Ken Squier somehow realized by 1968 that, despite the fact that his newer Catamount Stadiumn had become a mecca for many of the top sportsman and modified teams in the Northeast, this wasn't going to offer the best future for that track or for his now eight year - old Thunder Road. He made the somewhat shocking decison in the midst of the 1968 season to send the coupes and sedans packing, leaving only his plentiful but ragtag Flying Tiger division to carry the show and keep the fans coming.

       After finishing 1968 and running Tigers in 1969, he upgraded the class to what was called "limited sportsman" cars. Several teams did construct newer and arguably better cars while others, like Waterbury's Clem Despault came out with the same Tiger car he had success with in 1969. To add to the challenge, Squier had lost both Beaver and Bobby Dragon to Devil's Bowl due to a disagreement over fund money.

 


Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Maurice "Little Moe" Dubois of Hinesburg not only built this Chevy limited for the 1970
season, but he also constructed his better - known 1962 Dodge, as well.

 

        The limiteds would have a good year, with Ron Barcomb beating out Moe Dubois for the circuit title. The following year, the class went up to full - fledged NASCAR late model sportsman cars and the rest is history.  Morphing first into the Northern NASCAR series and later into NASCAR North, the series flourished, attracting cars back from Quebec and siphoning off dozens of top teams from Massachusetts. The somewhat unwieldly high wate mark came in 1973 when the circuit  tried running five programs at five different tracks every week. The teams became better and better, rapidly closing the gap with the dominant Southerners. Finally, in 1987, a year Squier and new associate Tom Curley had split with NASCAR, the American - Canadian Tour was born and in came the smaller, plastic - bodied cars.


Courtesy of Terry Laferriere
The late models evolved from glorified Tigers to the sophistication of the ACT cars.
Ron Barcomb's Nova represents the midpoint in that road of development.

        A semblance of that final change is what is running with the ACT today - after a period in between in which an upgraded "New Flying Tiger" class rules the roost.

 
Courtesy of Terry Laferriere
The Jean - Paul Cabana car seen here and its ACT counterparts ushered in an era at
Thunder Road that is still going on.


THE LIMITED SPORTSMAN CARS OF 1970
Old Tigers and New Hot Rods


Courtesy of Rich Palmer
The 1970 Limited Sportsman king, Ron Barcomb. He, like Moe Dubois whom he beat out for the 1970 Vermont State Championship, built two
cars for the campaign. This '61 Ford and his old '57 Chevy as a backup car. Like Dubois, he often had an associate drive the backup.

           
 
Ladabouche Photo
The 1970 Championship Ford
Ron Barcomb,
Winooski, VT
 
Courtesy of Phil Butler
The old Misfit Chevy
serfved as backup, now painted red.
 
Courtesy of Rich Palme
r
The primary Dubois car was the Dodge.
Moe Dubois,
Hinesburg, VT.
 
Burlington Free Press Photo
Courtesy of Rich Palme
r
The Chevy served as backup.
 
Courtesy of Rich Palme
r
Bobby Giroux,
So. Burlington, VT.
 
Ladabouche Photo
Lennie "Tiger" Stockwell,
Bethel, VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Don Bevins,
Burlington, VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Jim Gates,
Hardwick, VT
 
Courtesy of Rich Palme
r
Winston Machia,
Sheldon, VT.
 
Courtesy of Rich Palme
r
Lee Carpenter,
Colchester Ctr., VT.
 
Courtesy of Rich Palme
r
Steve Poulin,
North Troy, VT.
 
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Russ Ingerson,
Littleton, NH
 
Courtesy of Rich Palme
r
George Horn,
St. Johnsbury, VT.
 
Courtesy of Ch
o Lee
Denny Dearborn,
Plymouth, NH
 
Ladabouche Photo
Clem Despault,
Waterbury VT.
 
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Tom Tiller,
Winooski, VT.
 
Courtesy of Rich Palme
r
John Tessier,
St. Albans, VT.
 
Ladabouche Photo
Orrill Martin,
Burlington, VT.
 
Courtesy of Rich Palme
r
Chet Wood,
Orange, VT.
 
