Photo Courtesy of the Bourgeois Family
["It takes a village ..."] Beaver with
supporting Milton townspeople Arthur Pratt, John Bourgeois, and Keith
Lombard. The car was the first of Beaver's rides.
Photo Courtesy of the Bourgeois Family
The first race car, at the John Bourgeois garage.
Photo Courtesy of the Bourgeois Family
A young Beaver Dragon poses with Jackie Bourgeois, daughter of the car owner. This is the 1938 Buick that became his first race car.
Photo Courtesy of Cho Lee
An Otter Creek Speedway heat is green flagged by starter Archie Blackadar. Beaver is the white coupe.
Photo Courtesy of Cho Lee
Beaver can be seen moving up to second place in this Otter Creek Speedway heat.
ACT Office Archives Photo
via Cho Lee
Beaver has graduated to a 1955 Ford. This one is probably at T-Road.
ACT Office Archives Photo
via Cho Lee
Beaver scores wins at Northeastern Speedway and T Road in the car as #7a and then as 70 - when NASCAR made him lose the A .
Dragon Family Collection
The 55 Ford, kept at Louie
Peltier's house -
just down the hill from Beaver's .
Dragon Family Collection
Beaver's B class win at Thunder Road, before the track was under NASCAR .
Dragon Family Collection
The 55 Ford did not
always have a dependable power plant, as evidenced here at T Road and at
Catamount in the next shot .
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Beaver's car shows
smoke at Catamount early in the 1965 season,
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Beaver's car, now
70,
takes green behind NY drivers Jim LaFountaine [eventual champion]
and Joe Bruno. This was opening day at Catamount Stadium.
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Beaver's car, now
70,
lined behind behind Swanton drivers Ray Many [4] and Maurice [P2}
Trahan .
Dragon Family Collection
The team decided to employ the skills of Ernie Preiss to build a sportsman. This Falcon was their first version. It ran in 1966,and was wrecked at Lebanon Valley.
Dragon Family Photo
Beaver takes checkers from Bob Quinn in the Falcon.
Dragon Family Photo
Beaver takes checkers from Bob Quinn in the Falcon before a packed house.
Dragon Family Photo
Beaver and Johnny Bourgeois look over the Falcon as it sits, embeddded in the front of a Canadian coupe.
Dragon Family Photoe
With the demise of the Falcon, Beaver and Co. looked at this Norm Cyr sportsman coupe to replace it.
Photo Courtesy of Lloyd & Greg Gilbert
The John Bourgeois - owned #7 Coupe, 1967.
Dragon Family Collection
John Bourgeois'
job at Catamount allowed for some privatge practice sessions with the
new car. One decision made was to lose the snub nose GMC truck hood for
more air.
Dragon Family Collection
Beaver talks to a photographer with the coupe in the background at Catamount.
Photo Courtesy of the John Bourgeois Family
The Bourgeois Texaco #7 is almost ready to go. Ernie and Beaver, with John in the background. Note the sunb nose hood is gone.
Photo Courtesy of the John Bourgeois Family
The upset Catamount Stadium victory with the #7. The car was only a sportsman among modifieds - and Beaver was the first Vermonter to win in that division at Catamount.
Dragon Family Collection
Beaver receives a trophy for Sportsman points champion from a smartly-dressed Bob Doyle.
Photo Courtesy Cho Lee
Beaver and Bob [far left] look on as the Milton Fire dept. arrives to hose down the remains of the Ray Forte sportsman coupe. Their suits are like Beaver's in the photo at left.
ACT Office Archives Photo
Beaver walks away from a crash scene as Russ Ingerson rolls away a tire lost from someone's car. Third driver is unidentified. Same era as shots at left.
Dragon Family Colllection
One more shot of same car.
.
Dragon Family Colllection
More shots of the snub - nose verson of the car at Johnny's garage. Beavers' house is visible in the far distance.
Dragon Family Colllection
Last in that series of shots
Dragon Family Colllection
Beaver went back to the Flying Tiger division after the coupe win. He is seen here with one of his earliest Flying Tigers, the Blake - Devarney Ford from Georgia, VT
Paul Michaud Photo
Beaver, with the Blake/Devarney car in 1968.
