BLACKTOPPER BOB Bob Brunell and

BLACKTOPPER BOB
Bob Brunell and His Many Cars

Peru, NY is known for a number of things, including a paving concern known as Noel J. Brunell & Son. The son, one Robert Brunell, was always
enthusiastic about the business [he can still talk your ear off about paving this or that], but his abiding pleasure was in watching stock car racing - particularly at the nearby Airborne Park Speedway in South Plattsburgh [ a stone's throw from a Brunell office and garage]. When old enough to do so, the bespectacled Bob took up racing, himself.
Usually using the numbers 17 or 26, Bob Brunell began with a NASCAR Hobby Division car, a Ford] and eventually wnet up to sportsman coupes - then modifieds - and finally late model sportsman cars. While also offering a speed shop [The Blacktopper Speed Shop], Brunell used some of the best car builders and equipment through his Pontiac coupe, the Mustang modified, and the Northern NASCAR and Busch Grand National North late models. He raced for several years. I consider Bob a friend and today, when I discovered a photo of yet another Brunell car, I decided to do this page.

Bob Mackey Portrait Photo
A 1960's photo of Bob in the pre - driver's suit era at Airborne.

Courtesy of Cho Lee
After over ten years of doing this kind of research, I finally noticed that this #17 is Bob - trying his hand at the lead division at Catamount
in what I believe was the track's opening season. His name does, however, appear well up in the Flying Tiger standings for that year as well.
Most of the late model bodies were Canadians, like the big Pontiac of Paul Hamel [66]. Another possibility is that, given the shortage of cars
at Catamount in its early years, they may have let a few Flying Tigers run with the sportsman cars to fill a field. I now know from tthe
photo below this is 1966, after his Hobby class year. That photo shows Bob, Hamel, Beaver Dragon ina sportsman Falcon, and
Charlie Trombley.

Courtesy of Mark Austin

Courtesy of Cho Lee
The car on the inside of the last row is probably Bob, with his Hobby class Flying Tiger car. He managed to place high everywhere he ran in 1965.

NASCAR 1965 Record Book Courtesy of Gary Nephew	NASCAR 1965 Record Book Courtesy of Gary Nephew	NASCAR 1965 Record Book Courtesy of Gary Nephew
	NASCAR 1965 Record Book Courtesy of Gary Nephew	N

Courtesy of Mike Watts, Sr. Thia might be the earliest sportsman coupe Bob had. The GMCV truck hood was in vogue then.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr That same coupe lining up at Airborne.	Norman McIver Photo via Cho Lee About this time, VT photographer Norm McIver was doing everyone's portrait.	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock Maybe that same coupe lining up at Airborne with a better graphics package.	Courtesy of Mike Watts, Sr A 3 window coupe at Catamount.	Bill Balser Photo Pulling off at Catamount to pit as Hop Harrington and Bill Slater go by.	Paul Michaud Photo That same coupe heating up at Airborne.
Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock That same coupe lining up at Airborne with a stellar field of modifieds.	Source Unknown The M17 lining up as the great Bobby Judkins works over his 2X, with Ed Flemke.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Bob helped keep Airborne running during some tough years for the track. Here he awards Robin Branham at a banquet.	John Bisci Photo via RIchard Chiccetti Around 1969 or 70, he came out with this rather unusal Pontiac 3 window coupe.	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock Brunell and the Pontiac had a" terrible accident" at Airborne.	John Bisci Photo That same Pontiac [ in the background] out somewhere in Western NY.	Bob Frazier Photo via LaFonda Family Taking a win at Devil's Bowl.
Bob Frazier Photo via LaFonda Family Taking a something else at Devil's Bowl.	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock Maybe the Mustang used 63 because someone had claimed the #17 that year.	Bob Frazier Photo via LaFonda Family Pacing a field at Airborne.	Bob Frazier Photo via LaFonda Family Taking a win at Airborne.	Bob Mackey Photo via Gary Nephew A pose with the Mustang at Airborne.	Source Unknown The Mustang somewhere in Canada.	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock Mustang pose.

Ladabouche Photo The first Northern NASCAR LMS was built about the same time as the Gremlin mod. This is 1972.	Source Unknown The graphics package was sure simillar.	Ladabouche Photo The Gremlin arrives at Catamount for the 1972 All Star League show Next door is dirt specialist Johnny Harroll.	ACAQ Promo Shot via Cam Gray A portrait from approximately the same era.	Ladabouche Photo The 2nd version of the 1st Chevelle.	Ladabouche Collection The next Chevelle used a newer body style.	Courtesy of Jim Watson The 1970 Chevelle.
Denis LaChance Photo via Andy Boright The Chevelle enters Catamount for practice.		Andy Boright Photo The 2nd version of the 1970 Chevelle.	Denis LaChance Photo Next came the Nova era.	Rich Palmer Photo The Nova next to Joe Thomas at Catamount. The graphics package would carry on to the next car.	Ladabouche Photo Thenext trend was the Le Mans body.	Chas. Casavant Photo The Le Mans at the annual Church St. show.