Several years ago I received a group of images from old pal Flattop Bob. Some where between breaking my arm twice, I misplaced the images and frankly I forgot I even had them. Here are a few pictures of a very unusual trophy piece. I believe this Normskull was created in 2007.
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.
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!
Link to related story
Link to photo source
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.
SearchAutoParts.com has a nice article about the Mitch Kelly of Kelly & Son. if you haven't read Rumpsville's bio on the Kellys it is located here.
"My junior year in high school I was working at a cabinet shop for six hours after school and four hours at the paint shop," Kelly says.
Danbury Mint will produce a metal replica of the famous Kookie Kar until Dec 2009. Be sure to get them while you can. The limited edition Kookie Kar is Norm Grabowski approved and detailed all the way down to a skull shifter. In addition Aug. 2009 Rod and Custom has a short article about the scale replica.
