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.


Courtesy of Cho Lee

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

 

billwimble.jpg (22971 bytes)
Otto Graham Website
Bill Wimble
Lisbon, NY

 

Narducci.jpg (18775 bytes)
Otto Graham Website
Ron Narducci
E. Haddam, CT 

 

monks1.jpg (22442 bytes)
Russ Bergh Photo
Lou Lazarro
Utica, NY

 

COUPES ERA

Desmarais.JPG (44667 bytes)
 Photo Source Unknown
Gaston Desmarais
Tupper Lake, NY
Beaver Coupe.JPG (103965 bytes)
Courtesy of John Bourgeois
Beaver Dragon
Milton, VT

 

Early_Beaver_Coupe_Fullview.jpg (106173 bytes)
Lloyd & Gregg Gilbert
Beaver Dragon
Milton, VT

 

Beaver_The_Falcon_2.JPG (92835 bytes)
Dragon Family Collection
Beaver Dragon
Milton, VT

 

EARLY FLYING TIGERS

DuBrul_1966_Malta.jpg (118554 bytes)
Courtesy of Bob Novak
Jack DuBrul
Burlington, VT

 

lCorey.jpg (149561 bytes)
Russ Bergh Photo
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

 

berniemiller.jpg (61793 bytes)
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

BugsStevens.jpg (17516 bytes)
Norwood Arena Website
Bugs Stevens
Rehobeth, MA

 

guy_chartrand_69_coupe.jpg (109499 bytes)
Otto Graham Website
Jean Guy Chartrand
Montreal, QU

 

Dick Clark.jpg (20083 bytes)
Otto Graham Website
Dick Clark
Munnsville, NY
edflemke.jpg (23927 bytes)
John Grady Photo
Eddie Flemke
New Britain, CT
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN

Early

Later

Harold Ormsby.jpg (19583 bytes)
Bob Mackey Photo
Harold Ormsby
Schuyler Falls, NY

 

Jerry_Cook_LaterCoupe.jpg (28009 bytes)
L. Gilbert Family
Jerry Cook
Lockport, NY

richie2.jpg (23388 bytes)
Otto Graham Website
Richie Evans
Rome, NY
Cagle Coach.jpg (24746 bytes)
Otto Graham Website
Will Cagle
Tampa, FL

 

MINI STOCKS

Early_Godard_Cropped.JPG (317044 bytes)
Cho Lee Collection
Marcel Godard
Montreal, QU

Courtesy of  Cho Lee

 

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.

 

barre_start.jpg (116662 bytes)
ACT Office Archives
A 1965 heat race starts, with the flatheads and overheads mixed in together.

 

STREET STOCKS

al_theanimal_simoneau.jpg (82785 bytes)

Bill_Slater_V8.jpg (26888 bytes)
The Pines Website Photo
Bill Slater
Manchester,  CT
Betz_Bruno_Cars_Catamount.jpg (27719 bytes)
Courtesy of  Cho Lee
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.
MacTavish.JPG (66481 bytes)
Russ Bergh Photo
Don MacTavish
Dover, MA

John GradyPhoto
 

 

 

Evans_Lancaster_BrunelleBackground_Bisci.JPG (118063 bytes)
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

Beaver_SCarConn_91_Pepsi_Milwaukee_DonTheis.jpg (126264 bytes)

Ray_Forte_Coupe.JPG (68352 bytes)
Courtesy of John Grady
Ray Forte
Montreal, QU


The Forte coupe
after a big fire at
Catamount
Kenny_KIng_Cropped.JPG (40494 bytes)
Courtesy of Pascal
 "Magnum" Site
Kenny King,
Rosemere, QU


Mike Watts Photo
[Photo is large]
karvonen_coupe_era.jpg (17002 bytes)
Bob Karvonen,
Wichenden, MA
from an unknown 
Canadian publication.
bernie_griffinth_cavalcade_portrait.jpg (81229 bytes)
Cavalcade of Auto 
Racing Photo 
Bernie Griffith,
Plattsburgh, NY

 

NEW TIGERS

 
frank_provost_etal_cavalcade.jpg (92315 bytes)
Cavalcade of Auto 
Racing Photo 
Frank Provost,
Cadyville, NY
To the right of 
man in uniform
harry_provost_cavalcade_portrait.jpg (53296 bytes)
Cavalcade of Auto 
Racing Photo 
Harry Provost,
Cadyville, NY

Bob Mackey Photo 
Courtesy of John Rock
and Bobby Castine
mack_miller_cavalcade_portrait.jpg (86329 bytes)
Cavalcade of Auto 
Racing Photo 
Mack Miller,
Ellenburg 
Depot, NY

Bob Mackey Photo 
Courtesy of John Rock
and Bobby Castine

 
maurice_taillard_mohawk_chief_falcon.jpg (182785 bytes)
Courtesy of John Grady 
Maurice Tallard,
Quebec City, QU
 
Paul Michaud Photo 
Courtesy of
Christian
"Ti-Gaz" Genest
Eddie Flemke, Sr,
New Britain, CT
Bob Judkins 2X

 

Paul Michaud Photo 
Courtesy of
Christian
"Ti-Gaz" Genest
Catamount modified pits
Early 1968 season.

 

Paul Michaud Photo 
Courtesy of
Christian
"Ti-Gaz" Genest
Bill Slater,
Manchester CT

 
 


Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock and Bobby Castine
A 1965 field of sportsman coupes takes off at Catamount. Visible are: [left] Cabana, Godard, Manny,
Desmarais, DuBrul, Miller, Ormsby, King, and Bridges.


 

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@comcast.net

or

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

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