Photo Courtesy of Rich
Palmer
Same car , another year.
Dragon Family Colllection
Blake Store advertised on side at Catamount
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Beaver leads a race at Catamount at that time when his win streak seemed unbreakable.
Dragon Family Colllection
Beaver paces as Howie Beaupre watches the Blake crew fuss over an overheating Ford.
Dragon Family Colllection
Celebrating the Tiger version of the Governor's Cup with the Blake boys and an unidentified crew member.
Bob Frazier Photo
Dragon Family Colllection
During this time Beaver was doing double duty, driving this ex - Russ Shaw car for Ray Richards.
Courtesy of Neal Davis
Beaver lines up the former Taggart 43 with Wes Moody, Vince Quenneville and others. This around 1968.
Bob Frazier Photo
Dragon Family Colllection
Ray Richards had another coupe built - set up similar to the former Taggart 43 coupe.
Bob Frazier Photo
Dragon Family Collection
Beaver soon landed the Moto Ski sponsorship.
Dragon Family Photo
When Devil's Bowl was paved in 1970, Richards converted the coupe for asphalt and they ran at the Boewl and at Airborne while Beaver and Bob were in self-exile from Catamount.
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Beaver, in front of an unidentified Flying Tiger [not his].
Photo Courtesy of Rich Palmer -
At Airborne.
Photo Courtesy of John Grady -
This tremendously significant photo shows the melding of two Vermont Hall-of-Famers: Vince Quenneville, Sr. driving Beaver Dragon's Devil's Bowl coupe. The two shared a bond as truck drivers.
Bob Frazier Photo
Dragon Family Colllection
Another shot of the Moto Ski car in the Devil's Bowl pits. Bobby [backlground] is distracting the Ellis brothers.
Bob Frazier Photo
Dragon Family Colllection
Another shot of the Moto Ski car in the Devil's Bowl pits.
Ladabouche Colllection
Featured on the D Bowl program in the same era.
Ladabouche Collection
Burlington Free Press Photo
This comes from that same era. Bob, Jack Dubrul, and Beaver pose in front of Bob's pavement mod at Airborne.
Ladabouche Photo
When he returned from the D Bowl exile, Beaver had few prospects in Catamount's new late model sportsman scene. Beaver ran this Ford out of Hancock, VT
Ladabouche Collection
Beaver's stint with Paul Norton's 04 was not great. The car, while too heavy, did have a Holman Moody power plant.
Courtesy of Chris Companion
A group of Miltonians,
including Paul Robar and Herb Everest bought the legendary 51 Chevelle of
Russ Ingerson to make Beaver competitive. It didn't.
Dragon Family Colllection
There were a few more
flags, but there were far more blown engines and spins off the track.
Ladabouche Photo
Dragon Family Colllection
Beaver expressed amazement at how Russ Ingerson could make the car behave. After the '72 season - it would go [away].
Dragon Family Colllection
Paul Robar [B&R Motors] and Herb Everest had a better car built for the 1973 season.
Dragon Family Colllection
Beaver wouldn't have to artificially pose with a checkered flag for long - he won the first two races in the 1973 season.
Dragon Family Colllection
Showing the wear and tear of the 1973, 5 track season.
Dragon Family Collection
Beaver's newly-built Country Dollar Chevelle on its maiden voyage at Catamount in 1973.
Dragon Family Collection
Beaver poses with the first Paul Robar / Herb Everest - owned Chevelle at Devil's Bowl. He has picked up a local sponsor in Butch Rogers here.
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Proudly posing on the track at Catamount with brand new car. He was even prouder after winning.
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
The only thing that remained from the Ingerson purchase was Ed Pelletier's hauler.
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
The Country Dollar car Hollar.
L. A. West Photo
More of same.
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
This is likely after the first feature win at Catamount in 1973. Crewmen John Merrick, Randy Carey, and Doug MacLeod. Doug didn't stop smiling for about three hours.
