Like many other clubs the Coasters hot rod club of Port Macquarie in NSW was forced to cancel it’s February 2021 annual run due to COVID-19.
After discussions the club decided not to cancel its accommodation, and attendees were advised that there would be a non-official run still based in Edgewater caravan park. Many entrants and their rods still turned up and enjoyed a laid-back weekend. It was decided the Saturday drive would be a memorial run for the late Dick Norman. More than 70 cars turned up to drive from Port Macquarie to the Bago Tavern in Wauchope and an estimated 200 people enjoyed a lunch there.
Speeches by old mates including Bill Kranskze included many stories and celebrations of Dick’s life. Dick was very well known in rodding circles. He was a member of the Romans club in Sydney in the early ‘60s and in 1979 he moved north to Telegraph Point, and joined the Taree Street Rod Club.
Dick built plenty more rods over the years. He was probably best known for his tomato red Model A coupe. The ‘30 model is one of the longest continually registered rods on the east coast. A few years ago he built a nice V6 ‘35 Ford ute. At the time of his passing, Dick had almost finished a beautiful flathead powered blue Model T roadster. He was a regular at many rod runs and events on the east coast of Australia. He is sadly missed my wife Pam, kids and grandkids and the hot rod community.
The Coasters hot rod club is looking forward to resuming their annual hot rod run in February 2022.
BY TIM BROWN
