I got a call from a friend in Australia today, letting me know this is Norm's Birthday. The hot rod Icon was born in 1933 ! He probably did as much for the movement we enjoy, as most. I met him once at LARS in 2004.
A true character, while he lived in Arkansas he attended several rod runs that we did. A crazy, eccentric, entertaining guy. Putting beer cans in the exhaust stacks on the Henway then reving the engine to send them flying. Always laughing. Attended one rod run where he was the entertainment for the evening, and he did. Played the guitar, sang, whistled and joked. Very entertaining. One of a kind hot rodder.
Sat with him at the HAMB Drags hotel one year, and talked with him in Springfield MO. at the NSRA show. Nice guy. Hated that he passed.
I met him in Paso once. A couple of my friends knew him well. What stories they tell. Happy Birthday Norm! Thanks!
I met Norm at the "Cruise at the Rock" at Little Rock, Arkansas. Our car club just happened to stay at the same hotel. There is never a dull moment when Norm is around. One of the guys in our club said he looked familiar, "Was he Norm Grabowski? Norm would throw his hands up in the air and say in a loud voice, "I can't go anywhere....". He had to say no more, and everybody knew, and everybody laughed! He's the guy who introduced me Vodka Tonics. Talk about someone who can hit on a waitress, they loved it and kept us well supplied with Vodka Tonics. One night as the show was winding down, he said jump in. He was driving Kookie Two which had a 500c.i. Caddy. Norm drove fast enough to get multiple tickets, but he didn't, by the way that thing is FAST! I had gotten a copy of "The car that ate my brain" and brought it along. Norm hadn't seen it yet so he said "If I can round up a player, you want to bring it over to my room so we can all watch it? Heck Yeah! In an hour or so we found a CD player. There was a dozen or more packed in his room with both beds stacked against the wall with Norm explaining things and pointing out errors. When it was over Norm autographed it and said I am the only one to have his autograph of it! Norm just happened to have a spare "Graboski skull" at the show that was looking for a home, it came home with me. Norm was a friend to all, he is sadly missed. Happy Birthday Norm
Norm signed the 2004 NSRA giveaway I won many years ago. I wonder if it’s still on the dash. What a great fun guy. Built by our very own Krylon32 from Cornhuskers.
I met Norm Grabowski at the Wheels of Time show many years ago. I reminded him that back in 1957, or 1958 I saw both his roadster and Tommy Ivo's at the same Oakland Roadster Show. He remembered it well. It left a lasting impression on a 16-17 year old kid.
...@anthony myrick... https://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=37846 https://www.motortrend.com/news/norm-grabowski-the-entertainer He lived life large...a belated Happy Birthday in Spirit to Norm... Credit to Photographers, Owners
I had the good fortune to meet Norm Grabowski at Pete & Jakes Open House in 2009. He was everything everyone has said and more as I learned when we all ended up together and went out to eat after the show. It's not often that you get to meet your heroes and I'll never forget that day. Godspeed and Happy Birthday Norm!
Norm was a man of many interests and hugely creative. Norm Grabowski’s epic “Six Pack” - an air-cooled, flat-six Corvair engine mounted on the frame of a ’41 Indian shaft drive with no transmission, just a clutch. Another future Kustom Kulture legend pin-striped the bike– Dean Jeffries. Irish Rich (whose website is the authority on old school builders, and is due a ton of respect for his own incredible work) saw this impressive bike himself back in ’65, and has chronicled it well. Norm actually built 2 Corvair-powered “Six Packs” - the other mated with H-D tranny called “PP ‘n’ Vinegar.” Neil East told me that Norm used to come to L.A. Roadster Club meetings on the Six Pack, and he said Norm had no problem kick starting this bike, when it was time to leave. It had no electric starter!” –Irish Rich
He was a good friend of my father-in-law. I was fortunate to meet him. As many said, he was a character. He was an amazing woodworker. My father-in-law has a couple pieces he did. One piece was a rocking chair we call the Paul Bunion chair. A huge, but beautifully done. He also has a rocking horse Norm did. He delivered it in a horse trailer.
Happy Birthday Normie-Poo!!!! Met him at a car show in Longmont, CO. Signed all sorts of stuff and took pictures with the kids. He was a great/fun guy!!!
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