We've all heard it before. You see a potential project car in a guys yard for years and years and no matter how you ask,the response is always the same...ultimately the thing returns to earth or vanishes overnight...never to be seen again. Well, here's a guy who "fixed it up.." Norm Monette bought this '57 Chevy in the early '60s from the original owner.He drove it on the street for 2 years,and then gutted the interior,scrapped the front bumper,built the 283 into a 301 and went racing E/Gas. He ran at local tracks until about 1969 and then parked the car in his yard. I watched this car run when I was a little kid,and I met Norm about 10 years ago when I saw the car parked in his yard. I asked him if he ever drove it.He said "yeah,when I have to mow the grass..." Last summer,the car went into the body shop for a little re-hab,and Norms been driving it ever since. Yesterday Norm brought it out to the North Hudson Dragway reunion,and after the event he and I went up to the old track. I had the privilege of riding along with him on a 30 mph pass down the strip...40 years later. 73 year old Norm was shining that day,and the stories flowed out of him. We hung out there for about an hour,and then I sat and listened to him grab the gears as he headed up toward the house. It was a real good day. I can only imagine how many guys Norm has told "I'm gonna fix it up someday..." Below is a pic from back in about '68 or '69 and two from yesterday.
What a great story. Good job on the car and how lucky were you to be able to go along on the ride down the track with him. Gasser Girl
Great day Doug, I was there yesterday , came in 57' t-bird, left in 32' 3-window ! Great seeing Norm banging gears!
Stories and pix like this are priceless and don't show up often enough. Keep in touch with this guy.I'll bet he's got a million great stories !!! Glenn
Rick, sorry I missed you again. I did get to meet the guy who owns the T-bird, though. And after talking to some people, it looks like we will do the event again next year.
That first pic says it all, pride all over his face! If those are class win decals on the rear quarter window he must have been pretty good.
Age is all a matter of attitude ! What a great story. I love the photo of him by his car. Thanks for sharing.
Your buddy Norm is one in a million. Great to see another Old Fart having fun with his dream car. If he doesn't have a computer, I hope up will be sure he sees this thread. If he does, get him signed up on the HAMB and our Old Farts Club
Norm was just as proud of his chevy and it's accomplishments as much as John Force or "Big Daddy" would be! What racing should be today!
Great story and thanks for sharing it. Riding in the car with him must of been great going down the track.
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