The Racin' Rogers Family 
            of Castleton, Vermont

        Beginning in either 1949 or 1950, the Rogers family of Castleton, Vermont - expert welders to this day -  began an involvement in stock car racing. Probably starting at tracks like Fairmont Parkl Motor Speedway [Hugh Young's re-incarnation of the old Fair Haven fairgrounds horse track], the short - lived Pico Raceway in Rutland, the Mettowee Speedway in North Granville, NY, and possibly even the very brief - tenured Bomoseen Raceway in Hydeville, George Rogers parlayed his welding talents into building race cars that were, in most cases, superior to most of what was running in that era.
                   According to local lore, men who were helping George at his garage brought with them a small boy who had a take a leak outside the garage somewhere. Overcome with relief, the tot yelled to no one in particular - "You pee, too ! You pee, too!" From that the Rogers number UP-2 was born. Later, Fair Haven's Vic Love, an acquaintance of Rogers', would field a team car, the similar - looking UP-3. Much like other fussy mechanical artisans of the  time such as the famed Pete Corey, Rogers could be a little testy to be around if things weren't going the way he wanted; but, his skill in the racing game was unquestionable.
                   The Rogers influence would spread through son, Butch and later to admiring neighbors like farm kid, Charlie Brown. Both young men would have excellent racing careers of their own. Brown's respect for the elder Rogers was so great, he never refers to George as anything except "Mr. Rogers". In time, another neighbor, Bruce Milo, would work closely particularly with Butch and succeed in racing. SInce then, the Milos and Rogers have broken ties; but, the link with the Brown family remains strong
                   This page will show George's cars, from earliest photos I have to the last. It will also feature all the great Butch Rogers shots that son, Tim has provided. It will show the Charlie Brown Rogers -built race car, too.

GEORGE

Courtesy of Mark LeFrancois What I believe to be the earliest Rogers car, at Fairmont, around 1951.	Courtesy of Mark LeFrancois What I believe to be the Rogers team car, at Fairmont, around 1951. Vic Love's UP-3.	Both Courtesy of Mark LeFrancois Things did not work so well for the UP-3.	Courtesy of Bud Brooks What I believe to be the earliest Rogers car, in 3rd at Fairmont, around 1951 in old 8MM movies.	Courtesy of Bud Brooks The crew checks in at Rogers car  at Fairmont, around 1951 in old 8MM movies.	Courtesy of Bud Brooks The Rogers car, behind the car with no trunk lid at Fairmont, around 1951 in old 8MM movies.	Courtesy of Bud Brooks George Rogers, with a win at Fairmont, around 1951 in old 8MM movies.
Ladabouche Photo After a hiatus of ten years, George joined 1950's rival Gene Tetreault in getting his old car out of mothballs and running at Fairmont Speedway. He is 3rd from right here.	Courtesy of Davis Family The Rogers car, at home, sporting the Mal Brown lettering and Eli Vadnais paint job. George raced it a while without paint.	Bob Frazier Photo via Cavalcade of Auto Racing A good shot of George, without the familiar white coverall uniform he drove in.	Courtesy of Davis Family Fans and neighbors crowd around at another good run at Fairmont.	Ladabouche Collection A damaged Rutland Herald photo of George right after he returned to racing in 1962.	Bob Frazier Photo Courtesy of Norm Vadnais This photo from the 1962 Rutland Fair show shows the close - knit racing community from the Castleton area. The guys around George's UP2 are id'd on the picture. Eli painted the UP2 car.	Bob Frazier Photo Courtesy of Norm Vadnais This photo from the 1962 Rutland Fair Bob Dumas is seen in front of the prominently - white UP2.
Bob Frazier Photo Courtesy of Norm Vadnais This photo from the 1962 Rutland Fair grandstands shows the UP2 next to John Spafford's 77.	Courtesy of L.A. West Very early shot of first coupe, on track at Fairmont.	Val Blicarcz Photo When Fairmont shifted to the overhead V8 in 1965, George refused to budge from his GMC six cylinder. He built this ultra - light coupe to compete [and did].	Courtesy of Davis Family Very early shot of second coupe, with temporary lettering.	Bob Frazier Photo via Cavalcade of Auto Racing A good shot of George, with the familiar white coverall uniform he drove in	Bob Frazier Photo via Chris Companion George and the six banger winning a race in 1965. He stuck an overhead in the car in 1966.	Bob Frazier Photo via Courtesy of Wes Moody  George throws the UP2 into turn two at Fairmont in 1965, competing with the overhead V8's of Quenneville, Stevens, and Bosworth.
Bob Frazier Photo Courtesy of LaFond Family This photo from the 1965 season shows George checking out the six cylinder motor.	Bob Frazier Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers After selling the light coupe to Bob Harrison, George built this '56 Chevy for Devil's Bowl's late model class. Despite not feeling well he did fine.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's Rogers, with checkers,  after another win.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's George Rogers, at speed, with the '56 Chevy.	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's Rogers, with CJ RIchards after the big championship win. George looks very thin here.	Courtesy of Tim Rogers The Rogers family has pulled George's first coupe out of a gully for reastoration.

BUTCH

Rogers Family Photo via Tim Rogers Butch started out with this '57 Chevy in the late models, with a variation of dad's number. That is Butch in the foreground.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers Another '57 Chevy - maybe an earlier one.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers Another '57 Chevy photo with the crew - at Devil's Bowl.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers Another '57 Chevy shot, in front of the D Bowl faithful.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers Sharp - looking Chevy in D Bowl pits.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers The '57 Chevy, apparently in a local parade.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers Five small photos of the '57 Chevy.
Bob Frazier Photo Ladabouche Collection The Dexter Dorr Chevy that may have served as inspiration for Butch's steering setups. Although, the steering wheel doesn't sit the same.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers The 1st Camaro, under construction. The photo is small.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers The 1st Camaro, under construction. The photo is small. That's Butch in the shot.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers The 1st Camaro, under construction. The photo is small. Too bad - this is the best one.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers The 1st Camaro, under construction. The photo is small.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers The 1st Camaro, completed - at Devil's Bowl around 1977.	Bob Frazier Photo Ladabouche Collection The 1st Camaro, with its builder and driver.
Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers The 1st Camaro, in poor light.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers A Camaro win at Devil's Bowl, with Paul Cummings.	Ladabouche Photo Butch fusses around the 2nd Camaro in 1983. Parked next to Bruce Milo's mod, they were still getting along then.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers The 2nd Camaro with Butch , Tim, and other family members.	Rogers Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers Butch, with Tim. Obviously Tim wasn't around for the first Camaro - except to see it at Charlie Brown's.	Brown Family Photo Courtesy of Tim Rogers Charlie Brown with the first Rogers - built Camaro.	Ladabouche Collection Ray Nutting, with the Rogers - built 56 Chev. he even kept George's name on the car for a year.

Brown Family Photo  Courtesy of Tim Rogers
This shot shows the center steering and the brake lever.

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