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Post Info TOPIC: Purple People Eater Dragster resto has started


Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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Purple People Eater Dragster resto has started
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After finding this rare and historical dragster sitting outside in a field up north for over 50 years...the "Purple People Eater" of the Galt Strokers C.C. which ran from about 1956 to 1959 at Kohler. Today it was time to get the resto started. So I loaded it up and got it over to Russ Moore of Moore Speed Chassis. The body looked pretty cool sitting in the back of my 66 F100 on such a beautiful Dec. day.....lol. Next is to get rebuilding the dragsters hemi......only 7.5 months till next years ELTA Big Go Drag-O-Rama and I'm looking forward to hazing the tires plus having some of the original builders and driver there after 60 years off the track.....the adventure has begun.

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Brantford On, Hooked on Nova's

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Looking forward to following along with your resto.

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Courtice On Rod-Side Member Pin Striper

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that's cool!!

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Brantford On Member

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Mark.... I don't know who looks happier... You in the cxxk pit or Sandra that its leaving the property L.O.L. First time I've seen the original picture. Neat . Looking forward to its revival.






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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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bobt wrote:

Mark.... I don't know who looks happier... You in the cxxk pit or Sandra that its leaving the property L.O.L. First time I've seen the original picture. Neat . Looking forward to its revival.





 Lol...thanks Bob...Sandra was happy to see the dragster getting started but I was pretty pumped, can't wait for this summer at the track, fingers crossed....lol.......She even helped me load it. I'll keep you posted on the build brother...cheers!



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Etobicoke On Rod-side Member

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Cool.. Be watching this one..


www.facebook.com/437912166416587/videos/478564519018018/



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Tin basher Metal shaping guy

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Looking forward to the restoration.

Good luck with it.

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St.Thomas On member

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Very cool dragster Mark. Sure to be a crowd pleaser.

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Courtice On Rod-Side Member Pin Striper

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Silly question - I dunno hardly anything about race cars - but this kinda drag car - you're basically sitting on the rear diff aren't you?
Did drivers ever wear any kinda extra special protection in case something went wrong with the rear end??? Jock strap or Steel plated boxer shorts etc?? lol

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St.Thomas On Rod-side member

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Beans wrote:

Silly question - I dunno hardly anything about race cars - but this kinda drag car - you're basically sitting on the rear diff aren't you?
Did drivers ever wear any kinda extra special protection in case something went wrong with the rear end??? Jock strap or Steel plated boxer shorts etc?? lol


 I think that most of the guys that piloted those cars, already had all the offspring they planned on having.awwaww 



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Brantford On Member

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As horsepower increased it became more of a problem. Shields were placed over the center section and brackets that held the rear end to the chassie were reinforced. rewelded and further braced. Still accidents happened. One of the worst happened to Jack Christman yet he continued to race.

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Prince Edward County Ont

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Mark
Anything happening with the dragster. Can you post some build pictures and please post Summer Bash dates ASAP. A couple of us old Strokers have a keen interest.

Warren


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London On, ELTA Member

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Warren,
the summer bash is most likely Aug. 10/11/ and maybe 12 if all works out, We're still in negotiations with the track

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Prince Edward County Ont

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Thanks Rochie, hope that knee fixes up good real soon.

Warren

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London On, ELTA Member

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It is official now! we have the track for Saturday and Sunday. We will have a kick off party done at the ELTA shop on Friday evening.

Warren, the knee is doing just fine, thanks for asking






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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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wuga wrote:

Mark
Anything happening with the dragster. Can you post some build pictures and please post Summer Bash dates ASAP. A couple of us old Strokers have a keen interest.

Warren


 Hey Warren....here's a few pictures of the dragster.....frame rails are in and the hemi should be going into the machine shop soon. Funny to see the original floor pan was a old fuel sign. I Even through in a old picture of when Andy Marsh (original driver) came by at the drag show to see the old girl. Al Howlett has been in to see the Purple People Eater up close and told some great stories from back in the day....lol. Just cool to see this old 1320 warrior coming back from the grave. 

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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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Dragster down on wheels for some checking of clearances. 

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Bloomingdale ON Rod-Side Member

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Looking good.

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Race starter St.Thomas Drags Rod-side Aylmer On Member

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Can't wait Mark!!  

junior



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Niagara Falls Member

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She,s coming along nicely.

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Dorchester Ont Member

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Good to see u at Detroit Mark and get some info on the progress ...keep the pics coming.


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Courtice On Rod-Side Member Pin Striper

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What's the motor going in there?? What kind of rear end / gearing??

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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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Beans wrote:

What's the motor going in there?? What kind of rear end / gearing??


 The dragster will run a 392 hemi.....it will have a 1958 Chevy rear end....with 4:11 gears....here's another picture of her progress so far.....I feel very lucky to be able to restore such a rare piece of Canadian Drag Racing history.



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Courtice On Rod-Side Member Pin Striper

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Looks awesome! that setting is so cool too! I hope Kenny's taking photos in there! one heck of a backdrop.

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Prince Edward County Ont

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On Oct 12, 1959, The Purple People Eater turned 123.78 in 12.06 seconds with a 331 Hemi and a banjo rear end.

I see at the upcoming Barret-Jackson that there is a Lexus LFA sold new in 2012 for US$445,000. When it was tested it turned 124.00 at 11.6 seconds.

I bet the Strokers didn't spend anywhere near CDN$445 to achieve that speed. Probably closer to $200.

