Squier took an emerging support division called "B Class" and used to develop
young or inexperienced drivers and teams before they had to jump into the highly
- competitive coupe ranks. When competition from Thunder Road and the newly -
opened Riverside Speedway in Groveton, NH severely and negatively affected
Northeastern Speedway, it eventually depended on the B Class entirely for its
last few years of operation.
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Far tamer at the smaller Northeastern
Speedway, the erratic B Class cars were a hit with the Thunder Road fans. 1965
high point man
Dickie Southworth gets away ahead of the fray.
The class
produced the likes of Stub Fadden, Russell Ingerson, Beaver Dragon, Larry Demar,
Clem Despault, and many more. Some of its bigger stars - like Jerry Bigelow,
DIck Southworth, and Mike Beattie, never chose to go up to the coupes. Dragon,
Demar, and Depaault clearly made their names in later Tiger and Late Model
Sportsman classes. Ingerson, for one, chose the flat head coupes before also
starring in the late models.
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Most of the B Class cars were not exactly
lovely items. This one, who I still can't identify, was a holdover at
Thunder Road from Northeastern. It very well could be Spud Hammond or John
Fullerton. This could very
well also be Ralphie Stygles.
Without input from my much - missed friend, Cho Lee,
I can't tell 1. If the class
existed at Northeastern before it did at Thunder Road or 2. how long it was at
the Road before the advent of Catamount Stadium [after which the class became
know as Flying Tigers]. What came together by 1965 at Thunder Road was B Class,
from Northeastern; Hobby cars, from Airborne Speedway, and Flying Tigers, from
Catamount.
Courtesy of Cho Lee
One of the most iconic photos
of the B Class cars is this 1961 finish. Bill White wins and is wrecked by Stub
Fadden
as George Hornr struggles to avoid the whole mess.If you know Stub, you know
this was an error. It is said that,
after this incident, Mrs. White rather strongly suggested Bill give up the
helmet.
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Stub Fadden's second
convertible seems to be an improvement over the one above.
B CLASS SUPPORT
DIVISION
Courtesy of Wayne Bettis
Stanley "Stub" Fadden,
No. Haverhill, NH
Courtesy of Cho Lee
|
Courtesy of Northeastern Speedway
Site
Dick Southworth,
Post Mills, VT
No personal photo
Courtesy of Andy Moore |
Burlington Free Press Photo
George Horn,
St. Johnsbury, VT
Courtesy of Cho Lee |
Dragon Family Photos
Harmon "Beaver" Dragon,
Milton, VT
|
Norman McIver Portait Photo
via Cho Lee
Jerry Bigelow,
Lyndonville, VT
Courtesy of Northeastern Speedway
Site
|
Cavalcade
of Racing Photo
by Bob Mackey
Jim LaFountaine,
Peru, NY
Courtesy of Cho Lee |
Norman McIver Portait Photo
via Cho Lee
Bob Brunell,
Peru, NY
|
Bob Mackey Photo
via John Rock
Roland Brown,
Plattsburgh, NY
No car photo |
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Jack Paradee,
Rockpport, MA
No car photo |
Great Northwoods Journal Photos
Mike Beatie,
Lancaster, NH
|
Courtesy of Steve McKnight
Clem Despault,
Waterbury, VT
|
Courtesy of Northeastern Speedway
Site
Bill White
No personal photo
|
Norman McIver Portait Photo
via Cho Lee
Leland Ingerson,
Littleton, NH
Northeastern Spdwy SIte
Possibly his B Class car.
|
Norman McIver Portait Photo
via Cho Lee
Thomas "T Bone" Curley,
Burlington, VT
Courtesy of Cho Lee
|
Bob Mackey Portait Photo
via John Rock
Gerald "Joe" Bruno Schuyler
Falls, NY
Bob Mackey Photo
via Mike Watts, Sr.
|
Bob Mackey Portait Photo
via John Rock
Joe Thomas,
Plattsburgh, NY
No car photo |
Bob Mackey Portait Photos via John
Rock
Norm Burl,
Plattsburgh, NY
|
Norman McIver Portait Photo
via Cho Lee
Tom Tiller,
Winooski, VT
Courtesy of the Gilbert Family
|
Norman McIver Portrait Photo via Geo.
Hill
Ray "Junior" Coffin,
Courtesy of Cho Lee
|
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Lennie Stockwell,
Bethel, VT
Courtesy of Cho Lee
|
Norman McIver Portrait Photo via Geo.
