CATAMOUNT COMPETITORS

Jay Yantz [64] poons Mike Barry, a future winner of the Oxford 250.
I bet Barry never dreamed he would become that prominent after this race experience.

Catamount knew that the Flying Tigers were now satisfying the fans and providing them with new heroes for whom to sheer. But, just like before, they were losing some of the personal connection that one gets when one cheers for his or her next door neighbor or for their own personal mechanic from the garage down the street. Therefore, the creation of another support division seemed to be necessary.

The grand scheme was to come up with an absolutely stock division sporting automatic transmissions. Several outlandish ideas were brought forth, such as driving around the track the wrong way and racing at night with the track lights out, using headlights. Names like Chargers and Night Riders were finally scrapped, along with most of the screwball ideas. What emerged was a new division called the Hurricanes - which would eventually develop a number of future Catamount stars such as Mike Barry [Oxford 250 winner], Richard Buzzi [arguably the Grand American division's best ever], Jamie Aube [a future Busch Grand National North Champion and Craftsman Truck Series participant], and Catamount's most successful female driver, Barbie Jean Willard.

As yet undriven, the famous Norm Cyr Thunderbird shows the division's first big plan, which was to require the drivers to compete,
headlights on and stadium lights out. This idea died out immediately, thank God.

MAIN COMPETITORS PAGE	Norm Cyr Milton, VT The division's first superstar From Catamount History	ACT Archives George Wells Georgia, VT	Lloyd & Gregg Gilbert Wayne Corwell Essex Jct., VT	Lloyd & Gregg Gilbert Don Tofani Barre, VT
COUPES ERA	Al Maynard Essex Junction, VT	Courtesy of Lonnie Terry Jim Barton Milton, VT	Jim Duell Winooski, VT Courtesy of Cho Lee via ACT Archives Jim Duell, with trophy and girl	Lonnie Terry Denny Alderman Georgia, VT
EARLY FLYING TIGERS	Bob Lash Middlebury, VT	Lonnie Terry Bob McClatchie Plattsburgh. NY	Lonnie Terry Roger "Buzzy" Lambert Burlington, VT	Lloyd & Gregg Gilbert "Papa"Leon Bundy S.Burlington, VT Courtesy of Dan Nolin
LIMITED SPORTSMAN	Lonnie Terry George Boudreau Colchester, VT	Lonnie Terry Bruce Mason East Barre, VT	Lonnie Terry Don Johnson Colchester, VT	Jay Yantz Monkton, VT Standing with Uncle Allen Yantz
HURRICANES	Jim Watson Barbie Jean "BJ" Willard Charlotte, VT Catamount's only successful female driver	Lonnie Terry Ronnie Bonnette St. Albans, VT	Andy Boright Jerry White leads Carl Nelson in Turn One Catamount action.	Courtesy, Don Turner Perry Poquette, Georgia, VT
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN Early Later	Lonnie Terry Dean Bundy, S.Burlington, VT	Lonnie Terry Larry Warren, Burlington, VT	Jim Cayea, Alburg, VT	Lonnie Terry Kevin Holcomb, Colchester, VT
MINI STOCKS	ACT Archives Leo Bushey, Burlington, VT See Below	Luc LaFrance, Iberville, QU	Andy Boright Milo Lockerby, Isle La Motte, VT Lonnie Terry	Andy Boright, via The Outside Groove Milt Wright, Hardwick, VT Andy Boright, via The Outside Groove
GRAND AMERICANS	Ralph Bessette, Milton, VT Lonnie Terry	Lonnie Terry Ray Ringer, Vergennes, VT	Lonnie Terry Tim Griffin, Essex Jct., VT	Lonnie Terry Wade Walker, Montpelier, VT
STREET STOCKS	ACT Archives Dennis Tucker, Washington, VT Courtesy of Ron Rondeau	ACT Archives This unknown Hurricane would become Ricky Barton's first race car years later.	Lonnie Terry Don Turner, Milton, VT	Lonnie Terry Wes Cota, Essex Jct., VT
ACT CARS	Lonnie Terry Cliff Randall, Wolcott, VT	Courtesy of Jim Watson Richard LeClaire, Fairfax, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright via Outside Groove Site Jerry White [50] vs Carl Nelson	Catamount History Book Bert Thornton, Burlington, VT Courtesy of Chris Companion
NEW TIGERS	Catamount History Book Adv. Allen Ward, Burlington, VT	Ladabouche Photo Dave Brunelle, Burlington, VT	Courtesy of Cho Lee via ACT Archives Larry Caron, Burlington, VT	Courtesy of Cho Lee via ACT Archives Bill Hood, Burlington, VT Wreck with Guy Brown Courtesy of Chris Companion Bill with the UnionCarbide trophy, circa 1972
	Courtesy of Cho Lee via ACT Archives Steve Frennier, Plattsburgh, NY	Courtesy of Caron Family Larry Caron, Burlington, VT First Hurricane In 1975, when the 6 cyl. mixed with the V-8's	Courtesy of Cho Lee via ACT Archives Larry Caron and #4, Rex Shattuck, Burlington, VT Former Malletts Bay, Otter Creek, and T Road Coupe driver.	Courtesy of Cho Lee via ACT Archives Jay Yantz's last_Hurricane before the Mustang
	Courtesy of Andy Boright via Outside Groove Site Paul Gagne	Courtesy of Andy Boright via Outside Groove Site Mike Barry, Bolton, VT 2nd Hurricane	Courtesy of Cho Lee Charlie Benoit, Colchester, VT	Courtesy of Cho Lee via ACT Archives, Charlie Ladd, Chelsea, VT Former Darrell Owen Car
	Courtesy of Dayne Cote Del Mayo, Colchester, VT Source Unknown	Courtesy of Ray Lasnier Ray Lasnier Colchester, VT

