AIRBORNE SPEEDWAY  South Plattsburgh, New York

Bobby Castine Photo Section - Click Here
June 26 Additions - Click Here
Officials Addition - Click Here

Mike Watts Photo Section - Click Here to go to separate page.

For a peek at what owner Steve Fuller and promoter Mike Perrotte are doing with the track, click on the modified. 

Ron Klein Photo Page added 2/17/07

Photo Source Unknown

Dick Nephew, of Mooers Forks, NY is the prototypical Airborne star - and the 1961 NASCAR National Sportsman Co-Champion. He returned in the mid - 1980's to successfully race an Olsen Eagle for a few years. You can link to Dick's page - CLICK HERE

         Airborne Speedway took its name from the Strategic Air Command base located only a few miles away, in Plattsburgh. Founder Maurice Broderick got the half-mile oval underway in the 1950's, hoping to draw fields from New York, Vermont, and Canada. Airborne had a NASCAR sanction for many of the earlier years of its operation.

            Left Photo _ Wimble Collection                                                                    Right Photo Courtesy of Yves LaDouceur

The T-800 car of Gaylord Rowe won one of the first track championships at Airborne, driven by Bill Wimble, from nearby Lisbon. In this photo, Dick Goodell is the driver. Check out all the holes drilled in the body to lighten the car. To this day, the car sits in a forgotten junkyard outside of Ellenburg Depot, NY. Click here to go to the car's own page.

From Outside Groove Courtesy of Brian Branham

Very early action on the dirt track at Airborne. I don't know any of these cars or drivers. Can anyone help ? We now know the JL7 is Jack Liberty, current chief mechanic for Mike Bruno's 22.

THE GREAT ICE RACE OF 1958
Check out one of Airborne Speedway's crazier ideas, by CLICKING HERE.

From Outside Groove Courtesy of Brian Branham

More early action on the dirt track at Airborne.

           As the years went by, the track was promoted, sanctioned and even re-named many different times. By the early 1970's, it was in a state of disrepair, wherein competitors would reach into their cars and pull out pieces of asphalt, as a regular part of their post-race maintenance. The track was alternately sanctioned by NASCAR, Champlain Valley Racing Association [CVRA], ACT, and even as independent, unaligned track.

From the ACT Office Archives

Paul Hamel is one of the dozens of Canadians who have invaded and successfully run at Airborne.

        Besides Broderick, it saw guidance - at various times - from Charles C.J. Richards, of the CVRA, by Ken Squier, and by Tom Curley. It was run by itself, and it has been part of a circuit which - at different times - has included Catamount Stadium, Thunder Road, Sanair [St. Pie, Quebec], Devil's Bowl, and Albany _ Saratoga Speedway.

        After nearly falling completely apart, C.J. Richards tore up the asphalt and tried running CVRA dirt modifieds there, on a shorter dirt track, in the early 1980's. After Richards, the American - Canandian Tour took over and completely rebuilt the track and re-paved the surface. Tom Curley found it very difficult to run the track because, in short, very few Vermonters could get along with the tough locals from the Plattsburgh area. He tried more and more security to no avail - and finally gave up in the early 2000's.

From the ACT Office Archives

Living one minute from the track, and operating successfully on a shoestring, Danny Bridges is the typical Airborne story. Many of its best talents were slowed down mostly by having limited funds. Bridges somehow overcame that for many seasons.

       2005 would see a local Airborne driver and successful DIRT member, Mike Perrotte take over the speedway, in hopes of keeping the lower divisions, with the headliners being dirt-style modifieds running on pavement. Perhaps, being one of the locals and a very, very tough man, Perrotte can bring law and order to Airborne and make the whole thing work. How large a crowd he can draw will probably continue to be a concern.

      Former driver Jim "Twelve Port" LeClaire" found some photos from around the 1980's at Airborne. Some were damaged; some could be saved. CLICK HERE to go to that page.

