From the depths of the state of North Carolina we askes Jody 'Roadsign' Brooks to give us a hand with rider who was local to his area. We got a real quick Q&A with the always interesting Norm. Hopfully it will offer some insight onto this racers life and passion for racing. Enjoy!

AEM: What is your name and where you from? NORM :  My name is Andrew Cornell and I am from Statesville, NC AEM: Have you lived in Statesville all your life? NORM: No I haven’t, actually I was born in Cortland, NY and moved to Statesville in July of 1998 AEM: So you are a Yankee then? NORM:  HAHA....yeah but I guess southern by choice.

AEM: Amen brother
NORM:  Easy now, you are a Yankee also!

AEM: Next Question!

AEM: What type of machine do you ride and what kind of riding do you do?  
NORM: I ride a 2007 Honda 450R and race XC in the GNCC series and Mid-east Hare Scrambles.

AEM: The Mid-east series? Where is that located? Can you tell us a little about the series?
NORM:  We race in North and South Carolina, mostly around Shelby and Morganton NC. Bonnie Cook puts on a great series, we race Sunday afternoons and it is so far the best competition that I have found other than the nationals.

AEM: I understand you just got back from the Indy Dealer Expo, did you meet anyone interesting out there?
NORM:  Yes, I just got back from the Indy show and it was a blast. I got the chance to meet a lot of owners and important people with all the companies in the industry, like Chris, Angie and Tim from Hiper, Esquanio and the guys from Pirelli, Chris from ASV, Travis Pastranna, Jerimiah Jones, Doug Gust and the list goes on.

AEM: Speaking of list, is there anyone out there you would like to thank for helping you out?
Norm: Well first off I would like to thank my dad for everything he does and always being there for me. I also need to thank my mom because she is always there for me and seems to remember everything that I forget. I would also like to thank Santo Derisi for all the help and helpful riding tips. Matt’s ATV for building a top notch motor that never fails. Jody Brooks for getting me started into racing and all the pointers he gives at the track. Pirelli tires, Hiper wheels, and spider grips, and everyone else who supports me.

AEM: Tell us a bit about your Dad, He seems like a very cool guy.
NORM:  Well he owns his own trucking company so he is able to usually get anytime he needs off to go racing. And he is a very competitive man so he always pushes me to do my best and ride when I can, and no matter how I finish, he is there to support me.

AEM: I have seen him at the races screaming and hollering he is pretty intense.
NORM: Yeah he can be.

Photo by Halren Foley - ATV Riders

AEM: What do you do when you are not riding or racing?   NORM:  SCHOOL!  That is about it. I am a full time student at UNC Charlotte studying Civil Engineering and it is tough sometimes to keep good grades and race two series. But it is something that I have to do and I know that. Besides if my grades drop Mom drops racing. Between school and race I find time to exercise and lift at lease five days a week. AEM:  Tough love I guess. NORM: Yeah I guess you could say that, got to have something to fall back on because there are only a few people in XC racing that make a living at it.

AEM: What class will you race this year in the GNCC’s.
NORM: More the likely College B.

AEM: What is the one most memorable moment you have involving racing?
NORM: Hmmm....that is a tough one. Probably my first win in Yadkinville.

AEM: Tell us about it.
NORM: Well at the start I missed my kick so I started in the back but I didn’t panic and before the end of the second lap I was leading the race.  Then on the last lap I got all jacked up in the woods and another rider from my class got around me and it came down to the last turn in the woods i got inside on him and my bike happened to out pull him through a field section to the finish line.

AEM: That’s what it's all about right there.
NORM: I know, I wish every race was that exciting.

AEM: Do you have any bad memories you would like to tell us about?
NORM:  Nope not really.  When I am racing or at the race, I am having some of the best times of my life.

AEM: Well Norm, Thanks for chatting with us and good luck in 07.
NORM: Anytime. And thank you AEM for all your hard work. Peace!