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"Storming Norman" Weekly's Remember's
Volume 3

"Defending the # 1 spot against Garlits"
Jan 26th 1964.

    First I would like to say there will be some personal things in this story. That is the only way I can tell it. I am not trying to make excuses or sugar coat it. Another reason is since we held the # 1 spot and the # 8 spot at the same time with the two cars most people would think we had the world by the tail. Things are not always what they seem to be. <grin> Also what ever was going on in my personal life did not affect me when I was in the car. The minute I hit the mag switch and the car lit I was in another world. Garlits kept his car when he was out here at Bud`s Mufflers in West Covina. I was friends with Bud. When Bud found out we would be racing Garlits, every time I would see him he would tell me I was going to lose two straight. Me being me, I would tell him, "In your Dreams". I should also explain that I had three different leaves I use with the car because I hated red lights. If I had a guy covered I would not push it at all on the starting line. I would rather look bad as a driver and drive around them than red light. This was because of the good motors Fox and Holding put in the car. If it was a car that was running close to us E. T. wise I would semi - push it on the starting line. If a guy had us cover and that did not happen to often it was call hang it all out.
1ST round.    I left with a good leave I thought, but got beat and I ran quicker and faster.

2ND round. I went with my #1 leave and still got beat and ran quicker and faster again. I have no excuses, Garlits out drove me!!!! and I let our whole team down. To top this off when the crew took the car back to the shop and pulled the motor out the car it broke in half. The motor was holding the car together. That is not and excuse either, just a side light of a very bad day at the office. That was the beginning of the end for the orange car, with all the wheel stands and runs it had made the car was worn out. Dan Whitz who owned Airline Auto Sales wanted to build a new car and would pay for everything if I would let Bobby Edmonson build it. Bobby Built and drove The Airline Auto Sales sprint car and that is how that car came about.
   As far as the personal side. I was married to my child hood sweetheart and our marriage was going down the toilet because she had become jealous of the race cars. Two weeks early she had tried to kill herself because she did not want me to go racing. I will leave that right there. The only reason I brought it up is like I said not every thing is like it seems to be. By the way she served me with divorce papers the night before we left on our 1st tour. I also got Garlits back with the Airline Car, but that is another story. <grin>.

Norm

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