The sport, in our region, has seen a number of prominent photographers, some of whom liked to feature their subjects with portraits. I hate to try and list these people for fear of leaving out someone who really deserves that recognition. When I first started doing this work, two men stood out - one in my immediate area and one in a nearby state. My friend, the too - early - departed Cho Lee had shared numerous photos, some of which were portrait photography by Norman McIver, who specialized in covering Northeastern Speedway in Lower Waterford, VT and Thunder Road, in Barre, VT.
         The other guy's name was almost always hand written on the bottom of each photo. Bob McDowell covered more tracks than I would care to try and list. Although he had some shots in Vermont, his stomping grounds were primarily in New York state, on the eastern side and as farther north as Warrensburgh. These two and many other racing lensmen have left us with hundreds of good portraits of race drivers and other important racing figures.

              Since I began poking through my 47 images folders, I felt kind of stupid, realizing that Plattsburgh, NY photographer Bob Mackey likely has more portrait photos in my stuff than the previous two guys. Mackey not only snapped drivers at Airborne, but had photos from Saranac Lake Speedway, Otter Creek Speedway, Thunder Road, and more. I won't be surprised if his section is equal to or larger than either of the other two. Other photographers who will certainly have a number of portrait offerings are Bob Frazier [Fairmont, Devil's Bowl and Otter Creek Speedways], Frank Simek [too many to mention], and Russ Bergh [Fonda and Victoria Speedways and others]. I have a number of portraits whose photographers I don't know. Ace lane took thousands of photos in Pennsylvania and New Jersey but I have had trouble getting enough portraits for a section here.

NORMAN McIVER
Northeastern Speedway, Thunder Road mostly
[Donated either by Cho Lee or the Northeastern Speedway Site]


Andre Manny
Multi - Time Quebec Champion. Mostly a NASCAR modified and sportsman driver.

Art Taylor
1968 Catamount Stadium Flying Tiger champion.

Archie Blackadar
Long - time NASCAR official and former flagger.

Archie Blackadar
NH flathead racing star. Raced widely but concentrated on Claremont and Fairmont Speedways a lot.

Bob Brunell
Raced Late model sportsman and modified cars. Owned a speed shop. NASCAR NY hobby champ one year.


Bob Dragon
Track champion, winner of hundreds of races. in late model sportsman and hobbies. Also drove modifieds.

Jean-Paul Cabana
 NASCAR
champion in late model sportsman, and sportsman coupes. Canadian Champion.

Dale Gilbert
Flathead coupe driver - primarily at Thunder Road.

Denny Dearborn
NH flathead coupe driver. Later became a Jack Kochman Hell Driver.

Donald "Monk" Ingerson
The least active of four NH racing brothers. Raced flathead coupes.

Jack "Blackjack" Dubrul
Raced in assorted NASCAR divisions. One of the founders of Catamount Stadium.

Emilio Girelli
Long - time NASCAR official and Bear Ridge official. Did drive flathead cars.

Ernie Reid
Long - time NASCAR sportsman driver.

Roy "Pappy" Forsyth
1950's racing pioneer. Winner of countless races - mostly with flathead cars.


Dick Gammell
Flathead coupe driver and lesser known of two VT racing  brothers.

Johnny Gammell
Flathead coupe driver and late model sportman, too. A VT racing pioneer.

Harold "Hardluck" Hanaford
Flathead coupe
champion and NH racing pioneer. Won VT's 1st Milk Bowl.


Henry "The Frozen Logger" Montandon
Flathead coupe driver and frequent winner.

Jerry Bigelow
Flathead coupe driver and frequent winner at Notheastern Spdw. A VT racing pioneer.


Keith Ballard
Flathead coupe driver a
t Thunder Road and
1962 hobbby class champion at Otter Creek Speedway.

Larry Granger
Flathead coupe standout driver and
occasional Flying Tiger driver.
 
Doug Ingerson
Flathead driver and one of the middle Ingerson brothers.
 
Mike "The Yankee Flyer" Osborne
Flathead coupe driver and frequent winner.
 
Tom "The Kentucky Colonel" Tiller
Flying Tiger driver and
late model sportsman driver. Track champion and big winner.

