BOUVRETTE

By all appearances, Bouvrette Speedway, off Rue Noel in the community of St. Jerome, QU, was either an old horse racing facility or perhaps the local fairgrounds. Named for its operator, Gustave Bouvrette, it ran from around 1953 to around 1958, even having a NASCAR sanction at one time. The venue, with its huge, impressive grandstands, featured what appeared to be a dirt half - mile track that was - in most areas - surrounded by various outbuildings [which might have been stables and the like].

Andre Chausse Photo
George Griffiths, "le vainceur a Bouvrette" on June 26, 1955. Check out the good - sized crowd.

One thing that is certain about this long - gone race track is that it provided the launching point for many great careers in Canadian stock car racing. Meeting the challenge of invading U.S. stock car stars such as Sterling "Buck" Holliday of Waddington, NY; Dick Nephew, of Mooers Forks, NY; Jackie Peterson of South Burlington, VT; and others, young upstart Quebec drivers took to the long track and began what, in some cases, amounted to great careers.

Peterson Collection
Jackie Peterson, a Vermonter running a car out of Massena, NY, earns a Bouvrette victory.

Known to have done much of their initial racing at Bouvrette included Jean - Guy Chartrand, of Rosemont, QU; Paul Hamel of Montreal; Gilles Brochu of Chomedy, QU; Andre Manny of Laval des Rapides, QU; Jean - Paul Cabana of LaPrairie, QU; and many more. The pace car, if you will call it that, was a Jeep pickup with portable starting gates suitable for horse racing. Bouvrette Speedway seemed to enjoy good fields of cars and large crowds of spectators. It is not clear exactly when it stopped running -or why. Today, there is a very prominent young driver with the last name of Bouvrette. I have no idea if he is related to Gustave.

Andre Chausse Photo
The Bouvrette pace car. One of these men could be Monsieur Gustave Bouvrette.

Andre Chausse Photo July 1955 Jean-Guy Fournier wreck. Why did early race people love to pose with wrecks ?	Andre Chausse Photo The wreck of an early Paul Hamel car. The 905 was a well-known car for years in that area.	Andre Chausse Photo The Spoutnix car. No other info.	Andre Chausse Photo Another unknown Bouvrette car.
Andre Chausse Photo The 23Jr. car in a wreck.	Andre Chausse Photo The car 28.	Andre Chausse Photo Car G1 wins one.	Andre Chausse Photo Emil Gevry, Waterloo, QU
Courtesy of Marcel Lariviere Marcel Perron	Courtesy of Marcel Lariviere Noel Patry 1955	Courtesy of Marcel Lariviere Noel Patry 1957	Courtesy of Gerard Major Frank Hodge The prestigious Mohawk Chief car 1958
Courtesy of Cam Gray J - P Cabana, supposedly subbing for Andre Manny.	Courtesy of Cam Gray Unknown #123 w/ flagger.	Courtesy of Cam Gray An unknown driver poses on the nerf bar of car 13.	Courtesy of Cam Gray Another unknown Bouvrette driver.
Courtesy of Cam Gray Bob Bruno, Morrisonville, NY The Allie Swears 51NY out of Glens Falls, NY	Courtesy of Cam Gray Dick Goodelle, Mooers Forks, NY The Gaylord Rowe 80	Courtesy of Cam Gray and Craig Revelle Bill Wimble, Lisbon, NY The Gaylord Rowe 26 A future NASCAR national champion.	Courtesy of Craig Revelle Unknown 7UP - sponsored car.
Courtesy of Yvan LaCroix Unknown winner.	Courtesy of Cam Gray Another early Cabana, car 3/4.	Courtesy of Yvan LaCroix Gilles Brochu, one of the earliest Quebec drivers.	Courtesy of Craig Revelle Gilles Gelinas,
Courtesy of Yan LaCroix Accident involving either Bob [as noted] or Guy Chartand.	Courtesy of Yvan LaCroix Rene Beausoleil	Courtesy of Yvan LaCroix Speedy Boileau, A more advanced - looking car. 1958.	Courtesy of Gerard Major Frank Hodge, Montreal, QU The Beliveau B45
Courtesy of Cam Gray Jean_Paul Cabana, Sherrington QU *Another version of the 3/4.*	Courtesy of Gerard Major Dick Foley, Montreal, QU	Courtesy of Gerard major Frank Hodge, Montreal, QU

Courtesy of Neal Davis
An accident involving Richard Chartrand and others.

PHOTOS FROM DAN ODY THAT ARE BELIEVED TO BE FROM BOUVRETTE
They look like they came from 8MM film frames.

Evans B. Knapp Photos - Owen Family Collection
Vermont driver Gordy Owen poses after having driven a Bouvrette car at the track. That is likely, the
car's owner on the left. [Below] A photo from the same day.

All Photos From LaBreche Family
Roger LaBreche, Sr. [2nd from left] and various officiels du Autodrome Ste-Martine.

The 100 of Roger LaBreche, Sr.in Victory Lane - probably at Ste Martine. That is Bob Gatien
in the car at right.

All Photos From LaBreche Family The 100 of Roger LaBreche, Sr. in a lineup at Bouvrette around 1956.	Roger, Sr. and the Bouvrette flagger. Sorry if some of these are a bit blurry - I didn't want to disturb their framing.	Roger, Sr. and the crew at their garage.	The 100 of Roger LaBreche, Sr.
Roger, Sr. and the Bouvrette flagger. Different occasion.	The Beliveau B45 with an unknown driver.	Roger, Sr. at the Autodrome St Martin. The white car is Bob Gatien, and Jean - Guy LaJeunesse trails.	Roger, Sr. at the Autodrome Ste Martine. Bob Gatien trails.
Roger, Sr. at the Kempton Park track in LaPrairie.	Roger, Sr. at Kempton Park, maybe with crewman.	Roger, Sr. at Autodrome Joliet with a crewman and Roger, Jr. on car.	Roger, Sr. at Kempton Park, missing a spinning car as Guy Chartrand leads the way.
The 100 of Roger LaBreche, Sr.in Victory Lane - probably at Bouvrette.	Maybe LaBreche family women with a trophy and Roger, Sr's car.	The 100 of Roger LaBreche, Sr.in Victory Lane - at Bouvrette.	Roger LaBreche, Sr. [shirtless] with track officials of Autodrome Ste-Martine. That's Jean-Guy LaJeunesse at right.

Courtesy of Yvan LaCroix Roger, Jr. at Granby.	Roger, Jr.'s Camaro at the garage. That is Quebec star Francois Chausse at left.	Roger, Sr. at Granby with Roger, Jr.	Roger, Sr. and Roger, Jr.'s cars at Granby.
Wrecked LaBreche Camaro from Granby accident. Below - 2 more shots.	Roger, Jr. at Granby, with the family. Roger III now drives at Airborne.	Roger, Jr.'s Camaro	Roger, Jr. at Granby