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Here's a long - overdue start on a track that really affected Vermont racing.
Right now, we are concentrating on its initial dirt era only.

Courtesy of Cliff Haynes
A new sign replaced the one with the Studebaker on top. CJ's familiar CVRA logo is on top instead..

The Albany - Saratoga Speedway, since its 1965 inception, had enjoyed a pavement era in which it was a key figure in pavement modified racing in the Northeast for years. Also, given that some of the people involved with the track were in on the ground floor of the All Star Stock Car Racing League [1967 - 73], and it was one of the more important tracks in that famous organization. Having gone back to dirt at his own Devil's Bowl Speedway in Vermont, promoter C.J. Richards went through ups and downs. He decided to make the bold move to acquire Malta, put his famous Champlain Valley clay on top of the paved surface, and run Friday shows. Again, he woould have ups and downs; but he was always a survivor.

Ladabouche Collection
West Sand Lake's DOn ackner was a loyal supporter of Richards and the CVRA, as was his neighbor, Ken Tremont [below],
shown here with driver Chuck Ely.

During the Albany - Saratoga Speedway era of the Champlain Valley Racing Association and Richards faced some difficult and pivotal decisons. At one point, the father track, Devil's Bowl was more or less set aside - running a limited program as West Havne Speedway. Airborne Park Speedway was in and out as a CVRA track. At the end of the 1985 season, Richards made a huge decision to scrap the big block engine in favor of the 358 C.I. becoming his headlining motor. This caused a real rough patch before the enhanced affordability attracted more teams back to the fold.

Courtesy of Andy Hickock
C.J. landed the legendary Jack Johnson to run many of his Friday night shows.

Richards would come up with various creative promotional ideas such as a series in which NASCAR Grand National drivers starred in CVRA dirt mods on the Albany - Saratoga dirt oval. Eventually the Richards offspring began taking over the operations of the CVRA tracks. This era would end when they paved the track around 2011.

Courtesy of Mike Cranston
Remember when everyone in the friggin' world was running a Gremlin ?

Ladabouche Collection
The top 1986 CVRA modified drivers [and some of C.J.'s most loyal supporters.

Courtesy of Shaun Byrne Dustin Delaney was a top Pure Stock driver in 1989.	Courtesy of Shaun Byrne Fast Freddie Little went through the CVRA ranks and later became a Bowl official.	Courtesy of Shaun Byrne Carl Vladyka, always a top Pro Stock runner.	Courtesy of Shaun Byrne Mike Bruno also rose up through the CVAR ranks and ended up owning Devil's Bowl.	Courtesy of Shaun Byrne Pure Stock runner and future official, Ronnie Carlson.
Ladabouche Collection Granville, NY's George Johnson.	Courtesy of John Scarborough Johnny "The Jet" Scarborough ran a CVRA Pro Stock before becoming a fixture at Fonda.	Courtesy of Mike Cranston Support class stars Mike Ronca [inside] and Kim Duell.	Courtesy of Christine O. Kilburn Chris Lussier ran this Pro Stock at both Malta and the Bowl.	Courtesy of Mike Cranston David Towns with a Malta win.
Courtesy of Shaun Byrne "The Used Car Man" Rutland's Ray Nutting.	Courtesy of M. Newhouse Ray Nutting's son, Lee who went on to run modifieds.	Courtesy of M. Newhouse Nick Ronca's son, Don who went on to run modifieds.	Ladabouche Collection Kenny Van Wert's "Moosejaw Express" car from mid '80's.	Courtesy of Mike Budka, Jr Jay Bleser keeps Mike Budka's Camaro flying.
Courtesy of Mike Cranston Mike Cranston, a frequent photo contributor, with his own support car.	Courtesy of Trudeau Collection Arnie Trudeau would venture over to Malta from the Brandon, VT area.	Courtesy of Andy Hickock The Rock City Falls Rocket Jack Cottrell. He ran this at Fonda, as well.	Courtesy of Fleres Collection Kim Duell [14] versus Big John Fleres' Camaro.	Courtesy of Mike Bruno Tim Baker most likely id a few runs at Malta with this, a later late model.
Courtesy of Albany - Saratoga Speedway Memories Page Dennis Duschesne.	Courtesy of Mike Cranston The very popular and colorful Lester Dieterle.	Courtesy of Mike Budka Jr Another shot of Lester.	Courtesy of Albany - Saratoga Speedway Memories Page Bob Smith, with a car from CJ's first support class.	Courtesy of Albany - Saratoga Speedway Memories Page Ernie Grenier of Glens Falls with his car, a former Mike Ronca ride.
Andy Hickock Collection Courtesy of Albany - Saratoga Speedway Memories Page An early Kim Duell car. I think he won a title with this one.	Mike Newhouse Collection Courtesy of Albany - Saratoga Speedway Memories Page More Kim Duell .	Courtesy of Dan Snay via Albany - Saratoga Speedway Memories Page Jimmy Mabb. The Mabbs were loyal supporters of CJ Richards' tracks for years.	Courtesy of Albany - Saratoga Speedway Memories Page Ralphie Mabb.	Courtesy of Albany - Saratoga Speedway Memories Page Dieterle on the track with the car I remember the most.
	Courtesy of Albany - Saratoga Speedway Memories Page Mike Ronca, afro and all.	Courtesy of Albany - Saratoga Speedway Memories Page MIke Newhouse with what was called a hobby stock.	John Grady Photo From J. Chris Grady The car 90 again.

