Harmon

Arguably, no two brothers have had a larger role in the history of Vermont stock car racing than Hall-of-Famer Harmon "Beaver" Dragon" and his younger brother Robert "Bobby" Dragon. Absolutely no one has had more to do do with the history of Catamount Stadium than these two, because of their hometown ties to the track, their longevity, and their myriad accomplishments. I would put Beaver ahead of Bob in the aspect of state history only because he is older and raced at more of the older, formative tracks than did his younger brother. Beaver's career has spanned almost five decades.

Photo Courtesy of the Bourgeois Family

["It takes a village ..."] Beaver with supporting Milton townspeople Arthur Pratt, John Bourgeois, and Keith Lombard. The car was the first of Beaver's rides.

Photo Courtesy of the Bourgeois Family

The first race car, at the John Bourgeois garage.

Photo Courtesy of the Bourgeois Family

A young Beaver Dragon poses with Jackie Bourgeois, daughter of the car owner. This is the 1938 Buick that became his first race car.

Photo Courtesy of Cho Lee

Beaver can be seen moving up to second place in this Otter Creek Speedway heat.

Photo Courtesy of Cho Lee

An Otter Creek Speedway heat is green flagged by starter Bucky Barlow. Beaver is the white coupe.

ACT Office Archives Photo

Beaver has graduated to a 1955 Ford. This one is probably at T-Road.

ACT Office Archives Photo

Two phases of the first 55 Ford: Beaver scores wins at Northeastern Speedway at Waterford in the car as #7a and then as 70 - when NASCAR made him lose the A .

Dragon Family Collection

The team decided to employ the skills of Ernie Preiss to build a sportsman. This Falcon was their first version. It ran in 1966,and was wrecked at Lebanon Valley.

Photo Courtesy of the John Bourgeois Family

The Bourgeois Texaco #7 is almost ready to go. Ernie and Beaver, with John in the background.

Photo Courtesy of the John Bourgeois Family

The upset Catamount Stadium victory with the #7. The car was only a sportsman, among modifieds - and Beaver was the first Vermonter to win in that division at Catamount.

ACT Office Archives Photo

Beaver walks away from a crash scene as Russ Ingerson rolls away a tire lost from someone's car. Third driver is unidentified.

Photo Courtesy of Lloyd & Greg Gilbert

The John Bourgeois - owned #7 Coupe, 1967.

Photo Courtesy of Lloyd & Greg Gilbert

Beaver talks on the track to the photographer as the field awaits the start of the feature. His coupe, with the ad for John's Texaco, is seen in the background.

Dragon Family Collection

Beaver receives a trophy for Sportsman points champion from a smartly-dressed Bob Doyle.

Photo Courtesy of Lloyd & Greg Gilbert

Beaver with one of his earliest Flying Tigers, the Blake - Devarney Ford from Georgia, VT

Photo Courtesy of John Grady -

When Beaver and Bob exiled themselves from Catamount in the early 1970's Beaver drove for the Mike [Richards team at Devil's Bowl. Richard's car still runs there in 2005.]

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Photo Courtesy of John Grady -

This tremendously significant photo shows the melding of two Vermont Hall-of-Famers: Vince Quenneville, Sr. driving Beaver Dragon's Devil's Bowl coupe.

Beaver ran this Ford out of Hancock, VT until the Everest / Robar group bought him a competitive car.

From an old Catamount Program

Beaver wins one in the former Russ Ingerson car that was purchased for him by Paul Robar and Herb Everest.

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Dragon Family Collection

Beaver's newly-built Country Dollar Chevelle on its maiden voyage at Catamount in 1973.

The Paul Robar / Herb Everest - owned Chevelle, circa 1972. The first one built by the team.

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Beaver poses with the first Paul Robar / Herb Everest - owned Chevelle at Devil's Bowl. He has picked up a local sponsor in Butch Rogers here.

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Dragon Family Collection

The Allison-built 1968 Chevelle, bought out of Alabama in 1975.

Dragon Family Collection

The former James Blenkensop car, bought from Allison.

Dragon Family Collection -

The Allison-built 1968 Chevelle, bought out of Alabama in 1975.

Dragon Family Collection -

The switch over to Vermont Mack sponsorship was significant.

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Dragon Family Collection -

The Vermont Mack team became the envy of the circuit, with its great equipment and generous sponsor.

Bob Doyle Photo -

The Laughlin-built Nova, one of Beaver's best cars.

Dragon Family Collection -

The bad wreck at Oxford in the car's first race.

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Bulldog Country was a very welcome place for Beaver to be during those years.

ACT Archives Photo -

This transition photo shows Beaver with Quint Bosivert's first car and his old sponsorship.

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LaChance Photo -

Beaver in Quint Boisvert's Black Magic car that won a championship.

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Dragon Family Collection -

New Bosivert Ventura and new H.A. Manosh sponsorship.

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Dragon Family Collection -

The Boisvert Team.