 
Ron "The Bethlehem Bombshell" Marvin
Flathead coupe driver, LMS driver, and frequent winner.
 
Al Corey
Early flathead coupe driver
.
 
Lenny "Tiger" Stockwell
Flying Tiger, and LMS driver
. The face of the Tiger division.
 
Larry Demar
Flying Tiger driver and frequent winner. Won a track title.
 
Rex Shattuck
1950's star whose career carried over to Thunder Road.
 
Tom "T Bone" Curley
Drove Flying Tigers and sportsman cars. Became the creator of the American - Canadian Tour.
 
Mack Miller
NY NASCAR sportsman driver. Won a track title at Saranac Lake Spdwy.
 
George Whitney
Flathead coupe driver.
 
Art Taylor
1968 Catamount Stadium Flying Tiger champion. Different portrait.
 
Mike Cody
Claremont Speedway regular who ran for a bit at Thunder Road.
Big winner in NH.
 
Chet "Chester T" Wood
Drove flathead coupes and LMC cars. The ultimate successful runner on a shoestring budget.

 
Russ "The Wild Child" Ingerson
The youngest Ingerson and probably the winningest.
 
Pete Racine
Vermont racing pioneer.
 
Harmon "Beaver" Dragon
Drove the old coupes, sportsman coupes, Flying Tigers, and LMS cars. Track and series championships.

 
Marcel Godard
Quebec sportsman and modified driver.
 
Paul Hamel
Quebec sportsman and modified driver. a
Canadian champion.
 
Leland "Lee" Ingerson
Eldest Ingerson brother, and very successful driver.
 
Freddy Mills
Flathead coupe driver.
   
Ralph Stygles
B Class, flathead, and sportsman driver.
 
Mutt Dexter
Flathead coupe driver.
 
Norm Chaloux
Flathead coupe driver.
 
Clint Gerard
Flathead coupe driver.
 
Bob Doyle
Bardahl dealer, photographer, and overall leading figure in northeastern VT racing.
 


BOB McDOWELL
Rhinebeck Speedway, Pine Bowl,  Stateline Speedway, and many more
[Donated mostly by Ken Gypson or
Phil Miller]


Jerry Golden
Eastern NY and western Massachusetts 1950's driver.

Ken Goodermotte
Eastern NY and western Massachusetts 1950's driver.

Jim Reed
1950's NY driver who starred in NASCAR's
Short track division.

Doug Garrison
Hall of fame NY driver from 1950's thru 1970's. Ended up as major Leb. Valley star.

Doug Benjamin
Eastern NY and western Massachusetts 1950's driver.


Bob Devine
1950's NY and MAss. driver. Ended up in the United Stock Car Racing Club's Grand American divison in the 1960's.

Russ Truelove
 NASCAR
driver in several classes. MOst known for spectacular crash on the Daytona beach course with a Mercury he drove down there from NY.

 
Bud Williamson
1950's stock car driver .
 
Jokko Maggiacommo
1950's star in a number of classes of racing".
 
Bob Tator
1950's driver. One of Gordon Ross' first drivers.
 
Whitey Brainerd
Southern New England driver of early modifieds called "cutdowns".
 
George Welch
Up and coming late 1950's NASCAR driver. Killed flagging at Empire Raceway.
 
Al Keller
1950's stock car driver who graduated to open wheel racing.
 
Steve Danish
One of the all - time stock car racing pioneers and winner of many honors - mostly in NY.

 
Paul Roesch
1950's stock car driver. 
 
Neil Cole
1950's stock car driver. 
 
Bud Hitsman
1950's stock car driver.
90% of Bob's portraiture involved the race car with the driver. I will put a few examples, but he has too many hundreds of them to attempt showing them all.   
Link Pettit
Hall of fame NY driver from 1950's thru 1960's. Ended up as major Leb. Valley star.
 
Charlie Morse
A major 1950'star.
 
Ray "Zero" Brown
Hall of fame NY driver from 1950's. Went on to star in open wheel cars. There was another accomplished Ray Brown as well in Massachusetts.

 
Spence Parkhurst
Hall of fame NY driver from 1950's. I can recall seeing him race, even though I was five.

Leo Nadeau
The 1950's star appeared with this car all over hell and creation. Amazing !

