CATAMOUNT COMPETITORS

Courtesy of Chris Companion
Harry Gammell, like his dad, was one of division's favorite competitors.

In response to the the rapidly - spreading popularity of mini stock divisions at other tracks like Oxford Plains, Northern NASCAR decided to put in a mini stock class at both Catamount and Thunder Road around 1974. The class started out very vaguely, with a group of cars from mostly North of the Canadian border. In fact, a Canadian, Monique Proulx, won the first mini stock feature, and she remained the only woman to win a feature at Catamount to this day.

Courtesy of Chris Companion
Monique Proulx, winner of Catamount's first mini stock race.

Courtesy of Catamount History Book
One race and finished. I doubt the car was absolutely legal. It served to help kickstart the division.

Butch True became the division's first big star, and it seemed to be controlled by Burlington area drivers. But, but the second year, it was very clear that the class of the field seemed to be centered in the Barre area - especially in the persons of Jerry Perantoni and Joey LaQuerre. The division remained for about seven years. Although the Volkswagen Bug was always the car of choice, the division saw participation from other makes, like the Carmann Ghia, the four cylinder Ford, Volvos, and a few Datsuns [yup, they were Datsuns then].

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Mini stocks and mini modifieds line up for a race at T Road during the horrible Tommy Kalimiris era. Look at the
unmowed infield. Likely, they never were paid.

The Mini Stocks produced its own stars of repute, and some of its participants went on to higher race divisions. Arguably the most prominent and accomplished graduate was Joey LaQuerre, Sr, who still excels in racing - especially at Thunder Road. Barney McRae, who started in the minis, has gone on to run in the NASCAR Busch Grand National North circuit. Boomer Mumphord and brother, Peter, went on to distinguish themselves in a similar division at Devil's Bowl.

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Kevin Frink [7] and Mike Richmond go off turn two during the pure mini
stock era at Thunder Road. Both were really on the binders here.

