CATAMOUNT COUPE ERA COMPETITORS

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    When Catamount opened for business early in 1965, it was assumed that the track's principal focus would be the firmly-established NASCAR modified and sportsman cars, The Northeast was a hotbed for this racing, with New York featuring the dirt coupes and Southern New England specializing in the pavement cars. With its perfect location, right on Interstate 89 and not far from Interstate 87, the track stood to attract Airborne's fields, local drivers who had been running Thunder Road, and any number of Canadian cars, as well.

   As it turned out, the coupes left Catamount  during the 1968 season and only returned for a few special shows, from that time forward. The support division, having taken on a life of its own beyond the founders' wildest dreams, would become the star attraction. But the big cars left a permanent impression on the track and on the town that loved the track. People found themselves named after Jean-Paul Cabana, and some households even named pets for their favorite drivers.

Harold Ormsby brings up the rear on the parade lap for a coupe heat at Catamount, Year One. Neither Cho nor I could identify the other cars. Note the one flathead mixed in with the overheads.

 

MAIN COMPETITORS PAGE dicknephew.jpg (19113 bytes)

Otto Graham Website

Dick Nephew
Mooers Forks, NY

 

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Otto Graham Website

Bill Wimble
Lisbon, NY

 

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Otto Graham Website

Ron Narducci
E. Haddam, CT 

 

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Russ Bergh Photo

Lou Lazarro
Utica, NY

 
COUPES ERA

Desmarais.JPG (44667 bytes)

Gaston Desmarais
Tupper Lake, NY

Beaver Coupe.JPG (103965 bytes)

Courtesy of John Bourgeois

Beaver Dragon
Milton, VT

 

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Lloyd & Gregg Gilbert

Beaver Dragon
Milton, VT

 

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Dragon Family Collection

Beaver Dragon
Milton, VT

 
EARLY FLYING TIGERS

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Jack DuBrul
Burlington, VT

 

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Pete Crescent
Crescent, NY

 

Doc Blanchard.jpg (20558 bytes)

Otto Graham Website

Doc Blanchard
Gloversville, NY

 

Gahan 29.jpg (19950 bytes)

Otto Graham Website

Ernie Gahan
Dover. NH

 
LIMITED SPORTSMAN

Ernie Ried.jpg (16086 bytes)

Otto Graham Website

Ernie Ried
Malone, NY

 

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Conde & Parry Website

Bernie Miller
Canastota, NY

 

Andy Romano.jpg (20803 bytes)

Courtesy of Jim Ladabouche

Andy Romano
Johnstown, NY

 

Buck Holliday.jpg (13407 bytes)

Otto Graham Website

Buck Holliday
Waddington, NY

 

HURRICANES

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Norwood Arena Website

Bugs Stevens
Rehobeth, MA

 

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Otto Graham Website

Jean Guy Chartrand
Montreal, QU

 

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Otto Graham Website

Dick Clark
Munnsville, NY

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Eddie Flemke
New Britain, CT
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN

Early

Later

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Harold Ormsby
Schuyler Falls, NY

 

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L. Gilbert Family

Jerry Cook
Lockport, NY

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Otto Graham Website

Richie Evans
Rome, NY

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Otto Graham Website

Will Cagle
Tampa, FL

 
MINI STOCKS

Early_Godard_Cropped.JPG (317044 bytes)

Cho Lee Collection

Marcel Godard
Montreal, QU

 

Trombley_at_Speed.JPG (59690 bytes)

Courtesy of  Cho Lee

Charlie Trombley
Mooers Forks, NY

Manny_Flag.jpg (96746 bytes)
ACT Office Archives
Andre Manny
Montreal, QU

MrBlackChevy Site
Photographer Unknown		 Wayman 24.jpg (160148 bytes)

Russ Bergh Photo

Don Wayman
Cobleskill, NY
GRAND AMERICANS

Courtesy: Magnum's Site

Paul Hamel
Montreal, QU

 

 cabana_white_5a.jpg (383620 bytes) Cho Lee Collection
Jean-Paul Cabana
Beloeil, QU

John Grady Photo		 Early_Coupe_Lineup.JPG (27176 bytes)

Catamount Stadium History

An early coupe lineup shows how desperate Catamount was for cars in the first season.

 

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ACT Office Archives

A 1965 heat race starts, with the flatheads and overheads mixed in together.

 
STREET STOCKS

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The Pines Website Photo

Bill Slater
Connecticut

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The Russ Betz car [59] of Rene Charland and Vic Wolfe's 66, driven by Bob Bruno, sit in the pits at Catamount Stadium in 1966 or 1967.

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Russ Bergh Photo

Don MacTavish
Dover, MA

Mike Watts Photo
[Photo is large]

 

 

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John Bisci Turn 5 Photo

This shot of popular Richie Evans shows the Bob Brunelle car on the right, which ran at Catamount out of Peru, NY.

 

 
ACT CARS

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Courtesy of John Grady

Ray Forte
Montreal, QU



The Forte coupe
after a big fire at
Catamount

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Courtesy of Pascal
 "Magnum" Site

Kenny King,
Rosemere, QU

Mike Watts Photo
[Photo is large]

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Bob Karvonen,
Wichenden, MA

from an unknown 
Canadian publication.

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Cavalcade of Auto 
Racing Photo 

Bernie Griffith,
Plattsburgh, NY

 
NEW TIGERS

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Cavalcade of Auto 
Racing Photo 

Frank Provost,
Cadyville, NY

To the right of 
man in uniform

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Cavalcade of Auto 
Racing Photo 

Harry Provost,
Cadyville, NY

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Cavalcade of Auto 
Racing Photo 

Mack Miller,
Ellenburg 
Depot, NY

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Courtesy of John Grady 

Maurice Tallard,
Quebec City, QU
         

Do you have pictures of other drivers from this era at Catamount ? If you would like to make them available for me to place on this site contact me at: wladabou@Adelphia.net

or

Bill Ladabouche
23 York Street
Swanton, VT 05488
802-868-4339

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