"Cowboy Bob" was born Bobby Joe Norris in 1943 in Southern Illinois. Bob learned early that life wasn't going to be all so easy. There would be some days where things just would not go well.

But as luck would have it, starting out in the early 40's, the stage was set for Bob's interest in cars. For in the early 50's, just about the time Cowboy Bob could buy Hot Rod books for 25¢, the West Coast was exploding with the Hot Rod scene and the Bonneville Salt Flats were swarming with people and Flathead powered Track T's.
Bob did his best to keep up.

Here Bob is on his very first home built, a Briggs/HEMI powered, rear engine rail job. About age 12. Check out the 4 door Stude; "Dad's Car."

Bob's first real "Girl Getter" was a 1946 Ford Convertible. It was purchased on his 16th birthday with paper route bucks;
$100 cash.

The Deuce Pickup was Bob's High School Project.

Bob and his friend Dan lean on Bob's '57 Ford hardtop, which he bought in '61. Bob's the one with the girl stuck to his face. Dan was much cuter, but Bob had a Hardtop.

This Cat always got the finest chicks!!!

Fondy Rev Masters, circa 1962

Bob was a fair welder in his High School days and stuck with the trade. He also managed to keep interesting cars in his life. The '57 Chev "327" was the family car in 1973 and the 5 window Deuce was his kid's high school ride. (That's JunkYard Dog 32 to all you Hambers.)

Joe teaching his Deuce to do wheel stands back in 1983.

As time went on Bob held his interest in Traditional Hot Rods and is currently enjoying the great resurgence in old school rods. Cowboy Bob says "Call 'em Rat Rods, Old School Rods, Retro Rods, Call 'em what you want. I call 'em great!" As you will see if you follow the pages of Cowboy Bob's Pig 'n' Piston site, he has also fulfilled another life long dream; that's to have a horse. Bob did finally get a horse of his own, then about 25 more.

Then he had to find a place to keep them all. So came the ranch. Click on "The Ranch" and check the place out. It is Bob's hope that you and yours can come to visit the Ranch, meet his staff and horses, and be part of Cowboy Bob's Pig 'n' Piston Party and Car Show.

         

   

Cowboy Bob at the Ranch on Hidalgo and Shooter