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SECOND LIMITED SPORTSMAN ERA COMPETITORS 1976
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Courtesy of Andy Boright
Norm Andrews the 1976 Catamount Limited Sportsman
Champion.
Catamount had in mind to introduce smaller cars like Camaros, Javelins, Cougars, and Mustangs to replace its larger automatic transmission Hurricane cars. It was a bit off in as far as the Hurricanes had evolved from behemoths, screeching and floundering around the corners, into adjusted race cars who made virtually no noise cornering and the drivers who had made themselves into stars in their own right. The word went out to anyone who wanted to build a six cylinder car to go ahead and race in 1976, hoping their weight advantage and standard shifting would allow them to compete.
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Wayne Corwell, with a typical Hurricane car. He
was a 1971 champion.
The announcement was not met with enthusiam by most of the entrenched Hurricane big wigs such as Norm Andrews, Perry Paquette, Carl Nelson, and the like. Others, like Richard Buzzi, Jim Barton, and Jay Yantz decided to take the six cylinder plunge. Because they had both kinds of cars running, the name Hurricanes had to go. For that season the big eight cylinder Hurricanes would be allowed to run - but no longer. To allow for that mixture of cars, the class would be called Limited Sportsman, like 1970 when again Catamount had a mixture of cars running in a transition year. By 1977, the class was all sixes and wouldbe called Grand Americans.
Ladabouche Collection
Jim Barton's Camaro is one of [if not the
very] first six cylinder cars built.
But, for that one season, there was that oil and water mixture, and Warren's hardbitten Norm Andrews would come out on top with his traditional, roaring eight cylinder Mopar. Eventually, most of the Hurricane guys had six bangers except for Perry Paquette, who quit rather than run one. The Grand Americans became a very classy, impressive class of cars. When they were in existence, the Hurricanes were one of the most universal classes- running at Catamount, Thunder Road, Devil's Bowl, Airborne, and Albany - Saratoga. The Vermont tracks, however, were the only ones to run the smaller Pony Cars.
Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli
This photo captures the essence of the 1976 Limited
Sportsman class. Jim Barton's six cylinder Camaro [57] in with the old
Hurricanes like
Don Turner Sr. [ahead of 92] and B.J. Willard [33],
who was already building a Mustang. Steve Frennier is 92.
Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli
The only decent roster I have from
that year. A few are cut off at the bottom.
| MAIN COMPETITORS PAGE |
 Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli Jim Barton, Milton, VT
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| COUPES
ERA
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 ACT Archives Carl Nelson Moretown, VT
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| EARLY
FLYING TIGERS
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 Courtesy of Rich Palmer Ray Ringer, Vergennes, VT
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 Source Unknown Richard "Red" Mead, Bristol, VT
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 Courtesy of Andy Boright Milt Wright, Hardwick, VT
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| LIMITED
SPORTSMAN
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 Steve Jangraw Photo Al Ward, Burlington, VT
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| HURRICANES
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 Via Andy Boright Larry Caron, Burlington, VT |
 Via Andy Boright Don Turner, Sr. Milton, VT. |
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| LATE
MODEL SPORTSMAN
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 Via Chris Cardarelli Ron Bryon, W. Topsham, VT
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| MINI
STOCKS
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 Via Jim Watson Barb "BJ" Willard, Charlotte, VT |
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Via Andy Boright Monty Jarvis, Swanton, VT |
 Via Chris Cardarelli Jamie Aube, N. Ferrisburgh, VT
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| GRAND
AMERICANS
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 Courtesy of Johnny Racer Dave Gibbs, Essex Jct, VT |
 Ladabouche Photo Joe Myers, Essex Jct, VT |
| STREET
STOCKS
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 Courtesy of Steve Pecor Leo Bushey, Burlington, VT |
 Courtesy of Ray Lasnier Ray Lasnier, Essex Jct, VT |
 Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli Mike Lague, Hyde Park, VT |
 Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli George McRae, St. Albans, VT THE ORANGE HORNET |
| ACT
CARS
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 Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli George McRae, St. Albans, VT THE WHITE HORNET |
 Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli Steve Frennier, Plattsburgh, NY |
 Courtesy of Andy Boright Ralph Baldwin, W. Topsham, VT |
 Ladabouche Collectionr Wes Cota, Essex Jct, VT |
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NEW
TIGERS
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 Courtesy of Bob Doyle Charlie Benoit, Colchester, VT |
 Courtesy of Johnny Racer Al Maynard, Milton, VT |
 Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli RonTevyaw, Marshfierld, VT |
 Via Jim Watson Denny Alderman, Grand Isle, VT |
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LIMITED SPORTSMAN 2ND ERA 1976
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Via Chris Cardarelli
Mike Barry [52] chases Greg Lyman in one of
Harry Rathburn's Camaros.
Via Chris Cardarelli
Mike Barry [52] moves on after apparently
having "displaced" Greg Lyman. Coming into the mess
are [22] Chick Bessette and Wade Walker [black car].
Via Andy Boright
Thhis all -encompassing photo shows Don Turner and
Milt Wright [going off track] in traditional Hurricanes
with Greg Lyman in one of Harry Rathburn's Camaros [40]. The car at far right is
the first car for
the legendary NY driver Leon Gonyo - a former Jim Cayea Hurricane.
Ladabouche Collection
Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli
Series champion Norm Andrews [right], 11th
place point finisher Don Turner [15] and an unknown car, in action.
Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli
Holdover Hurricanes in action. Series
runnerup Carl Nelson [0], sixth place points man Dave Gibbs [97]
lead fourth place Jay Yantz in his Ford.
Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli
A large Catamount limiteds shot shows Charlie
Benoit [74], Brad Wright [3rd], Jim Barton [57] inside Norm Andrews, Al Maynard
[50] in Jerry Whites car, Chcuck Perkins [71], Ralph Baldwin [outside Perkins],
and BJ Willard [33].
Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli
Don Turner, Sr leads the six bangers of
Barton [57] and Steve Frennier, and the Hurricane of Willard.
Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli
Photo sequence shows Ron Bonnette catching
ande passing Charlie Benoit. That didn't happen often with Benoit.
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