HAMB Photo
Albany - Saratoga had osted NASCAR Grand National races in both 1970 and 1971. C.J. Richards attracted some big GN names of the 1980's
by staging the Super Star Shootout, which put some of these drivers in CVRA modifieds.

Courtesy of Historic Aerials.com
The Malta site [extreme lower right] before track construction - in 1964.

Courtesy of Historic Aerials.com
The Malta site [extreme lower right] by 2009. The encroachment of development is glaringly obvious.

From Arnie Ainsowrth Bob Savoie ran CVRA tracks regularly - often for Mike Richards.	Courtesy of Joe Budka Jay Bleser driving Mike Budka's 64 inside of the 8 of Jack Cottrell.	Courtesy of Peter Fitzner Veteran Maynard Forrette, now driving Buanno cars.	Dick Britain Photo "The Long Hauler" from Rhode Island, Gibby Fountain - with a win.	Source Unknown CVRA loyalist Mike Ronca, who moved up from support classes to the modifieds.	Courtesy of the LaFond Family Veteran Fonda legend and car builder Dave Lape began running the Friday night shows.
Courtesy of the LaFond Family Veteran Devil's Bowl driver Gene Munger joined Mike Richards' team after the departure of Savoie.	Richard Pratt Photo Legendary and exciting C.D. Coville ran CVRA shows regularly.	Richard Pratt Photo Courtesy of Marty Kelly Leon Gonyo [4] and John Harrison are two drivers who were lost to us too early in their lives.	Courtesy of Shaun Byrne Bob Savoie's 1989 CVRA ride.	Courtesy of Shaun Byrne C.D. Coville's 1995 CVRA ride, the Budka 64.	Courtesy of Shaun Byrne Kenny Tremont's 1995 CVRA ride, at speed.
Richard Pratt Photo Savoie on the bottom, Super CD above, and Cyclone looking for room.	Richard Pratt Photo Kim Duell, shown here at Devil's Bowl, would consistently run Malta.	Courtesy of Shaun Byrne Don Ackner in the Malta pit with his 1989 CVRA ride.	Richard Pratt Photo Mike Perrotte would sometimes run Malta.	Richard Pratt Photo The Depew family has always been a Steady Malta runner.	Richard Pratt Photo Bob Ellis [25], Leon Gonyo [2], and Savoie.
Dick Britain Photo Ed Delmolino [shown here with the War Wagon] must have appeared at CVRA tracks at some point.	Richard Pratt Photo Savoie trying to hold off Gonyo.	Richard Pratt Photo Hector Stratton leads C.D. Coville.	Richard Pratt Photo Leon Gonyo and Lee Nutting [51] chase Johnny Kollar in Carpenter's 1c.	Richard Pratt Photo Charlie Wilbur, shown here at AIrborne, may have sometimes run at Malta.	Dick Britain Photo Legendary Lou Lazarro shown here at the Bowl, would occasionally hit a CVRA race.
Courtesy of Gary Yurgans Fonda runner Jim Senzio ran CVRA at times.	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais Vermont legend Vince Quenneville, Sr. with Jack Ryan's car.	Courtesy of Joe Budka Jack Cottrell outside of Jay Bleser in the Budka 64.	Courtesy of Peter Fitzner "The Cyclone", Maynard Forrette with his first Buanno car.	Courtesy of Mike Bruno The late great harry Peek, shown here at Devil's Bowl ran Malta at times.	Dick Britain Photo Second generation driver Robbie Green [69].
