BLACKTOPPER BOB
   Bob Brunell and His Many Cars

Peru, NY is known for a number of things, including a paving concern known as Noel J. Brunell & Son. The son, one Robert Brunell, was always
enthusiastic about the business [he can still talk your ear off about paving this or that], but his abiding pleasure was in watching stock car racing - particularly at the nearby Airborne Park Speedway in South Plattsburgh [ a stone's throw from a Brunell office and garage]. When old enough to do so, the bespectacled Bob took up racing, himself.
                   Usually using the numbers 17 or 26, Bob Brunell began with a NASCAR Hobby Division car, a Ford] and eventually wnet up to sportsman coupes - then modifieds - and finally late model sportsman cars. While also offering a speed shop [The Blacktopper Speed Shop], Brunell used some of the best car builders and equipment through his Pontiac coupe, the Mustang modified, and the Northern NASCAR and Busch Grand National North late models. He raced for several years. I consider Bob a friend and  today, when I discovered a photo of yet another Brunell car, I decided to do this page.


Bob Mackey Portrait Photo
A 1960's photo of Bob in the pre - driver's suit era at Airborne.


Courtesy of Cho Lee
After over ten years of doing this kind of research, I finally noticed that this #17 is Bob - trying his hand at the lead division at Catamount
in what I believe was the track's opening season. His name does, however, appear well up in the Flying Tiger standings for that year as well.
Most of the late model bodies were Canadians, like the big Pontiac of Paul Hamel [66].
Another possibility is that, given the shortage of cars
at Catamount in its early years, they may have let a few Flying Tigers run with the sportsman cars to fill a field. I now know from tthe
photo below this is 1966, after his Hobby class year. That photo shows Bob, Hamel, Beaver Dragon ina sportsman Falcon, and
Charlie Trombley.


Courtesy of Mark Austin


Courtesy of Cho Lee
T
he car on the inside of the last row is probably  Bob, with his Hobby class Flying Tiger car. He managed to place high everywhere he ran in 1965.

 
NASCAR 1965 Record Book Courtesy of Gary Nephew

NASCAR 1965 Record Book Courtesy of Gary Nephew 
 
NASCAR 1965 Record Book Courtesy of Gary Nephew
   
NASCAR 1965 Record Book Courtesy of Gary Nephew 

N
     
     

Courtesy of Mike Watts, Sr.
Thia might be the earliest sportsman coupe Bob had. The
GMCV truck hood was in vogue then.

Bob Mackey Photo
via Mike Watts, Sr

That same coupe lining up at Airborne.

Norman McIver Photo
via Cho Lee

About this time, VT photographer Norm McIver was doing everyone's portrait.

Bob Mackey Photo
via John Rock

Maybe that same coupe lining up at Airborne with a better graphics package.

Courtesy of Mike Watts, Sr
A 3 window coupe at Catamount.

Bill Balser Photo
Pulling off at
Catamount to pit as Hop Harrington and Bill Slater go by.

Paul Michaud Photo
That same coupe heating up at Airborne.
 
Bob Mackey Photo
via John Rock

That same coupe lining up at Airborne with a stellar field of modifieds.
 
Source Unknown
The M17  lining up
as the great Bobby Judkins works over his 2X, with Ed Flemke.
 
Bob Mackey Photo
via Dave Brown

Bob helped keep Airborne running during some tough years for the track. Here he awards Robin Branham at a banquet.

John Bisci Photo
via RIchard Chiccetti

Around 1969 or 70, he came out with this rather unusal Pontiac 3 window coupe.
 
Bob Mackey Photo
via John Rock

Brunell and the Pontiac had a" terrible accident" at Airborne.
 
John Bisci Photo
That same Pontiac [ in the background] out somewhere in Western NY.
 
Bob Frazier Photo
via LaFonda Family

Taking a win at
Devil's Bowl.
 
Bob Frazier Photo
via LaFonda Family

Taking a something else at
Devil's Bowl.

Bob Mackey Photo
via John Rock

Maybe the Mustang used 63 because someone had claimed the #17 that year.
 
Bob Frazier Photo
via LaFonda Family

Pacing a field at
Airborne.
 
Bob Frazier Photo
via LaFonda Family

Taking a win at
Airborne.
 
Bob Mackey Photo
via Gary Nephew

A pose with the Mustang at Airborne.
 
Source Unknown
The Mustang somewhere in Canada. 
 
Bob Mackey Photo
via John Rock

Mustang pose.
             
 
Ladabouche Photo
The first Northern NASCAR LMS was built about the same time as the Gremlin mod. This is 1972. 
 
Source Unknown
The graphics package was sure simillar.
 
Ladabouche Photo
The Gremlin arrives at Catamount for the 1972 All Star League show Next door is dirt specialist Johnny Harroll.
 
ACAQ Promo Shot
via Cam Gray

A portrait from approximately the same era.
 
Ladabouche Photo
The 2nd version of
the 1st Chevelle.
 
Ladabouche Collection
The next Chevelle used a newer body style.
 
Courtesy of Jim Watson
The 1970 Chevelle.

 
Denis LaChance Photo
via Andy Boright

The Chevelle enters
Catamount for practice.
 
   
Andy Boright Photo
The 2nd version of
the 1970 Chevelle.
 
Denis LaChance Photo
Next came the Nova era.
 
Rich Palmer Photo
The Nova next to Joe Thomas at Catamount.  The graphics package would carry on to the next car.
 
Ladabouche Photo
Thenext trend was the Le Mans body.
 
Chas. Casavant Photo
The Le Mans at the
annual Church St. show.


Photo by Paul Michaud
This shot is the best one of Brunell's Pontiac coupe I have.

 
Steve McKnight Photo
Bob [partly hiddeen behind Beaver] talks with the Dragons and with Brian and Mrs. Ross at Airborne around 2015.


Photographer Unknown
Bob talks with Jimmy Hensley at New Hampshire.

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