The boilermaker specials
The Boilermaker Special VII
The Boilermaker Special VII is the Official Mascot of Purdue University, and the Purdue Reamer Club has been entrusted by the University with the honor and responsibility of being it’s caretaker.
Claimed to be the world’s largest, fastest, heaviest, and loudest collegiate mascot, the Boilermaker Special VII was dedicated at the Purdue vs. Middle Tennessee State football game on September 3rd, 2011. For the past twelve years, the beloved mascot has traveled all around the country to various away football games, including the University of Maryland, Rice University, Penn State, University of Wisconsin, the Heart of Dallas Bowl in Dallas, Texas, and many more. Believe it or not, the Reamer Club drives the Boilermaker Special VII to every away football game, no matter how far, as it can go up to 75 MPH!
Other than promoting spirit all around campus for various athletic events, the Boilermaker Special VII does various private on and off-campus events. If you are interested in requesting the Boilermaker Special VII for rides and photos are your private event, you can contact the Boilermaker Special Chairperson at . The Boilermaker Special Chairperson cannot and will not give the availability or pricing for the Boilermaker Xtra Special VIII.
Please note that the Boilermaker Special VII is unavailable on Home and Away Football Games and the day before Away Football Games.
the boilermaker xtra special VIII
Dedicated on October 7, 2017 during the Homecoming Game against Minnesota, the Boilermaker Xtra Special serves as a smaller version of the Boilermaker Special with the capabilities of being used indoors. At home football games, you can see the Xtra leading the team onto the field. The Xtra commonly makes appearances at various athletics events, including Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Baseball, Women’s Soccer, Wrestling, and much more!
The Boilermaker Xtra Special VIII is available for on-campus events and for photo opportunities. If you are interested in renting the Xtra Special, you can contact the Xtra Chairperson at . The Xtra Special is incapable of giving rides. The Xtra Chairperson cannot and will not give availability or pricing for the Boilermaker Special VII
history of the boilermaker specials
1939
Late in the Spring Semester of 1939, sophomore Izzy Selkowitz wrote a letter to the editor in the Exponent advocating for the construction of a symbolic mascot. The idea ultimately took the form of a locomotive mascot to be mounted on an automobile chassis, and the Reamer Club inaugurated a campaign to raise the necessary funds for building the mascot. After many donations, including a 1940 Studebaker Champion chassis from the President of the Studebaker Corporation in South Bend, the Boilermaker Special spread Purdue Spirit from September 1940 to mid-1953.
1953
Built on a new International Harvester truck chassis in mid-1953, the Boilermaker Special II was the first Special to have a trailer, which was added in 1956. After only 6 years of driving in parades, football games, and many other events, the burdens caused by the trailer forced the Reamers to look towards a new Special.
1960
With the assistance of President Hovde, the Reamers contacted General Motors to help construct the Boilermaker Special III. In September 1960, weighing 9,000 pounds, the Boilermaker Special III was donated to Purdue by GM and served the university proudly for over 30 years.
1978
In the April 1978 issue of the Purdue Alumnus Magazine, the concept of the Boilermaker Xtra Special was brought to life. In April 1979, an electric golf cart was purchased from EZ-Go Golf Cart Company and the construction of the Xtra began. On October 27th, 1979, the Boilermaker Xtra Special IV was presented to the university.
1992
In the fall of 1992, it became evident to the Reamer Club that the Boilermaker Special III was in a state of disrepair, and it would be in the best interest to work on replacing the train, which had been in service for more than 30 years. For nearly 18 years, the Boilermaker Special V travelled to most away football games as well as other Purdue sporting events in and around Indiana. In fact, the Boilermaker Special V was even trailered to Pasadena, California for the 2001 Rose Bowl.
1996
In 1996, the Boilermaker Xtra Special IV was disassembled to make way for the Xtra Special VI. Built on a Club Car golf cart chassis, the Xtra Special VI was dedicated on October 19, 1996. The Boilermaker Xtra Special VI proudly served the university for 21 years, and made countless memories along the way.
