RACING PEOPLE WE HAVE LOST SINCE

RACING PEOPLE WE HAVE LOST SINCE THE END OF THE 2016 SEASON

Nothing fancy here. Up to the 2017 season, Ken Squier would address the crowd at Thunder Road at the first race and inform them of any racing figures we had lost since the preceding season. That hasn't been done since. I was struck by what it meant to a lot of people to hear this information; so, I decided to use this page to try and let people know, to the best of my ability, who has passed on in the racing community [at least up this way].

Speedway Line Report Photo Leo Cleary, Hanover, MA Modified / Sportsman Driver	Courtesy of Chris Companion Cleary, in the pits at Catamount Stadium around 1966.	Courtesy of Race Chasers Online Very early Leo.
NASCAR File Photo Pete Hamilton, Dedham, MA Modified / Sportsman Driver Grand National Driver Car Builder	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Hamilton leads Charlie Trombley at Airborne Park Speedway around 1967.	Photo Courtesy of Fuel Tank.com Pete was closely involved with the Petty Enterprises kit car program besides driving.
MVRCA Site Photo Bob Walker, Oxford Plains Speedway Track Announcer	Photo Courtesy of Walter Newell Bob interviewing Oxford Plains regular Wally Patrick.	Photo Source Unknown An interview with 250 winner Morgan Shepard.
Photo Courtesy of Shawn Byrne Jim Byrne, Castleton, VT Race Driver	Photo Courtesy of Lou Senecal via Diana Peters Jim's late model in the Devil's Bowl pits mostly through another challenging season.	Photo Courtesy of Lou Senecal via Diana Peters Did anyone get the license plate of that truck ? Jim's dare devil class Ford at Devil's Bowl
Photo Courtesy of Shawn Byrne Robin Branham, Plattsburgh, NY Race Driver	Photo Courtesy of Joe Bouyea Another early late model for Robin at Airborne.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Dave Brwon Receiving an award in 1975 for Bob Brunell at what was then called Plattsburgh International Raceway.
Bob Frazier Photo Courtesy of Mike Richards Ed "Peanut" Foley, Leicester, NY Modified / Sportsman Race Driver	Photo Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth Foley's last appreciable ride was with the Austin Dickerman 357 modifieds at Lebanon Valley.	Photo Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth Many Devil's Bowl fans still associate Ed with this, the last car he owned himself.
Bob Frazier Photo Courtesy of Mike Richards Al "A.G." Ryan Whiting, VT Car Owner	Bob Frazier Photo via Rutland Herald Al [far right] owned the 1965 Fairmont Speedway track champion car driven by Roger Gauthier.	Bob Frazier Photo via D. Bowl Program Jerry Pennock was one of several top drivers who served as chauffeurs for Al Ryan cars.
Photo Courtesy of Tom Pelletier Ed Pelletier, White River Jct, VT Car Owner / Builder	Photo via Mike Gilbert Ed, [leaning on car looking at camera] talks to pit steward Archie Blackadar at the old Northfield, VT track in 1963.	Photo via Cho Lee Ed is best known up our way as the owner of the beautiful yellow and black 51's driven by Russell Ingerson. Here Ed [[middle] is seen with Ingerson and Ed's team partner Doug Falzarano [2nd from right].
Photo by Frank Simek Irv Taylor, Rexford NY Modified / Sportsman Driver	Russ Bergh Photo via Otto Graham The ultimate driver for hire, Irv drove for dozens of teams; ironically, he may be best remembered for this, a car he partly owned.	Photo by Russ Bergh One of my favorite Irv rides. Don't know if Rollie Johnson still owned it or if Richard Welch had bought it by then.
Photo Source Unknown Thomas "Tom" Curley, Barre, VT Track Owner / Promoter	Photo via Dragon Family Curley talks to Beaver Dragon, one of his iconic stars on the beer tours, around 1986.	Photo via NEAR Website Tom is delighted to induct Jean - Paul Cabana into the NEAR Hall of Fame.
Photo Source Cavalcade of Auto Racing Carl "Fuzzy" Van Horn, Phillipsburg, NJ Driver / Promoter	Bill Cooper Photo via Legacy.com The opposite of Curley,Carl drove a lot and promoted only a little - at Harmony Speedway in his home town of Phillipsburg, NJ.	Bill Young Photo via Kevin Budden, thru Three Wide Carl drove these 2a's often, like the 71E's.
Photo Source Getty Images Bud Moore, Spartanburg, SC Car Owner / Builder	Pinterest Photo Although Moore's owning career went at least well into the 1990's, my favorite Moore cars were his Mercurys with Darrell Deiringer in the mid 1960's.	Photo Source Getty Images Bud shown here with Joe Weatherly, one of his earlier drivers. He was heartbroken when Weatherly was killed at Riverside in California in one of these 8's.
Photo by Ladabouche Marty Harty, Barrington, NH Car Owner / Builder / Innovator	Bob Doyle Photo via Cho Lee Of all the descriptors that could be used to describe Harty race cars - "usual" was not often used. The odd number came from the price of gas at Ralph Atkins' garage, a faithful sponsor.	Harty Photo Collection via George Hill Jim Traverse in a Harty entry at Brookline, MA. Marty sure did like ' em well off the ground.
