Remembering Nowel [HVAC] Thomas

[willyslover]

I was just sitting here thinking of Nowel [HVAC] and thought of a poem I copied from the old posts of him at the time of his death... good time to re-post





"Do not stand at my grave and weep,

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am the screaming of turbos waiting for the tree.

I am the sound of the tires breaking free.

I am the black clouds of smoke from the stacks.

I am the yells from the fans at the tracks.

From start to finish those moments seem short.

For I am that pounding, in the winners heart.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there. I did not die. "



we miss ya Old Buddy !

 

[DHRA]

Yea Gary, I was thinking of ol' Nowel yesterday. What a year, he would be happy with the latest progress with diesel drag racing. And undoubtedly pleased with Richard's progress.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I think of Nowel regularly - he is sorely missed. The page that was put up at the time of his death is still up btw at http://www.brooksidepoa.com/hvac . I've removed all the donation/fund raising stuff from the page but everything else is still there. There is a guestbook with 91 entries on it from visitors.

 

[drawson]

Thanks Gary!!! I was thinking of him just yesterday!! The great times and Talks we had will forever be part of me!!!

 

[Bob Wagner]

Thank Gary, yep every day

 

[Andy Perreault]

I think he will have a lasting impact on the TDR world, which means he will always be with us. I had the pleasure of meeting him at Glenn Thomas Dodge in Long Beach and a few times at the May Madness gatherings back when they used to be in Minden, Nevada. He was a heckuva nice guy.

Andy

 

[gitchesum]

His trip to Houston would have been the first time we would have met face to face. I'd talked to him plenty of times on the phone and felt like I knew him forever. Dang that man could talk. I suppose that would explain those big phone bills, cause I can talk as much as he could.



He was a pioneer in this industry, and will be remembered. The race this year in Houston is just one way.

 

[big jake 1]

Thanks Gary:



I think of our brother Nowel often, miss him coming up to Sacramento for breakfasts and out to the raceway. He was always a regular at any event here in NORCAL, and was just a really decent, super nice guy who could not afford long pants



I am privileged to have been able to call Nowel Thomas





a friend of mine











big jake



THE FORD GUY Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[fest3er]

He's forever in my Christmas song.



N



I'm Dreaming of a BOMBed Diesel



I'm dreaming of a BOMBed diesel

Just like the ones my friends all have

With the tailpipe smoking and turbo singing

and tires bursting into smoke



I'm dreaming of a BOMBed diesel

Just like the one Nowel had built

With its drug-free motor and 12 second quarter

It flies right on down the track



I'm dreaming of a BOMBed diesel

Just like the ones the pullers drive

With their dual-disk clutches and two-stage turbos

They make many pulls with ease



I'm dreaming of a BOMBed diesel

Just like the ones my friends all have

With their rattle, clatter and drone

And may all your diesels be BOMBed

 

[TxDieselKid]

I loved the guy based on the couple of times I got to met him, and talk to him o nthe phone. He is missed.



I'm sure his name will come up at the Memorial Race on Saturday.

 

[willyslover]

today was the day Nowel passed... a moment of thought goes out to him

 

[RHARVEY]

He is missed!



Rick

 

[DRAG DIESEL]

Gary, I must disagree with you on one note here... . this thread needs to be in the competition forum, for all to read.



This is for you big guy...





One year has gone by,

and I know not well,

why I still cry when we talk about Nowel.



Taken before his time,

a fact that none can dispel,

God must have had a dodge ram that wasn't running well.



One year has gone by,

and I know not well,

why I still cry when I think about Nowel.



Every time I leave the tree,

I picture him in the stands,

Standing there in summertime dress, Cold enough to freeze a man.



Lining up in the pits,

Waiting for the next victim,

He comes over and shakes my hand and says, "hey lil' buddie, go get em' "



One year has gone by,

and I know not well,

why I still cry when we talk about Nowel.

 

[Cummnzpowr]

Nowel

With this first post back from a 3 year Hiatus from TDR, i am proud to post it on Nowel Thomas's memorial thread... a tear still wells up inside when i think of the good times we could have had,but i know someday we'll meet again at the race track in Heaven ... we miss you Nowel... another one of your "little buddies"... Greg