THE OPENING PAGE FOR AIRBORNE PA

THE OPENING PAGE FOR AIRBORNE PARK SPEEDWAY, ADIRONDACK RACEWAY,
AIRBORNE INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY, AND PLATTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

C. J. Richards' First Tenure - Plattsburgh International Raceway

Nobody was expecting it when crafty Vermont promoter C.J. Richards paved his four year - old speedway in West Haven, VT. He lost most of his competitors, most of his spectators, and [in some peoples' opinions] his mind. Richards always had a plan, and he apparently knew something no one else did; otherwise, why screw up a good thing ? He would also take over running Airborne, re-christening it as Plattsburgh International Raceway. Devil's Bowl and PIR would be linked together [with loose ties to Albany - Saratoga Speedway for the 1971 season. Then despite the fact C.J. moved away from modifieds to Northern NASCAR late model sportsman cars, the Bowl and PIR would still be joined.
Richards' influence was seen in many directions, not the least of which was the new program, which he got from the same printer who id Oswego. It was the Cadillac of race programs, and - by next year - Catamount and Thunder Road were on board with it as well. Richards would, in 1971, had the pavement mods and the automatic transmission Charger class [which was in place at the other four tracks mentioned in this writeup. By 1972, both Devil's Bowl and PIR were running late model sportsman cars from Northern NASCAR, but the Chargers stayed. C.J. backed out of the Northern NASCAR cicruit for the 1974 season and I think he also backed out of Plattsburgh.

Courtesy of George McDonald
Out went NASCAR, in came C.J.

From the CVRA
C.J. came up with several of thse promo giveaways to get the word out on his new project.

Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. A 1971 PIR mod lineup: 37, Joe Thomas; 93 Eddie Pieniazek; Wes Moody; and Guy Chartrand behinnd Wes.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. A 1971 PIR mod lineup: Wes Moody and Andy Roman up front.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. A 1971 PIR mod lineup: Richie Evans, Joe Bruno, and DOn Accavello [25].	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. A 1971 PIR mod lineup: Identifiable are Bob Brunell [blue coupe in front], Eddie Pieniazek, and Joe Thomas.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. A Rosner - built, Massachusetts - based #8 mod,.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Automatic tranny Charger cars.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. A 1971 PIR mod lineup: 37, Joe Bruno, Don Accavello, Andre Manny, Dick Nephew, Bob Dragon, Brian Ross, Richie Evans, and Bill Branham .
Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Jim Cayea [left] and others listen in at a pit meeting.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Pit work. Wes Moody's car 3 is in the background. His number 63 was taken that year by Brunell.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. A 1971 PIR mod lineup: X is Phil Siak and 6 is Dick Nephew.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Andre Manny's car in the foreground, and Ron Narducci's 98 in the background.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. A young Brian Ross and his madcap crew.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. One of the Burls with a Studebaker Lark.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Charger car 29.
Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Dick Fowler	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Don Soussis, Cohoes, NY	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. The Soussis family pits. The number B22 goes back to the early 1950's with family patriarch "Boy" Soussis.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. An earlier Gene Guynup support class car.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. The current [for that time] Gene Guynup Charger class car. It took the D Bowl title.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Schenectady, Ny body man Gene Mangino. Andy Romano's rig is in the background.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Marcel Godard's Mopar - bodied mod.
Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Jean - Guy Chartrand and the legendary Ed Cloce Hemi Cuda.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Harold Ormsby, Schuyler Falls, NY.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Harold Ormsby, crew and fans.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Joe Thomas, with Jimmy Guynup's 37 Budweiser coupe.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Ken Platt, Taberg, NY Roerig Bros,. 99NY.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Dick Nephew's Moto - Ski brain trust.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Paul "Cookie" Vallaires, Plattsburgh, NY.

Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr.
One of C.J.'s two Plymouth Superbirds acts as pace car for the two tracks. This is PIR.

Courtesy of Christian Ti-Gaz Genest
A Canadian ad for PIR around 1971.

Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. The Worcesester Sand & Gravel of Pete Hamilton next to Ed Flemke's Cent Sign.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Richie Evans	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Ken Shoemaker in Bill Fowler's 27Jr.	Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts, Sr. Ken Shoemaker was oneof the last guys to drive for Bill Fowler.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Jim Frye and Art Prairie on the flagstand.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Jim Frye and Art Prairie on the flagstand.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Paul Vallaires with female protege driver Karen Sutliffe.
Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Peter B. Guibord [right] with oiffical Don Hayes [2nd from left].	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Peter B. Guibord interviews Andre Manny.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Karen Sutliffe.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Paul Cookie Vallaires.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Robin Branham is awarded by Bob Brunell.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Honest Ed Champagne does some tweaking.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Robin Branham [left] and car owner Earl Moore sign in as Dorothy "Pete" Nichols looks on.
Bob Mackey Photo via D Bowl Program Jim Cayea, Alburgh, VT. *Ran the car as a Charger and a Hurricane.*	Bob Mackey Photo via D Bowl Program Bill Brooking, *Usually a Malta Charger.*	Bob Mackey Photo via Phil Butler Bill Conover, Champlain, NY. *Ran the car as a Charger .*	Dick Britain Photo George McRae, St. Albans, VT. *Ran the car as a Charger and a Hurricane.*	Bob Mackey Photo via Phil Butler Bill Conover New*er Charger that converted to a LMS later.*	Bob Frazer Photo viaJim Ladabouche Marcel Godard, Montreal, QC.	Bob Mackey Photo via Pascal Cote Bob Brunell Peru, NY
Bob Mackey Photo viaJohn Rock Mod heat that includes Ormsby and Nephew.	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock Mod heat that includes Ormsby, Brunell, and Narducci.	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock The Hemi Cuda.	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock Mod heat with Sapphire LeClaire on the outside pole.	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock Mod feature paced by Romano's Galiant Valiant and Chartrand's Hemi Cuda.	Bob Mackey Photo via Bucko Branham Jean-Guy Chartrand with a different graphic version of the Hemi Cuda.	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock Manny leads the Art Barry 909 of Bobby Santos.

Dragon Family Photo by Bob Frazer
When D Bowl was paved and CVRA started running at Plattsburgh, Ray Richards
converted the coupe he had been fielding for Beaver Dragon, who raced the
1971 season entirely away from Catamount.

From Phil Butler Bob Dragon, MIlton, VT *The former Bill Wilson dirt modified*	From Phil Butler Bill Harmon,, NIantic, CT	From Phil Butler George Rettew, Chicopee, MA *Probably a Rosner - built mod*	Bob Frazer Photo via Burlington Free Press Jack Dubrul [left] with Bob and Beaver Dragon at PIR.	Bob Frazer Photo via Larry Curtis, Argyle, NY. Charger	From Phil Butler Bob Brunell, Peru, NY *The well - remembered three window Pontiac coupe.*	From Bob Dragoon Bob Dragoon
From Phil Butler Eddie Pieniazek, Schenectady, NY The Jerry Rose 93	From Rob Trombley Charlie Trombley, Mooers Forks, NY	From Phil Butler Brian Ross Malta, NY The Jerry Rose 93	From Phil Butler Brian Ross Malta, NY	From Phil Butler Buck Holliday, Waddington, NY Probably John Bacon's car	From Phil Butler Dave Lape, Canajoharie, NY Some rare pavement racing	From Phil Butler Gaston Desmarais, Tupper Lake, NY
From Phil Butler Wes Moody, Saranac Lake, NY Crewmen Fran Kane and the huge Denton Dow work around the car.	From Phil Butler MIke Parsons, Plattsburgh, NY	FromRob Trombley Leo Cleary, Hanover, MA	From Phil Butler Jerry Cook, Rome, NY	From Phil Butler Jerry Cook, Rome, NY	From Phil Butler Maynard Forrette, Amsterdam, NY Roerig Bros 99 coupe	From Phil Butler Jack Dubrul drove this car at the track during this era. This is Russ Shaw, after the car had been sold.

