1972 was the first time I had heard of the Rosati family, from Agawam. It was no surprise that a racing concern might come out of that town that was known by the vast majority of New Englanders as the place with the Riverside amusement park because of the fantastic run that then - Agawam resident Rene Charland had in his runs for the NASCAR National Sportsman Championships from 1962 through 1965.
But, neither the name of Rosati racing or that of John's Trucking were at all familiar to us in northern Vermont. When Ken Squier and his management group had scrapped the famed modifieds from Catamount Stadium in 1968 in favor of the development of his Flying Tigers to limited sportsman and then to late model sportsman cars had attracted a number of outside teams hitherto unseen by those of us who did not range far and wide to watch racing. I didn't realize I had seen a Rosati car in a photo from Eastern States Expo racing, being driven by Bobn Stefanik. In retrospect, it was a 1956 Ford version of Little John's Fords that would arrive at Northern NASCAR later.
Russ Bergh Photo Ladabouche Collection
Rene Charland during his four year
run as national champ.
We pretty much knew that many of the local hobby class teams [former B Class cand Flying Tiger cars] would be either upgrading their cars or buying or building late models. Hometown hero Bob Dragon, having returned from a two - year self - imposed exile to Devil's Bowl, had taken the proactive route of going South and coming back with a Bobby Allison Chevelle. Others, like Clem Despault, would simply do what he could with his existing car. Yet others, like Tom Tiller, would construct a NASCAR late model sportsman.
Into this situation came not only returning Canadian stars like Jean - Paul Cabana and Andre Manny, but there arrived a teenaged Massachusetts driver named Little John Rosati. The Rosati operation seemed like another example of a big buck out - of - state bunch coming to grab the glory. They came with two matching 1967 Ford Fairlanes, matching haulers, a paid crew chief in the person of the great Fred Rosner, and a noteworthy amount of flair. As it turns out, the Rosatis really didn't have hugely deep pockets, John's Trucking was a modest operation, and they had spent much of what the family could manage for the campaign by then.
Ladabouche Collection
Bob Stefanik, at the Eastern States
Expo track, with one of the first Rosati cars.
I was suitably impressed with the team's success and their friendliness with fans to often get around the operation, particularly enjoying conversation with John, Sr. I took over eighty hours constructing a model of John's first car[s], the only year they went with black top, blue body, and red and while numerals. The Rosati campaign would rougly last through the 1975 season, I think. Not only did John give us many excellent races to watch but the team once put the great Ed Flemke, Sr. in the bakup car [bald tires and all] and he nearly won a major long - distance race at Catamount.
John would become the senior memeber of the Mod Squad, the long - haired trio of himself, Robbie Crouch, and Joey Kourafas. Just like Ricky Crouch was to Robbie, Tommy Rosati, John's younger brother, was a popular fixture at the tracks. Tom woulde go on to have his own successful racing effort a few years later, even including an Oxford 250 win. Both Rosati brothers ended up going back nearer to home to race enventually, but their time up here was strongly cherished.
Courtesy of Steve Pecor
John, with one of the first Fairlanes, in 1971.
Courtesy of Mr. Chevy Black
John - at the Sanair flat
track in 1971.
 Courtesy of Cho Lee Big John [right] with the 36 crew, Little John [3rd from right] and the Russ Ingerson crew at T Road in 1971.
|
 Courtesy of Wayne Bettis This wreck at T Road happened in 1971. |
 Courtesy of Andy Boright The aftermath of the wreck at T Road in 1971. |
 Courtesy of Cho Lee The gang,including John Barrette, son of a local Ford dealer and sponsor from Swanton. |
 Courtesy of Mr. Chevy Black John chases Cabana and Barcomb at Airborne. |
 Courtesy of Cho Lee John [ctr] with the 1971 crew, including my friend Steve McKnight at right. |
 Courtesy of Chris Companion This thrash to change an engine happened at Catamount. |
 Courtesy of Chris Companion More of the thrash to change an engine at Catamount. |
 Courtesy of Steve Pecor John, with one of the first Fairlanes, in 1972. |
 Paul Michaud Photo Courtesy of Christian Genest Entering Catamount in 1971. |
 Courtesy of Wayne Bettis More engine woes at Catamount. |
 Courtesy ofSteve McKinght John poses with Bob Dragon, Cabana, and Dion at Thunder Road. |
 From Wayne Bettis John, Rookie if the Year for the 1971 season. |
 From Christian Genest John, posing in 1972 at Catamount. |
 From HAMB Message Board A snafu at Sanair's flat track. |
 From Steve Leavitt via Walter Newell John, in the stands, with adoring fans. Not all drivers would to this. |
 From Andy Boright The familiar hauler. |
 From Wayne Bettis In this Free Press photo, John was described as "the 17 year - old speed merchant from Massachusetts. |
 Ladabouche Photo The model - Dust and all. |
 Ladabouche Photo The model 2. |
 Ladabouche Photo The model 3. |
 Ladabouche Photo The model - lousy view of interior. |
 Ladabouche Photo The model - motor compartment. |
 From Wayne Bettis I found one final photo of that T Road wreck in 1971. |
Courtesy of Andy Boright
The car, at Barre, with an
unknown man.
Courtesy of Chris Companion
John, Big John, and Tom pose with
Dave and Roger Dion at Thunder Road.
From Vintage Mod Site
John, posing in 1972 at Thunder Road.
 Ladabouche Photo The 1972 cars arrive at Catamount in tandem. |
 From Andy Boright John, posing in 1972 at unknown location. |
 From Cliff Haynes The tandem hauler arrangement arrivng at Devil's Bowl on a Sunday afternoon. |
 Dick Britain Photo John is in front as they line up at Devil's Bowl in '72. |
 Bob Mackey Photo From Mike Watts, Sr. The 36, at speed on Devil's Bowl with Bernie Griffith. |
 From Mark Dean Another 1972 pose. |
 From Chris Companion Catamount pits - either 1971 or 72. |
 From Cho Lee John is caught in a pensive moment at Catamount. |
 From Wayne Bettis John is passed by JP Cabana on lap 41 of the Permatex 50. |
 From Chris Companion Running strong at T Road. |
 From Chris Companion This might be Pete Hamilton at Catamount - passing Jim Roberts. |
Shany Lorenzent Photo
John, with one of the last Fairlanes.
 Shany Lorenzent Photo A win close to home at Riverside. |
 L. A. West Photo Latest car; same old hauler. |
 From Andy Boright With Maine drivers Stan Meserve and Dick McCabe. |
 From Chris Companion Ok, what's with the hat ?. |
Denis LaChance Photo
Tom Rosati, arguably, had a more impactful
late model career up here - but I have far fewer available photos of him.
 Norman Morley Photo At speed on the Sanair flat track. |
 Denis LaChance Photo Same Nova, on the track in Quebec with Gardiner Leavitt. |
 Norman Morley Photo In the Catamount pits. |
 From Phil Smith Another Nova. |
 From Mr Chevy Black Tom, by CLaude LeClerc at a Quebec venue. |
 Denis LaChance Photo Same Nova, entering Catamount at a Spring race. |
 Denis LaChance Photo The highly successful Pontiac - at Ste. Eustache. |
 Ladabouche Collection The Pontiac, at speed. Note the E.A. Grandfield ad on the side. That's the only sign painting of mine that was ever on an Oxford 250 winning car. |
 Denis LaChance Photo The Ventura, just before the Oxford 250 win - at Catamount. |
 Word Press.como The highly successful Pontiac Ventura. |
Word Press. com
Return to the Main Page
Return to the Main News Page
Return to the All Links Page