CHET "THE JET" DOANER     

     Chet Doaner did not look much  like a champion race driver. A bespectacled man, he worked in a Rutland, Vermont hardware store
did not have that rough, tough burly look that so many of the early stock car pilots had. After starting out at Fairmont Speedway around
1963, he graduated through better equipment and became a multi - feature winner at both Fairmont and Devil's Bowl. Perhaps the best Doaner
was one he bought from Pete Corey, as Fonda Speedway was entering the fuel - injected modified era; and Corey wanted to get rid of one
of his coupes in favor of building a Mustang - bodied car.
      After being a top runner at Devil's Bowl it its early years and actually taking a stab at the Northern NASCAR late models, Doaner kind of
disappeared from the racing scene in Vermont. He had support from such local racing figures as Bruce Utley, Bill Anderson, and C. J. Stewart.
Al Romano, a former driving star himself, built Doaner's most interesting - looking car - a channeled 1936 Chevrolet.

Courtesy of Ed Fabian
Chet, in the Devil's Bowl days.

EARLY DAYS AT FAIRMONT

Ladabouche Photo Chet's first car at Fairmont, a coupe he bought from someone at Claremont Speedway.

Courtesy of Chris Companion His second car, another, [better] Claremont car.

Ladabouche Photo Chet's second car at Fairmont, in August of 1964.

Cavalcade of Racing Photo Chet receives a trophy from C.J. Richards. It might be the Romano car, can't be sure.

THE ROMANO CAR ERA

Courtesy of Dan Kearney Doaner and the Al Romano - built car, in 1965.	Courtesy of Dan Kearney Doaner in Victory Lane after the 1965 Mid Season Championship at Fairmont. Big Bill Anderson leans on the"car roof, and Chet's father is at left with hat and cigarette.	Rutland Herald Photo Al Romano, the car builder, tunes the Doaner #5.	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais Doaner with his best - known car.
Courtesy of Ted Vogel Family The Romano car arriving at Fairmont.	Ladabouche Photo A young fan examines the red #5 of Doaner.	Rutland Herald Photo Doaner leads the field coming out of turn 4 at Fairmont. That's Buddy Bardwell with the horns on the roof in #13.

THE DEVIL'S BOWL DIRT ERA

Courtesy of Ted Vogel Family The Doaner #55 Corvair arrives at Devil's Bowl in 1967.	Rutland Herald Photo Doaner poses for a Rutland Herald shot with the Corvair.	Devils Bowl Program Photo The ex- Corey #55.	Devils Bowl Program Photo The ex- Corey #55, and another championship lettered on the hood.	Bob Frazier Photo for Rutland Herald The newly - purchased Corey car is worked on at the LaFond Brothers' shop: from left: Chuck Blanchard, C.J.Stewart, and Big Bill Anderson.
Devils Bowl Program Photo Doaner spins as 33, Eddie Allen and 28 Jerry Pennock go by.	Moody Family Photo Chet is seen at Devils Bowl as a curious inlooker as a new Wes Moody car in unveiled. [He is in the white driver suit].	From Dan Ody's 8MM old Speedways DVD Chet is seen at Devils Bowl losing the Corvair in 1967.	Devils Bowl Program Photo Doaner lifts the inside front as he pursues Wily WIll Cagle.	Courtesy of Ted Vogel Family The Doaner #55 Coupe is featured in the Herald.

THE NORTHERN NASCAR LMS ERA

    
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Chet poses with the late model sportsman he tried briefly in 1973. Below -Chet's car is partially visible as he is next for a phot op.

Courtesy of Chris Companion

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