Courtesy of Ch
o Lee
Ed Doggett,
Plymouth, NH
 
Courtesy of
Rich Palmer
Jim Roberts,
Burlington, VT
 
Courtesy of
Rich Palmer
Stub Fadden,
No. Haverhill, NH
 
Ladabouche Collection
Leland Ingerson,
No. Haverhill, NH
 
Ladabouche Collection
Don Turhner, Sr,
Milton, VT

vv
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Although this dustup happened at Catamount, all three cars [Fisk, Stockwell and Yantz] appeared
regularly at Thunder Road in 1970.


 
Ladabouche Collection
Red Fisk,
Northfield, VT
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
G. King Milne
Burlington, VT
 
Ladabouche Collection
Jay Yantz,
Monkton, VT
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Larry Parsons,
Fairfax, VT
 
Courtesy of Mike Cain
Hector LeClair,
Fairfax, VT
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
George LeClaire,
Hinesburg, VT
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
George Davis
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Johnny Gammell,
St. Johnsbury Ctr., VT
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Boomer Cleveland,
Morrisville, VT
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Dick More,
Grand Isle, VT
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Myrick Bourgeois,
Alburgh, VT
 
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Red Wilford,
Colchester, VT
 
Courtesy of Phil Butler
Charlie McCormick,
Cadyville, NY
 
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Eldon Fleury,
Middlesex, VT
Along with Ed Doggett -
the very first Chevellle
in Vermont racing.

 
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Jim Pride,
Williston, VT
 
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Larry Delfico,
Milton, VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Joey Doucette,
Johnson, VT

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis

Red Fisk,
Northfield, VT

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis

Red Fisk leads Tom
Tiller.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis

Mo Dubois, with team
mate George LeClaire
wouild finish 2nd to
Barcomb in the state standings in 1970.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis

Mo Dubois, with one of
the several trophies he
won in 1970.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis

Hardwick's Jimmy Gates was highly successful at T Road with the Flying TIgers. Here he won one with his same car - now a limited sportsman.


Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis

George Horn [lft] and Russ Ingerson were both major figures at T Road in the 1970 season.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis

George Horn raced
the '62 CHevy with the
infamous 409 motor
in 1970. He won a few and blew up a few times too.
 
Barre-Montpelier Times Argus
1970 advertisement.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis

Ron Barcomb, with the 1961 Ford he won the NASCAR state championship with in 1970.

Barre-Montpelier Times Argus
1970 advertisement.
 
Burlington Free Press
1970 dustup with Ingerson and Stockwell.
 

 


Burlington Free Press Photo  Ladabouche Collection
Dubois leads Barcomb at Thunder Road in 1970. They would finish out the year
in points exactly reverse of this order.

 

 

 

 

 


THE EARLIER SPORTSMAN CARS OF THE EARLY 1970's
The Beginning of the Professional Chassis Era


Ladabouche Photo
When Agawam. Massahcusetts' Little John Rosati  pulled into the pits with two Ford Fairlanes built by
Fred Rosner, the rest of folks knew the days of home built race cars were rapidly slipping away.


Courtesy of Mr. Chevy Black
Jean - Paul Cabana returned to Catamount in 1971 with this "home built" car. In his case, his having
built a car only meant professionality. He was very dominant in 1971. Note the sposnorship by a
now defunct snowmobile company.


Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Ron Barcomb,
Winooski, VT
The reigning champ came out with this stunner for his first LMS.
 
Courtesy of Lonnie Terry
Lee Carpenter,
Colchester Ctr., VT
Barcomb's backup car was driven by Lee and - once - by Bobby Allison.
 
Courtesy of Paul Qunitin
Moe Duboois
Hinesburg, VT
The 1970 runnerup to Barcomb's came out with a Dodge Charger in '71.
 
Courtesy of Paul Quintn
Ever the competitor with Barcomb,. Moe picked up a Pepsi sponsorship to match Ron's Coke deal. But the Charger was too heavy and was replaced by '72.
 
Andre Manny,
Laval des Rapides, QU

Ladabouche Photo
Bernie Griffith,
Plattsburgh, NY

Ladabouche Collection
Ron Bettis,
Middlesex, VT
Bought Cabana's
first Chevelle.

