The VERMONSTER

      Usually, I wouldn't do anything on this site not pertaining to the history of stock car racing. However, given the close relationship between the Milton Speedway [the drag strip located in Milton] and many of the drivers in the area who actually participated at it as well as Catamount Stadium, I can justify this one page. I recently received a number of great photographs from Del Masse, that depicted the dragster known as "The Vermonster".
     As nearly as I can determine, the Vermonster, a small front - engine - mounted rail dragster, was the product of John Keefer, who also just happened to be critical in the Bob Dragon racing efforts of the '60's nad '70's. Keefer, also my former neighbor and father of one of my daughter's good friends, is a motor man extraordinaire. His car was driven adeptly by Frankie Woodard, another Dragon crew member - an East Corinth, VT native who is still active in racing [advisor and crew member to the Emily Packard team].
      The Milton dragstrip had the misfortune of frequently running against Catamount programs. The strip was the former north/south runway of the Schill Airport in Milton. Besides Keefer and Woodard, other Catamount figures who ran at the strip included both Dragon brothers, Jack Dubrul, and countless others. The distinctive red and white checkerboard announcer's stand from the dragstrip eventually wound up at Catamount as the hanicapper's booth. As can be seen in a couple of the photos, the technology of the day did include a Christmas tree - type starting pole; but, unlike the NHRA shows we see on TV today, a man had to stand there and manually trigger the light sequence.
     I never got to see a show at Milton Speedway but I remember seeing cars going and coming from the venue. My favorite was a car called "The Abominable Slowman". Larry LaCaillade, the Border Jumper, was a big draw at the strip. The Vermonster was recently unearthed from some storage place and lovingly restored in 2014,. It was even invited to the upscale Stowe Car Show in '14.

Courtesy of Del Masse
Frankie peeks back as he is apparently headed out to race. There's the familiar checkerboard tower.

Courtesy of Del Masse
A great shot. Frankie is poised for a single pass. Probably they didn't have another car in that class.
Check out the starter poised to trigger the Christmas tree. If you're from the area, we are looking
back towards where the Milton Diner is today.

Courtesy of Del Masse
A very young John Keefer [right] helps push out Frankie in the car. The guy at the fence may be reacting to alcohol fumes.

Courtesy of Del Masse
Frankie turns her loose. I imagine he eventually got where he would wheelstand.

Courtesy of Del Masse
Great shot of the takeoff. Shows the tree and the ambulance.

Courtesy of Del Masse
A kid, possibly Kelly Keefer, tries out the controls.

Courtesy of Del Masse
A peek under the wraps.

Both Photos Courtesy of Del Masse
Probably at Keefer's house. A Texas lawn ornament. Early on - no lettering yet.

Courtesy of Del Masse
If the '62 Chevy tow car is Keefer's - it was very likely pretty perky, too.

Courtesy of Del Masse
Frankie and John at the Stowe car show.


Courtesy of Del Masse
SItting right about where the starting line used to be at the strip. Is it me or is the restoration a longer frame ?

Courtesy of Del Masse
Safely tucked away, for now.

Courtesy of Del Masse
Restoration team 'graduation' shot. Frankie, John, and Dave Whitcomb in the foreground. Del Masse at far right. Need help with others.

OTHER SHOTS FROM THE VERMONSTER AND MILTON SPEEDWAY

Courtesy of Cho Lee Jack Dubrul with the unnamed driver of his dragster.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Jack Dubrul shows the Thunder Road crowd what a dragster looks like up close.	Courtesy of Steve McKnight Cars are poised, waiting for the tree to start its sequence.	Courtesy of Chris DaBica A trophy from the Milton strip was found somewhere in New York.|
Courtesy of StartLogic.Com Al Kitts, John Gorney, and Skip Sheldon with the famous Willis Ford entry out of Waterbury, VT.	Courtesy of Dragon Family Catamount stock car star Beaver Dragon raced one of his family cars, this Pontiac Chieftain, at the strip.	Courtesy of David Delange Younger brother, Bob Dragon had a '40 Ford [not this one] that he drove at the strip. Had a whole class to himself. Then he damaged the grill and they made him run it in a modified class... didn't do as well then.	ForumAction.Com Larry LaCaillade and the Border Jumper appeared at Milton often.
Courtesy of Del Masse It appears here as though Frankie hole shot whoever is in the other rail. Maybe it was a time handicap, too.	Courtesy of Del Masse John and Frankie talk as possibly Mrs. Keefer looks on.	Courtesy of Del Masse Vermonster renovations.	Courtesy of Del Masse Vermonster renovations - Frankie tries it out.
Courtesy of John Grady Shirley Muldowney appeared frequently at Milton - just not in equipment like this.	Courtesy of Del Masse Vermonster in front of the same Chevy that hauled it there. Recoginize anyone here ? It is at Milton.	Courtesy of Del Masse Vermonster renovation.	Probably From Del Masse John and Frankie - maybe at the Stowe show.
Courtesy of Frank Woodard The Vermonster at someone's house. This is labeled by Frankie as "20 Patrick St". He also labeled "blown engine", which has a whole different meaning in drag racing, eh ? .	Courtesy of Frank Woodard The Vermonster awaiting one of its first runs at Milton. Note - no lettering yet.	Courtesy of Frank Woodard The Vermonster awaiting one of its first runs at Milton beside another rail job. That might be Jack Dubrul's car. Love the Falcon push truck.	Courtesy of Frank Woodard Yes, folks, Frankie was once that young !
Courtesy of Frank Woodard Frankie Woodard's car, The Black Lemon Ford.	Courtesy of Frank Woodard The Vermonster getting up to speed on the short MIlton strip. Doncha love what passed for a starting light Christmas tree ?	Courtesy of Frank Woodard Frankie [right] at Napierville with Danny Choiniere, after some apparent success.	Courtesy of Milton Spdwy Site The Blitzkrieg VW entry.
Courtesy of Frank Woodard Frankie with the Black Lemon.	Courtesy of Rod Case Eastern Raider and the Screamin' Eagle at Milton.	Courtesy of Frank Woodard Frankie [right] at Napierville.	Courtesy of Rod Case The Fugitive, a wheel standing Corvette.
Courtesy of McCormack Family I THINK these were called altereds.	Courtesy of McCormack Family Gardner Stone's Widowmaker Buick Special.	Courtesy of McCormack Family Street cars take off at Milton.	Courtesy of Frankie Woodard Street cars staging.
Courtesy of LaBerge Family Petco's Pride. [of R & L LaBerge ?]	Courtesy of McCormack Family A Mopar taking off.	Courtesy of Frankie Woodard Preparations around a Studebaker gasser.	Courtesy of Dan Rothenberger Dan Rothenberger at work with his car.
Courtesy of Dan Rothenberger Dan Rothenberger at work with his car.	Courtesy of Dan Rothenberger Dan Rothenberger at work with his car.	Courtesy of Rod Fisher Jr Rod Fisher, Sr. with his car - being watched by a guy with a Jack DuBrul jacket. Those jackets were also worn at stock car races.	Courtesy of Frankie Woodard Rod's Rogue.