C.J.'s Northern NASCAR Years at the Track

Once C.J. Richards had jumped on board with the burgeoning Northern NASCAR organization, he would clearly still be involved with the Plattsburgh track, seeing as PIR had the Friday night spot on the circuit's busy schedule. PIR kept association with Northern NASCAR through the 1975 season, according to NASCAR Press record books, but it is unclear whether C.J. - having left the circuit after the 1973 season, was still running the place. So, I will look here at the 1972-4 seasons. Most of the Northern NASCAR late model sportsman stuff will be on the next page.

Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Pit meeting. I can spot Bernie Griffith, Tom Tiller, one of the Guynups, Ben Nephew, Mike Campbell, and Andre Manny.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Pit meeting. I can spot Mackie Miller, Jim Cayea, and maybe Bobby Dragon.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Pit meeting. I see Hurricane/Charger driver Larry Warren, Rene Charland, and Guy LeClerc.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Pit meeting. Bob Curtiss and Carl Cain are at far left. I recognize other faceas but no names.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown After being largely absent from his favorite track in 1972, Beaver Dragon had a great year with this Chevelle.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown 1973 season awards for Beaver as track champion.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown A pose with the 75, Paul Robar/Herb Everest Chevelle..
Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Interviewed by Peter B. Guibord after a win.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Frantic work on the Howard bank Chevelle during Bob Dragon's amazing 1973 season. The shows the effects of that 5 track schedule.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown No. NASCAR tech official Chuck Blanchard, who came over to the circuit with C.J. in 1972, inspects a Quebec car.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown 2nd generation driver Danny Bridges is caught working on his low dollar but successful Fairlane 500.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Future track flagman Don Thomas waits out a pit stop with his Charger entry.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Sponsor Ernie Mason, sitting in Dick Nephew's car in 1972.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Champlain, NY's racing Justice of the Peace Henry Van Acker with his Charger.
Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Popular Joe Thomas, with Jimmy Guynup's Chevelle [Yup Jimmy without a Ford].	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Joe Thomas, Plattsburgh, NY.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Margaret Bosley [Mrs. L&R Len].	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown A group watching the Northern NASCAR action.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Richie Panch, 1972.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown John Rosati watches work on the 36MA. A very young Steve McKnight in in the center.	Bob Mackey Photo via Dave Brown Dick Mason, with the Mason Dodge entry. Starter is Jim Frye. The modified - oriented Nephew struggled with this car.
Ladabouche Phot JIm Cayea. A Hurricane at Catamount but a Charger at PIR or Devil's Bowl.	Photo via Andy Boright Granby dirt pilot Guy LeClerc gave the pavement cars a run for a couple of seasons.	Bob Frazer Photo via Devil"s Bowl Program Ron Bonnette, St Albans, VT Another who ran both as a Hurricane and a Charger.	Bob Frazer Photo via Devil"s Bowl Program John Peoples, Wilton, NY A former regular for CJ in the late models when D. Bowl was dirt.	Bob Frazer Photo via Devil"s Bowl Program Bernie Griffith, Plattsburgh, VT	Ladabouche Phot Bob Brunell, Peru, NY	Source Unknown Bill Branham, Plattsburgh, NY Always a HIGH potential driver with a LOW racing budget.
Ladabouche Photo Beaver's 1973-4 car. At PIR.	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Ron Barcomb, Winooski, VT	Bob Frazer Photo via D Bowl Program Andre Manny, Laval des Rapides, QC.	Ladabouche Photo Guy LeClerc, Bob Dragon, and Joe Thomas were all regulars at PIR.	Bob Frazer Photo via D Bowl Program Jean-Paul Cabana, Beloeil, QC.	Ladabouche Photo Jacques Ste-Marie, QC.	Ladabouche Photo UNK Plattsburgh area entry.