Ladabouche Photos
1974 version of same car.
Ladabouche Photo
Win #2 1973 - Devil's Bowl.
Courtesy of Jim Watson
Beaver, at speed with the first Chevelle.
Ladabouche Photos
1974 version of same car.
Denis LaChance Photo
1974 version coming into pits at T Road.
Ladabouche Photo
Bob Mackey Photo
via Dave Brown
The well - used '64 Chevelle, at Airborne in 1973.
Bob Mackey Photo
via Dave Brown
1973 pose at Devil's Bowl. Below - at the 1973 Airborne banquet.
Dragon Family Photo
Next, they bought a Bobby Allison - built '68 Chevelle.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Allison-built 1968 Chevelle, bought out of Alabama in 1975.
Dragon Family Collection
The Allison-built 1968 Chevelle still retained the Country Dollar sponsorship.
Courtesy of Andy Boright
The Country Dollar era. Slight change in lettering.
Courtesy of Jim Watson
The Country Dollar era. Sponsor Charlie Barsalow allowed the 75
team to get in the circuit on a competitive level.
Dragon Family Collection -
One of the all - time great things I ever lettered onto a stock car.
Dragon Family Collection -
The switch over to Vermont Mack sponsorship was significant.
Dragon Family Collection
The Vermont Mack Chevelle, at Sanair in 1976.
Norman Morley Photo -
The Vermont Mack Chevelle, in the
Catamount pits,
in the evening.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Vermont Mack Nova, purchased from Mike Laughlin, put Beaver among drivers with the very best equipment.
Bob Doyle Photo -
The Laughlin-built Nova, one of Beaver's best cars.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Vermont Mack team became the envy of the circuit, with its great equipment and generous sponsor.
Dragon Family Collection -
A very snazzy Vermont Mack hauler takes on the new car to go to the car show, which they won.
Dragon Family Collection -
The bad wreck at Oxford in the car's first race.
Dragon Family Collection -
More of the wreck at Oxford in the car's first race.
Ladabouche Photo
Bulldog Country was a very welcome place for Beaver to be during those years.
Dragon Family Collection -
The road wasn't always smooth.
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Another pose with the
Nova.
Ladabouche Photo
Unloading at the Zayres car show in 1977. They co - won the show with Barcomb [another car I lettered].
Courtesy of Andy Boright
In the Vermont Mack era.
Courtesy of Andy Boright
A great shot of the Vermont Mack crew.
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
The VT Mack hauler
and the Laughlin car.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Vermont Mack Nova had a good run and was later sold to Pete Silva, of Waterville, Maine.
Dragon Family Collection -
The next ride was the Chadore 32 from Quebec.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Chadore car at Dover Downs, with Richard Petty in the background.
Courtesy of Cho Lee -
The Chadore car looked good and the crew worked hard, but it was a dog.
Courtesy of Cho Lee -
Quint Boisvert was a former motorcycle racer who bought himself a Venture LMS car.
Dragon Family Collection-
After trying to help Boisvert figure out stock cars, he ended up being Quint's driver
Courtesy of Cho Lee -
Quint Boisvert and Beaver would go on a tear for two seasons.
Ladabouche Collection
Over the winter, Quint, his men, and some of the old Vt Mack crew porduced arguably the most famous car in Catamount history - the Black Magic Nova.
.
Dragon Family Collection
Another
victory ride for Brent
and Michelle.
Denis LaChance Photo
Beaver, lined up between Hector and Phil Gerbode at Autodrome Val-Belaire
Dragon Family Collection-
Kids with a very well - done fan poster at Catamount.
Dragon Family Collection-
Brent and Michelle with dad's famous car. Boirent is cloise to motorcycle racing age here.
Courtesy of Mark Austin
A damaged photo of the Nova driving through the Catamount pits.
Dragon Family Collection
Another win for the circuit's latest super team.
Dragon Family Collection-
A Black Magic pit stop.
LaChance Photo -
Beaver in Quint Boisvert's Black Magic car that won a championship.
