144512_n.jpg
     
  18. catdad49
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 6,389

    catdad49
    Member

    FE, I Still have that 45! What a blast it must have been to be there and have that played over the pa. That video is kind of special, too. Many of the youngster wouldn't understand what's going on, Too Cool.
     
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  19. catdad49
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 6,389

    catdad49
    Member

    IMG_1757.JPG Saw this in The Rodder's Journal and you know what came to mind?!
     
  20. verde742
    Joined: Aug 11, 2010
    Posts: 6,258

    verde742
    Member

    peeing in unison ......?
     
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  21. verde742
    Joined: Aug 11, 2010
    Posts: 6,258

    verde742
    Member

    NOPE has TWO wheels , single axle tho.....
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2021
    Fast Elvis likes this.
  22. Wow.....it's threads like this that kept me coming back to the HAMB when I first discovered it. Great hot rod history! It's so cool you rebuilt the dragster from a "fiberhair", deserted body, some photos and memories of the guys who were there.
     
  23. I hear ya brother. 29570822_810666115807855_8075541542723490809_n.jpg
     
  24. rd martin
    Joined: Nov 14, 2006
    Posts: 2,463

    rd martin
    Member
    from indiana

    will have to talk to some of the boys for a road trip up to the show in august! would like to meet you guys!
     
  25. Thanks Rocky...glad your diggin the post..... I really feel very bless to be the next care taker of this cool piece of drag racing history. It's extra cool to have some of the original builders and driver still here in their 80's feeling 25 again when they look at the "Purple People Eater".

    27858892_10156638034456393_6935891123554854131_n.jpg 36660473_2164793200416277_595730277695750144_n.jpg
     
  26. Rich.....that would be outstanding if you make it up..... it's always a fun weekend with great people and cars. Please let me know if you can make it for the Summer Bash & Big Go Drags.

    49058272_2058547407521913_2570243824475439104_n.jpg
     
  27. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    Thanks for the pics. My Dads club name was the Slo Pokes. I will call him this weekend . I have more time to talk and talk about your dragster and the club cars. They had the '32 club car plus members raced their own. Neat pics of trophy's , jacket . Very cool .
     
    chryslerfan55, Hombre and Fast Elvis like this.
  28. That guy had free time, and change to spare... Not sure what happened to him. :D

    Looking forward to the Big Go again this year. Plan on camping for the weekend. You boys know how to put on a good time.
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  29. quickchangeV8
    Joined: Dec 7, 2010
    Posts: 531

    quickchangeV8
    Member

    Hi Mark. I have really enjoyed seeing the progress of the Purple People Eater dragster from initial acquisition and right up to present day status. When talking to the Galt Strokers did any of them ever mention why the dragster has such an unusual body style and why that particular body style was chosen? Nothing wrong with it, just much different than the mainstream type of dragster body most commonly seen back then. I am also curious as to what the body was made of, as it has to be either fiberglass or aluminum to withstand the elements for such a long time. That original Kohler jacket is really cool. It is a great piece of early Canadian drag racing history.
     
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  30. Stogy
    Joined: Feb 10, 2007
    Posts: 26,340

    Stogy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    See below from first page of the thread...

     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2019
    Fast Elvis likes this.

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