Ladabouche Photo
Rene Charland,
Agawam, MA
1962-65 NASCAR
National Sportsman Champion.

Ladabouche Collection
Dick Nephew,
Mooers Forks, NY
1961 NASCAR National Sportsman co -Champion
 
Laduc Family Photo
Charlie Laduc,
Orwell, VT
Devil's Bowl regular,
a dirt specialist.
 
Ladabouche Collection
Francois Chausse,
Quebec
Huge winner in
Quebec; little known down here.
 
Ladabouche Collection
Robbie Crouch,
Tampa FL
 
Ladabouche Collection
Clem Despault,
Waterbury, VT
 
Courtesy of Steve Pecor
Chester T. Wood,
Orange, VT
 
Courtesy of Dan Nolin
Dan Bridges,
So. Plattsburgh, NY
 
Ladabouche Collection
Dave Lind,
Norfolk, MA
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Don Bevins,
 Burlington, VT
 
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Donnie Drown,
 Salisbury, VT
 
Courtesy of Dan Nolin
The Cabana 05A
backup car. driven by Don Bevins.
This car was the 05A; the Jack Dubrul 1; the Dickerman 57 of Ed Foley;
and the Ray Richards 76 of Bob Ellis in its life.
 
Courtesy of Dan Nolin
Dave Lind,
Norfolk, MA
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Dave Dion,
 Hudson, NH
 
Ladabouche Photo
Don Turner,
 Milton, VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Jack Dubrul,
 Shelburne, VT
Veteran driver and
one of Catamount's
founders.
 
Ladabouche Photo
Langis Caron,
Quebec City, QU
An earlier ride

 
Courtesy of Charlie Laduc Family
At least ten Devil's Bowl regulars tried the Northern NASCAR ;ate models between 1971 and
1973. Few liked it, fewer could afford it. Only Vince Quenneville had much success. These
driver here are Charlie Laduc, Chet Doaner, and Bob Ellis, who did win 1973 Rookie of
the Year with a Cabana- built car.

 
Ladabouche Photo
Fast Eddy Ruggieri
 Springfield, MA
 
Ladabouche Photo
Jim Gallison,
 Montpelier, VT
2nd G.A. Rhoades Charger driver of that year.
 
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Guy LeClerc,
 Ste Hyacinthe, QU
 
Ladabouche Photo
Harry Kourafas,
 Randolph, MA
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Hector LeClair,
 Fairfax, VT
 
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Russ Ingerson,
 LIttleton, NH
 
Ladabouche Photo
Homer Drew ,
 Limerick, ME
 
Ladabouche Photo
Jack Anderson,
 Burlington, VT
.
 
Ladabouche Photo
Jacques Ste- Marie,
 Quebec
 
Ladabouche Photo
Jerry Young,
 Barton, VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Jim Gulley,
 Tampa, FL
 
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Jim Shaubb,
 Massachusetts
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Orril Martin,
 Burlington, VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Marcel Corriveau,
 Quebec City, QU
 
Ladabouche Collection
Joe Thomas,
 Plattsburgh, NY
 
Ladabouche Photo
Mack Miller,
Ellenburg Depot, NY
 
Ladabouche Photo
Ronnie Marvin,
 
Bethlehem, NH
 
Bill Balser Photo
Paul Rogers,
Dedham, MA
 
Bob Curtiss'
first driver.
 
Ladabouche Photo
Steve Poulin,
North Troy, VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Vince Quenneville. Sr.,
Whiting, VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Jim Roberts,
Burlington, VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Red Fisk,
Northfield, VT
 
Bob Doyle Photo
Via Chip Letter

Lennie Stockwell,
Bethel, VT
 
Cho Lee Photo
Norm Bevins,
 South Burlington, VT
1st G.A. Rhoades Charger driver of that year.

 
 Photo Courtesy of Andy Boright
When Marvin Panch sent his 16 year - old son, Richie up here to learn racing he created a sensation. He was so young
he lived with the Tom Tillers like one of their kids. He had an Allison car, a hired crew, and a great attitude. He left after
a year to run in the Grand Nationals. Fearlessbut having poor eyesight, he was tragically killed a year or  two later.