MAIN COMPETITORS PAGE	Dick LaFayette Barre, VT	Butch True Burlington, VT Courtesy of Chris Companion Butch wins another one.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Jerry Perantoni Barre, VT Courtesy of Ray Lasnier	Photo Source Unknown Joey LaQuerre E. Montpelier, VT Courtesy of Terry LaFerriere Nice color shot Courtesy of Cho Lee In a NH - bought entry, late '70's.	Courtesy of Rich Palmer John Mascitti, Barre, VT Courtesy of Paul Mascitti Courtesy of Paul Mascitti
COUPES ERA	Courtesy of Cho Lee Kevin Frink Plainfield, VT	Ladabouche Photo Randy Therrien, Charlotte, VT Courtesy of Terry LaFerriere [Front] Randy Therrien [84] Don Therrien Charlotte, VT	Courtesy of Cho Lee Ralph Potwin Randolph, VT	Photo from Dan Nolin Tom Glaser Shelburne, VT Courtesy of Terry Courtesy of Jim Watson Catamount History Book	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Dale LaPerle, So. Barre, VT
EARLY FLYING TIGERS	Photo Source Unknown Harry Gammell, West Barnet, VT From Andy Bright, via Outside Groove Site Courtesy of Johnny Racer	Photo Source Unknown Bob Therrien Ferrisburgh, VT	Courtesy of Cho Lee Dave Gibbs, Westford, VT	Courtesy of Cho Lee The safety truck was none too safe when Ken Hoadley attacked. Courtesy of Paul Mascitti Ken Hoadley's car is seen pretty well in this shot.	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Barney McRae, St. Albans, VT Courtesy of Paul Mascitti Barney's first race car exiting at Catamount after a heat.
LIMITED SPORTSMAN	Courtesy of Andy Boright Remember when Ken Squier tried driving a mini ?	Courtesy of Mark Austin Jim Carlson, Shelburne, VT	Courtesy of S. Mishkit Steve Mishkit, Granville, VT	Courtesy of Austin Wheeler Ric Wheeler, Middlebury, VT	Courtesy of Eric Adams Dave Ford, Barre, VT
HURRICANES	Norman Morley Photo Randy Therrien, Arlo Cota, Jim Carlson, and Ken Hoadley, among others, mix it up at Catamount around 1977.	Norman Morley Photo Pace car ducks in.	Norman Morley Photo Randy Therrien [48] paces a heat.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Minis mix it up at Catamount, prior to the building of the luxury boxes.	Helen Owen Photo via Walter Newell My Lord, Tom is that exhaust high enough ?
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN Early Later	Courtesy of Cho Lee Mark Rossi, Barre, VT Father of 2010 Tiger Champ, Tony Rossi	Cho Lee never drove his mini mod at Thunder Road, but he deserves to be on the page.	Denis LaChance Photo An unidentified Mini Mod at Catamount. Might be Dan Meservey.	Ladabouche Photo Joey LaQuerre's Pit Area Chris Ford and John Mascitti visible cars. Sorry, they used textured photo paper in this era	Courtesy of Johnny Racer Another one for Joey
MINI STOCKS	Ladabouche Photo Mike Richmond's Pit Area Dave's Automotive Team Sorry, they used textured photo paper in this era	Ladabouche Photo Mark Senesac and Barney McRae at Church St Car Show	Ladabouche Photo Shorty LeClaire, Hector's brother, made a rare Catamount visit. It's a Lebanon Valley Mini Mod	Ladabouche Photo Stu Fenton, Plainfield, VT The Volvo	Courtesy of Brian Manning More Joey
GRAND AMERICANS	Ladabouche Photo Don Therrien, Hinesburg, VT Team Car to Brother, Randy.	Mike Cain Photo Roy Dyke, Bristol, VT	Courtesy of Mike Gilbert Only shot I have of Steve, Fenoff - following Perantoni	Courtesy of Andy Boright I'm using a number of shots from T Road to try and get a full complement of the division's teams in one place. The "Joe Fan" car [1] was actually won by Stan mason and campaigned with limited success at both tracks. I think 15VT is Frank Wilder.	Courtesy of Andy Boright I'm using a number of shots from T Road to try and get more teams in here. Good shot of Ed Orton. I need help with that Renault in the rear. Don't think it's Arlo.
STREET STOCKS	Courtesy of Cho Lee Ken Thompson, Randolph, VT With Lennie Stockwell	Courtesy of Andy Boright Ken Thompson, in action	Courtesy of Andy Boright Catamount Mini action with Glaser, Joey, Steve Mishkit, and Harry Gammell.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Danny Casey, Jericho, VT	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Dale LaPerle, Barre, VT
ACT CARS	Courtesy of Andy Boright Vince Conti, Barre, VT Possibly a Suzanne Legault car	Courtesy of Cho Lee Ken Thompson, So. Royalton, VT	Ladabouche Photo Peter Bushey, Burlington, VT	Norman Morley Photo Danny Casey and one the the LaQuerre cars can't seem to get along.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Johnny Gammell, St. Johnsbury Ctr., VT The Suzanne LeGault VW
NEW TIGERS	Ladabouche Collection Arlo Cota, Essex Jct, VT *The one and only Renault*	Courtesy of Cho Lee Bill MacRitchie, Montpelier, VT	Courtesy of Steve Pecor Boomer Mumphord, Charlotte, VT *Last Catamount champion*	Courtesy of Cho Lee Steve Fenoff leads Harry Gammell	Courtesy of Cho Lee Dick Myers, Jericho, VT
LIMITED SPORTSMAN 2ND ERA 1976	Courtesy of Cho Lee Joel Jennett, Northfield, VT	Courtesy of Cho Lee Joey LaQuerre, Jr, East Montpelier, VT A 2nd generation driver	Courtesy of Cho Lee Mark Senesac, St. Albans, VT	Courtesy of Cho Lee Mike Richmond, Williston, VT	Courtesy of Cho Lee Dick LaFayette, Barre, VT Earlier version of his car

Courtesy of Cho Lee
A freshly - discovered and better photo of Dick Myers. I believe he built the Carman Ghia used by Danny Casey and Ken Squier.

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