CATAMOUNT COMPETITORS

When Catamount opened for business early in 1965, it was assumed that the track's principal focus would be the firmly-established NASCAR modified and sportsman cars, The Northeast was a hotbed for this racing, with New York featuring the dirt coupes and Southern New England specializing in the pavement cars. With its perfect location, right on Interstate 89 and not far from Interstate 87, the track stood to attract Airborne's fields, local drivers who had been running Thunder Road, and any number of Canadian cars, as well.

As it turned out, the coupes left Catamount during the 1968 season and only returned for a few special shows, from that time forward. The support division, having taken on a life of its own beyond the founders' wildest dreams, would become the star attraction. But the big cars left a permanent impression on the track and on the town that loved the track. People found themselves named after Jean-Paul Cabana, and some households even named pets for their favorite drivers.

Courtesy of Cho Lee
Harold Ormsby brings up the rear on the parade lap for a coupe heat at Catamount, Year One. Neither Cho nor
I could identify the other cars. Note the one flathead mixed in with the overheads.

Catamount Stadium History Program
This grainy old shot of an early coupe lineup shows how desperate Catamount was for cars in the first season. Mack Miller M1 is on the pole.

ACT Office Archives
A 1965 heat race starts, at Thunder Road with the flatheads and overheads mixed in together. At Catamount, in particular, there were not enough cars because - unlike
Thunder Road which ran on Thursday night, Catamount was up against numerous major tracks running on Saturday night. Tony Colicchio [LIbero Buzzi 93] and Harold
Hanaford [whose car owner, Gordon Fitzgerald owend part of Catamount] run flat heads against the likes of Jean - Paul Caban [5A],former National Sportsman Champion
Dick Nephew [6], and Ernie Ried [Harold Healey's 70]. The overheads were thrown out of T Road midseason.

Photo Courtesy of Dragon Family
Beaver Dragon's famed and beloved sportsman coupe that beat out the modifieds one week at Catamount.

