My earliest recollections of auto racing involve Mr. Jones every Saturday night during the summers of the mid 1960's at Fairbury, Illinois' American Legion Speedway. When we lose our hero's, and Mr. Jones was most definitely a hero of mine and countless others, we are reminded that nothing lasts forever, not even guys like Mr. Jones, who seemed to be a 10 foot tall super hero and invincible to an 8 or 9 year old kid as I was during his Fairbury days.
I personally will forever savor and cherish the memory of the conversation I had with Mr. Jones in the pit area at Perris during the 2002 Oval Nationals. I told him he was my first real racing hero and that I'll never forget the feeling of a child's excitement watching him and his peers being pushed off for the Saturday night feature at Fairbury. I was solidly into middle age at that time but I got the same childlike excitement seeing the smile that our conversation put on his face as I had watching Mr. Jones race.
Rest in peace Norman, you truly were "The Master Of Going Faster"!!!
Silver Crown Championship Dirt Cars properly driven on a one mile dirt track are classic poetry in motion. Using that analogy, Jack Hewitt is one of the greatest poets of all time.