Norman Morley Photo
The first Black Magic
on track at
Catamount.
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Beaver getting instructions by an official.
Dragon Family Collection -
New Boisvert Ventura and new H.A. Manosh sponsorship.
Dragon Family Photo
The H.A. Manosh team.
Dragon Family Photo
2nd version of the H.A. Manosh Ventura. [Different graphics].
Dragon Family Collection
Manosh promotional photo in 1980.
Ladabouche Photo -
After seeing a mural on the trunk of
Benny Kerley, down South, Beaver always wanted one.
Claude Walter Photo
Another Canadian win.
Courtesy of Darrell Rogers -
Beaver tours Catamount in the last version of the Boisvert car he ever raced.
Dragon Family Collection
The last version of the Manosh car, at Catamount.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Deering Brothers came along in time to restart Beaver's career with a competitive car in 1983.
Dragon Family Collection -
1984: The Deering Brothers join up with Rossi Buick to make one of the most potent teams on the circuit.
Dragon Family Collection -
A win for the Rossi Buick team.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Rossi Buick team attracts the attention of Tom Curley [background] at a car show.
Dragon Family Collection -
Beaver and Doug Rossi with Barbara Cochran.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Rossi Buick team six banger at another car show.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Rossi Buick team six banger at Rossi Buick's car show.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Rossi Buick team with the Deerings, Doug Rossi, Beaver, and crewmen.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Rossi Buick team car at Catamount. Note Farrell and Pepsi are associate sponsors even then.
Dragon Family Collection -
NASCAR North was getting big league now, media guides and all.
Dragon Family Collection -
WVMT radio's Ernie Farrar checks out the Rossi car.
Dragon Family Photo
With Maine racing Bob Morris during this era.
Dragon Family Collection -
An even bigger break comes when Bobby Miller [ctr] replaces Bob Randall [rt] with Beaver. The New England Air Systems ride was big time, by most standards.
Ladabouche Collection
The NE Air car and the hauler [below] shows what is meant by big time.
Dragon Family Collection -
The N.E. Air Car in Canada
Dragon Family Collection -
The transition over to New England Air. Note brother, Bob, has the Rossi Buick sponsorship here.
Dragon Family Collection -
The N.E. Air Car at speed on Catamount.
Dragon Family Collection -
On the track intro at Catamount in 1984. NE Air car is at left.
Dragon Family Collection -
Beaver and the NE Air car at Catamount.
Dragon Family Collection -
Beaver and Miller [ctr] with the N.E. Air crew.
Dragon Family Collection -
Beaver poses in a questionable helmet. LE "Skip" Farrell and Pepsi have bought the team, keeping the number and basic graphics.
Photo Courtesy of Darrell Rogers
The Skip Farrell - owned Pontiac Grand Prix, circa 1985
Dragon Family Collection -
Beaver and Dale Shaw, two cars which took advantage of Pontiac and Chevy's aero rear windows in 1985.
Courtesy of Steve McKnight
The Farrell 91 at Sanair.
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
The Pontiac, at
Catamount.
Dragon Family Collection -
The L. E. Pepsi Farrell team keeps a close eye on the competition during practice laps.
Dragon Family Collection -
Excellent Pepsi era photo of Beaver with the winning smile.
Dragon Family Collection -
After the NASCAR/ACT split, Beaver's team went with ACT. This is typical of the equipment the team had. Future crew chief Rodney Weed is at far right.
Dragon Family Collection -
Beaver and the team manager, John Casey, enjoy a win in Quebec City. Bob Dragon crewman Gary Desranleau is at right.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Farrell91/Pepsi braintrust. John Casey is at left, crew chief Steve Pulin is behind Casey, and future crew chief Rodney Weed is at far right.
ACT File Photo
After the NASCAR/ACT split, Beaver's team went with ACT. This is typical of the equipment the team had. Future crew chief Rodney Weed is at far right.
Dragon Family Collection -
The Farrell team cars before the break with NASCAR.
Dragon Family Collection -
ACT era photo at a Stock Car Connection race.
