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Special feature

Funniest Rolex watch story ever

Driver of the #16 Napleton Racing Porsche Cayman and winner of last weekend's 24 Hours of Daytona in the GX class, Jim Norman found that even real Rolex watches can fool a jeweler.

GX podium: class winners Nelson Canache, Shane Lewis, David Donohue, Jim Norman, second place James Clay, Darryl O'Young, Daniel Rogers, Seth Thomas, Karl Thomson, third place Lee Davis, Ryan Eversley, Eric Foss, Jeff Mosing, John Tecce

Eric Gilbert

#16 Napleton Racing Porsche Cayman: Nelson Canache, Shane Lewis, David Donohue, Jim Norman
Napleton Racing press conference: Jim Norman
#16 Napleton Racing Porsche Cayman: Nelson Canache, Shane Lewis, David Donohue, Jim Norman
GX podium: class winners Nelson Canache, Shane Lewis, David Donohue, Jim Norman
#16 Napleton Racing Porsche Cayman: Nelson Canache, Shane Lewis, David Donohue, Jim Norman
#16 Napleton Racing Porsche Cayman: Nelson Canache, Shane Lewis, David Donohue, Jim Norman
Class winners podium: GT winners Filipe Albuquerque, Oliver Jarvis, Edoardo Mortara, Dion von Moltke, DP winners Charlie Kimball, Juan Pablo Montoya, Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas, GX winners Nelson Canache, Shane Lewis, David Donohue, Jim Norman
#16 Napleton Racing Porsche Cayman: Nelson Canache, Shane Lewis, David Donohue, Jim Norman
#16 Napleton Racing Porsche Cayman: Nelson Canache, Shane Lewis, David Donohue, Jim Norman
#16 Napleton Racing Porsche Cayman: Nelson Canache, Shane Lewis, David Donohue, Jim Norman, #78 Racers Edge Motorsports Mazda RX-8: Rudy Camarillo, Martin Fuentes, Carlos Peralta, Ricardo Perez De Lara

After his win at last weekend's 24 Hours of Daytona in the GX class, Dr. Jim Norman went to his jeweler with this brand new Rolex winning watch. As per Jim's own words:

"Today I take my new Rolex to the jeweler right down the street from my house in Tampa to get a link taken out so it fits me better (for those of you who don't know, the winning drivers of the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona are presented with a new Rolex timepiece in Victory Lane).

A fake Rolex

The jeweler re-sizes it for me and charges me $8. I say "Wow, 8 bucks, that's not very much". The manager lady says, "well, if it were a REAL Rolex we would charge you more!". I chuckle and say "it IS a real Rolex". She says, "Nope it is not...We know Rolex watches and this is definitely a fake." My retort, "well, I guess you don't know these as well as you think!".

I know all the Rolex dealers in Daytona, and none of them is open on Sundays!

A clueless jeweler

Hearing this, the jeweler comes out from behind his little glass window from where he is working on a frail, blue-haired lady's broach while wearing some very dorky-looking magnifying glasses and says, "I'll bet you bought that watch in New York". He puts both hands in his back pockets and sticks out his skinny "bird" chest in an attempt to be strong and assertive. "Nope" I say, "I haven't been to NYC in some time". He quickly replies, "I'll bet you $1000 you didn't buy that from a real Rolex dealer".

I say, I won't take that bet, because you are right, I didn't buy this from a Rolex dealer". "AH HA!" he exclaims, "it IS a fake!! Where did you get it??" "I got it in Daytona this past Sunday". "HA! I am right!" he shouts, almost loud enough to break some of the crystal elephants assembled as a group on one of the overhead glass shelves. "I know all the Rolex dealers in Daytona, and none of them is open on Sundays!" He is quite pleased with himself and turns to strut back to his window-enclosed, nick-knack cluttered cubby.

"Maybe I didn't get it from a dealer" I state smugly. He turns and says, "well then tell me, who DID you get this FAKE Rolex from?" "Well, I stated calmly and cooly, I was presented this beautiful timepeace from the President and CEO of Rolex Watch Allen Brill while standing on the podium at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona". "OH, Sure!" he says, "and I'm Santa Claus!!".

Embrace life

And back into his cubby he went, oblivious to the REAL world around him. He doesn't get it... The world is passing him by and he isn't even aware that it is happening. You gotta love life and embrace life... even if it means you have to wear a fake Rolex."

- Dr. Jim Norman

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