 
Courtesy of Andy Boright
RIchard Pratt,
Tampa, FL
 
Ladabouche Photo
Stan Meserve,
Winslow, ME
 
Ladabouche Photo
John Gammell,
St. Johnsbury Ctr., VT
 
Jim Watson Photo
Tom Tiller,
Winooski, VT
Another ol several
cars he built from
1971 to 1974.
 
Source Unknown
Bob Karvonen,
Wichendon, MA
 
Ladabouche  Photo
Serge Roch,
 Montreal, QU
A limited sportsman team that came down in 1971 for a special demonstration.

Paul Michaud Photo
Boomer Cleveland
Morrisville, VT

Ladabouche Collection
Bill Branham
Plattsburgh, NY

Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Bobby Dragon,
Milton, VT
By 1972 Bob was back from a two - year exile
with this Allison
Chevelle.

Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Beaver Dragon,
Milton, VT
By 1972 Beaver was back from a two - year exile.
They bought the former
Ingerson Chevelle.

Courtesy of Christian Ti-Gaz Genest
Jean-Claude Gratton
Quebec

Ladabouche Collection
Bobby Melnick,
Brookline, MA

Courtesy of Dan Nolin
Bobby Giroux,
So. Burlington, VT

Courtesy of Cho Lee
Steve Bosley,
Ballston Spa, NY

Ladabouche Collection
Skip Cahill,
 
Bath, ME

Ladabouche Collection
Rick Lepage,
 Shelburne, VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Jim Pride,
Williston, VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
John Ditges,
Long Island
 
Ladabouche Photo
Andre Bedard,
Quebec
 
Ladabouche Collection
John Peoples
Wilton, NY
 
Ladabouche Photo
Skip May,
Massachusetts
 
Ladabouche Photo
George Rettew,
Chicopee, MA
 
Ladabouche Photo
Jake Daigle,
North Troy VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Bobby Healey,
Massachusetts


Paul Michaud Photo
Early late model drivers walk out for some sort of introduction. Besides the labeled guys, there are [from left]
Bobby Giroux, Ron B
ettis, and a very young Steve Poulin.

 

 
Ladabouche Photo
Johnny Johnson,
Ramsey, NJ
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
George Horn,
St. Johnsbury, VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Gilles Brochu,
Quebec
 
Ladabouche Photo
Jerry Driscoll,
Randolph VT
 
Ladabouche Photo
Richie Panch,
Tampa, FL
 
Ladabouche Photo
Ray Lasnier,
Essex Jct, VT
 
Jim Watson Photo
Russ Ingerson
Littleton, NH
 
Ladabouche Collection
Roger "Buzzy" Lambert,
Burlington, VT
 
Dave  Moody Photo
Joey Kourafas,
Sharon, MA
 
Ladabouche Collection
Beaver Dragon,
Milton, VT
The 2nd Chevelle
was built by their
team.
 
Ladabouche Collection
Dave Greene,
Plymouth, NH
 
L. A. West Photo
L.A. West,
Milton, VT

Paul Michaud Photo
Pierre LaFrance,
Iberville, QU

Source Unknown
Pierre Provencal,
 Montreal, QU

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Benny Parsons,
Ellerbee, SC
Guest star at T Road
and Catamount

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Bill Conover,
Champlain, NY

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Bobby Allison,
Hueytown, AL
Guest star at T Road and Catamount

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Camil Paquin,
Quebec

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Laurent Rioux,
Blainville, QU

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Kevin Dashnow,
Plattsburgh, NY

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Mark Bogue,
Wilton, ME

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Ronnie Marvin,
Bethlehem, NH

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Norm Andrews,
Warren,
VT

Courtesy of Valerie Elloitt Lewis
George Horn,
St. Johnsbury,
VT

v
Paul Michaud Photo
Fast Eddy Ruggieri heads out for another session with the Widowmaker.

 

 
Courtesy of Dave Moody
Gardiner Leavitt,
Kezar Falls, ME

Courtesy of Andy Broight
Larry Cirrillo,
Winchester, NH

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Ronnie Marvin on the
T Road frontstretch.

Courtesy of Dave MacEachern
George Delmar,
Walpole, MA

Courtesy of Cho Lee
Bob Pratt's Chevelle:
Driven by Clem Despault and Cliff Owen.