B.J. Willard, the division's first highly - competitive female driver, stands with Linda Alexander,
who followed her into the Hurricanes a few years later.

Bev Stearns, of Monkton, Vt. looks over the early Hurricane car of Ed LaFountain. Soon after,
Bev became the first female driver in the Hurricanes [and maybe in the history of Catamount].

Bev [73] moves under Jimmy Duell, Sr. to avoid a crashing Paulie Robar.
In every shot of Bev I have, Robar is crashing. Hmmm.

Leo Bushey had a hot streak in the summer of 1971 with his yellow 1962 Plymouth #85. He won at least two features in a row - both with Luc LaFrance in hot pursuit. Here is the first. Perry Poquette [2nd from left], Luc La France [center] and Bushey share a laugh in Victory Lane.

Bushey receives the first place trophy from a representative of Sno Jet, as LaFrance
[far left] and ageless Jerry White enjoy their moment in Victory Lane.

George McRae was always a stout competitor in the Hurricanes. Like many others, he became even better in the Grand Americans later.

If you have any photos not seem on this site and you would like to make them available for me to place on this site contact me at: wladabou@comcast.net

Courtesy of Cho Lee Ralph "Chickie" Bessette [far left] watches as the safety crew tries to get his #22 and the ) of Easy Ed Orton off the T Road wall.	Courtesy of Cho Lee The Hardwick, Vermont contingent had their own private spot in the Catamount pits. Guy Brown's 49 and Milt Wright's 03. That's Uncle Miltie looking at the camera and I think I see Calvin Frost in there, too.
Courtesy of Cho Lee Brad Wright came in from the North End of Burlington with the former Dave Companion hurricane.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Guy Brown the original Hardwick Hurricane driver, with his original car.
Courtesy of Cho Lee Wade Walker [now the Capital District car dealer] hoped to have success with the former Dennis Tucker Ford. Tucker, meanwhile, was hoping the same with the former Dave Dion car.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Bill Hood, Burlington, VT.
Courtesy of Ray Lasnier Hurricanes mix it up in 1971 at T Road. 22 is Chickie Bessette. Also seen is RIchard LeClaire and Ed Orton [0].	Courtesy of Ray Lasnier Same mix -up in 1971 at T Road. 98 is Ray Lasnier, and 06 is Peanut Blow.