Russ Bergh Photo via Alan McDonald Jim Hoyt, Saranac Lake, NY Driver / Builder	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's Inspired by the fact dad was a Mopar dealer and by all Henry Caputo had accomplished with a similar Plymouth, Jim built this beauty at a young age and raced it a bit at Airborne, as well as his father's track Saranac Lake Speedway.	Frank Simek Photo via Andy Fusco Jim had one of the most spectacular wrecks in he history of Fonda Speedway, setting high speeds on a pavement setup. He missed the Fonda book only because they couldn't find photos of the crash.
Norman McIver Photo via Cho Lee Harold "Hardluck" Hanaford, Plymouth, NH Flathead Coupe Driver	Photo Courtesy of Scott Haskell Harold literally started out oat the beginning of stock car racing in the Northeast. Believe it or not, he traveled extensively with this car and won just as extensively.	Bob Doyle Photo Courtesy of Mark Austin Hana is best known for driving this particular flathead coupe at Thunder Road. He won the first Milk Bowl with it.
Howie Hodge Photo Maynard Troyer, Spencerport, NY Modified Driver / Car Builder/ Innovator	Jim Simmons Photo Courtesy of Mike Shaub via Three Wide's Picture Vault Maynard raced for years, was a member of the All Star Stock Car Racing League, established a car building business so big, the cars had to have serial numbers. and may have been best known for this Falcon.... But..	Photo Courtesy of Wheels.ca ... recently, Maynard had joked to someone that he wondered if he wasn't more famous for his spectacular wreck of this car at Daytona than for anything else. [I kinda doubt that].
John Grady Photo Edward "Doc" Blanchard, Gloversville, NY Modified / Sportsman Driver	John Grady Photo Doc may be best known for this pavement Valiant that he drove well and made it onto the cover of Stock Car Racing magazine with.	Russ Bergh Photo via Bob Novak I first saw Doc at Otter Creek Speedway with this very car, around 1962.
Bob Dragon Family Photo Ron Lamell, Sr., Essex Ctr., VT Flying Tiger Driver	Courtesy of the Lloyd Gilbert Family Ron, with one of his beloved Fords at Catamount.	Courtesy of the Bob Dragon Family Ron, with Bob Dragon, Ron Barcomb, and starter Jack Paradee in Vic Lane at Catamount.
Photo via Mark Bourcier Bruno "Shany" Lorenzet Stafford Springs, CT Racing Photographer	Photo by Shany Lorenzet Courtesy of Ginny Ross via Dick Hansen and LVC Ironically, him being a photographer, I don't have any other photos of Shany. This great Rebel Harris shot s an example of his work.	Shany Lorenzet Photo Courtesy of Dave Dykes This shot of Hoppy Jensen in the Sharkey Gaudiosi sedan is typical of Shany's great work.
Photo via Gary Dwinel Gardiner Leavitt Kezar Falls, ME The Geezer From Kezar Race Driver	Courtesy of Maine Vintage Race Car Association Gardiner started out with these uniquely Maine Class B cars.	Photo Source Unknown Gard, in the midst of his long career with NASCAR North.
Photo via Ed Flemke.com Bob Judkins Meriden, CT Race Car Owner	Paul Michaud Photo Ed Flemke, Sr. with the famed 2X at Catamount around 1968.	Bob Frazier Photo via Joe Grossetti Gene Bergin had the legendary Judkins Pinto up at Devil's Bowl around 1970.
ACAQ Photo Denis Giroux Quebec City, QC Race Driver	Courtesy of Pascal Cote One Of Denis' earliest cars.	Bob Frazier Photo Ladabouche Collection When I think of Denis, this is the car that comes to mind.
Lebanon Valley Classics Photo Frankie Schneider Lambertville, NJ Race Driver	Courtesy of Jeff Ackerman What I think of when I think of a Frankie sedan.	Gene Stratton Photo What I think of when I think of a Frankie coupe.
Courtesy of David Turner, Jr. Perry Poquette Georgia, VT Race Driver	Courtesy of Cho Lee Perry was a force in the Hurricane division at Catamount.	Courtesy of Andy Boright One I lettered for Perry around 1976
Courtesy of Gary Cuthbertson Maurice "Cuffy" Cuthbertson St. Johnsbury, VT Race Driver	Courtesy of Cho Lee Cuffy ran in the Flying Tiger division at Catamount and T Road as well as coupes previously. he also ran coupes at Bear Ridge in the late 1960's.	Courtesy of Paul Bellefeuille With Pete Racine [left] at a car restoration project.
Courtesy of Midstate Club "Wee Willie" Allen Weedsport, NY Race Driver	Courtesy of Blackjack Racing I recall Willie with this car, running the open competitions at Lebanon Valley.	Courtesy of Otto Graham With the former Pete Gillette 45.
Free Press Photo Courtesy of Wayne Bettis Gerald "Jerry" Driscoll E. Randolph, VT Race Driver Hill Climber	Courtesy of Andy Boright Jerry with the first car he ran on the Northern NASCAR circuit.	Courtesy of Dick Berggren Jerry was a serious and accomlished driver in the Mount Washington hill climbs until quite late in his life.

