NORM GRABOWSKI ILL.

[donsrods]

I am reposting this from another forum. Horrible news. Norm is the father of our style of cars and a really wonderful human being. I wish him a speedy recovery.


I wanted to let you know the latest on Norm Grabowski. Norm was recently diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, a form of cancer that created a lump at the base of his tongue and throat. Last week he called me from the hospital where he was admitted after passing out. He is home for now and he elected to go with an alternative cancer treatment at the Gersen clinic in San Diego, Ca. instead of radiation and chemo. This is his choice and he is waiting to hear if he will be accepted at that clinic. He would then fly there with his niece who will be with him during the treatment.

The treatment is going to cost a lot and Norm made the decision to sell the Henway truck that he built back in the early 70's. This truck was on the cover of Rod & Custom in March of 1974. He is asking $35,000 in its complete but unrestored condition.
At this time it would be nice if all of you and your club members keep him in your prayers with best wishes for a speedy recovery. Maybe at your next meeting you might want to pass a card around to sign and send to him. He very often talks about the Wheels of Time show and how much he enjoyed the event, the club members, and the other people he met there. It was my first meeting with him at your show in 1995 that started our long and close friendship. You can write to him at:

Norm Grabowski
19707 Bass Loop
Lead Hill, Ar 72644



Don

 

[Youngster]

God bless and a speedy recovery WooWoo>

Ron

 

[donsrods]

Here is Norm in his 1957 Life Magazine cover shot.

Don

 

[Gerry]

I hate to here this kind of news. My build buddy has just finished Chemo and Radio therapy... now it s a wait to see.
If i could I would pass on my best wished for his future
Gerry

 

[rodder25]

Norm is the reason I have a t-bucket. He has my best wishes for a speedy recovery and GOD bless him.

 

[donsrods]

Norm is the reason I have a t-bucket. He has my best wishes for a speedy recovery and GOD bless him.

I wonder what T buckets would look like or if they would exist in their present form if it wasn't for Norms T and then the version TV Tommy did. I'm sure some other rodders would have done similar cars later on, but Norm really got this T bucket thing started.

Don

 

[Hotrod46]

I hope he has a speedy recovery. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the Bash a few years ago. Quite a crazy guy and fun to be around. Very artistic too. His one-of-a-kind shifter skulls are works of art.

 

[Youngster]

I've meant Norm 3 times at different events. Two years after our first meetingI ran into him at Btt'50's. I was so impressed 'cause he remembered my name. For those who haven't had the pleasure he's one hell of a guy.

Ron

 

[donsrods]

You are right, Ron, he is a true Gentleman and friendly as they come. Years ago I wrote him a letter, telling him how much I loved his cars and how important he was to this hobby, and he actually took time to write me back a very nice letter. We met him at Turkey Run and he is a riot, just one funny dude.

Don

 

[fluidfloyd]

This is truly sad news about Norm. Although I don't know him personally, I did get the opportunity to speak to him a few years ago at the Spirit Bucket Bash in Mountain Home. As I live just south of Mountain Home my son and I road up on the last day of the meet. I remember watching 77 Sunset Strip as a young boy and thinking of building a roadster of my own. I guess Norm influenced me in an indirect way and I owe him a thanks for that.

After thinking about his illness I have to wonder about any and all of us and the type of work we do. I really don't know much about throat cancer but I do question one possible cause of it. As a full time TIG welder for the last 40 years I have to question my own welding safety and not so good practices. Up until the last 6-7 years I have welded in T-shirts, V neck shirts and mostly without gloves. There have been plenty of red arms and necks over the years and I really always knew better. Being as I have always welded thin wall tubular chassis I never ran high heat amperage and never really worried about it. It's only been in the last several years that I have really changed my habits. For this reason I want to get each and everyone of you to practice welding safety every time you pick up a welding torch of any kind and this includes MIG, Stick and Torch work. If your cutting steel with a torch then put on those #5 cutting lenses. Even if it's only to tack up a small bracket, cover your neck, hands, arms and legs for you shorts wearing types. You owe it to yourself and more importantly your family.

As for Norm...well my thoughts and prayers are with him during this fight. I like to think positive so I'll just say "I'll see you in Mountain Home soon".

George

 

[Mike]

George, that's some really good advice. I often wonder how much we overlook in an average day that might be having adverse effect on our bodies. I know a couple guys who worked in automotive machine shops that died of liver cancer. One was a really close friend that worked with me. And take a look at the material safety data on virtually all cleaning solvents. Nearly all of them are possible carcinogens, with the liver being the target organ.

We used a jet spray cabinet, as a opposed to a dipping tank, to clean parts. When the solution became diluted, we would change it out and after that, when the machine would stop running, you would open the door and the steam would roll out of it. And you could feel it biting in your nose and mouth. But we couldn't leave the stuff to cool down, as it would start rusting almost immediately. I got to a point where I started griping about everyone wearing masks when using the machine. And I have worn rubber gloves in a parts washer for lot longer than that.

I'm right there with you, safety needs to be everyone's absolute priority.

 

[tea boy]

Do eny of you guys no how Norm is doing

 

[Rogers23T]

Norm is like family to my father and I. They were in LA Roadsters together when Norm had the touring car aka "my mother the car", he calls dad disciple #1 and me disciple #2... Dad has the first skull he ever sculped, he did it for him cause he's been trying to dupicate the Kookie car for over 20 years! I wish we could go see him .... Norm is the "Rod-God"!