NOWEL (HVAC) THOMAS..HONORARY MEMBER-1st GEN GROUP. OPEN FOR POSTING

[BushWakr - RIP]

NOWEL (HVAC) THOMAS..HONORARY MEMBER-1st GEN GROUP.

NOWEL "HVAC" THOMAS...



Nowel Thomas, a leader and pioneer in the diesel sport truck fraternity passed away on December 07, 2003.

I'm certain that HVAC would agree, he was far from perfect, like the rest of us he suffered from "the human condition"... but he WAS all that you see and read below, and so much more...



Nowel was known to so many people it is impossible to list them all here. His contributions, not only to the diesel sport, but to the lives of others is near legendary in scope and deserving of recognition.

HVAC, as he was known, led the way in innovations and experimentation that has contributed so much to the popularity of the Cummins/Dodge combination.

Nowel was well respected within the various groups, local clubs, and vendor/business community and deservedly so.

Below are just a few of the observations/comments that have been made by the people who's lives and friendship he enjoyed. .



Rob Thomas. .

"..... We have lost a dear friend, and mentor, my condolences to Nowell's family and friends, I am truly saddened, he will be missed greatly... "



willyslover. .

"... Good By my friend. . we will see you again at the big race in the sky.

God bless you.



Chris Sutton. .

"... He will be missed beyond what words can say and words don't do this man justice to the kindness he showed to his friends and to any who would talk diesel with him---I'm deeply saddened by this, but we all know he's now runnin' times that even has GOD baffled---keep 'em smokin in the sky Nowel--your friend chris... " and "..... well let's start with the latest act of friendship of towing Maddog's(Richard Madsen's)

truck to Houston for the last DHRA race of the year--



He helped Richard with the building of his truck

He towed me up to Redding,CA and there was no charge, as he knew I would

help him on the RED ROCKET, but still that's a 4 hr trip

He gave numerous people deals on products regularly.

He was the first I believe to have a template built to "O" ring your block

while it was in the truck and I believe the first to do it(we did my truck

in Feb of 2002)--



He was instrumental in so many ways to advancing the HP products and

testing for the 24valve engine that it would take a week to type it

out---testing the first EDGE EZ box and then the others that followed--



I believe he was the first 24 valve truck with twins and he did like 8

different setups with testing---



One of the first to have injectors---

The one thing that was the greatest was he would not sell you something

just to sell it--he didn't want guys buying stuff just to put money in his

pocket and he didn't want them buying stuff they didn't need, as he knew

the consequences, you would have to sell yourself to him to get that

higher HP stuff, he basically was watching out for you---and talk about

helping you out when something went wrong---well that'd take a year to

write out---



Also he would talk to you for hours on end about performance stuff ----

Basically he was incredible when you think about it--the phone calls he'd

get while we would work on his truck would keep him from getting the

stuff done, but he never really complained--but rarely did I see him

not answer the phone or take time out to talk to someone--putting his work

that needed to be done on his truck last--that's why so many times he

didn't race or go to dyno's with the truck because we could never finish

in time---he just helped so many people first and he was second. . "



This and so much more, all in the same vein lead us to relish his life and, regret his passing.





NOWEL "HVAC" THOMAS and the LEGENDARY "RED ROCKET" - HONORARY AND PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE 1st GENERATION DODGE FORUM/FAMILY.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

David Covell

"... I joined the TDR just after bringing home my 99CTD in May of 99. I was a

heavy poster back then and really got into the whole TDR 'thing' as I

learned about the club and what I could do to my truck.



Somewhere in there, Nowel learned that I often left Vermont and traveled

to Santa Clara California for my company (at that time).



Nowel contacted me and set up a meeting between two total strangers (but

for the TDR messages).



After that I lost count of the number of trips I made and number of times

I saw Nowel and his group of friends. I had many a scary ride in that ole

red rocket of his and these were in the pre twin turbo days.



He took me or I met him at club meetings, Cummins shops, visiting other

members in the hospital, etc etc.



My long trips to California moved from dread to pleasure as I got more and

more intoxicated on the HVAC diesel cocktail. If my wife only knew how

much money I spend from just knowing Nowel



When I got laid off my trips ended and my bombing budget was zeroed out.

For two years I've been pretty quiet as my wife and I struggled to adjust.

I had not really kept up contact with Nowel but I feel has loss like the

departure of any good friend.



Nowel can't go gently into the good night as his engine is just too

loud!... "



David



Thank you for the story David... . Bob.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

HVAC... THE MAN...

Nowel Thomas is the friendly giant in the center...

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

HVAC... THE MACHINE...

