Roy "Pappy" Forsyth

Walter Perkins' Contributions from August, 2011

     One of the state's earliest superstars was an out - of stater named Roy Forsyth, from Keene, New Hampshire. Apparently, Forsyth tended to be competing against drivers younger than he was, thus the nickname "Pappy" came about. It is not a particularly accurate nickname given the fact he had movie star looks and never really seemed that old, but it stuck.

    Forsyth started out at tracks in his region, most notably the Cheshire County Fairgrounds track near Keene, NH.. The track was run by an association and Pappy served as one of its presidents. He had keen competition then [if you'll excuse the pun] - the likes of Art Rousseau, Rene Charland, Cecil Bosworth, Art and Mike Cody, Ted Brown, Ernie Gahan, Sonny Rabidou, and Buddy Bardwell.

Scanned from an old issue of The Keene Sentinel

     Although he was busy as MSCRA President, Forsyth was still able to be one of the track's premier competitors. He won numerous races at the fairgrounds - and at other tracks in the area, as well. His accomplishments earned him a good reputation and he caught the eye of an industrious Northern Vermont car owner named George Barber, of Bradford, Vermont. Barber and Forsyth would soon form a partnership that would be very dominant in the Northern Vermont region for years to come.

Scanned from an old issue of The Keene Sentinel

                 Barber's cream - colored Bradford Auto Supply #46 coupe was soon to be synonymous with excellence and success at places like Northeast Speedway in Waterford, Vermont and Barre, Vermont's Thunder Road. Eventually, Barber would add a second coupe, #47, but it was Pappy Forsyth who had established the team as one of the best in the history of racing in the state.


Bill Ladabouche Photos

The George Barber coupe Forsyth drove, as it is restored today
by Lloyd Hutchins, of East Barre, VT


Courtesy of George Hill
The earlier 80 coupe, seemingly
in trouble at Safford Park, Keene.
 

Courtesy of George Hill
Apparently the spin was minor.
Victory Lane, the same day.

Courtesy of George Hill
The familiar winning smile
at Safford Park, Keene.

Rutland Herald Photo
An earlier 80 coupe, in a
heat race at Pico Raceway,
Rutland, VT
 

Les King Photo
Courtesy of
Cho Lee
In his first year with George Barber.
This is supposedly Stafford Sprgs.

Courtesy of FE Hart Family
via Arnie Hill

Collecting high points trophy
at Colchester-Bayview Speedway.
 

Courtesy of Mike Gilbert
The Forsythe coupe at
Dog River Speedway in
Northfield, VT

ACT Archives Courtesy
of Cho Lee
Roy and George awarded
trophies at the Thunder Road
banquet in the early 1960's

ACT Archives Courtesy
of Cho Lee
Forsythe, Granger, and Pierson receive T Road trophies in 1960


Courtesy of Cho Lee
The trophy seen above from Colchester-Bayview Speedway.

WALTER PERKINS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE AHLERS SCRAPBOOK ON FORSYTH


Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
The Forsythe coupe at
Safford Park Speedway in
Keene, NH

 


Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
Pay stub from Pico
Raceway's 1st Show.

 


ACT Archives Courtesy
of Cho Lee
Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
The Forsythe coupe,
before he bought it,
with the NY owner or
driver.


Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
1951 Colchester-
Bayview Spdwy
Ticket Stubs

 


Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
What might be his
first coupe, ready
to go, at home.

 


Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
1951 Claremont Spdwy
Ticket Stub

 


Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
What might be his
first coupe, possibly
at Malletts Bay.


Rutland Hist.Society
That first car, painted
more like his 80's
usually appeared - at
Pico Raceway's 1st
program in 1951.


Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
3 shots of his
first coupe, running at
some unknown track.
Might be Malletts Bay.


 

Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
1952 Colchester-
Bayview Spdwy
State Championship
Race. Trophy Plaque.

Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
More of Colchester-
Bayview Spdwy
Trophy

Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
1951 Claremont Spdwy
Trophy

Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
1951 Consi Pay
Stub from an
Unknown Track.


Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
Norway, ME
Racing Stub.


Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
Forsyth's first George
Barber car - in a wreck at Claremont.


Courtesy of Walter Perkins
from the Ahlers Scrapbook
Another shot of his
second car - before
he bought it.

 

 

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