The driver side of the Thompson family van.

Purdue tailgate legends: The Thompson family’s van

October 8, 2026 Ava Kuhn , Becky Robiños

Complete with a custom paint job, ‘Beastie’ is a tailgate vehicle unlike any other

When the Thompson family sets up their site for football weekends, it looks a lot different from their first forays into the tailgating lots. “We started tailgating with two chairs and a table out of the trunk of our car,” says Penny Thompson. “Fast-forward to today, and there’s a painted van, tents, a grill and games.”

That painted van — nicknamed “Beastie” — began as an idea during the COVID-19 lockdown. Penny, who’s been attending Purdue football games since 1980, was searching for the right tailgating rig with her sister, Bonnie Dolick. Penny’s husband, David Thompson, scouted out the Nissan NV High Roof. Their nephew, Daniel Thompson, created the custom artwork for Beastie.

Now, the entire family, plus friends and other fans, gather around to cheer on the Boilermakers. From home games to the 2023 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, they have made plenty of amazing memories — with more sure to come.

Penny and David Thompson in front of their van.
The back of the Thompson family van.
The Thompson family van during a tailgate.
The Thompson family van with a custom paint job.
The passenger side of the Thompson family van, which reads Boiler Up!
A close-up look at the custom paint job on the Thompson family van.
Memorabilia the Thompson family has collected while tailgating.
The top of the Thompson family van.
The Thompson family with friends in front of their van.
Ava Kuhn

Curiosity drives almost all aspects of Ava Kuhn’s life. With a double major in art history and journalism from Indiana University, she loves falling down research rabbit holes. Her drive to learn new things and connect with people drew her to her role as a senior content writer at Purdue Brand Studio.

Becky spent 10 years as a cosmetologist before deciding to pursue a career in photography — her passion since high school. She counts returning to college as a nontraditional student to complete her degree and then landing a full-time job as a photographer at Purdue in 2018 as two of her proudest accomplishments. Becky loves meeting people, hearing their stories and translating those experiences into images that showcase the Boilermaker spirit.

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