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

 

Ladabouche Photo
Spectators examine the Buick Skylark of Marvin during Spring Green practice at Catamount in 1971. The amazing part was that no
one else was building anything GM but Chevies then.
 

Photo Courtesy of Andy Boright
Probably the same day.

 

Ladabouche Photo
The Buick Skylark - later in that first season [or maybe the 2nd].
 

Photo Courtesy of Dan Nolin
Marvin at Catamount with a heat win.

Photo Source Unknown
Marvin leads Dion, in a later Chevelle, in the late '70's.

Photo Courtesy of Dan Nolin
The Buick Skylark of Marvin during a race a Thunder Road.
 
   

Ladabouche Collection
The plain white Chevelle Marvin ran for several years.
 

Photo Source Unknown
Ron chewing at an official at Catamount.

Photo Courtesy of Cho Lee
Lunch at Thunder Road.

Photo Courtesy of Chris Companion
A gentler moment with Linda LaBerge [rt]
and another Catamount Kitten.
 

Photo Courtesy of Chris Companion
Are you touching me, boy ?
 

Photo Source Unknown
The Chevelle, brand new, in Canada.

Photo Courtesy of Andy Boright
A new Chevelle in Catamount pits.

 


Photo by McIver
Wow, does he look like son, Ricky here

LAPRADE CAR CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS


Photo Courtesy of Cho Lee
Marvin and Fred LaPrade discuss the construction of
the 1968 Chevelle Marvin ran for a few years.

 

Photo Courtesy of Cho Lee
Full car view
 

Photo Courtesy of Cho Lee
Ronnie and Fred find something amusing.

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