Later bought by Mike Barry

Courtesy of Cho Lee
Gary Bevins,
Milton, VT

Courtesy of Cho Lee
Unidentified Chevelle

Courtesy of Phil Butler
Bill Conover,
Champlain, NY
Earlier Chevelle
 
Courtesy of Phil Butler
Maybe Bob Melnick,
Massachusetts
 
Courtesy of Xactoman
J. P. Larose,
Ste Eustache, QU

Courtesy of Joey Kourafas
Joey Kourafas
Sharon, MA
Rarely used Ford when not driving for Curtiss\

Ladabouche Photo
Darrell Owen,
Barre, VT

Courtesy of Cho Lee
Frankie Kuhlman,
Massachusetts
Raced Barre but not
Catamount
         

NEWSPAPER ITEMS FROM EARLIER SPORTSMAN CARS OF THE EARLY 1970's
Beginning With Clippings I Kept


Burlington Free Press
Ron Barcomb's 1973
backup car, the
Fairlane 500.

Burlington Free Press
Coming off a flaming hot start to the 1973 season, Beaver chases his brother
in what was then the hottest car on the circuit.
The next photo in this section will show how Beaver's car got bent up.


Burlington Free Press
Ron Barcomb'sBeaver collides with one of Tom TIller's backup car, the 1973 cars - the Dart.

Burlington Free Press
Beaver and Vince
Quenneville listen at a
T Road pit meeting. Beaver's car owner Herb Everest is in the foreground.

Burlington Free Press
Tom Tiller tries to stay ahead of Bob Dragon's insanely fast Allison - built Chevelle.

Burlington Free Press

This was snapped after Dragon won the day. He
looks thrilled.

Burlington Free Press
Bob Dragon glances off the all in a 1973 race he won. Cabana is leading
 at the time.

Burlington Free Press
Dave Dion leans in to
chew at Cabana during
the 1973 race.

Burlington Free Press
 Modified star Denis Giroux was at T Road acting interested in running Northern NASCAR.


Burlington Free Press
Cabana ended up getting familiar with the 1973 version of Marvin the Mauler.

Burlington Free Press
Steve Poulin at speed with the Allison - built former Richie Panch [future Claude Aubin] car.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1972 Milk Bowl winner Danny Bridges celebrates.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
Tommy Howe. Alabama driver and an employee for Bobby Allison kisses
the wall in 1973.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1973. Bob Dragon, John Keefer and others look very concerned. No worries - they won the race.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1972 rookie and top performer John Rosati loses it on the T Road front stretch.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
The sh-- storm continues as Rosati ends up on
Tom Tiller's hood. Jean
Paul Cabana and Boomer Cleveland are also involved.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1972 Northern NASCAR newcomer Jerry Driscoll
won one.


Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1972 Milk Bowl, segment 1 ends in favor of Cabana. Bridges won the whole thing.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1972 and T Road were not positive things for former national champion Rene Charland, Here, he vaults the Widowmaker for what would turn out for his first of two such predicaments.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1972 and T Road were not positive things for former national champion Rene Charland. Here he vaults the wall for the second time in one season. He was not pleased.


Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
Ken Squier conducts a T Road pit meeting, backed up by official Big John Untied.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1971 T Road action involves 1971 T Road and Tour champ Cabana as well as
Clem Despault [3] and Stub Fadden on the inside.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1971 T Road action involves 1971 T Road and Tour champ Cabana waves to the crowd.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
Middlesex runner Ron Bettis wrecked  a great - looking Chevelle in 1973.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1971. An impressive field on the parade lap at Barre.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1971. Danny Bridges struck a blow for all shoestring budget racers when he won the Milk Bowl. He had won other races that year, too.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1972 T Road action sees Don Bevins spins a Cabana - built Chevelle as his builder sneaks by with others.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1971 T Road action sees Tiller [with one of his myriad cars he had in the era] leading Cabana and low budget Ford driver Dan Bridges.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
1971 T Road action involves two big favorites at the high banks - Russ Ingerson [51] and Clem Despault.

Burlington Free Press
via Wayne Bettis
A July 4th Barre crowd.

 

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