THE MOTORCYCLES OF STORMIN NORMAN

While sketching at Dragstalgia in July, 2021, I was so taken by the family affair around Stormin’ Norman’s iconic, double engined drag bikes that I had to take a deeper dive into the history.

Gary Norman was very generous with his time and shared a lot about his father Dennis’s story, not only displaying admiration for his dad, but also an almost genetic affiliation with motorcycles and the eternal quest for speed.

The salad years

Dennis Norman, born July 3, 1925, in Harrow, Wealdstone, was one of six siblings – three brothers and two sisters. Dennis was an adventurous child and soon gained a reputation as ‘a bit of a rascal,’ having an affinity with two wheels and mechanics from a young age. At 17, he started an apprenticeship as a welder, which he worked as during the war, his skills keeping Dennis in the UK, working for the war department. In 1947, Dennis was conscripted into the army as a Despatch Rider in the Rifle Brigade. With a great knowledge of motorcycles and welding, he was well suited to the role, with the ability to put his hands to jobs within the areas of ammunitions and fabrication, as well as passing his riding and practical knowledge on to others. He had