LENNIE  "TIGER" STOCKWELL

             Back around 1967, when Devil's Bowl had just opened, I was still a student at Castleton State College [not a university yet]. Not having very many people to talk to about stock car racing, I would frequently seek out Chelsea, VT native [and Hudson car fanatic] Steve Ladd to talk to. One particular time, the slow talking Ladd said he had made a trip over to Devil's Bowl [when I apparently could not make it]. He spoke of "some hippie guy from Catamount" who came down to the Bowl to run at a late season program. Steve described the "hippie guy" [in his drawl] as Ti - gah Stockwell.

                                                                                                          
Images from Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's
That Tigah Stockwell feller runs D Bowl and meets C.J. Richards.

            When I knew I was going to be moving to Milton to teach, I began keeping closer track of Catamount Stadium doings. I had been there once, in 1965, and I realized that I had seen one of its shining stars, one Beaver Dragon, that same year - earlier in the season - at Fairmont [the forerunner to Devil's Bowl]. I would come to realize that the "Tiger" racing name likely came form the name of the support didivision he ran in - the Flying Tigers, a class that had developed up from the old B Class at Thunder Road and the defunct Northeastern Speedway.

          Stockwell had, in fact, begun his racing career in a B Class car, using the number 200. Later, when the autocratic NASCAR came onto the scene in 1965, he was forced to lose the 2 and go with what would become his signature number 00. Most likely, Lennie began at T Road because his father - in - law, Al Corfey, had been a driver there in the flathead division that headlined there and at Northeastern. In fact, Corey had begun at a little - know track [which may have been called Devil's Bowl] outside of Concord, VT. Corey also would drive a little at Dog River Speedway in Northfield, not far from where Lennie would set up shop in Bethel.

Courtesy of Cho Lee
The B Class 200 car, around 1964.

            When the Northern NASCAR organization that ran Catamount and T Raod decided to upgrade the Tigers into late model sportsman cars, Lennie built a sharp '64 Chevelle, as did most of the competitors he ran against. He would be seriously injured at Catamount with this car. Never planning on driving again, he would help Northfield's Red Fisk, even having Fisk drive a blue 00 Chevelle at one point. I know that Lennie did drive later, as I saw him at Monadnock Speedway in New Hampshire sometime in the very late 80's.

 Ladabouche Photo
The repaired Chevelle, which came back with Red Fisk, looked pretty much like it did with Lennie.

In between the accident and the second driving tint, Lennie would serve in Northern NACAR as a tech official, always having been considered a very sharp race mechanic. Eventually he would settle in - in Randolph - to concentrate on his business and on the developing career of son, Kip.

Norman McIver Photo Courtesy of NE Spdwy Site Alton "Al" Corey, Lennie's  father - in - law.	Likely Norman McIver Photo Courtesy of Phil Whipple Al Corey hangs the George Hay 68 on the wall at Northeastern Speedway around 1962.	Courtesy of Mike Gilbert The George Hay 68, at Northfield around 1963. Al Corey drove it then.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Lennie gestures at a wreck scene with Ron Bettis during an early Tiger race.	Courtesy of Brian Hoar Lennie, fully embracing his new "Tiger" personna.	Courtesy of Brian Hoar An early Flying Tiger photo.
Courtesy of Brian Hoar Looking like it's getting late in the season here.	Courtesy of Steve McKnight "Tiger" , post race, with admirers.	Courtesy of Catamount History Program Lennie's involved in this early Tiger mixup from around 1966.	Courtesy of Wayne Bettis Lennie, in a fracas with Russell Ingerson at T Road.	Courtesy of Wayne Bettis Lennie, in a fracas with Russell Ingerson at T Road. He is still in the car here	From Dan Ody's 8MM Old Speedways DVD's Lennie went down to run on the dirt at Devil's Bowl at the end of the 1967 season.
Courtesy of Cho Lee Lennie sits sideways as Joe Couture, Beaver, and Tiller get by.	Courtesy of Gilbert Family 1968 pose.	Courtesy of Cho Lee An early flag, with Bob Quinn.	Courtesy of Cho Lee It appears that the Tiger lost a wheel, launching Ormond Bushey. Eldon Fleury looks to avoid.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Cho Lee said this  creative hauler  was nicknamed The Munstermobile.	Courtesy of Mike Massaglia Another view of the Mustermobile.
Courtesy of Mike Massaglia By 1968, he already had an impressive amount of awards.	Courtesy of Mike Massaglia The Tiger at home in his element.	Courtesy of Mel. M. Anukem Lennie, in Vic Lane with Larry Demar, Tom Tiller, and Ken Squier.	Courtesy of Scott Brown Lennie's autograph.	Norman McIver Photo Courtesy of Cho Lee The Tiger.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Lennie would appear to have slight camber issues after this T Road mixup with Russ Ingerson on 1970.

Courtesy of Rich Palmer Lennie, on the starting grid with what I think was the '56 Chevy.	Ladabouche Collection Lennie, with the '56 version - probably around 1970. Visible inthe photo also are Dean and Leon Bundy, and Jimmy Gates.	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Likely Bob Doyle Photo The traditional pre -season photo taken in front of the old tower.	Courtesy of Steve Jangraw The limited sportsman sits in the pits at Catamount, as yet unscarred.	Free Press Photo Courtesy of Chip Letter 1972 - the beginning of the new late model sportsman era.	Courtesy of Mike Richards Another view of the new Chevelle, in this Devil's Bowl promo photo.
Courtesy of Wayne Bettis One of the infield photographers caught Lennie in midair on his way to contacting the turn four retaining wall that protects the stands.	Courtesy of George Byrd Another view of the bad Catamount wreck, as the 00 sits against the wall.	Ladabouche Photo Lennie was no longer to drive at Catamount. The Chevelle came back with friend, Red Fisk the next year.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Red Fisk with the Chevelle.	Ladabouche Photo Red would run the car as his own in 1973.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Elaine Corey Stockwell
Courtesy of Cho Lee Lennie, with Tom Curley and Archie Blackadar at Catamount.	Courtesy of Mel. M. Anukem Lennie, with fellow Tigers Norm Cyr, Larry Demar, and Tom Tiller.	Courtesy of Rutland Herald Lennie deals with Vermont roads in the Spring. Hopefully, the car is not mired in that deeply.	Source Unknown The next generation. {Now his kids are starting].	Courtesy of K. Stockwell Facebook Lennie, with Kip.

 
Courtesy of the Beaver Dragon Family

Return to the Main Page
Return to the Main News Page
Return to the All Links Page