Carl Fink
Started in the early 1950's as places k=like Rhinebeck and Burden Lake. Ended up driving a sportsman at Fonda in the early '60's.

D.D. "Rebel" Harris
One of the most iconic stars of  the early racing in our region.

Jolly Ollie Palmer
NY driver, mostly in 1950's. I can also remember him at Pico Raceway in 1952.

Stan Disbrow
Hall of fame NY/MA driver from 1950's thru 1970's. Ended up as a midget star.

Pete Corey
Hall of fame NY driver. One of the best drivers and car builders ever.

 


BOB MACKEY
Malletts Bay Raceway, Airborne Park Speedway, Otter Creek Speedway, etc.
[Donated mostly by John Rock, Dave Brown, or
Mike Watts, Sr.]


Photographer Bob Mackey

Richie Panch
Then, the 16 year - old son of Marvin Panch. He drove in Northern NASCAR in 1972.

Bucky Bousquet
1950's Airborne hobby driver.

Earl Maille
Up and coming NY 1950's driver whose career was cut short by an injury.

Ken Platt
From the area near Utica - Rome Speedway, he rose up to drive this Roerig brothers modified in the 1960's.


Unknown
Airborne hobby class driver.

Ronnie Miller
Airborne hobby class driver.


Paul "Cookie" Vallaires and protege Karen Sutliffe.
Airborne Charger class driver.

Mack Miller
Airborne sportsman driver.

Melvin "Bob" Bruno
A major NASCAR national sportsman star for years.

Jim LaFountaine
Airborne hobby class driver. He was one of the best ever in that class.

Paul "Cookie" Vallaires
Airborne Charger class driver.

Bob Bushey
The Vermont driver set a feature win record for Airborne in 1954 that still stands.


Trombley brothers
Bob, Charlie, and Ron.
Charlie's career stretched into the 1970's.

Danny Bridges
An ultimate shoetring budget racer, he lived mre feet from the track.

Bud Besor
Airborne sportsman class driver.

George Bridges
Danny's father, shown here after winning a
winter "ice race" at Airborne.

Charlie Trombley
One of Mackey's few traditional portraits.

Harry "The Head" Provost
NASCAR sportsman driver in the 1960's.

Allie Swears
Glens Falls, NY NASCAR car owner with his Daytona Permatex car.

Jack "Blackjack" Dubrul
NASCAR modified / sportsman driver. He co-founded Catamount Stadium in 1965.


Gene Mangino
Schenectady driver chasing the 1970 modified circuit.

Bernie Griffith
Popular local Airborne sportsman driver.

Rene Charland
The future and reigning National Sportsman champ was a regular at Airborne.

Brian Ross
The young local driver rose as far as the ARCA series before he was done.

Roland Brown
Airborne hobby class driver. Very strong in the mid 1960's.


Joe Thomas
Popular Airborne driver in numerous divisions.

Dick Nephew
With his Allie Swears Daytona car, in the midst of his 1961 national title run.

Harmon "Beaver" Dragon
Milton, VT driver in many divisions. Championships, NEAR HOF, etc.

Bill Conover
Driver in Hobby, Charger, and late Model divisions.

Bill "Wild Bill" Branham
One of four racing brothers. A local hero around Airborne for years.

Henry Jarvis
Drove mostly in the 1950's at Airborne and later at Saranac Lake.

Bob Brunell
Modified and late model driver. Speed shop operator.

Bunn Reed
Drove mostly in the 1950's at Airborne and later at SFort Covington.

Kay Hanson [and Mrs.]
Was a NASCAR pit steward for years - at tracks all over the Northeast and Quebec.

Jean - Paul Cabana
Canadian champion in more than one division.

Bill Wimble
1960 and 1961 NASCAR National Sportsman Champion, with an earlier ride.


Sherwood Holliday
Brother of Buck Holliday, with an
early Floyd Geary car.

Ken Dukette
With Wes Moody's first real race  car.

Melvin "Bob" Bruno
Airborne champion, politician, school teacher.

Lee Begor
Airborne hobby class driver.

Paul Demers
Famed Canadian flag man. Focused on NASCAR tracks.

Dick Gushlaw
Drove mostly in the 1950's at Airborne.

