Few men ever inspired the kind of intimidation as did Ronnie Marvin, a huge logger from Bethlehem, New Hampshire. A hulking giant of a man with a menacing scowl, Marvin came upon the Northeastern racing scene at small tracks like Concord, Vermont and Waterford, Vermont's Northeastern Speedway - before establishing himself at Thunder Road as one of the flathead era's premier wheelmen.
      When the track phased out the flatheads in 1965, Marvin was still running the flathead Ford competitively against the newly - arrived NASCAR V-8 sportsman cars. By the time I reached the area in 1968, he seemed to be long gone, until, around 1971, he re-surfaced with a gorgeous Buick late model sportsman. Marvin mauled his way through many more years in the late models before retiring around 1985. He suffered from cancer and was gone soon thereafter.
       Marvin, his owner Fred LaPrade, and his familiar white #13 left an impression on northern Vermont and New Hampshire racing that will never be erased.

FLATHEAD COUPE ERA

Photo Source Unknown Marvin, in the familiar 13 flies checkers at Catamount in 1965. This meant he beat V-8 cars, which Catamount mostly featured.	Photo Source Unknown Marvin, in the familiar 13 flies checkers at Catamount in 1965. This meant he beat V-8 cars, which Catamount mostly featured. dozens of times in cars like this one. Notice the size of the man Compared to the interior of  the car.
Photo by Doyle, Courtesy of Cho Lee Ronnie blasts off a turn at T Road, with help from X-1, Chester T. Wood. Believe me, Wood paid fro this one.	Photo Courtesy of Cho Lee Marvin in the midst of flathead action in the early 1960's at Thunder Road. Mike Cody is 50; Norm Chaloux is 12, and probably the 93 is Granger, but it may be the next driver.

LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN ERA