Projects The Original "Purple People Eater" dragster 1957

I really appreciate what your doing with the car, and being the torch bearer of keeping Ontario's racing history alive. Dad said this must been old fellow doing all this , but I no, way younger then old I was telling him about your E.L.T.A. that when he comes back up to Ontario he will have to get a couple of the club members and see if it'salright to come by .

 

Great to hear your Dad has those great memories. Yes Don Swanson was a London lad and ran his Olds powered roadster to lots of win's at the old Kohler Track back then. The Mellenbacher's was th efamily that owned the property where the track was and went on in future years to run the drag when it was Cayuga Dragway. Here's a picture of Don Swansons roadster.

 

Tell your Dad, I would be very happy to have him and some of the Slow Pokes up to our ELTA Shop. It be great to hear first hand some of their stories of early hot rodding and drag racing around the Dunville area. Here's another picture of our ELTA Shop.

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Howdy. That engine of Don's went in the Slowpokes club car . Your club house is just "too cool for school" I collect a lot of vintage parts and signs and hope to get my garage situated like a 50's repair shop but right now the over flow is crowding me . I need another shop to store parts so I can build the garage out .

 

I be happy to make some room in our shop for some of your left over vintage parts ....lol..... so you have more room for the that 50's repair shop brother....lol.

 

Thanks for the offer

 

Fast Elvis

Will the car make an appearance at Dragstrip Memories April 14 @ Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum this year.

 

Well John... not this year. I did have the dragster at the Drag Show a few years back just mocked up. I will most likely have it there all done for the 2020 show. I will be there for sure with some other things plus some of the other ELTA brothers are bring out some drag cars also to help support this cool event. Will you be there? If sp I hope we will get the chance to meet and chat. Here's a few pictures from the drag show when I had the dragster there with the original driver Andy Marsh about 3 years back.

 

I don't think I really grasped how wide it was until I saw this picture... And yes, I've seen it in person!
Having that front shot with a driver in the seat really demonstrates the proportions.

 

Fast Elvis

I will have to make the trip down to Sparta for the 15th ELTA Summer Bash and Big Go Drags on Aug 9 to 11 this year to see it then.
It is great that you are bringing this dragster back to life.

Last time I was there some guy named John Force was there.

 

AJ.... those pictures for some reason makes the dragster look a lot bigger then it is...lol.....I wish I had a picture of the dragster down at the body shop where it's sitting beside this Batmoblie build....it looks very small compared to the Batmoble....lol.

 

John....that would be great to have you down for this years event in Aug....always a fun time and it'll be great to meet you.

 

wouldn't most want that 'or ' even more??

 

mark I hope your doing some shirts like that! I want one!

 

I wast thinking that too, that a Galt Strokers tee would be cool.I know my Dad would like to meet you a, the rest of the club members and all the history you have collected . Looking at the Ontario Timing Association Program , reminds me that Dad said they were not appreciative of the Slow Pokes bringing the NHRA to Kohler.

 

Thats a great suggestion...I'm already working on some different vintage Purple People Dragster T shirt designs once I complete the build......I'll keep you in the loop brother. I should add this rendering was done by Jeff Norwell back in 2004....it still looks great.

 

At that time the O.T.A.( Ontario Timing Assocation) was getting some of their early support from the ATAA which was competiting against the NHRA at that time out of Illinios. Plus the NHRA at that time ,from what I was told from original OTA members weren't the easest group to deal with (my way or the highway attititude). So I know the OTA didn't want to give up any of their hard earned ground to the NHRA in those early days in Ontario. But credit to the Slow Pokes, they did have the first NHRA sectioned event in Ontario, I believe 1958 or 59?? Here's a picture of some of th eearly OTA stuff....rare items today....you can see they were very organized for only being a regional group. ATAO (Automoblie Timing Assocation of Ontario) was what the OTA changed to in the early 1960's.

 

A Martin Thoene picture of the "Purple People Eater" at last years ELTA Summer Bash & Big Go Drags.

 

mark great to meet you at autorama! enjoyed meeting the guys! were going to try and make it this year to the big go! we have some family stuff going on this year, but im going to try my hardest to get there! thanks for the pics you sent me of my car from the show. killer! now carry on with the people eater!

 

That's a cool shop, Fast Elvis. Put in a kegerator and there would be no reason to go home.

 

Great meeting you Rich and Butch at Autorama this past weekend.... the coupe looked awesome! Glad to hear we my have the pleasure of your company and hopefully the coupe at this years 15th ELTA Summer Bash and Big Go Drags....it would be outstanding to have you there. Your coupe and my old dragster at the straing line for some awesome photo's.

 

Brian..... that would be a good plan...lol...but if we had a kegerator....I fear we wouldn't get to much done on the cars...lol...but at least it's got a cool vibe and a beer fridge....lol......thanks again brother.

 

Anything new happening on the dragster?

 

Need updates . Dad was wondering what club member was the Slow Pokes club plaque from. Going to show Dad your whole thread. I am sure it is going to bring back some great memories and stories as he is looking through it. Thanks for being the history keeper.

 

That old saying.."I'm from Vette country, where on a quiet night you can hear metal cars rusting away forever"

Awesome project. Congrats on finding your unicorn.

 

@Fast Elvis the Fan Club is needing Some Purple Action...

 

right on.

 

Looks like a fantastic toy room to me.

 

Doing a great job Mark, Ross Ward was trying to convince me to come up for the drags or the show, I told him only if I was bringing "Bad Moon" and of course it's not ready.