CATAMOUNT COMPETITORS

        When I first came to Catamount in 1965, they had a support division called The Flying Tigers. When I next returned to the track in 1968, the Tigers had taken over the entire track - they were the premier [and only] division there. But, two years later, the Tigers had evolved in "Limited Sportsman" cars, and the support division became automatic tranny Hurricane cars.
        As we all know, the limiteds evolved into highly-sophisticated late model sportsman cars; and, the support divisions went through Hurricanes, Mini Stocks, Grand Americans, and Street Stocks. Around 1983, someone in the front office decided it was time to upgrade the Street Stocks and exhume the Flying Tiger name one more time.
        The New Flying Tigers started out as a polyglot mixture of old Grand Americans, a few upgraded Street Stocks, some imported used machinery from other tracks, and a very newly - created cars. The initial seasons happened both at Thunder Road and Catamount, although Catamount was folding as the New Tigers were really becoming refined.
        As time went on and the Thunder Road Thursday night shows began again, the Tigers became the headliners and another street stock division was begun. It all metamorphosed into today's Late Models, Tiger Sportsman cars, Street Stocks [which are a lot like the minis used to be], and Junkyard Warriors [which are kind of like tiny street stocks of the past].
        Most of these photos will be from the period in which Catamount was still running.

A typical early race in the New Tigers: a mixture of old Grand Americans,
Street Stocks, and a few newly-built cars. Dave Whitcomb [25], a new one; Jim Payea [89] a Street Stock, and Ralph Baldwin [11], a Grand American.

A little later in the history of the New Tigers. A big pileup on the front stretch
at Thunder Road includes Red Mead [1- foreground]; Carl Nelson [71]; Owen
Wimble [18]; Pat Corbett [5]; and Chuck Beede [54].

There's some future in this photo: 2 Bob Bigelow [present ACT pace car driver], 53, Dan Beede,
[present day crew chief, and car builder], and Burger Blake [car builder for son, former ACT official].