 
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THE MYSTERIOUS STUDEBAKER

There is a pair of photos of an evil - looking Studebaker which showed up at the dragstrip once in a while. In November, 2017 I
found out that this was probably a car run by Larry Langlais, who now lives in Highgate Center, VT. Langlais says the car was a
former moonshine car from Down South and that there were still remnants of the moonshine storage paraphenalia in the trunk.
He said the motor, a Packard, was about as tricked up as anything he had ever seen - unitl it finally blew. Larry claims the
car was officially a 1955 Studebaker President.

            
From the Milton Speedway Facebook Page
Likely, one of the guys at left is Langlais. At right, towing it back home.

Souza Kingman Marshall Photo Courtesy of Randi LaBerge
An important photo. This is said to be Don Garlits at Milton.

MORE SHOTS OF THE WILLIS FORDS AND MILTON SPEEDWAY
All Photos Courtesy of The Willis Family, Al Kitts, Del Masse, or John Casey

Al Kitts with a Willis entry. It may have been MIlton or somewhere in Central NY.	Al Kitts takes off with a Willis entry. It is supposedly somewhere in Central NY.	Mark Emmons with one of the Willis Ford entries.	Larry Willis with the first and maybe most famed car - the Yellow Bird.
Larry Willis, Al Kitts,and Bob Willis flank an unidentified woman with one of the later Willis cars.	Courtesy of Brian Lohnesy An ad - I am not sure of the size.	The Yellow Bird lines up with the Devil Jack, out of Canada.	ForumAction.Com Another Willis Ford that  appeared at Milton.
A 1961 Ford at the ready.	Very blurry shot of a red Willis Ford with the driver.	Maybe Larry and Bob with that same red Ford - at home.	Ford Fairlanes lined up to run. Not clear if the front car is a Willis Ford.
From superstockamx.com Nicky Pappas and his AMX Nicky's Nash ran a little at Milton Speedway.	From superstockamx.com Nicky Pappas' car, behind Aunt Sara's Pancake House on Shelburne Rd. Nick, Sr. ran the business and also sponsored Larry Warren at Catamount.	From superstockamx.com Nicky's Nash against a rail somewhere other than Milton.	From superstockamx.com The For Sale ad for Nicky's Nash. Fred Masterson bought it.

8MM FRAME SHOTS OF MILTON SPEEDWAY
All Photos Courtesy of  Del Masse

Two Corvettes take off.	A yellow Henry J blows off a late model competitor - probably in a lower class.	Milton's distinctive Cobble Hill is visible in the distance as two car finish their run.	The same Henry J blows off another late model competitor - probably in a lower class.
The camera pans across the busy pit area.	The yellow Henry J returns from one of its runs.	What looks like a Jeep drag car is pushed back.	Sure looks like a Jeep.
An old sedan body sitting on the line.	A yellow Willys coupe getting a push back.	Same Willys.	The yellow Willys blows off a late model competitor - probably in a lower class. It appeared faster than the Henry J even.
A Crosley being pulled back to the pits.	More Crosley towing.	They apparently didn't want this rail job on the return road.	This sharp 1936 Chevy returns after running against the Willys.
	What looks to be a Willis Ford, lined up by the checkerboard stand.	Courtesy of Del Masse Taken off old 8MM footage belonging to Del Masse. This Henry J is seen at speed.

 
Google Earth Photo
The old strip still is quite visible, thanks to the efforts of one man to restore it to a runway over a decade ago.

Courtesy of Brian Lohnes
The old strip still was quite visible for a while, thanks to the efforts of one man to restore it to a runway over a decade ago.

 
Courtesy of the Milton Historical Society

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