Hill
Larry Demar,
Hardwick, VT
Courtesy of Melody Mattison Anukem |
|
|
|
Courtesy of Andy Moore
The B Class cars
were a hoot ot watch, as this sort of thing happened a lot. Car 95 could be
Bobby Giroux of South Burlington - or another version
of a George Horn car.
Courtesy of Andy Boright
The B Class cars
plying the oval by the Widow Maker.
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Some of the cream of B Class cars at Northeastern
Speedway: 2, Jerry Bigelow; 4, Bill White; and C6 Stub Fadden. This could
be before the division made its debut at Thunder Road. They were too large for
the Northeastern fifth mile.
Courtesy of Andy Moore
The B Class 1965 champ Southworth learns where the
term "On your hat" came from Below - Emewrging unscathed.
Courtesy of Andy Moore
FLYING TIGERS SUPPORT
DIVISION
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Larry Demar,
Hardwick, VT
|
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Ron "Red Dog" Barcomb,
|
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Clem "Desperate" Despault,
Waterbury, VT
|
Dragon Family Photos
Harmon "Beaver" Dragon,
Milton, VT
|
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Bobby Giroux,
South Burlington, VT
|
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Jim LaFountaine,
Peru, NY
|
Courtesy of Gilbert Family
Ron Lamell, Sr.,
Essex, VT |
Courtesy of Chris Companion
Art Taylor,
Swanton, VT |
Ladabouche Collection
Moe Dubois,
Hinesburg, VT |
Courtesy of
Andy Boright
Larry Demar,
Hardwick, VT |
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Richard Buzzi,
Barre, VT |
Courtesy of Mike Cassani
Bobby Dragon,
Milton, VT
|
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Red Fisk,
Northfield, VT
|
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Larry Parsons
Fairfax, VT |
Courtesy of Mike Cain
Hector LeClaire,
Fairfax VT |
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Ed Doggett
Plymouth, NH |
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Stub Fadden
No. haverhill, NH |
Courtesy of Cho Lee
George Horn,
St. Johnsbury, VT |
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Cuffy Cuthbertson,
West Rutland, VT
|
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Doug Ingerson,
Littleton, NH |
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Tom Tiller,
Winooski, VT |
Courtesy of Dan Cota
Bob Cota,
Middlesex, VT |
Courtesy of Brian Hoar
Lennie "Tiger" Stockwell,
Bethel, VT |
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Rene Maxfield,
Winooski, VT |
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Red Wilford,
Colchester, VT
|
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Mitch Barrows,
Middlesex, VT |
Courtesy of Dave Brunelle
Dave Brunelle,
Burlington, VT |
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Larry Granger
Northfield, VT
|
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Ray Many,
Highgate, VT |
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Jim Thomas,
Wilmot Flats, NH |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Courtesy of Melody Mattison Anukem
Promoter Ken Squier with a batch of his best Tiger
talent: Norm Cyr, Larry Demar, Tom Tiller, and Lennie Stockwell.
Both Free Press Photos Courtesy of Wayne Bettis
Tiger Stockwell and Russ "The Wild Child"
Ingerson see who can climb the Widow Maker first.
vb
Courtesy of Gilbert Family
Norm Cyr,
Milton, VT
|
Courtesy of
Bettis Family
Ron Bettis,
Middlesex, VT |
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Jim Gates,
Hardwick, VT |
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Winston Machia,
Sheldon, VT |
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
John Palmer,
Georgia, VT |
Courtesy of
Cho Lee
John Clark,
Williamstown, VT |
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Joe Couture,
Fairfax, VT |
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Jim Gallison,
Montpelier, VT
|
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Johnny Gammell,
St. Johnsbury Ctr., VT |
Courtesy of Richard
Pike
Henry Montandon,
Waits River, VT |
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Gene Bonnette,
St.Albans, VT |
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Al Burbank,
|
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Probably Larry Granger,
in a Clem Despault car.
|
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Barcomb takes one in the
Misfit car. |
|
|
|
|
Courtesy of Melody Mattison Anukem
Larry Demar, Tom Tiller, and Tiger Stockwell
with Ken Squier in Victory Lane.
Both Free Press Photos Courtesy of Stephan
Beattie
Mitch
Barrows, "The Savage" crashes rather savagely here.
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