MAIN COMPETITORS PAGE	Otto Graham Website Dick Nephew Mooers Forks, NY	Otto Graham Website Bill Wimble Lisbon, NY	Otto Graham Website Ron Narducci E. Haddam, CT	Russ Bergh Photo Lou Lazarro Utica, NY
COUPES ERA	Photo Source Unknown Gaston Desmarais Tupper Lake, NY	Courtesy of John Bourgeois Beaver Dragon Milton, VT	Lloyd & Gregg Gilbert Beaver Dragon Milton, VT	Dragon Family Collection Beaver Dragon Milton, VT
EARLY FLYING TIGERS	Courtesy of Bob Novak Jack DuBrul Burlington, VT	Russ Bergh Photo Pete Corey, Crescent, NY	Otto Graham Website Doc Blanchard Gloversville, NY	Otto Graham Website Ernie Gahan Dover. NH
LIMITED SPORTSMAN	Courtesy of Phil Butler Ernie Reid, Massena, NY The Harold Healey 70, a former Vic Wolfe car.	Courtesy of Otto Graham Bernie Miller Canastota, NY	Courtesy of Jim Ladabouche Andy Romano Johnstown, NY	Courtesy of Dan Ody Bruce Dostal, Johnstown, NY
HURRICANES	Courtesy of Chris Companion Bugs Stevens AKA Carl Berghman, Rehobeth. MA	Otto Graham Website Jean Guy Chartrand Montreal, QU The Ed Cloce 69, a pre - Hemi Cuda version. Andre Manny also drove this car - "The Hemi Hummer".	Otto Graham Website Dick Clark Munnsville, NY	John Grady Photo Eddie Flemke New Britain, CT
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN Early Later	Bob Mackey Photo Harold Ormsby Schuyler Falls, NY	Otto Graham Website Andy Boright Jerry Cook Lockport, NY	Courtesy of Mike Richards Richie Evans, Rome, NY Multi-time NASCAR National Champion.	Otto Graham Website Will Cagle Tampa, FL
MINI STOCKS	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr Marcel Godard Montreal, QU Courtesy of Cho Lee	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Charlie Trombley Mooers Forks, NY	ACT Office Archives Andre Manny Montreal, QU MrBlackChevy Site Photographer Unknown	Courtesy of Robert Clock Al DeAngelo, New York, NY
GRAND AMERICANS	Courtesy: Pascal Cote Paul Hamel Montreal, QU	Cho Lee Collection Jean-Paul Cabana Beloeil, QU Winning 1st ever Catamount feature Bob Mackey Photo	Courtesy of Chris Companion Marty Bezema, Wrentham, MA	Courtesy of Jack Anderson Jack Anderson's sportsman coupe, with crew chief Bill Boisvin.
STREET STOCKS	Courtesy of Rob Trombley Wild Bill Slater, "The Connecticut Valley Rocket" Manchester, CT	Courtesy of Cho Lee The Russ Betz car [59] of Rene Charland and Vic Wolfe's 66, driven by Bob Bruno, sit in the pits at Catamount Stadium in 1966 or 1967.	Russ Bergh Photo Don MacTavish Dover, MA John GradyPhoto	John Bisci Turn 5 Photo Bob Brunell, Peru, NY.
ACT CARS	Courtesy of John Grady Ray Forte Montreal, QU The Forte coupe after a big fire at Catamount	Courtesy of Pascal "Magnum" Site Kenny King, Rosemere, QU Mike Watts Photo [Photo is large]	Paul Michaud Photo Bob Karvonen, Wichenden, MA	Courtesy of Andy Boright Bernie Griffith, Plattsburgh, NY
NEW TIGERS	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts. Sr. Frank Provost, Cadyville, NY	Cavalcade of Auto Racing Photo Harry Provost, Cadyville, NY Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Mack Miller, Ellenburg Depot, NY Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock and Bobby Castine	Courtesy of John Grady Maurice Tallard, Quebec City, QU
LIMITED SPORTSMAN 2ND ERA 1976	Paul Michaud Photo Courtesy of Christian "Ti-Gaz" Genest Eddie Flemke, Sr, New Britain, CT Bob Judkins 2X	Paul Michaud Photo Courtesy of Christian "Ti-Gaz" Genest Catamount modified pits Early 1968 season. 25, Don Flynn; 3x Marty Bezema.	Paul Michaud Photo Courtesy of Christian "Ti-Gaz" Genest Bill Slater, Manchester CT	Photo Courtesy of Rob Trombley Don MacTavish, Dover,. MA The Cliff Wright/Ron Zautner 24
Bob Frazier Photo Courtesy of CJ Richards Graham Trudo, Orwell, VT	Photo Courtesy of Rob Trombley Leo Cleary, Hanover, MA	Courtesy of Phil Butler George Rettew, Chicopee, MA	Photo Courtesy of Rob Trombley Wes Moody Saranac Lake, NY	Courtesy of Phil Butler Maynard Forrette, So. Hadley, MA A former Ellenburg Dept, NY native driving the Roehrig Bros 99 NY
Ladabouche Photo Dutch Reed , Glens Falls, NY A little - known Allie Swears car from 1965	Courtesy of Rob Trombley Hop Harrington, Massachusetts	Courtesy of Phil Butler Mike Parsons, Plattsburgh, NY	Courtesy of Phil Butler Billy Harmon, Niantic, CT	John Grady Photo Courtesy of John Gallant Dave Gaul, Guilderland, NY
Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Ardyce Blohm Ronnie Roberts, Morrisonville, NY	Dogfight Form Website Leo Cleary, Hanover, MA With the same M2 coach as sometimes driven by Harrington.	Courtesy of Phil Butler Phil "PJ" Spiak, Troy, NY	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Phil Butler Bob Bruno, Morrisonville, NY	Courtesy of Dave Dykes Wild Bill Greco, Bridgeport, CT
Courtesy of Mark Austin Rogeer Rouleau, Williamstown, VT	Peterson Collection Jackie Peterson, Massesna, NY	Shany Lorenzet Photo Courtesy of Dave Dykes Don Flynn, Bloomfield, CT	From Flemke.com Eddie Flemke, Sr, Southington, CT	Courtesy of Lou Lazzaro Lou Lazzaro, Utica, NY
Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Rob Trombley Bob Trombley, Mooers Forks, NY	Courtesy of W. Moody Family Bernie Kentile, Saranac Lake, NY	Courtesy of Charles Edkins Denny Zimmerman, Glastonbury , CT	Courtesy of Mike Parenteau Rene Charland, Agawam, MA Catamount's beginning was right at the end of Charland's 4 year National Championship reign, probably only brought to an end by two unfortunate fires that shortened his 1966 season.
Courtesy of Flemke.com Merv Treichler, Sanborn, NY	Courtesy of Jack Anderson Jack Anderson and Bill Boivin are approaching the #17 sportsman of Bob Riley, from Colchester.	Burlington Free Press Ken Squier interviews victorious Jean Guy Chartrand in May of 1967, the last full season of modifieds. Starter Bob Quinn looks on.	Catamount History Program Bugsy Stevens avoids a spinning Marcel Godard.	Catamount History Program Ken Shoemaker hits the wall with the potent Wright / Zautner 24.
Shaney Lorenzet Photo Courtesy of Dave Dykes Hank Stevens, Rocky Hill, CT	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Ardyce Blohm George Pendergast, Providence, RI	Source Unknown Robbie Kotary, Rome, NY	Courtesy of Blogspot.com George Kent, Horseheads, NY	Courtesy of Pascal Cote Gilles Brochu, Quebec City, QC
Richard LaGrange Photo Ray Sitterly, Amsterdam, NY	Bob Bruno Collection Jack Rugar, Dannemora, NY He would have likely run a car for friend, Vic Wolfe.	Russ Bergh Photo Ed Pieniazek, Schenectady, NY	Courtesy of Cho Lee Mike Osborne, Barre, VT	Ladabouche Photo Bob Malzahn, Matamoros, PA At 1969 Catamount All Star League race.
Ladabouche Photo Georges Loiselle, Canada	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock Jim LeClaire, Plattsburgh, NY In Vermont we called him "Sapphire"; in New York, he was dubbed "Twelve Port".	Ladabouche Photo Len Boehler's famed 3 unloading for one of the All Star League shows. Driver was either Bugs Stevens or Fred DeSarro.	Ladabouche Photo "Dynamite Ollie" Silva - at the 1972 Catamount All Star League show.	Ladabouche Photo Doc Blanchard, Gloversville, NY The popular NY underdog's well - known Valiant, shot in terrible light conditions at the 1972 ASL show.
Courtesy of Craig Revelle Paul Whitmarsh, Gouverneur, NY	Speedway Nostalgia.com Photo Keith James, Canada	Ladabouche Photo Charlie Jaerzombek, Baiting Hollow, L.I., NY The famed NY mod driver at the 1972 ASL show.	Courtesy of Glen Tavares Lou Austin, Needham, MA	Courtesy of Pinterest Bob Melnick, Newton Upper Falls, MA

Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock
A 1965 field of sportsman coupes takes off at Catamount. Visible are: [left] Cabana, Godard, Manny,
Desmarais, DuBrul, Miller, Ormsby, King, Bob Trombley, and Bridges [or maybe Tom Curley].

Burlington Free Press
A 1965 Canadian spat.

Paul Michaud Photo
Courtesy of Christian Genest
A 1968 race with Bill Slater chasing Leo Cleary. Catamount had top notch modified teams then.

Paul Michaud Photo
Courtesy of Christian Genest
A 1968 race with Ed Flemke chasing Andre Manny, Catamount's first track champ.

Paul Michaud Photo
Courtesy of Christian Genest
A 1968 race with Marcel Godard and Hop Harrington [M2] chasing either Mactavish or Shoemaker in the 24.

In the case of Catamount Stadium, the famed All Star League was a really head scratcher. When the track was identified as a modified/sportsman track, it had no team nor any races with that modified/sportsman series [1967 - 1973]. But, Catamount blossomed out with a team in 1969 - after the track had phased out the coupes and sedans. The track's various ASL teams usually finished no lower than 3rd and won the league championship in 1973. I have no doubt that the tremendous influence wielded by Ken Squier not only got the track into the league, but ensured it would have top competitors who would make most of the league's mid-week race programs.

Do you have pictures of other drivers from this era at Catamount ? If you would like to make them available for me to place on this site contact me at: wladabou@comcast.net

George Bogart Lou Lazzaro, Utica, NY 1969 4th Place Finish	Source Unknown Ron Narducci, E. Haddam, CT 1969	Otto Graham Dick Clark, Munnsville, NY 1969	George Bogart Lou Lazzaro, Utica, NY 1970 3rd Place Finish	Otto Graham Jean-Guy Chartrand, Montreal, QU 1970	Flemke.com Photo Jerry Cook, Lockport, NY 1970
Flemke.com Photo Jerry Cook, Lockport, NY 1971 3rd Place Finish	Bob Frazier Photo Chet Doaner, Rutland, VT 1971 Did not participate, as far I can determine; so Jerry did a huge job.	John Graady Photo Rene Charland, Agawam, MA 1972 3rd Place Finish	John Graady Photo Ed Flemke, Sr., Southington, CT 1972	Flemke.com Photo Jerry Cook, Lockport, NY 1973 1st Place Finish	Source Unknown Ron Narducci, E. Haddam, CT 1973