Hot rod legend Norm Grabowski built several motorcycles in the mid 60’s. Best known is the “Six Pack” a corvair powered motorcycle. The bike had several incarnations, one which included a sidecar or sidehack.
Archives for : History Lessons
When a hot rod has been on the road for 30 years, remained unchanged and has been handed down from father to son, there have to be a story to be told.
The Rumpsville Roadster was built by my father in 1980. He had several project cars leading up to this car. The chassis was set up several years prior, featuring a traditional split wishbone, nine inch ford rear-end supporting the chassis with a 1940 ford buggy spring and late 50s manual brakes with a large lug pattern all the way around.
By 1982 the car was in Austin and on the road. Making most of the runs in central Texas over the next 8 years, the car would pop up in Street Rodder magazine, Street Scene magazine, automotive TV commercials, calendars and music videos.
Prior to the Continental Club’s large presents as Austin’s hang out for rodders, a common hang out was a place on the drag called Dirty’s.
Note: The music video link is Asleep at the Wheel’s Hotrod Lincoln music video filmed at Dirty’s and featured local cars including the Rumpsville roadster and my father in a gimme hat. More to come.
Nashville, TN 02-05-2010 – Rumpsville’s archive and magazine collection which was located in the basement of the main building was flooded in the recent storms that passed through the Nashville area. All items were in plastic tubs which worked very well protecting the bulk of the 1970 and later years of Hot Rod, Rod & Custom, Street Rodding and Street Scene.
Unfortunately one container of early 1950’s Hot Rod Magazines were dampened when waters actually rose high enough to tip the 80+ pound tub. Only a small amount of water made it into the container but that is all it takes. After placing each magazine on a large cardboard sheet and letting them dry most are salvageable, all a little crisper than before but still readable.
As for having a magazine collection strung across your shop floor… sure does open our eyes to the articles and pictures that are still fun to read and muse.
Don Prudhomme announced his retirement from the NHRA after almost 50 years. As I count it 30 years as a driver who started in the 60’s and then the years after in various roles including team owner. Always The Snake, what a classic!
When I first met Norm Grabowski his running partner was Kaye Trapp. Mr. Trapp has since passed away, but at that time I knew Mr. Trapp as Norm’s best friend, movie prop maker and retired photographer. I also knew there was more and drag racing was a big part of the story.
In 1964 the Winkel, Trapp, Fuller “Magicar” was all the talk of drag racing. Kaye Trapp’s photos and articles helped publicize one of the most noteworthy dragsters of the 60’s.
To read more about the history of the Magicar please click here.