CATAMOUNT COMPETITORS

The huge, roaring automatic transmission Hurricanes had been refined and held sway as Catamount's support division for a few years before Northern NASCAR officials decided that smaller six cylinder cars might be an idea to explore. Besides the fact the nation had just gone through the energy crisis of 1973 - 74, the emergence of the smaller "Pony Cars" in NASCAR's Grand Touring division Down South had really thrust the smaller cars into the national spotlight. Catamount had even hosted this division, one year, and the crowd was treated to performances by names like Tiny Lund, Richard Childress, Bobby Allison, and Ken Rush.

So, in 1977, the Hurricanes were to phase out and the new Grand Americans came in. Many of the Hurricane drivers, like Perry Poquette and Darrell Owen resisted this downsizing and either retired or went up to the late models. But many of the Hurricane teams embraced the new cars. Milton, Vermont driver Jim Barton was one of the first to field a six cylinder Camaro. George McRae blossomed out with an innovative AMC, and Dave Gibbs fielded a Ford. Richard Buzzi and Larry Caron, became powerhouses in the division. New stars also came up and started new in the Grand Americans, such as Paul Donahue, Bruce Jaycox, and Henry Van Acker.

It was sometimes hard to gather data on this class because not only had NASCAR used the name for its pony car division for a while, but the United Stock Car Racing Club of Harvey Tattersall, operating out of southern New England used the term for years - running a late model stock car class that was a poor cousin to the NASCAR Grand National cars.

George Boudreau leads Grand American rivals Larry Caron [Z28], Carl Nelson [0], and Henry Van Acker.

Expenses of running in the Grand Americans started to get out of hand, when teams started buying the Ed Howe chassis and expensive motors. The class became a showdown between a few cars like Buzzi, Caron, and Ervine "Brother" Eastman, a transplanted Bear Ridge star with a car more expensive than many of the late model sportsman cars. By 1980, the GA's were gone, although many would resurface as the new Flying Tigers by 1983.

