THOSE LITTLE NEW HAMPSHIRE COUPES 

Ladabouche Photo
The #33 of Henry Merrill, driven by Art Cody, gets a little attention from the crew as
a tired - looking Art walks away in the background. Fairmont Speedway, 1963.

        That which I call the New Hampshire – style coupe, was an early ‘30’s, usually three - window, flathead coupe. The coupe was mounted low on a frame with any unnecessary weight removed. I suspect the roll cages were minimal. Many of these cars had cabin – mounted air cleaner systems to keep dust out of the intake. Hoods seemed optional and, often, the over-seized radiators rode up so high in the front that vision was not always clear for the driver.

CLAREMONT JALOPIES & CHESHIRE COUPES

CHESHIRE FAIRGROUNDS

Courtesy of Cho Lee
A small field flies past the announcer's tower at Cheshire Fairgrounds. 4, Ernie Johnson, 13, Buddy Bardwell outside of George Schnyer.

       The two tracks that seemed to define and shape New Hampshire racing in the southern part of the state were Claremont Speedway, with its Claremont Jalopy Owners and Drivers' Association - and the track at the Cheshire Fairgrounds near Keene. There was also the track in Hudson, operated by Oscar Ridlon, but this one did not affect Vermont racing much; so, I don't know much about it.

Keith Collection Ted Brown, trophied at Cheshire.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Buddy Bardwell at speed, at Cheshire.	Ladabouche Collection A very young Cecil Bosworth wins one at Cheshire.	Keith Collection Art Rousseau [left] and Rene Charland get Cheshire trophies.
Courtesy of Cho Lee A heat field flies into turn one.	Ladabouche Photo The Ed Jennings 21 may have run at Cheshire.	Ladabouche Photo The Mike Cody 8 may have run at Cheshire.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Dave Todd probably ran at Cheshire.

Courtesy of Cho Lee
Art Rousseau navigates turn one at Cheshire Fairgrounds. Note cars in the infield. One looks
a lot like Don Rounds' 101. Rousseau usually drove the cutdown # 623.

CLAREMONT SPEEDWAY

LeFrancois Family Photo Courtesy of Mark LeFrancois
A field lines up at Claremont in the early days of the track.

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