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Norm grabowski 1933-2012

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by FLAT-TOP BOB, Oct 12, 2012.

  1. frank spittle
    Joined: Jan 29, 2009
    Posts: 1,672

    frank spittle
    Member

    Truly one of my heros since finding out he owned the Kookie "T". Seeing that car on 77 Sunset Strip back in the '50s had a lot to do with me being a gearhead for the next 50 years. RIP Norm. My condolences to his family and friends.
     
  2. wlspdshop
    Joined: Jun 15, 2005
    Posts: 1,585

    wlspdshop
    Member
    from Missouri

    Oh man this breaks my heart. Met him while in college and was just an amazing guy to visit with. Godspeed...Norm
     
  3. Dooley
    Joined: May 29, 2002
    Posts: 2,956

    Dooley
    Member
    from Buffalo NY

    Met Norm at the Columbus nats in 90... walked up to him and started talking about his T bucket, and some other things I remembered from feautures and interviews from Dads old Rod and Custom Magazines....he was impressed that a youngster (22 year old) like myself had some knowlege about his exploits...I did not ask for a picture that day and regretted it, so the next day I went back to find him, he was selling his wooden scooters at the time, and asked for a picture, which he gladly posed for...I'll have to find it and post it.

    He told a great story of how the Kookie T was driven into a post during a scene for 77 sunset strip, and how it got repaired etc....one of a kind. Godspeed
     
  4. melsfine39
    Joined: Apr 24, 2009
    Posts: 235

    melsfine39
    Member

    That was one guy who in EVERY picture you see of him looked like he was having a GOOD TIME!!!, Sad news Mel:D
     
  5. So sad to hear this. R.I.P. Norm.
     
  6. Right on brother Larry. I will be watching those clouds as I know it will happen....
    RIP, NORM you will be missed by all, but you left us with some great memories.
     
  7. Hot Turkey
    Joined: Feb 21, 2007
    Posts: 1,237

    Hot Turkey
    Member

  8. RayMiller
    Joined: Aug 9, 2005
    Posts: 462

    RayMiller
    Member

    Sad day to be a hot rodder! Hart broken, my prayers go out to norms family and loved ones he will be missed.


    Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
     
  9. Spike!
    Joined: Nov 22, 2001
    Posts: 2,733

    Spike!
    Member

    RIP Norm- It was great to meet you.

    Spike
     
  10. clubcoupe37
    Joined: Feb 8, 2009
    Posts: 511

    clubcoupe37
    Member

    So sad to hear of Norms passing. I never met him, one of those people that I had always wanted to meet. RIP Norm!
     
  11. R.I.P. He was a true original. What a better world we would all live in if their were more like him.
     
  12. HarryT
    Joined: Nov 7, 2006
    Posts: 722

    HarryT
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    RIP Norm. Condolences to friends and family.
    Jim
     
  13. Bummer deal. RIP.
     
  14. captainjunk#2
    Joined: Mar 13, 2008
    Posts: 4,420

    captainjunk#2
    Member

    god speed norm R.I.P
     
  15. jcapps
    Joined: Dec 30, 2008
    Posts: 473

    jcapps
    Member
    from SoCal

    rip nice talented man. was lucky to meet him at a party at a friends house.
     
  16. Cyclone Kevin
    Joined: Apr 15, 2002
    Posts: 4,223

    Cyclone Kevin
    Alliance Vendor

    It will be a sad cruise night at Toluca Lake tonight, R&C just did a shoot using Norm's shoot for life as a guide at our Bob's. Will miss his sense of humor, like the pic I have of him wearing the FREE PEE-WEE! shirt with the zipper pulled down exposing the letters. Godspeed Normie Poo!
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2012
  17. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    If you read all the previous posts the one constant is that everyone considered Norm a friend, even if we had never had the pleasure of meeting him. He would go out of his way to make us average guys feel important when we did have the honor of meeting him. How many other celebrities do you know who have that ability and caring for others ?

