DEVIL

THIS PAGE DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF C.J.RICHARDS

From the Albany - Saratoga Site

CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR LARGER VERSIONS
[Left] A very young C.J. Richards awards a trophy to racing legend Steve Danish at the old Fairmont Speedway -around 1965. [Middle] Promoter Charles "C.J." Richards worries out an
impending rainstorm at Devil's Bowl with his then-partner Tony Parisi [Right] Richards talks with Bear Ridge's C.V. Elms, another noted Vermont promoter.

Just as the Fairmont Speedway and the Champlain Valley Racing Association were starting to hit their stride in 1966, the town of Fair Haven began to make a fuss about the traffic, the noise, and the dust that they claimed were making life miserable for certain townspeople on Saturday nights during the race season. The same town that enjoyed the financial benefits of the track was about to drive the track away.

C.J. Richards began looking around for another place to have his races, and he finally settled on some land on Route 22A, a few miles north of Fair Haven, in West Haven, Vermont. The valley there had some of the finest clay anywhere in the region. When wet, it could pull the shoe right off your foot. Still, controversy would plague the CVRA as particular relatives of Richards in West Haven were upset to have the track nearby their farms.

Richards would struggle with first-year problems out at the Bowl. Besides his disgruntled relatives spreading manure on Saturday nights right next to his track and leaving dead cows beside the track boundary fences, he also had some problems with the track surface. The track had been constructed partly in very cold weather, and frost remained in the clay for a good part of the first season - causing seepage even during race programs. The high-powered cars he now had running would tear the surface up and leave it a rutted mess by feature time.

Courtesy of Ed Fabian
Old Reliable, Charlie La Duc - the heart and soul of Devil's Bowl, in his final car.

But, C.J. persevered, and his track became established for years to come. The track went through one down cycle in the 1970, when the Richards family actually closed it for a while. Richard's announcer, Tom Perry, re-opened it as West Haven Speedway and promoted races for a couple of seasons. Now, the track is approaching it fortieth anniversary. Despite the fact that it has one of the latest opening dates due to the late spring moisture in that area, it continues to succeed and its unusual Sunday night date allows it to attract a good and varied field of cars.

Courtesy of LaFond Family Matt Waite, Dorset, VT	Ladabouche Photos C.D. Coville, Scotia, NY 1983	Ladabouche Photo Denny Soltis, Connecticut Son, Chris at work in the pits. 1983	Ladabouche Collection Don Ackner, West Sand Lake, NY The pits. 1983	Courtesy of LaFond Family Jay Brown, Bomoseen, VT Look carefully - that's Jean-Paul Cyr in background.	Ladabouche Photo Bruce Milo, Castleton, VT *1983- He probably manufactured his own.*	Courtesy of Marty Kelly Jr C.D. Coville, Scotia, NY *With John Bruno's 22*	Courtesy of LaFond Family Carl Murray, Middlebury, VT
Courtesy of Mike Richards Bob Ellis in Victory Lane. Courtesy of Marty Kelly Jr *Mike Richards' car*	Courtesy of Marty Kelly Jr Gene Munger, Benson, VT *His 1st Modified*	Courtesy of LaFond Family Gene Munger, Benson, VT Courtesy of Marty Kelly Jr Mike Richards' car	Courtesy of Marty Kelly Jr Gene Munger, The Flying Farmer.	Ladabouche Photo Gibby Fountain, W. Kingston, RI *1983*	Courtesy of Brad Barrett Bob Ellis drove this car in the mid 1980's	Ladabouche Photo Jack Cottrell Rock City Falls, NY His Modified 1983	Courtesy of LaFond Family Gardner Stone, Middlebury, VT
Ladabouche Photo Butch Jelley, Pownal, VT His Own X 1983	Ladabouche Photo Bob Savoie, Broadalbin, NY *1983* RECENTLY LOST DRIVER	Courtesy of LaFond Family C. D. Coville, Scotia., NY Jay Bleser's 64	Courtesy of LaFond Family Carl Vladyka, Hampton, NY	Ladabouche Photo Former Bowl hot shoe Rapid Ralph Palmer, helping with the Matt Depew modified.	Courtesy of Marty Kelly Jr Carl Vladyka, Hampton, NY	Courtesy of Marty Kelly Jr Carl Vladyka, and anothr Pro Stock head out. They were wild then, yes ?	Ladabouche Photo A limited class car from the legendary Swears racing family from the Glens Falls area.
Ladabouche Photo Bob Savoie, Broadalbin, NY 1985ish. Mike Richards' car. RECENTLY LOST DRIVER	A&A Ward Photo Charlie Wilbur, Duxbury, VT 1985ish. Came from Thunder Road country. RECENTLY LOST DRIVER	A&A Ward Photo Leon Gonyo, Chazy, NY RECENTLY LOST DRIVER	Gater Photo GIbby Fountain, W. Kingston, RI *The "Long Hauler"*	Eastern Racing Chatter Photo Jay Bleser,	CVRA Archives Photo Butch Jelley, Londonderry, VT An old hand with a very recent mod	Mike Laduc Photo Tim Laduc, Orwell, VT A pro stock before his modified days	Brad Barrett Photo Ron Proctor, Charlton, NY With flagger Kenny Marshall
Mike Laduc Photo Paul Parker, New London, NH Pete Corey, Jr cr in background	Courtesy of Christian Ti - Gaz Genest Bob Ellis, West Haven, VT Mike Richards' Gremlin.	Barbara Brassard Photo John Harrison.	Courtesy of A. Ainsworth The Long Hauler, Gibby Fountain, W.Kingston, RI.	Courtesy of A. Ainsworth The Long Hauler, Gibby Fountain, W.Kingston, RI.	Courtesy of Pinterest Maynard Forrette, Amsterdam, NY.

CVRA Photo New stands and fencing	CVRA Photo From behind the pond	CVRA Photo New stands from infield	CVRA Photo Turn 2 safety barriers
	Courtesy of Justin St. Louis Mike Bruno's work on the frontstretch wall.