CATAMOUNT COMPETITORS

The huge, roaring automatic transmission Hurricanes had been refined and held sway as Catamount's support division for a few years before Northern NASCAR officials decided that smaller six cylinder cars might be an idea to explore. Besides the fact the nation had just gone through the energy crisis of 1973 - 74, the emergence of the smaller "Pony Cars" in NASCAR's Grand Touring division Down South had really thrust the smaller cars into the national spotlight. Catamount had even hosted this division, one year, and the crowd was treated to performances by names like Tiny Lund, Richard Childress, Bobby Allison, and Ken Rush.

So, in 1977, the Hurricanes were to phase out and the new Grand Americans came in. Many of the Hurricane drivers, like Perry Poquette and Darrell Owen resisted this downsizing and either retired or went up to the late models. But many of the Hurricane teams embraced the new cars. Milton, Vermont driver Jim Barton was one of the first to field a six cylinder Camaro. George McRae blossomed out with an innovative AMC, and Dave Gibbs fielded a Ford. Richard Buzzi and Larry Caron, became powerhouses in the division. New stars also came up and started new in the Grand Americans, such as Paul Donahue, Bruce Jaycox, and Henry Van Acker.

George Boudreau leads Grand American rivals Larry Caron [Z28], Carl Nelson [0], and Henry Van Acker.

Expenses of running in the Grand Americans started to get out of hand, when teams started buying the Ed Howe chassis and expensive motors. The class became a showdown between a few cars like Buzzi, Caron, and Ervine "Brother" Eastman, a transplanted Bear Ridge star with a car more expensive than many of the late model sportsman cars. By 1980, the GA's were gone, although many would resurface as the new Flying Tigers by 1983.

MAIN COMPETITORS PAGE	Jim Barton Milton, VT One of the very first GA's ACT Archives Later version	Andy Boright Photo Mallory Hutchins, Hudson, QU	ACT Archives B. J. Willard Charlotte, VT Catamount's best ever female driver Catamount Yearbook	ACT Archives Dave Gibbs Westford, VT Current Montpelier car dealer Wade Walker in the background
COUPES ERA	ACT Archives Ervine "Brother" Eastman Post Mills, VT Jim Vance Camaro Mark Austin Photo Winning GA Milk Bowl	ACT Archives George Boudreau Colchester, VT	Lonnie Terry Guy Brown Hardwick, VT	ACT Archives Larry Garen Charlotte, VT Former Larry Caron car Chris Humphrey Photo
EARLY FLYING TIGERS	Lonnie Terry Red Meade N. Hyde Park, VT	Lonnie Terry Bob Wood, Plattsburgh, NY	Lonnie Terry Wes Cota Essex Jct., VT	ACT Archives Three of the best the division ever saw: Jay Yantz [foreground], Richard Buzzi [partially hidden], and Henry Van Acker [right] Mark Austin Photo Henry Van Acker, Champlain, VT
LIMITED SPORTSMAN	Bob Doyle Photo courtesy of Andy Boright. Larry Caron, So. Burlington, VT Mark Austin Photo	Bob Doyle Photo courtesy of Lonnie Terry. Alvin Gover Burlington, VT A former Harry Rathburn Camaro	Mark Austin Photo Richard Buzzi, of Burlington, VT confers with a friend in the Catamount pits. Tom [TR] Waters' green Camaro #28 in the background	Mark Austin Photo Bruce Jaycox, Woodstock, VT Full-bodied Ford GA
HURRICANES	Mark Austin Photo Chuck Perkins, St. Johnsbury, VT	Mark Austin Photo George McRae, Milton, VT The white Javelin [he had two]	Andy Boright Photo Ray Lasnier, Colchester, VT The Rusty Jones Camaro later to be Joe Myers' car, 08	Milt Wright, Hardwick, VT
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN Early Later	Mark Austin Photo Richard Buzzi, Burlington, VT	Mark Austin Photo T R Watters, Washingon, VT	Outside Groove Photo T R Watters or Larry Caron Z28- inside Carl Nelson	Outside Groove Photo Rapid Ralph Baldwin, East Topsham, VT
MINI STOCKS	Ladabouche Photo Harry Rathburn's lead Camaro, with one of his drivers, Greg Lyman in the backgound [white shirt - afro]	Ladabouche Photo Harry Rathburn's backup Camaro, sometimes driven by Kevin Boutin, Sr.	Ladabouche Photo The Harry Rathburn hauler
GRAND AMERICANS
STREET STOCKS
ACT CARS
NEW TIGERS

This shows four good Grand American cars at Catamount in close action: 20- George Boudreau,
Z28 TR Waters, ) - Carl Nelson, and 17 Henry Van Acker.

Grand American cars at Catamount in mixup going into Turn Four: Guy Brown [49] hits unidentified Camaro, with 03 Milt Wright getting a closeup view and Barbie Jean Willard taking evasive action.

An unidentified Canadian Grand American car [44] stays ahead of an out-of-shape George Boudreau [20] and 50, Drew Nolin - uncle of Ryan Nolin and present day abricator for DEI in the Nextel Cup.

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