Shorty Carmichael
Drove mostly i nthe 1950's at Airborne.

Dick Nephew
1961 NASCAR National Sportsman co - Champion. 1960 runnerup.

Bob Bruno
Early ride with the McGee/Bridges MB2.

Dick Fowler
Modified driver around 1970.

George Baumgardner
1950's shot with Ted Vogel's sedan. Baumie was very strong at Stateline Speedway.
|
Don Thomas
1969 of the late model driver. Would be flagger at Airborne in 1984.

 

BOB FRAZIER
Fairmont Speedway, Otter Creek Speedway, Devil's Bowl mostly
[Donated mostly by C.J. Richards, Norm Vadnais,
Me, Mike Laduc, and Marty Kelly Jr.]


Buddy Bardwell
NH - based NEAR HOF driver who ran from the early 1950's through most of the 1960's.

Harmon "Beaver" Dragon
Primarily a Northern NASCAR driver who did spend several full seasons at Devil's Bowl.


Charlie Towslee
 1960's
Hobby driver at Fairmont.

Dexter Dorr
Up and coming  VT 1960's driver who ended up establishing a career as a car builder.

Ted Brown
Keene, NH driver who was a terror in Vermont in the 1960's.

Chet "The Jet" Doaner
Rutland, VT - based driver who won a lot at Fairmont and Devil;s Bowl in the 1960's.

Gene Tetreault
NYSSCRA Hall of fame driver from Manchester, VT.

Charlie "Ol' Reliable" Laduc
Drove cars at C.J. Richards' tracks for decades. Might have been best in the Fairmont hobby class.


Harmon "Beaver" Dragon
Primarily a Northern NASCAR driver who did spend several full seasons at Devil's Bowl.

Russ Shaw
Replaced Vince Quenneville driving for Norm Scarborough. Ended brief career driving for Dooger Jones.

Howard Stevens
Popular Claremont, NH driver who nearly pulled off a track title at Fairmont in 1965.

"Wily Will" Cagle
A close friend of C.J. Richards, he dominated at Devil's Bowl at times.

Chet "The Jet" Doaner
Rutland, VT - based driver who won a lot at Fairmont and Devil;s Bowl in the 1960's.

Gene Tetreault
NYSSCRA Hall of fame driver from Manchester, VT.

Charlie "Ol' Reliable" Laduc
Drove cars at C.J. Richards' tracks for decades. Might have been best in the Fairmont hobby class.


Harmon "Beaver" Dragon
Primarily a Northern NASCAR driver who did spend several full seasons at Devil's Bowl.

Russ Shaw
Replaced Vince Quenneville driving for Norm Scarborough. Ended brief career driving for Dooger Jones.

Howard Stevens
Popular Claremont, NH driver who nearly pulled off a track title at Fairmont in 1965.

Vince Quenneville, Sr.
Arguably C.J. Richards' most accomplished drivers ever.

Vince Quenneville, Sr.
His last ride, the Jack Ryan 28.

Charlie Draper
A Fairmont Speedway invader from Saranac Lake Speedway in 1965.

Mert "Socks" Hulbert
With the cae with which he won the 1967 Devil's Bowl title.

Roger Gauthier
After replacing Russ Shaw in the Norm Scarborough Mustang.

Cecil Bosworth
Began racing in NH in the late 1940's. Still ran at D. Bowl in late 1960's, and Bear Ridge Speedway after that.
 

Bill Threw
West Glens Falls, NY driver who ran mostly in 1960's.

Jim Kohler
Connecticut driver who ran C.J's tracks, on and off.

"The Unbeatable' Lennie Wood
In 1965 he never lost a race that he finished or which involvedcars of his class.

Ed "Peanut" Foley

The Leicester, VT driver started in hobby cars in 1961 and rose to top modified cars in early 1970's.


Bill Wimble
The legendary two - time national champ in his only visit to D. Bowl.

Ralph Soulia
Late Model Vermont State Champion.

"Steady Eddie" Allen
The successful local driver with his former Rene Charland car.

Bob Dragon
Drove cars both on dirt and on pavement at
Devil's Bowl.

Nelson Moore
Popular NY veteran driver won both for C.J. and at NASCAR tracks.

Pete Corey
The legendary driver and car builder visited D. Bowl and - soon after - sold this car to Chet Doaner.