Nowels' famous "RED ROCKET"... .

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

ERIC McBRIDE

"... Bye my friend!

Nowel pushed to have me create the DHRA. He was a great asset and our biggest cheerleader as he put it. He helped us pay for the graphic artist fees to create the DHRA logo. When we offered to pay him back he said he just wanted a lifetime membership. Well, he was our first lifetime member, and now I guess he is setting up a few grudge match races between the apostles.



He always exemplified what every promoter needs in support, he was a tremendous crew chief, racer, and friend. To keep his memory living for as long as I can, Neal and I at the DHRA have decided to award those that stand out in our racing series with the Nowel Thomas Award in his honor. This award will be a most valuable racer award given to an individual in each division starting at the conclusion of the 2004 season.



Nowel, I miss you my friend... . "



Eric McBride

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

K_ARTS

"... . Damn this really sucks... .



Good luck on the other side Nowel. . and always remember that your in our thoughts.



Rest in Piece buddy!! ... . "



Kev

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

CLAYMIKE

"... I met Nowel 5 years ago like David Dressler said Nowel would spend as much time as I needed on the phone answering what I am sure was some of the same questions he had heard over and over again. My last fond memory of Nowel was sitting behind my truck at May Madness 2001 just bsing and him making me laugh so hard I almost lost it. See you soon my friend... "

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

WALCOT

"... I had the opportunity to meet Nowell 2yrs ago at MAY Madness He new his stuff and I walked away Impressed. It was at the edge show in Salt Lake I talked with him at the race track,I was taken by his KINDNESS,integrity,and love for the sport. He was fun to be around. He will be missed!!Also Gary,Blair,Chris and the rest of the Ram runners you knew him so well,you have lost a dear brother,My prayers are with u all.

Gary, Jim Obyrne and myself will contact our AZ members to have donations made in memory of Nowell.

We send our love and prayers to his family and friends! ... "







Regretfully,

Alan Walcott

AZ TDR Chpt

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

AMIANTHUS

"... A part of me left with him.

As I sit here summing up all the experiences that I had with Nowel, I am still left in agony over a wonderful soul whose life has been cut short.



To start from the beginning, I joined the TDR after lurking for quite a while around here. And after a little longer, I started to take great interest in all the performance modifications that people were talking about. Specifially this guy, HVAC.



Now because he was a fellow HVAC guy, I thought I'd give him a call about this performance stuff. We talked for several hours about what my plans were, what options were available, the state of California politics, weather in Wisconsin, et al. After all was said and done, I bought my Jardine exhaust from him.



Shortly after that, he was talking about this wonderful box that he got from this new company called Edge Products. Three wonderful, shift on the fly, power levels! It turned out to be one of the longest threads on the TDR. With all the questions people brought and thier experiences, Nowel would always respond with insight and expertese. After reading about this for a long enough time, I called Nowel once again. I bought my first box and 275 injectors from him.



I was hooked. Nowel had led me down the path that I would soon lead others down. His willingness to educate me was just a small indication of his character. Not to mention, he always seemed to have the right words to comfort someone who was just getting started in BOMBing.



It was about that time that Gary (willyslover) had warned me about getting involved with Nowel. He said something to the effect that Nowel was the type of guy that if you jumped out of an airplane with no parachute, would sell you stuff on the way down just to soften the landing. The upshot is that you would go faster. Gary, I'm glad I stuck with it.



There have been other things I've purchased from Nowel. One of the first EZ boxes, B-1 turbo. And several other things I've done because of him. But none of them are worth the friendship he offered me whenever I had a problem. There were other things we talked about. Pinestein and some of his antics, the analogy Gary used in TIM that he was "Driving Miss Daisy" when Nowel accompanied him out there. Yeardly and his drive. Adam and his ability to drive (and techniques I should use), beer, dynos, and on and on. I am sure gonna miss that.



When I had a skip in my Power Edge, he was there. When I had a clutch question, he was there. When I was in Texas and my injection pump was failing, he was there. Always willing to lend whatever help he could. When I jumped into twin turbos and I hit a design wall, he was there (which was the last time I talked to him). His unfailing support of the Diesel Sport and it's membership is a demonstration of the type of person he was.



As I sit here, swollen eyed and emotionally crushed. I am comforted by the fact that he is not suffering any more from this malady. I am soothed knowing that his legacy will live on here. In us. I can only wait for the day when we will all get to meet him again. God, please watch over this wonderful soul and give him peace... "

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

JOSEPH DONNELLY

"... My sincere condolences.



He remains in my prayers, as he goes to the great dyno room in the sky.