Warren

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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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Progress is on the chassis is going well.....Russ Moore is doing a great job with the help of 60+ year old pictures of the old Purple People Eater's chassis......it took me close to 15 years to find this dragster and it's hard to believe that dream is coming to reality....it'll be outstanding to see this rare piece of Canadian Drag Racing come back to life.

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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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A few more pictures of the progress....finally tracked down some original 16x4 1940 Ford rims for the front and the rear rims plus all the tires ...painted them white and getting closer to a roller. I should note...the rear tires in the pictures are not the ones going on the dragster...lol...I have a pair of vintage Firestone 8.20 slicks.....and that's only a temporary steering wheel to check steering and size.

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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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The old Purple People Eater has now got a hemi and tranny sitting between the rails to check fit and a pair of new vintage Firestone 8:20 dragster slicks on the back. I dropped off the shorten 9 inch rearend.....made a change from using the 1958 Chevy 10 bolt rear based on strength and lasting power...lol....here's a few more pictures of the progress.



-- Edited by Fast Elvis on Friday 27th of April 2018 08:41:11 PM

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Hamilton On Rod-side Member Amsoil Dealer

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Hoping to have it done for Aug ?

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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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GMDad wrote:

Hoping to have it done for Aug ?


 That would be the plan GMDad but I'm also not going to rush the restoration on this rare dragster.....so fingers crossed brother....lol.



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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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Here's a few pretty cool pictures..... the "Purple People Eater" dragster on all wheels trying out it's freshly built single axle vintage trailer.......plus my ELTA brother Russ Moore (craftsmen who is building the chassis for the dragster) sitting in another original 1950's Canadian dragster at my shop..... 1955 Dodge 270 Super Ram Hemi sitting between the rails of the original chassis of the Gray Yanocko dragster....1956 O.T.A. Top Eliminator at the old Kohler Air Strip..... waiting to be restored.

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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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Progress is still going well on the dragster....pretty cool to see her sitting as a roller on her vintage tires...... 109 inch wheel base of coolness.... lol..... the upright tank in the front is a cut down 1940's airplane gas tank..... remember....no one at that time was using moon tanks up this way in Canada around 1957.



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Hamilton On Rod-side Member Amsoil Dealer

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Nice progress....

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Great having Andy Marsh drop by to see the old dragster he once drove back in the 1950's . Andy is a original Galt Stroker member.... gave me his blessings and thought the dragster was looking really good. Andy also gave me his original helmet that he wore back in the day when drove the Purple People Eater..... it was a fun day hearing some neat stories. 



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Haliburton Ont Member

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Very cool pictures. Must have been quite a thrill for him to sit in the dragster again.

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Got the chassis out to the paint shop last weekend. After prepping the chassis and taping it up....put a nice coat of bright white paint....just the way the Strokers had....... looks pretty cool on the trailer behind the 1966 Ford F100....just back in the day.



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Hamilton On Rod-side Member Amsoil Dealer

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Nice pic. Perfect tow vehicle look real nice together,

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Prince Edward County Ont

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Mark
Heard today the project may take a little longer then planned. Hope we can do a 'Stroker' run at the summer bash. I'm headed to Byron for the Melt Down Drags for a tune-up for the ELTA Bash.

Warren

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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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Offset wrote:

Very cool pictures. Must have been quite a thrill for him to sit in the dragster again.


 It was definitly a good day catching up and hearing some great storys with Andy..... I'm honoured to be the care taker of such a neat piece of Canadaian drag racing history.... thanks!



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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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wuga wrote:

Mark
Heard today the project may take a little longer then planned. Hope we can do a 'Stroker' run at the summer bash. I'm headed to Byron for the Melt Down Drags for a tune-up for the ELTA Bash.

Warren


 I'll have the old "Purple People Eater" at this years ELTA Summer Bash & Big Go Drags Warren but we'll have to put our match race off till next year....lol..... I'm just not wanting to rush the restoration ...I want have the dragster done right, not quickly. I hope to see you at the ELTA Big Go Drags brother and best of luck at the Melt Down Drags..... we'll definlty get a Stroker photo shoot with both cars and the Strokers....that would be outstanding..... see you soon.





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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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All cleaned up and on my way to the ELTA Bash & Big go Drags...... see you there Warren!!



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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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Here's a few recent pictures of the "Purple People Eater" dragster from outside my home shop and at this years ELTA Summer Bash and Big Go Drags. Even Andy Marsh , a original Galt Stroker and a original driver of the dragster from those early years back in mid 50's dropped by to check out the old girl. This piece of Canadian drag racing history was very well recieved by all that came by to look at her.

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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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Finally caught up wit Al Howlett ....a original member of the Galt Strokers C.C. from 1954 and one of the builders of the "Purple People Eater" dragster at his place last week. It was great to have Al see his old car..... he's looking good for 86.

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Tin basher Metal shaping guy

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That's good of you to bring the car to him for some reminiscing.

He looks really pleased.

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Hamilton On Rod-side Member Amsoil Dealer

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Nice you got to get the car and one of the originals back together. He does look real good for 86. Congrats to Al

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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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Finally blasted off all the old paint and grime off the original fiberglass body panels....hard to believe how well these body parts have stood up after 63 years..... close to 50 of those years out side in a field. 



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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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Richard Hilton at Rich Refinishing is doing a great job of bringing back the body on this rare piece of Canadian drag racing history to it's former glory.

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Vineland On Rod-Side Member

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Man that looks nice. Good on ya for keeping it alive.

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Rogerson's Drag & Go & Quarter Mile Hustlers

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The body work continues to go well....looking smoother and tighter.

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Looking good Mark.

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