CLARENCE

     When C.J. Richards was going to re-open the old Fairmont Motor Park Speedway as "Fairmont Speedway, the Fastest Half Mile in Vermont', he placed some articles in the local Rutland Herald, promising some stock car stars of some prominence who were coming to make his opening day a success. Some of the promised stars never came; but, one who was true to his word was a very youthful driver from Pownal, Vermont named Butch Jelley.
    Jelley had already been seen in the area, a year before, when the Vermont State Fair in Rutland had featured a stock car program sanctioned by Lebanon Valley Speedway, just south of the border in New York. Jelley had drawn a little more than his share of attention - probably because his car sported a letter "Y" on the side, rather than a number like everyone else had.
    Butch once explained to me that this unusual identification had double meaning - a. the highly-unusual exhaust system on the car came to the back, forming a Y at one place; and b.) it also answered the rhetorical question why he was racing: "Y not ?" Jelley was driving for his dear friend and father figure, Ed Winn, of North Adams, Massachusetts at that time.
    Jelley made a splash at Richards' opening show, and appeared at Fairmont several times more in the first few seasons. He then went on to drive for several prominent car owners in a long and successful career: Martin Riiska and Austin Dickerman, to name two. In 2005, at age 65, Butch participated in yet another season - this time at Devil's Bowl. Recently, a bout with cancer has kept the likeable Quick Stop owner on the sidelines.

Bill Ladabouche Photo Butch, with Ed Winn's Y, at Fairmont in 1961	OuterChild Photo Butch, with his own Y, at the Valley around 1963	Bill Ladabouche Photo Butch ran a few shows with Ed Winn's M2, usually driven by Frank Hatch. Y, at Fairmont in 1963.	Cavalcade of Auto Racing Butch with Ed Winn's Y	Bill Ladabouche Photo Butch showed back up at Fairmont in 1964 just before going to Riiska.
OuterChild Photo Butch, early in his tenure with the Martin Riiska X	OuterChild Photo Butch in one of the earlier X rides	Photo by A. Ainsworth This shot became familiar - especially in Victory Lane	Photo Source Unknown When the Valley went to late model bodies, so did the X team	Photo Source Unknown A steadily-maturing Jelley with another of Riiska's top notch rides.
OuterChild Photo Butch spent some time with the #90 team Devil's Bowl Photo	Turn Five Photo Jelley, at Lancaster in 1974	Jerry King Photo Jelley spent a few features in Jerry King's 99	Jerry King Photo Jelley receives a cake from the Jerry King Fan Club. That's Jerry on the right	Arnie Ainsworth Photo The former Harold Mantayne ride.

Photo Source Unknown In the Dickerman 357, probably at Devil's Bowl John Grady Photo	Bill Ladabouche Photo Jelley enjoys a talk with Frank Hoard, Sr. and Ed Fabian at a car show in Rutland in 2006.	A. Ainsworth Photo A newer version of Riiska's X	A. Ainsworth Photo A newer version of Riiska's X	A. Ainsworth Photo Driving a Cagle coupe, numbered especially for him.


Courtesy of Andy Boright The Dickerman Vega, at speed.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old SPeedways DVD The Winn Y at Lebanon Valley in 1961.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old SPeedways DVD More of the Winn Y at Lebanon Valley in 1961.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old SPeedways DVD More of the Winn Y at Lebanon Valley in 1961. Good shot of the cartoon.	Chuck Ely Photo Courtesy of Bob Ely A former Caglesedan, owned by Curt Prescott.
Jeff Ackerman Photo With a 3 window Riiska entry.	Ladabouche Collection A Riiska Falcon - everyone had one at that time.	OuterChild Photo Another look at the Falcon.	OuterChild Photo Butch in one of the earlier X rides - the color version of an above photo.	A. Ainsworth Photo My guess is that this is Victoria Speedway. Otherwise he'd not be apt to be by the Barbuto 2 when it was riven by Jeep Herbert.
From the All Star League Program Butch was on the Valley team, the only year that rack was in the League.	Courtesy of Otto Graham Butch, later in his career, in the Berger 26 at Valley.	Our Clubhouse Photo Butch, later in his career, in a newer car at Valley.	Leb. Valley Classics Butch and Bev in Vic. Lane at Valley.	Courtesy of Otto Graham Another shot of the Dickerman modified.
Courtesy of Otto Graham Butch, with Marty B. and the Cagle coupe at Valley.	Courtesy of Otto Graham Butch, winning at Valley with Prescott's ex - Cagle sedan that terrorized Devil's Bowl for so long.	Leb. Valley Classics At Devil's Bowl with the Larry Faulkner midget.	Kustom Keepsakes NYSSCRA Hall of Fame induction. Peter Neff Photo An additional award.	Courtesy of Otto Graham One of his post - Riiska x's.
Herttica Photo The same coupe as in previous photo.	Courtesy of Bob Simpson via LVC The Williams and Kingsley Olsen Eagle 28.	Courtesy of Dave Healey via LVC The Berger 26 an early Olsen Eagle.	Courtesy of D.Bowl Program Butch, with one of the Riiska cars he used at Devil's Bowl.	Courtesy of Bob Kilburn Another brief stint with Ed Winn and this 467.
Bill Ladabouche Photo Leaving Fairmont in 1963 with the Ed Winn M2.	Bill Ladabouche Photo Another shot of Ed Winn's M2, usually driven by Frank Hatch. at Fairmont in 1963.	Bill Ladabouche Collection Another shot of the three window coupe.	Courtesy of Ken Pill A Riiska look-alike sedan owned by Devil's Bowl driver Charlie Brown.	Morris Photo Another coupe he ran at the Valley.
Courtesy of Otto Graham Color portrait.	Courtesy of Ron Wetzler In a sedan which I think had just been bought from Cagle.	Courtesy of Ron Wetzler A well - used Riiska Falcon at the Valley.	Ladabouche Photo A Jelley - owned Gremlin at Devil's Bowl around 1981.	Chuck Photo A Jelley - owned Gremlin at the Valley around 1981.
Cavalcade of Racing Photo A Riiska - owned Falcon at Devil's Bowl .	Bob Hoffman Photo The Prescott sedan at one of the big Fall races.

Bob Frazier Photo - Ladabouche Collection
Day One - Fairmont Speedway -Memorial Day 1962. Still my favorite photo.