We can be consoled that Nowel is getting power numbers and e. t. 's we all wish we could--in his brand new 2004. 5 12 valve Red Rocket.



To use his words, he has been indeed "a worthy competitor. " He was a great colleague and friend to so many of us.



We are diminished by his passing... . "

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

dvieira

"... . Truly lost for words, as i sit here crying, remembering what a gentle giant he was... ... ... ... ... ... . "



dave

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

BRIAR HOPPER

"... . This is a huge loss for us all, goodbye, my friend, you will be missed very much. The laughs, the fun times, the bench racing, and fun at the track, as well as the help and advice, will be remembered for the rest of our days.

The wealth of a man should not be measured by his worldly possessions, or in coin, but by the number of friends he has... . It's easy to see, Nowel was a very wealthy man in that regard.

What a remarkable legacy he left, for the rest of us to live up to... "

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

cjohnson

"... I first met Nowel for the first time 4 or 5 years ago at May Madness in carson valley. I remember how excited I was to see the Red Rocket sitting ouside the Carson Valley Inn hotel. I talked to him for the first time there and kept in touch ever since. I'd see him in Tulare every year and always enjoyed reading his posts. He always got my business simply because he was the most pleasant guy to deal with, not to mention full of knowledge. Nobody I ever knew was as excited about diesel performance as him - what passion.



I was talking with him on the phone about turbos and injectors the afternoon before this happend just before he picked Richard up on their way to Texas. Who could have known it would end like this. I consider you a friend Nowel. You will be remembered with fondness and missed with great sorrow. God Bless and God Speed my friend. ... "



Craig

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

VAUGHN MacKENZIE

"... . HVAC is one of the most charismatic individuals I have ever met. I feel priveleged to have spent time with him on 3 different occasions, most recently at Bullydog's event in Aberdeen Idaho last July where we were able to spend quite a bit of time BSing. More recently we were PMing last week and he was hoping I would go along with him and Maddog on this trip that was tragically cut short



The thing that impressed me about Nowell is it seemed you could call him about anytime and he treated you as a friend and took the time to talk to you. Before I'd even met him in person I was on a trip to Californa and decided to call his cell and let him know I was in the area and he wanted to meet up. I met him and Mike Crossley in Manteca and spent the day going up to see Willyslover in the mountains (who was recoveing from an accident earlier that year). I had a blast BSing and riding in the wild Red Rocket. He bought us pizza and was very accomodating. The highlight of the day came when Nowell tossed me the keys and said "you drive. "



Nowell has been a big part of this group and as mentioned a big proponent of diesel performance, especially for us 24-valve guys. We were the rarity back then. But as much as he was about diesel power and his crazy fast truck, he was even a greater person as an individual. He was caring and wanted others to share in the joys of diesel power. There were a number of times I needed advice on something and he was willing to share. And I had never bought anything from him



Here is a very old thread some might enjoy reading that Nowell started in August 1999 when he was new to TDR. He had just discovered the Blue Box and you can see it was all downhill from there!!! I've bumped this one up a few times to keep it out of the cellar. Note that he was 'hvac' (lowercase) then . . . "



Blue Box HP Enhancement, Aug. 30, 1999



Take care good buddy. . .



Vaughn

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

PASTOR BOB

"... . I've heard so much about Nowel and now it's easy to see why he was so well regarded by everyone.



On behalf of Piers Harry and all of us here at PDR, we'd like to extend our most heartfelt sympathy to Nowel's family.

Too often the really great ones are called away, only to leave a vacuum in their departure... in Nowel's case, he has left many friends and believers in his place, his patience and good natured help is all to rare in a world that is often too self-centered... .

So many things left undone Nowel... but I think others will carry on in your image, you've always "paid it forward" in spades... it's our turn to "put something back on the wheel" in your memory... "



The PDR family. .

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Chris Sutton.

I also remember when I broke my first and second output shafts--he let my

truck stay at his place for like a month until we figured out what we

should do to prevent it from happening again that was for the first

time---the second time he transported me 2 hours home and then he drove me

back the 2 hours so we could fix it the second time---he didn't want

anything, of course I bought him fuel and lunch and dinners----but this is

just a few things he did for me---he was always helping someone----he was

into diesel sports there's no denying it--he tried to attend every dyno,

sledpull and race that he could--he just flat out loved the

competition----he would bring evacuation stuff to get the smoke out of the

buildings when there was a dyno event----let guys borrow injectors, boxes

or whatever just to let guys see what they were in for if they bought one

or more of these items----he helped me build my twin turbo system--the

first using the B1 turbo----I know there's more---

----chris