Courtesy of Former CVRA Site The lower cost sportsman mods came in in the 2000's.	ebay Photo The fabled CVRA 358 motor.	Courtesy of Haord Collection An early Frank Hoard, Sr. modified.	Source Unknown Claude Hoard.	Andy Ward Photo Hector Stratton chases CD Coville.	Courtesy of Marty Kelly "The Brandon Bandit", Don Scarborough with a familiar earlier mod.
Courtesy of Tom Herbert Brett Hearn, bsuy in his hauler.	Courtesy of Ladabouche Collection Don Ackner with his new Dexter Dorr car.	Courtesy of Bobby Hults Another Bob Ellis car	John Libby Photo Via John Gallant Charlie Laduc avoiding a spinning Gibby Fountain.	Courtesy of M. Newhouse Quebecer Alain LaBrecque, eschewing Granby on a Friday night for Malta.	Courtesy of Marty Karabin Jack Johnson.
Dick Britain Photo Lester Dieterle, graduated from the Street Stocks, runs against Mike Romano.	Program Covers.com Johnny Kollar.	Alb-Sar Facebk Photo The Proctor cousins, John and Ronnie. Photo is kind of blurred.	Ron DeYullo Photo via Jack Gornewicz Action at the Leon Richards Memorial race. Andy leads Savoie.	Courtesy of Scott Belknap A great color shot of CVRA stalwart Denny Soltis from Ct.	Courtesy of Scott Belknap The Gremlin of my friend, Win Slavin.
Courtesy of Scott Belknap The great Louie Lazarro trailering in the RC Putnam Gremlin.	Courtesy of Scott Belknap Ct.'s Dickie Larkin with a rare non-Gremlin.	Courtesy of Scott Belknap Tom Rulison's 17r.	Courtesy of Scott Belknap Larry Dalmata of the racing Dalmata brothers.	Courtesy of Scott Belknap One of Ray Dalmata's cars.	Courtesy of Scott Belknap Alan Jones.
Courtesy of Scott Belknap Les Alberti.	Courtesy of Scott Belknap Unidentified Gremlin.	Courtesy of Scott Belknap From Grandma Moses territory, we bring you Claude Hoard.	Courtesy of Scott Belknap Another shot of Denny Soltis' cars.	Courtesy of Scott Belknap George Ely.	Courtesy of Scott Belknap Bobby Haswell.
		Courtesy of Scott Belknap SOOP- er CD in the Perth Lumber Wagon era.

Courtesy of Shaun Byrue The CVRA's 1989 newsletter shows the buildup to this Series.	Courtesy of Shaun Byrne Foyt, in particular, had a considerable dirt racing background.	Photo by Shaun Byrne It is debatable whether or not any of these three guys were very comfortable racing on dirt.	Photo by Shaun Byrne It is debatable whether or not any of these three guys were very comfortable racing on dirt either. Maybe Combs.	Courtesy of Shaun Byrne More hype.
Courtesy of Shaun Byrne Petty and Foyt ? C.J. had managed quite a coup here. Apparently STP no longer limited Petty's racing.	Courtesy of Shaun Byrne 1995 - different visiting stars.	Courtesy of Shaun Byrne C. J.'s mom - still an active worker at his tracks, with two of her heroes.	Courtesy of Marty Kelly Ernie Irvan with the Todd Stone crew.	Courtesy of Marty Kelly Gene Munger with "Mr. Excitement" Jimmy Spencer.
	Courtesy of Marty Kelly Don Scarborough with Mike Walttrip. "This ain't gonna be as easy as gettin' in your car, Mike"	Courtesy of Marty Kelly Don Ronca with Sterling Marlin.