Submitted By Justin Clack
I’ve always wanted a 73 Yamaha SR643. About 5 months ago I found one up near the Canadian border in a small North Dakota town and decided I had to have it. It had been in storage for nearly 20 years without being used, but seemed to be in very good condition. I was curious about the sponsor lettering on the hood that read “Sioux Sporting Goods.” This led me to make a few calls around the state of North Dakota and I eventually contacted a man in Bismarck who told me “You have Norm Tietz’s sled and he still lives here in Bismarck.” A little more searching turned up a phone number for Norm, which I immediately called. It was a great moment when I finally got to talk to him.
I made arrangements to drive out to Bismarck and reunite him with his championship machine for some photos and hood signing. I was greeted by Norm in his front yard and he was very excited to see his old machine. (Little did I know that I had arrived to visit Norm on his 75th birthday!) He never mentioned it, but his daughter Nancy told me it was a great birthday present for him. After the picture taking he invited me in to look at some of his memorabilia and I had no idea what I had stumbled on to. Too many motorcycle and snowmobile racing trophies to count were all arranged in perfect order in the family room.
Norm and I drove to see some of his relatives around Bismarck so they could see his old racer in my trailer. He was thrilled to tell stories of the early days of racing around the Midwest. The following historical photos are from Norm’s photo album from back in the early 70’s. There are hundreds of photos that make up a real historic treasure. Norm is proud of the fact that he was nearly 40 years old when he won his season points championship in the NDSA. He competed against racers that were far younger than him. Some of the names like Mike and Lynn Trapp, Bob Eastman, Jim Bernat, Leroy Lindblad, Yvon Duhamel and many more occupy space in the photo album that Norm let me borrow. I hope everyone will enjoy this small sample of photos as much as I do!
 |
 |
|
Norm and his Olympia Beer sponsored Season points championship trophy and his “Sportsman of the Year.’ Trophy. (1973)
|
Norm reunited with his SR 643 championship sled in November of 2007 at his home in Bismarck, ND. (Norms 75th birthday!)
|
 |
 |
|
Norm talking with Bob Eastman (620), Greg Grahn (right side) and Jim Bernat or Wesley Pesek (part of helmet visible only)
|
The Trapp brothers and the Yamaha race trailer.
|
 |
 |
|
Norm talking with the Mike and Lynn Trapp. Norm remembers them as being gentlemen, great sportsmen and competitors.
|
Norm, his partner and his son with the sleds, trophies and motor home. (1972)
|
 |
 |
|
Norm and some hardware. (1972)
|
Dwayne Eck (Ski Doo), Norman Tietz (Yamaha 433), Jim Bernat (Polaris 2+1), (Unknown EXT without driver.) Larry Burkel (Polaris 2+1) and in the background partially hidden behind Norm is another Polaris driver with the name “Bob” on his helmet.
|