George Rogers
Castleton, VT racing legend whose career spanned from 1950 to 1967.

 


RUSS BERGH
Fonda Speedway, Victoria Speedway, mostly
[Donated mostly by Rick Parry, Otto Graham,
Scott Belknap, and dozens more]


Russ Bergh
Middleburgh, NY.



Steve Danish
 
Known to many other drivers as Mr. Danish, he was one of the most racing pioneers in the Northeast.

Bill Wimble
The two - toime national champ was a Fonda regular for years before moving to Leb. Valley.


Lou Lazzaro
A legend in NY sportsman and modified coupes - both on dirt and pavement.

Howard "Jeep" Herbert
A long-time top shelf driver and one of the most popular ever.

Jim Luke
A very exceptional NY driver for years.

Pete Corey
A legend both in driving and in stock car building.

Andy Romano
Posing with the loquacious "Papa Joe" Romano, his dad. Andy raced well, forever.
Like a lot of others, most of Russ' portraits are not head shots, but rather have car and driver.

Herbert "Skip" Roots
The tall, lanky second generation driver ran his skunk - themed three window coupe in the mid 1960's.

Jeep Herbert
Posed here with the Henry Caputo Mopar coupe [said to be a DeSoto].


Richard "Otto" Graham
The man who got me into this business, he was a driver and is still quite a photographer.

Paul Marshall
Paul's physique would overshadow a lot of the pro wrestlers of the day but he was a nice man.

Jeep Herbert
With Chris Drellos' 3 window backup coupe in 1963 . The car was a slug.

Richard "Otto" Graham
The man who got me into this business, he was a driver and is still quite a photographer.

Pete Corey
When he came out with this trend - setting Falcon, it seemed like every one then had one.

Ken Meahl
The Buffalo - area verteran would have one of the most spectacular wrecks with his car ever seen at Fonda.


Lee Millington
The popular Palatine Bridge, NY driver with the iconic Dick Bennett
Bernie's Liquor Shop 71.

Ed Pieniazek
Like Irv Taylor, Pieniazek was one of the few in the scant inner circle of Pete Corey. Good driver; good race mechanic.

Pete Corey
Russ captured the legend with his evr - present coffee and cigarette. Beautiful Mustang !

Ernie Gahan
The Dover, NH driver, about the time he was NASCAR National Modified Champion.

Steve Danish
The NY racing legend with his last car.

David Lape
His first car; he still went by David, not Dave.

Andy Romano
With a beauitiful injected sedan around 1966.

Ed Ortiz
Like Meahl, another Buffalo area driver with the advantage of a thundering B&M motor.


Irv Taylor
The widely - hired driver who also could build a good car.

Robbie Kotary
Youngest of three Rome, NY racing brothers, he won his share with various owners.

Rene Charland
The Champ drove dozens of cars - this one is Russ Betz' 59.

Dutch Reed
The journeyman was one of many drivers to try out Tony VIllano's cars.

Irv Taylor
With Pete Corey's injected coupe. Darn few drivers got to drive Corey cars.

Paul Marshall
The big guy with Bill Fowler's 27Jr arou nd 1964.

Rene Charland
The four - time national champion, with his car for Fonda's Grand National race in 1965.

"The Judge" Jack Farquhar
With the superb Vince Barbuto car.

Don Antolick
One of the first Fonda late models.

 

FRANK SIMEK
Many Speedways in the Northeast
[Donated mostly by Rick Parry, Otto Graham,
Frank Simek and more]


Frank Simek and Yours Truly
My wife's trying to get Frank to smile and it's killing me.

Unknown
Many of Frank's portrait shots are men I don't recognize.

Unknown

Frank seemed to gravitate towards the lesser known driver, many times in his shots.


Unknown
Couldn't keep those eyes open.


Ernie Gahan
The 1967 NASCAR National Modified Champion.

George Janoski
A long-time top shelf driver from Connecticut.

Irv Taylor
A very exceptional NY driver for hire.

Bill Wimble
The 1960 and 61 NASCAR National Sportsman Champion.

Canido "Ken" Canestrari
The Cohoes body man had some of the best looking cars ever.

