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 Palmer The primary Dubois car was the Dodge. Moe Dubois, Hinesburg, VT.	Burlington Free Press Photo Courtesy of Rich Palmer The Chevy served as backup.	Courtesy of Rich Palmer 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 Palmer Winston Machia, Sheldon, VT.	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Lee Carpenter, Colchester Ctr., VT.	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Steve Poulin, North Troy, VT.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Russ Ingerson, Littleton, NH
Courtesy of Rich Palmer George Horn, St. Johnsbury, VT.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Denny Dearborn, Plymouth, NH	Ladabouche Photo Clem Despault, Waterbury VT.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Tom Tiller, Winooski, VT.	Courtesy of Rich Palmer John Tessier, St. Albans, VT.	Ladabouche Photo Orrill Martin, Burlington, VT.
Courtesy of Rich Palmer Chet Wood, Orange, VT.	Courtesy of Cho 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 Bettis, 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

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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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