Courtesy of Darrell Rogers -

Beaver tours Catamount in the last version of the Boisvert car he ever raced.

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Courtesy of Pascal Magnum's Site -

Beaver had a brief stint with this Canadian racing team, but the car was not competitive.

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Dragon Family Collection -

The Deering Brothers came along in time to restart Beaver's career with a competitive car in 1983.

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Dragon Family Collection -

1984: The Deering Brothers join up with Rossi Buick to make one of the most potent teams on the circuit.

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Dragon Family Collection -

A win for the Rossi Buick team.

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Photo Courtesy of Darrell Rogers

The Skip Farrell - owned Pontiac Grand Prix, circa 1985

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Dragon Family Collection -

The L. E. Pepsi Farrell team keeps a close eye on the competition during practice laps.

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Dragon Family Collection -

After the NASCAR/ACT split, Beaver's team went with ACT. This is typical of the equipment the team had. Future crew chief Rodney Weed is at far right.

Dragon Family Collection -

The transition over to New England Air. Note brother, Bob, has the Rossi Buick sponsorship here.

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Dragon Family Collection -

The N.E. Air Car in Canada

Dragon Family Collection -

1987 After the famous Catamount wreck. He did close out Catamount in style.

CLICK HERE to go to a page showing Mike Cain's series of photos on Beaver's crash - and other photos, as well.

Other rides. The Nephew Racing 6, out of Mooers Forks, NY.

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Other rides. A car out of Quebec City.

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Dragon Family Collection -

1992. Still finishing high. Here, Beaver poses with Junior Hanley. He has the Harrison Concrete sponsorship at this time.

Dragon Family Collection -

Beaver tries out a midget some time in the 1960's.

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Dragon Family Collection -

Beaver with dear friends [and former car owners] Herb and Phyllis Everest after a win in the late 1980's.

Dragon Family Collection -

Beaver with the MGM ride in the 1990's.

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Dragon Family Collection -

Beaver driving in an Enduro, with some pretty high class sponsorship. This might have been Catamount's last race program.

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Dragon Family Collection -

Another good ride. MacKenzie Meats.

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Dragon Family Collection -

Beaver watches heat action with the MacKenzie crew.

Photographer Unknown -

Other rides. Owner unknown.

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NEAR Site Photo -

Beaver is presented with his NEAR Hall of Fame plaque by Tom Curley.

NEAR Site Photo -

Beaver [upper left] with the other members of his NEAR Hall of Famer induction group.

Dragon Family Collection

It wasn't all glory !

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Dragon Family Collection

One huge aspect of the Dragon career - wife, Loa Jane Dragon.

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Dragon Family Collection -

With the Dick Glines car in Canada.

Courtesy of Chris Companion
With Ken Squier - around 1973

Courtesy of Chris Companion
1973 Mooching a Devils Bowl trophy queen. NOT one of Jane's favorites.

Courtesy of Chris Companion
The Pelletier car - around 1972

The final finishing order of the Permatex race that Beaver participated in. Beaver is in 22nd place, just a few spots behind the great Bobby Allison. Also seen in the finish are Jean-Paul Cabana and the newcomer Francis Affleck [shown below], who would later die driving a Bill Hollar car in a Grand National race.

Courtesy of Cho Lee
Bob Dragon, very early in his career, on the Victory Stand at Catamount. Tom Tiller is
to the left, and Larry Demar is to the right.

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Photo Courtesy of John Bourgeois Family

Bob Dragon's, first car at John Bourgeois' gas station in Milton, Vt. around 1966 or 1967.

Photo Courtesy of John Bourgeois Family

Bob Dragon, around 1966, with his first car at Catamount.

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Photo Courtesy of Lloyd & Gregg Gilbert

This is another photo of a very young Bobby Dragon with his Flying Tiger car. Pre - 1970

Cat Program Photo

Bob and Claire Blanchard discuss matters in the handicapper's booth at Catamount around 1972.

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Photo Courtesy of Lloyd & Gregg Gilbert

Good early portrait of Bobby Dragon. I have no clue what is going on with the helmet.

Photo from Burlington Free Press

Three Vermont racing pioneers: from right - Jack DuBrul, Bobby Dragon, and Beaver Dragon at Plattsburgh's Airborne Park.

Photo from Burlington Free Press

Bob talks to fans after the Milk Bowl in 1968.

Photo by Bob Frazier

During Bob's exile from Catamount. This was his pavement car - a former Bill Wilson dirt car from the Penn /NJ circuits. This was my first big stock car lettering job. [Note the ad he let me have].

Two of Vermont racing's most prominent names: Ken Squier and Bob Dragon.

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Photo Courtesy of Lloyd & Gregg Gilbert

Bob had one of the first big sponsorships in Catamount history when he wrested the Howard Bank sponsorship away from Bobby Giroux. The trunk had a replica of a Bank Americard on it with Bob's signature.