Dragon Family Collection -
Ed listens as crew chief Steve Poulin talks to Rodney Weed.
Dragon Family Collection -
The whole Farrell team at Catamount. The ladies have just won the womens' pit stop competition.
Dragon Family Collection -
ACT era photo at a Stock Car Connection race. Beaver leads Ted Musgrave.
Dragon Family Collection -
ACT era podium finish in Maine, with Bob Randall and Dave Dion.
Mike Cain Photo-
ACT era photo. Beaver chases Barney McRae driving a car Farrell had sold to Barney., who nearly beat Beaver.
Dragon Family Collection -
Beaver and Brent some time in the Pepsi era.
Dragon Family Collection -
Steve Poulin's team car that was sold to Barney McRae.
Mike Cain Photo-
"The crash". I don't like dwelling on it.
Mike Cain Photo-
This one could also be a Ron Pittsley Photo
"The crash 2".
Mike Cain Photo-
"The crash 3".
Mike Cain Photo
"The Crash 4"
Mike Cain Photo-
"The Crash 5".
Mike Cain Photo-
"The Crash 6".
Mike Cain Photo-
"The Crash 7".
Mike Cain Photo-
"The Crash 8".
Mike Cain Photo-
"The Crash 9".
CLICK HERE to go to
the page
showing Mike Cain's series of photos on Beaver's crash - and other photos,
as well.
Dragon Family Collection -
1987
After the famous Catamount wreck. He did close out Catamount in style.
Dragon Family Collection
Michelle, beside the elaborate Pepsi hauler in the late '80's.
Dragon Family Collection -
Unknown location.
Dragon Family Collection -
The rest of the photos are in no special time order, as I do not know the chronolical time line from after 1987 or before 1968. This is the Dick Nephew car, from Peru, NY.
Dragon Family Collection -
A ride he picked up in Quebec City for one season.
Dragon Family Collection -
Still finishing high in 1992. Here, posing with the dominant Junior Hanley. This is the time of the Harrison Concrete ride.
Dragon Family Collection -
Still finishing high in 1992. He tried Bob Riley's open wheel car in one race in the 1960's.
Dragon Family Collection -
With dear friends, neighbors, and former car owners Phyllis and Herb Everest.
Dragon Family Collection -
The MGM ride in the 1990's.
Dragon Family Collection -
Another good car, the MacKenzie Meats ride in the 1990's.
Dragon Family Collection -
Watching some action with the MacKenzie Meats crew .
Dragon Family Collection -
Another ride; unknown owner.
Dragon Family Collection -
NEAR Hall of Fame induction with Tom Curley.\
NEAR Site Photo
Dragon Family Collection -
Racin's not all glory.
Dragon Family Collection -
One important aspect of the Dragon racing system - wife Loa Jane Dragon.
Dragon Family Collection -
Beaver had a turn in Dick Gline's potent car in Canada.
Courtesy of Chris Companion
With Ken Squier
Courtesy of Chris Companion
1973 mooching a Devil's Bowl trophy queen. Not onreof Jane's faves.
Courtesy of Donald Ordway
Action in the race where he had the infamous Catamount wreck.
Courtesy of Donald Ordway
The infamous wreck from the turn 4 stands.
Courtesy of Donald Ordway
After the wreck in the backup car.
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
In the pits around 1986
with the Farrell 6 banger.
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
A quiet moment between brothers.
Dragon Family Photo
With Governor Richard Snelling after winning the Governor's Cup. This is definitely one of his top moments.
Dragon Family Photo
The Daytona Permatex ride. Owner Dick Bahre is pushing, at right.
Dragon Family Photo
The Daytona Permatex Bahre ride, at Charlotte.
Dragon Family Photo
On track during the Flying TIger era with friend and neighbor Carroll Towne awarding in place of the governor.
Ladabouche Photo
The Dragon trophy cae.
Dragon Family Photo
Talking to Cabana at Airborne prior to driving one of Brent's cars around 2006.
Dragon Family Photo
Helping out old rival Robn Barcomb, who had arrived without a crew.