    I have got to find the letter Norm wrote me years ago after I wrote a "fan" letter to him. Norm Grabowski actually took his valuable time to sit down and hand write a letter to a nobody like me ! But if you look at some of the stories posted here it was just the way Norm was.:)

    It's very hard to type with tears in my eyes, I've lost a good friend today.

    Don
     
  18. Sad to hear this news today. It is sad to see another great artist move on but it is
    even more difficult to come to grips with the pain and suffering Norm experienced in
    his last days. I am grateful for an end to his battle. He was a truly inspiring man.
    Your spirit loves on Norm, God bless you and your loved ones and
    Godspeed, hot rod man!

    Respect and condolences,

    Mark
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2012
  19. Jen......
    Joined: Nov 8, 2006
    Posts: 521

    Jen......
    Member

    very sad to hear , great person who helped many
     
  20. -Brent-
    Joined: Nov 20, 2006
    Posts: 7,349

    -Brent-
    Member

    Wow. This sucks to read.

    I met Norm at the LSRU 10 and he spoke like we'd known each other for years. Not a lot of guys like him left in the world.
     
  21. Diecastdeluxe
    Joined: Aug 14, 2010
    Posts: 12

    Diecastdeluxe
    Member
    from Ohio

    I was in Columbus years ago, and I had just met Cassandra Petersen (Elvira), I walked away from her and a few steps away Norm was standing by a truck with big pipes behind the cab. As I got near him, he made that whistle sound, and I stopped. I said "hello Norm, it's really great to meet you", and he gave me his little salute. I told him I really loved trucks with stacks, to which he replied: "I like mine stacked too" and I said..."trucks", to which he answered: "yes, that's what I meant" and then he did his whistle again. :D

    Rest In Peace Norm, it will be strange knowing I'll never get another e-mail from you.
     
  22. gasheat
    Joined: Nov 7, 2005
    Posts: 714

    gasheat
    Member
    from Dallas

    Norm would attend the Roundup in Austin and hang with Bob Owens in the swap meet. My swap meet space is across from Bob's. One year Norm comes over to my space alone and looks around at my stuff. We talked for a bit and I asked him how he felt being famous. He said he really did not care so much for it but he did enjoy the friends he made. Best answer ever. RIP
     
  23. 52stude43
    Joined: Aug 27, 2008
    Posts: 177

    52stude43
    Member

    RIP --- Hammerhead
     

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  24. Wish I could have known him better. Longer.

    [​IMG]

    Rest in peace Norm...

    Jim Harrison
     
  25. ThrottleJockey
    Joined: Sep 18, 2007
    Posts: 812

    ThrottleJockey
    Member

    I will have some crown royal in his memory....RIP
     
  26. Dan Warner
    Joined: Oct 25, 2004
    Posts: 557

    Dan Warner
    Member
    from so cal

    Sad to read of this news. Norm stayed with me several years ago. I fondly remember his roots blown Suburban. We went out and got a 10' mini sailboat and tried to sail to Catalina island.

    God Speed Normie Poo
     
  27. Larjk9
    Joined: Dec 12, 2008
    Posts: 186

    Larjk9
    Member

    Big loss. Only met him once, but it stuck. Godspeed Norm.
    God's Hot Rods gets another great one.
     
  28. Stu
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 1,056

    Stu
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
     

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  29. cfnutcase
    Joined: Nov 29, 2008
    Posts: 1,032

    cfnutcase
    Member
    from Branson mo

    The best thing about this is at least he is not suffering any more, his quality of life was really bad the last couple weeks, he was a great man and a huge help to many rodders and will be missed but it would have been very sad to see him continue to suffer. R.I.P. Jim
     
  30. lstwsh
    Joined: Jun 4, 2008
    Posts: 440

    lstwsh
    Member
    from Dayton,Oh

    I feel most sorry for the people that never met Norm.Even if you met Norm for a second it was the best second of your life.I was lucky to have talked with him several times over the years even though i was not close to him.Everyone was his friend and he made sure you felt that.The Greatest Hot Rodder to have ever lived.I will always smile when i remember the times when i talked to him.I do feel a loss for the family and his Hot Rod family but he left LOTS of good memories.His memories will live on FOREVER.God Bless Norm.
     

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