Photo Courtesy of Patti Ann Rendini John Podolak Auburn, NY Race Driver	Gater Racing News Photo Courtesy of Bill Field John, crew, and family at Rolling Wheels. Stepson Bill Field is at far right.	Courtesy of Bob Miller John Podolak, at speed.
Photo Courtesy of Rounds Family Don Rounds, Warwick, RI Race Driver	Bob McDowell Photo At Stateline Speedway. sporting a local sponsor.	Courtesy of Rounds Family Classic photo with his iconic car. Note all the feature win decals.
Photo Courtesy of Chris Cardarelli Henry Van Acker, Champlain, NY Race Driver	Van Acker Collection The racing lawyer and magistrate, at home with members of his crew.	Van Acker Collection Henry [far left] and crew fuss over their newly - built Camaro, which was unfortunately badly wrecked not long after this shot.
Russ Bergh Photo Courtesy of Otto Graham Richard "Otto" Graham, Burlington Flats, NY Race Driver Photographer Historian	Courtesy of Al Sanders Collection A young Otto being towed off the track somewhere like Midstate, Richfield, etc.	Roxanne Ladabouche Photo My friend Otto Graham introducing me at my induction into Weedsport in 2011.
John Grady Photo Courtesy of Otto Graham Ray Sitterly, Amsterdam, NY Race Driver	Russ Bergh Photo Ladabouche Collection I am proud to say that I was at Fonda the night Ray won his feature. I think it was this car.	Bob Frazier Photo Jerry King Collection Jerry King provided his car for Ray at Devil's Bowl around 1968.
Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Allie Swears, Glens Falls, NY Race Car Owner	Ladabouche Photo The familiar Allie Swears 51 tows into Fonda past promoter Jim Gage around 1963.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Dick Nephew with the Allie Swears Daytona car in Florida.
Eastern Race Chatter Site Jay Bleser, Schenectady, NY Race Car Driver	Mike Budka Jr. Photo Collection The familiar Mike Budka Camaro in action.	Mike Budka Jr Collection He could drive the Budka modified pretty well, too.
Midstate Club Ralph Raastad, [left with Dick Schoonover] New Berlin, NY Race Car Driver	Rick Parry Photo Collection via Midstate Club Ralph's familiar 26. He seemed to prefer Fords.	David Kilmartin Collection Friend, Dick Schoonover would also drive Raastad equipment.
From Lisa Yantz Warren "Jay" Yantz, Monkton, VT Race Car Driver	Andy Boright Collection A Ford man through and through, his signature car may have been this fast Grand American class Mustang.	Cho Lee Collection At Thunder Road [right] with his friend and Ford hero, Dave Dion [ctr].
From Chris Cardarelli Bob Ailes, St. Johnsbury, VT Race Car Driver	From Andy Boright Bob drove at nearby Riverside Speedway in Groveton, NH. He also ran a number of races at Catamount and Thunder Road.	Ladabouche Photo Bob led this race at rustic Can Am Speedway near Newport, VT until the suspension on his pavement car could not hold up on the very bumpy track.
From Seven Days Site Robert E. "Bobby" Miller, Vermont Race Car Owner/ Philanthropist	From Dragon Family Bob [center] chats with former driver Bob Randall of Maine and Beaver Dragon, whom he set up with top class equipment before selling the team to Pepsi's Skip Farrell.	Dragon Family Photo The impressive N.E. Systems team.

From SCR Magazine via Norwood Site Ray Stonkus, Concord, NC NE Race Car Owner/ NASCAR Crew Chief	From Mark Bourcier Pete Hamilton, one of the many top shelf drivers of the Stonkus Flying 9 modifieds.	Via Andy Boright The impressive N.E. Systems team.
NASCAR Record Bk Photo Ed Ortiz, Ransomville, NY Modified Race Driver	Burlingame Photo via Pedro Alexander Ed Ortiz, in an early ride out in Western New York.	Russ Bergh Photo via Ladabouche Collectin My first and favorite photo of Ed, at Fonda. I notice he left his glasses on the car.
Pettit Collection Link Pettit, Schenectady, NY Stock Car Driver	Pettit Collection An early ride for Link - his own car 00, seen here at Mettawee Speedway, North Granville, New York.	Joe Grossetti Collection Although Link drove for several owners, he is somewhat permanently associated with the top notch Von Vricken RU21 car.
Source Unknown Clarence "Butch" Jelley, Londonderry, VT Stock Car Driver	Bob Frazier Photo Ladabouche Collection My all - time favorite Jelley photo, in the Ed Winn Y at the opening of Fairmont Speedway in 1962.	Neal Davis Collection Butch's other signature ride was in various Martin Riiska yellow X's.

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