MAIN COMPETITORS PAGE	Ladabouche Collection Jim Barton, Milton, VT If not THE first six, he was among the first ACT Archives Later version	Ladabouche Collection Mallory Hutchins, Hudson, QU	Catamount Yearbook B.J. WIllard, Charlotte, VT Catamount's best ever female driver Courtesy of Andy Boright	Courtesy of Johnny Racer Dave Gibbs, Westford, VT *Dave began in Hurricanes and went thru GA's, late models, and New Tigers.*	George McRae Photo Barney McRae, St. Albans, VT I think this is George McRae's first Hornet.
COUPES ERA	Ladabouche Collection Ervine "Brother" Eastman, Post Mills, VT Big $$ Howe chassis entry Mark Austin Photo Winning GA Milk Bowl	Ladabouche Photo George Boudreau, Colchester, VT 1st lettering of this car. Ladabouche Photo 2nd lettering of this car.	Courtesy of Mark Austin Guy Brown Hardwick, VT	_{Ladabouche Collection} Larry Garen, Charlotte, VT The former Larry Caron Nova. Chris Humphrey Photo	_{Courtesy of Walter Newell} Charlie Ladd, Chelsea, VT
EARLY FLYING TIGERS	A & A Ward Photo Red Meade N. Hyde Park, VT	Lonnie Terry Bob Wood, Plattsburgh, NY Mark Austin Photo	_{Courtesy of Cho Lee} Wes Cota, Essex Jct., VT GA car said to once have been Tom Tiller's Dart.	Mark Austin Photo Three of the best the division ever saw: Jay Yantz [foreground], Richard Buzzi [partially hidden], and Henry Van Acker [right]	_{Courtesy of Mark Austin} Henry VanAcker, Champlain, NY Preparing the future Owen Wimble car here.
LIMITED SPORTSMAN	Courtesy of Andy Boright Larry Caron, So. Burlington, VT This Nova was his first 6 cyl motor. Ladabouche Photo Larry Caron, So. Burlington, VT Later entry. This Camaro was a rocket, as were the Camaros of Buzzi and Waters.	_{Courtesy of Andy Boright} Alvin Gover, Williston, VT One of the former Harry Rathburn Camaros	Mark Austin Photo Richard Buzzi, Burlington, VT Confers with friend , Deb Armstrong in the Catamount pits. Tom [TR] Waters' green Camaro #28 in the background	_{Courtesy of Mark Austin} Bruce Jaycox, Woodstock, VT A rare full - sized 6 cyl. entry	_{Ladabouche Collection} Richard Buzzi, Burlington, VT
HURRICANES	Mark Austin Photo Chuck Perkins, St. Johnsbury, VT	_{Ladabouche Collection} George McRae, St. Albans, VT The 2nd of the famed AMC Hornets	_{Ladabouche Photo} Ray Lasnier, Colchester, VT *Built this Firebird. Didn't drive it long. It went through four owners.*	_{Ladabouche Photo} Joe Myers, Essex Jct., VT 2nd owner; my 2nd lettering job on it.	_{Courtesy of Andy Boright} Norm Andrews [4], Warren, VT *3rd owner. Only shot I have of it.*
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN Early Later	_{Courtesy of Andy Boright} Joey LaQuerre, East Montpelier, VT 4th and final owner. Car actually a "New Tiger" by now. Joey changed body to a Camaro	_{Courtesy of Andy Boright} Tom "TR" Waters, Washington, VT _{Ladabouche Collection}	_{Courtesy of Andy Boright} Larry Caron Z28 - driving for T R Waters - inside Carl Nelson	Courtesy of Mike Gilbert Ralph Baldwin, West Topsham, VT Rapid Ralph came in at the end of the GA era.	_{Ladabouche Collection} Milt Wright, Hardwick, VT I think Milt had a 6 in this one.
MINI STOCKS	Ladabouche Photo Harry Rathburn, No. Ferrisburgh, VT Harry Rathburn's lead Camaro, with one of his drivers, Greg Lyman in the backgound [white shirt - afro]. Quite a bunch there: Joe Myers, Randy Chapin, and more.	Ladabouche Photo Harry Rathburn, No. Ferrisburgh, VT Harry Rathburn's other Camaro, sometimes driven by such as Kevin Boutin, Sr., Lyman, and others.	Ladabouche Photo The Harry Rathburn hauler	Courtesy of Alex Alexander Linda Alexander, Chelsea, VT CLICK HERE to see more photos of Linda Alexander's cars.	_{Ladabouche Photo} Bob Thompson, Essex Jct, VT *Converted Lasnier's LMS to a GA*
GRAND AMERICANS	_{Courtesy of Walter Newell} Charlie Ladd, Chelsea, VT	_{Courtesy of Cho Lee} Carl Nelson, Moretown, VT	_{Denis LaChance Photo} Pete Quintin, Georgia, VT *One of the few Mopars*	_{Courtesy of Cho Lee} Drew Nolin, Colchester, VT *His first car*	_{Courtesy of Andy Boright} Drew Nolin, Colchester, VT 2nd, less well - known Chevelle with a 6 cyl motor.
STREET STOCKS	_{Ladabouche Collection} Luc LaFrance, Iberville, QU Not sure if this was an 8 or a 6.	_{Ladabouche Photo} Paul Donahue, Graniteville, VT 1st of several Mopar entries he had.	_{Ladabouche Photo} Paul Donahue, Graniteville, VT 2nd of several Mopar entries he had.	_{Courtesy of Andy Boright} Jamie Aube, No. Ferrisburg, VT One of the former Harry Rathburn Camaros	_{Courtesy of Andy Boright}Sonny Gover, Milton, VT
ACT CARS	_{Courtesy of Paula Barry} Jay Yantz outside of Joe Myers Might be the only shot I have of Yantz's remarkable Mustang.	_{Courtesy of Andy Boright} Monty Jarvis, Swanton, VT Former Jay Yantz Mustang.	_{Courtesy of Andy Boright} Monty Jarvis, Swanton, VT His first Mustang.	_{Courtesy of Andy Boright} Jay Yantz, Monkton, VT Pretty much the Ford standard bearer for a while.
NEW TIGERS
LIMITED SPORTSMAN 2ND ERA 1976

Champlain, New York's Henry Van Acker had just won the car show with this car and now look at it. His crew
scrambled around and fixed it enough for him to go out and set fastest time in trials. As Henry puts it, the
competitors [most of whom were running too large engines] bitched about his "lightened" car.

Grand American cars at Catamount in mixup going into Turn Four: Guy Brown [49] hits unidentified Camaro, with 03 Milt Wright getting a closeup view and Barbie Jean Willard taking evasive action.

An unidentified Canadian Grand American car [44] stays ahead of an out-of-shape George Boudreau [20] and 50, Drew Nolin -
uncle of Ryan Nolin and present day fabricator for DEI in the Nextel Cup.

Courtesy of Andy Boright
During the high water mark of Grand American racing, George Boudreau leads Larry Caron, Carl Nelson
and Henry Van Acker in front of a sparse Friday night crowd.

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