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"Storming
Norman" Weekly's Remember's
Volume 6
Rematch
with "The Rat"
This is the story
of the rematch with the rat at Island Dragway NJ. for the # 1 spot, through
my eyes. First I would like to say this was also a NHRA record meet, where you
could try and set new records. Back in those day they had just certain meets you
could do this. Also by this time we had retired The Orange Car and had the new
Airline Auto Sales Car. I will not say what the car weighed, except to say
it was the lightest car of it`s time and the most ill handling car I ever drove.
On the plus side, performance wise it was the best car I ever drove, even if the
little bitch tried to kill me on every pass I made. <grin>. Back to the
performance side. When we took the car on tour in 1964, we only lost one match
race and got jobbed on that one in Atlanta for the # 1 spot. Plus the car beat
the "Rat" for the # 1 spot, Won A/FD and set top time at the Indy
Nationals.
Back to the race with the
"Rat" for # 1. Like I said it was a record meet. We set a new e.t. and
mph record for A/FD early in the day, but we had two problems. First like I said
the car was very light and to run A/FD we always had to put and extra 10 pounds
in the car. For some reason we forgot to do it and after the run we realize it.
Before the officials gets down to the end of the track, Dennis gets my fire suit
and puts the 10 pound weight in it and puts it in the car. I told Dennis to
forget it. If we get caught we will look like shit and everybody will think we
always cheated and we never did. I want you to understand this is in no way
a knock at Dennis !!!! He was trying to do his best for the team and he
told me to put it in the story.
Second problem we crack a cylinder wall on the record run. We go
change motors in a old barn by the track. Now it is time to race the
"Rat". First round. I run 7.95 and 197.80 and lose. Going back to
Pomona that is three straight he has beat me. As I am packing the chute I am
thinking, what do I have too do to beat this S.O.B.
Second Round. I run 7.78 and 197.80 to his 7.79 and 185.00 and I
win. The monkey is finally off my back. I am ready for him now and the third
round !!!! It is starting to get dark and the rat goes up in the tower and says
over the P.A. system it is to dark to race. Little did he know we had a spy in
his camp and he had crack a cylinder wall in the second round and no spare
motor. Dennis tells me get up in the tower and lay it on him. I did telling the
fans it is not that dark and if the fans would park there cars along the
dragstrip with there headlights on we could do the last round. This is after the
rat said on the P.A. system that only a dumb kid or a monkey would race under
these conditions. We raced I won and I knew he red lighted, but I drove it out
the back light with the wheels three feet in the air and ahead of him !!!! Pay
back is hell and it sure was nice to get the monkey off my back, not for just me
but the team. Thank you Jim Fox and Dennis Holding for having faith in me and us
!!!! Now for the kicker. One of the greatest days in our life, we go to the
motel and I am so mentally tired I can not see straight. I step in the shower
and all I get is rust water. What can I say. <grin>
Norm.
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