THE OPENING PAGE FOR
AIRBORNE PARK SPEEDWAY, ADIRONDACK RACEWAY,
AIRBORNE INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY,
AND PLATTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
C. J.'s Second Promotion - Back to the Dirt
After a some tenuous seasons as Plattsburgh International Raceway without a major sanction, the track almost died - actually spending a year in which no programs were held. Somewhere along the line, C.J. Richards became involved in the track again. His promotion really got going again around 1983. In 1984, he would have local driver Wes "Slugger" Moody, one of his Devil's Bowl faithful for several years, as promoter. During this second tenure, C.J. would use the name Airborne Speedway. This time in the track history went up to and including the 1989 season, featuring Richards' CVRA drivers as well as some drivers from elsewhere in New York. As always, a cadre of local drivers would rise to the occasion, bravely switching from pavement cars to dirt. Judging from one photo, the track went by Airborne International Speedway for a short while.
 Via Mike Bruno Charlie Wilbur, Duxbury, VT A newcomer from a "non - dirt racing" part of Vermont, he rose fast on the CVRA stage. |
 Via Mike Bruno Johnny Bruno, Castleton, VT A CVRA regular from the beginning and dad to current D.Bowl owner Mike.. |
 Via flickr.com Wes Moody, Saranac Lake, NY He would race at Airborne before and after his year as promoter. |
 Ladabouche Photo Mike Perrotte, Morrisonville, NY MIke began his dirt career in this period. |
 Source Unknown Ed Champagne, Plattsburgh, NY Began dirt career with a Bob McCreadie car. |
 Richard Pratt Photo Bruce Bordeau, Wilmington, NY |
 Via Gary Nephew Dick Nephew, Mooers Forks, NY After a retirement, he was brought back to drive this Olsen Eagle - and was successful. |
 Richard Pratt Photo Larry Delong |
 Richard Pratt Photo Rick Miller, Ellenburg Depot, NY Second generation driver |
 Richard Pratt Photo Ron White |
 Richard Pratt Photo Mike Perrotte, Morrisonville, NY MIke's second dirt modified. |
 Richard Pratt Photo Kim Duell, CVRA Regular |
 Richard Pratt Photo Doug Hoffman 1984 Airborne special show |
 Richard Pratt Photo Dick Nephew chases Matt Waite |
 Richard Pratt Photo Dominic Rascoe leads Glen Ormsby. |
 Richard Pratt Photo Doug Hoffman |
 Richard Pratt Photo Gailand Wood leads Frank Keene Keene had a six cylinder alcohol burning modified |
 Richard Pratt Photo The late great Charlie Wilbur, at speed. |
 Richard Pratt Photo Craig Ormsby tries to hold offFrank Keene's potent six. |
 Richard Pratt Photo Keene vs Wilbur Two attention - getting Vermonters |
 Richard Pratt Photo Frank Keene, Chelsea, VT Bear Ridge driver |
 Richard Pratt Photo Dominic Rascoe, Second modified |
 Richard Pratt Photo Dick Nephew, Mooers Forks, NY Olsen Eagle modified |
 Richard Pratt Photo Mike Perrotte next to Kevin Kezar's late model |
 Richard Pratt Photo Bob Savoie, Broadalbin, NY CD Coville and Maynard Forrette in background |
 Richard Pratt Photo Leon Gonyo, under Bob Savoie. |
 Richard Pratt Photo Bob Ellis [25], Leon Gonyo [2], and Savoie. |
 Richard Pratt Photo Dale Beaulieu, Massena, NY 1984 dustup |
Courtesy of Jim LeClaire
1984 rookie Bucko Branham. Bill Fountain's 77
background.
 Richard Pratt Photo Bill Fountain, Plattsburgh, NY With flagger Don Thomas |
 Ron Klein Photo Craig Ormsby, Schuyler Falls, NY Second generation driver |
 Ron Klein Photo Glen Ormsby and maybe Carl Murdockr |
 Richard Pratt Photo Bob Ellis, West Haven, VT Note the Airborne International sign |
 Richard Pratt Photo Rockin' Ron Klein |
 Ron Klein Photo Ron Perry Apparently using his Torino to dust for mosquitoes |
 Ron Klein Photo UNK Camaro late model #95 |
 Ron Klein Photo Wild Bill Fountain Hopefully they were just running in the track - pretty rough there. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1984 DIRT All Star Race. Dave Heaslip 84 leads the late Doug Hoffman. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1986 Airborne dirt late model Torino |
 A and A Ward Photo 1985 DIRT mods: Gailand Wood, Dick Nephew, Leon Gonyo, Don Scarborough, etc . |
 A and A Ward Photo 1985 DIRT mod #76 at speed. Not sure who that is. Bob Ellis ? |
 A and A Ward Photo 1985 DIRT mod heat: I see John Proctor, Bob Savoie, and Pete Corey, Jr. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1984 DIRT All Star Race. Bob McCreadie in full opposite lock. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1985 DIRT mod action. The late Charlie Laduc in a rare appearance with his last car 54. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1984 DIRT All Star Race. Vermont's dominant star, Charlie Wilbur. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1984 DIRT action. Charlie Wilbur, Duxbury, VT |
 A and A Ward Photo 1984 DIRT All Star Race. The late Doug Hoffman. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1984 DIRT All Star Race. Doug Hoffman leads the pack . |
 A and A Ward Photo Honest Ed Champagne has quite a push coming out of 4. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1984 Frank Keene would bring the 6 banger mod over from Chelsea, VT and shock the hell out of the competition. |
 A and A Ward Photo Keene is running away from the 8 cylinder late models in this race. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1984 action: Glen Ormsby 33 and Dominic Rascoe. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1984 Jay Dubuque would drive this car to the track. He lived on the Broderick access road. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1984 Leon Gonyo spins the Riley Ford. |
 A and A Ward Photo Mike Perrotte. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1984 Dick Nephew was dragged out of retirement to drive this Olsen Eagle. He surpassed all expectations. |
 A and A Ward Photo 1984 theclassic Ward shot of Nephew and Wilbur at speed. |
Bobby Castine Collection
 Moody Family Photo "Big Kathy" Moody at the copier in the Airborne office.  Trudeau Photo Arnie Trudeau's 1982 Airborne car. |
 Moody Family Photo Kathy Ann Moody in Victory Lane with Carl Murdock, first winner of her father's promotion.  Trudeau Photo Arnie's 1982 Airborne car, with flag. |
 Moody Family Photo Observers in the Airborne VIP box newly built in 1984. |
 Moody Family Photo "Big Kathy" Moody [foreground], SueEllen Botsford, and other staff unwind after the race. |
 Moody Family Photo Ed, the wrecker driver actually got married at Airborne in 1984. |
 Trudeau Photo Article for 1982 Airborne banquet, held early in 1983. |
 Trudeau Photo Arnie Trudeau [right] with Track Champion Eugene Bushey [2nd from left] and Randy Rondeau [2nd from right]. The other two are Hayes and Barcomb, but I don't know which is which.
Bushey is
the current owner of the former track championship car, the |
Return to the Main
Catamount Page
Return to the Main News Page
Return to the All-Links Page
Return to the Opening Airborne Page