MAIN COMPETITORS PAGE
COUPES ERA	Courtesy of Andy Boright Bob Bigelow, Lyndonville, VT	Mr. Chevy Black Site Greg "Burger" Blake, Montpelier, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Clem Despault, Waterbury, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Dan Beede, Graniteville, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Rick Fadden, No. Haverhill. NH	Courtesy of Jason lahue Ron Lamell, Jr., Essex Ctr., VT
EARLY FLYING TIGERS	Courtesy of Andy Boright Norm Andrews, Warren, VT	Source Unknown Greg Lyman [17] Chuck Beede	Courtesy of Andy Boright Pat Corbett, Williamstown, VT	Courtesy of Dan Nolin Ralph Baldwin, W.Topsham, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Sheridan "Fuzzy" Fassett, Barre, VT	Courtesy of Marvin Minkler Ron Bettis, Middlesex, VT
LIMITED SPORTSMAN	Courtesy of Andy Boright Red Meade, N. Hyde Park, VT	Photo Source Unknown Newer Tiger Sportsman action	Courtesy of Mark Austin Guy Brown, Hardwick, VT	Norman Morley Photo Steve Miller, Ferrisburg, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Steve Copping, Barre, VT	Courtesy of Tony Miller Mike Buzzi, Barre, VT
HURRICANES	A and A Ward 1 Red Mead, 49 Guy Brown, and 16 Joey LaQuerre.	A and A Ward 90, Jerry Driscoll, 1A Sheridan Fassett, 97 Dave Gibbs, 89 Jim Payea, 21 Unk, and 64 Pat Mears.	Ladabouche Photo Paul Donahue, Graniteville, VT Courtesy of Andy Boright	Ladabouche Photo Skip May, Middlesex, VT	Courtesy of KathyDeBoer Joey LaQuerre, East Montpelier, VT The former Ray Lasnier/ Joe Myers/ Norm Andrews car. [and it was still very competitive].	Courtesy of Jason Lahue 3rd generation driver Kip Stockwell picks up someone's bumper.
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN Early Later	Courtesy of Steve Pecor Mike Prescott ??, VT	Courtesy of Steve Pecor Dave Whitcomb, Essex Jct., VT	Courtesy of Ron Bettis Ron Bettis, Middlesex, VT	Ladabouche Photo Lorraine Parsons, Fairfax, VT *The Racing Grandmother.*	Courtesy of Cho Lee	Courtesy of Jason Lahue Keith Lamell leads Jerry Driscoll by a nose.
MINI STOCKS	Courtesy of Cho Lee Ray Hay, Hardwick, VT	\| Courtesy of Andy Boright Owen Wimble, Waitsfield, VT	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Ron Lamell, Jr Essex Ctr, VT	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Ron [11] and Keith [98] Lamell, Essex Ctr. VT	Courtesy of Justin St. Louis Jim Cilley, Groton, VT	Courtesy of Johnny Racer Brent Currier
GRAND AMERICANS	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Keith Lamell, Essex Ctr, VT	Courtesy of Rich Palmer The Lamells, at a car, next to Dale Packard and Dave Gibbs	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Dave Baker, St. Albans, VT	Courtesy of Cho Lee Carl Nelson, Moretown, VT	Courtesy of Justin St. Louis Jerry Winch, Plattsburgh, NY	A & A Ward Photo CV "Butch" Elms, No. Haverhill, NH
STREET STOCKS	Courtesy of Andy Boright Joey LaQuerre, Sr., E. Montpelier, VT	Courtesy of Caron Family Larry Caron, So. Burlington, VT *Ahead of Jimmy Gallison.*	Courtesy of Steve Pecor Dennis Caron, Colchester, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Gary Caron, Shelburne, VT	Courtesy of Justin St. Louis Jim Barton, Charlotte, VT	COurtesy of Andy Boright CV "Butch" Elms, No. Haverhill, NH
ACT CARS	Courtesy of Andy Boright The Lanphear boys, Morrisville, VT *I'm guessing the driver here is Mark.*	Norman Morley Photo Jerry Driscoll, Randolph, VT Courtesy of Andy Boright The future Boright car, maybe.	A & A Ward Photo 4, Doug Murphy, Tunbridge, VT 0 Mark "The Hammer" Barnier, Essex Jct., VT The photo was from Groveton; Barnier was still using this Tiger in the 2010's.	Courtesy of Phil Butler Tom Tiller, Essex Jct., VT	Courtesy of Justin St. Louis One of the Lamells, Essex Ctr, VT Looks like the former Tom Tiller car.	Courtesy of Mike Gilbert Carl Nelson wins one.
NEW TIGERS	Courtesy of Andy Boright Andy Boright A former Jerry Driscoll car, I think.	Courtesy of Andy Boright B.J. Willard, Charlotte, VT I think this car was used as a Tiger.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Charlie Ladd, Chelsea, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Lanny Covey	Courtesy of Steve Blow Steve Blow, Milton, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Greg Lyman wins one.
LIMITED SPORTSMAN 2ND ERA 1976	Courtesy of Andy Boright Larry Lambert	Courtesy of Andy Boright Mark Marsh - NH	Courtesy of Andy Boright Monty Jarvis, Swanton, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Phil Jean, Barre, VT	Courtesy of Justin St. Louis Steve Miller, Ferrisburgh, VT This car probably came out after Catamount closed.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Jimmy Gallison, Montpelier, VT
	Courtesy of Andy Boright Chuck Beede, Graniteville, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Larry Hebert, Williamstown, VT	Courtesy of Roger Minkler Dan Beede, Graniteville, VT	Courtesy of Tony Miller Duncan McKay, East Barre, VT	Source Unknown Billy Barcomb, Burlington, VT	Courtesy of Johnny Racer Joey LaQuerre, Jr., E. Montpelier, VT
	Courtesy of Andy Boright Dwayne Lanphear challenges Jim Cilley.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Keith Lamell leads Duncan McKay and the 08.	Courtesy of Bert Gallison Jim Gallison and Steve Miller [00] in a mixup.	Courtesy of Jason Lahue Keith Lamell takes one in a well - used Mustang.	Courtesy of Stephan Beattie Ralph Baldwin leads Paul Donahue.	Courtesy of Andy Boright 2nd gen. driver Jerry Humiston [44].
	Richard P{ratt Photo via Andy Boright New Tiger action.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Peter Michaud.	Courtesy of Mike Gilbert Ralph Baldwin wins one.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Steve Miller.	Courtesy of A and A Ward Tom Tiller.