Mr. and Mrs Bill Wimble
The 1960 and 61 NASCAR National Sportsman Champion.


Ken "The Shoe" Shoemaker
Friend to Corey for life. A legendary driver for hire.

Pete Corey
Before he became The Crescent Hillbilly

Bruce Dostal
Very early in his career.

Robbie Kotary
During his days with the Ward Pettit 148.

Jean - Guy Chartrand
Announcer Mike Valchovic would call out: Jon Geee
Shartrayund, from Montreal.


Melvin "Bob" Bruno
Fonda invader from upstate Airborne Park Speedway.

Dave Lape
Around 1966.

Paul Marshall
Made a career mostly as a driver for hire.

Steve Danish
The legendary Cropseyville Courier.

Chet Hames
The flamboyant flagger during Fonda's Golden era.

Chuck Mahoney
Leadfooted and tough on equipment, the Utica native had once run in NASCAR's Short Track Division.

Jerry Cook
Very young here; would go on to multiple NASCAR National Modifed Championships.

Lou Lazzaro
No early Fonda set would be complete without the Utica runner, who was younger than most of the men he outran.

Jack "The Judge" Farquhar
The racing justice of the peace from Ephrata, NY. Here with an early ride, the John Cross 47.


Dave McCredy
The Sherburne, NY car dealer and owner of Wimble's 33's.

Howard "Jeep" Herbert
The popular veteran shown here in one of his stints with the Frank Trinkhaus 62.

Jim Luke
Another great Utica driver.

Jerry Townley
The Catskill, NY vet's career took off when he signed on with Pop Wilcox' #32.

Dick Nephew
The 1961 NASCAR National Sportsman Champion was considered another Airborne invader.

Unknown

Skip Roots
A few of the more regular racing portraits by Frank.

Mel Austin
A few of the more regular racing portraits by Frank.

"Tiger Tom" Kotary
A few of the more regular racing portraits by Frank.

Sterling "Buck" Holliday
A few of the more regular racing portraits by Frank.

Ken Shoemaker
A few of the more regular racing portraits by Frank.

 

THE CATAMOUNT / THUNDER ROAD AREA
Photogs like Earl Vierling, Bob Doyle, Denis LaChance, Helen Owen, and Many Others
[
A vast majority of the photos I have were not identified as to the photographer]


Harmon "Beaver " Dragon
A name synonymous particularly with Catamount Stadium.

Bob Dragon
The younger Dragon. There are few portrait shots like this of him.

Ron "Red Dog" Barcomb

A very young shot.


Maurice "Little Moe" Dubois
Top season was runnerup for state title in 1970.


Stanley "Stub" Fadden
One of the most popular drivers up here ever.


Bob Giroux
Ran until around 1974. Brother - in - law of Dubois.

Clem "Desperate" Despault
Raced through four decades.


Rene Maxfield
Known for racing with the tiger on his roof


Jim Gates
One of a long line of good Hardwick, VT drivers.

Larry Demar
1968 Catamount champion.

Joe Couture
Raced while supposedly also attending college.


Lee Carpenter
With the fan favorite Studebaker Lark.

Hector LeClair
Catamount champ one year.

Don Turner
The Flying Milkman.

Ernie Turner
The eldest [and first to race] of  three Turner brothers.

Ira Turner
The youngest [and strongest] of  three Turner brothers.

Don Bevins
One of the best - looking cars of the early late model sportsman era.


Ed Doggett
The Plymouth, NH driver was one of two to start the Chevelle revolution.

Eldon Fleury
The other guy to start the Chevelle trend [it's not shown here].

Red Fisk
Had a long career out of Northfield, VT.

Art Taylor
Won a track title in the 1960's.

Ray Manny
Came from the same town as Art Taylor. They were closely associated.

Webster Krupp
The St. Albans taxi driver had one great year at Catamount around 1966.

John Palmer
One of the racing Palmers from Georgia, VT. Not sure if brothers or cousins.

Scooter Palmer
One of the racing Palmers from Georgia, VT. Not sure if brothers or cousins.

Junior Gilman
Another of the racing drivers from Georgia, VT.

Gary Bevins
Younger Bevins brother with Don's former car.

Jim Gallison
With car builder and owner Gil Rhoades, himself a former driver.

 

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