THE EARLIER YEARS - DIRT SURFACE

Bucko Branham via Outside Groove This shows a field of coupes racing on the oldest version of Airborne. A little help with who they are ?	Bucko Branham via Outside Groove This shows a field of coupes being started by a brave flagger right on the track.	Bucko Branham via Outside Groove Bill Guynup's 33 after an apparent crash with the #9 sedan.	Courtesy of John Grady Vic Wolfe's 66 Morrisonville, NY
Bucko Branham via Outside Groove Dick Gadelle, ?,NY	Bucko Branham via Outside Groove The Legend Jackie Peterson, Plattsburgh, NY	Bucko Branham via Outside Groove Jackie Peterson, on the way to Airborne	Courtesy of John Grady Wes Moody, Saranac Lake, NY
Courtesy of Gary Nephew A very early photo of Airborne legend Bob Bruno	Courtesy of Gary Nephew Jean-Paul Cabana with the Mohawk Chief	Bill Ladabouche Photo The Lee Tucker 14 Burlington, VT Ernie Reid was injured in this car at Airborne	Courtesy of Nephew Family Ernie Ried, Massena, NY
Courtesy of the Pascal "Magnum" website A 1967 Airborne article in a  racing newspaper of that era. Notice it is Canadian.	Photo Source Unknown Airborne benefited from tracks to the south, such as Albany - Saratoga and Fonda. With so many tracks in New York, teams came in from all over.	ACT Office Archives Around 1965, future legend Harmon "Beaver" Dragon, of Milton, VT would try Plattsburgh. It would be his favorite track for years. Courtesy of John Grady	Catamount Yearbook Shorty Carmichael, Plattsburgh, New York
Courtesy of Cho Lee Collection Charlie Trombley, Mooers, NY	Courtesy of Cho Lee Collection Jean-Paul Cabana, Beloeil, QU Courtesy of John  Grady	Courtesy of Norm Vadnais Charlie Draper, Wilmington, NY	Mike Watts Photo Gilles Brochu, Montreal, QU
Courtesy of John Rock Bob Mackey Photo A 1960's field of sportsman cars.	Courtesy of John Rock Bob Mackey Photo A 1962 heat goes at Airborne. Gahan, Cabana, Charland, Wimble, Bruno, unknown, and Pete Corey	Courtesy of John Rock Bob Mackey Photo The Harold Healey 70 - a former Vic Wolfe car. This driver is Jim LeClaire.	Ladabouche Photo Rejean [Field] Berard, Quebec
Courtesy of John Grady Pete Corey, Crescent, NY	Mike Watts Photo Jean-Paul Cabana, Beloeil, QU	Photographer Unknown Dick Nephew, Mooers Forks, NY Courtesy of John Grady CLICK HERE to go to Dick's own page.	Catamount YrBook Rex Shattuck Colchester, VT
Courtesy of Yves LaDouceur Dick Goodell, Mooers, NY The Gaylord Rowe T-800, formerly driven by Bill Wimble to an Airborne championship CLICK HERE to go to a  page on that car.	Bill Ladabouche Jack DuBrul, Burlington, NY CLICK HERE to go to Jack's own page.	ACT Office Archives Marcel Godard, Montreal, QU	Pascal "Magnum" Site Pierre LaFrance, Iberville, QU
Photographer Unknown Bob Bruno, Schuyler Falls, NY	ACT Office Archives Ernie Reid, Massena, NY Catamount Yearbook	Photographer Unknown Gaston Desmarais, Tupper Lake, NY	Mike Watts Photo Dick Nephew & Rod Ritchie shared this odd one, owned by Fran Kane & Denton Dow.
Herbert Family Collection The red and white 111's of Chris Drellos, out of Glens Falls, NY made frequent appearances at northern tracks, with different drivers.	Courtesy of Pascal Magnum Website Jean-Guy Chartrand, Montreal, QU	Cavalcade of Auto Racing Pete Hamilton, Needham, MA	Catamount Yearbook Jackie Peterson, Saranac Lake, NY
Courtesy of Yves LaDouceur Website Buck Holliday, Waddington, NY - with car owner Floyd Geary Courtesy of Nephew Family Buck, in the Geary C38, is discussing something with Nephew. Dick doesn't look happy. Looking on could be Kay Hanson, Chief Pit Steward.	Photographer Unknown Don MacTavish, Dover, MA 1963 NASCAR National Sportsman Champion - one of the most popular drivers to ever drive in the North Country.	Russ Bergh Photo Courtesy of Mike Watts Bob Bruno's Fonda win.	Otto Graham Site Jerry Cook, Lockport, NY
Courtesy of John Grady Paul Marshall, Schenectady, NY Rare shot in the Allie Swears #51	Bill Ladabouche      The Lee and Royce Tucker #7 VT, in which Jackie Peterson & Dutch Reed drove @ Airborne.	Bill Ladabouche The potent Welch's 77, from Schenectady may have ventured North a few times - with any number of various drivers.	Mike Watts Photo Charlie Trombley, Mooers, NY
Photographer - Ed Baccei Bill Wimble, Lisbon, NY The Dave McCready 33 out of Sherburne, NY Courtesy of Chris Companion Earlier Wimble, with one of the Gaylord Rowe cars - the red and white #26. After Wimble, Bobby Trombley, brother of Charlie, would drive the car.	Courtesy of Saratoga Auto Museum Lou Lazarro, Utica, NY	Courtesy of Ardyce Blohm Rod Ritchie Check out the feature stickers.	Catamount Yr Book George Bridges, S. Plattsburgh, NY Courtesy of Bucko Branham Check out George in this shot of a 1985 ice race.
Russ Bergh Photo Rene Charland, Agawam, MA The Three-Time NASCAR National Sportsman Champion	Courtesy of Pascal Magnum Website Frank Hodge, Montreal, QU The car is a former Bob Bruno ride.	Courtesy of Three Wide Site George Janoski, Stafford Springs, CT	Danish Family Steve Danish, Cropseyville, NY
Mackey Photo Jim "Sapphire" LeClaire, Plattsburgh, NY He was given this nickname by Royce Tucker, Jim's mentor and sometimes car owner Courtesy C.J. Richards The Royce Tucker -built C37, sometimes driven by Jim	Free Press Photo Three Vermont racing pioneers running the pavement mods at Airborne around 1970: [lft - DuBrul, Beaver, Bobby]	Catamount YrBook Photo Ben Keys, Plattsburgh, NY	Bob Mackey Photo, via John Rock & Bobby Castine Earl Maille, Glens Falls, NY
Courtesy of John Grady  Ron Narducci, East Haddam, CT	Devils Bowl Program Bob Ellis, West Haven, VT	Bob Mackey Photo, via John Rock & Bobby Castine The Royce Tucker #7 sportsman, Burlington, VT The 1st Tucker car The last Tucker sportsman	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Mike Watts Jr. Bruno's car.
Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Unknown early cars.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Mike Watts Mack Miller	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Mike Watts The original 7VT, with Royce Tucker	Photo Courtesy of Otto Graham Bill Wimble and the Hal Kempeny 113

Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock
One of my favorite photos ever. Early sportsman action. Howard Rock leads an unidentified
Plymouth coupe; as well as Wally Russell [outside]; 99, Charlie Trombley; 26, Bill Wimble;
and T-800, Dick Goodelle.

EARLY AIRBORNE OFFICIALS
All Bob Mackey Photos Courtesy of John Rock

Don Hayes, [rt] Gary Mesec, [lft] and a second official.	Track owner Maurice Broderick [2nd from right], Red O'Connor, announcer [right] Mrs. Broderick, and a local assemblyman Feinberg.	Starter Johnny Tellini [lft], promoter Gaston Desmarais, Lou Lazzaro [right]
Ernie Burl [lft], Ken Duquette, and Ron Anderson - 1969.	Mr. and Mrs. Broderick - with Ken Duquette - 1968.	Archie Blackadar mans the sign-in booth. Charlie Trombley to the left.
Mr.Broderick, track photographer Bob Mackey, and the ever - present Ken Duquette - 1960's.	Maurice Broderick - with Toni Hanson at the sign-in table - circa 1962.	Ken Duquette [lft] and starter Paul Boyea watch Mackie Miller congratulate Bill Branham - 1968.
Starter Art Prairie congratulates Ernie Reid - 1961.	Art Prairie [lft] another official and someone's wife - 1960.	Maybe Mrs. Broderick at sign-in shack - 1964.
Starter Paul Demers - 1966.	Bob Seymour - with Hugh Gordon [rt] - 1964.	Chief Pit Steward Kay Hanson in the Sign - in Shack 1961.
Archie Blackadar - with unk. official - 1964.	Mrs. Broderick - with Bud and Jean Read - 1962. What's everyone else looking up at ?	Bud Read - with Bob Mackey - 1962.
Gaston Desmarais, promoter - with his family - 1964.	Kay and Toni Hanson - with Mrs. Brodrick [lft] - 1959.	Co - Founder, Burt Blake - with winner Bud Besor - 1958.
Toni Hanson [lft[ - with Mercedes O'Connor - at sign - in table in 1955. Probably Kay Hanson in white hat.	Starter Don Thomas - 1983. Winner is Gailand Wood.	1964 Officials.
Early [and legendary] starter, Chet Hames- 1950's.	Announcer Red O'Connor - 1958.	Art Prairie is getting a kick out of a very angry Bud Besor.

WE HAVE MANY MORE EARLY BOB MACKEY PHOTOS RELATED TO AIRBORNE ON BOB'S OWN PAGE. CLICK HERE TO GO THERE.

THE SECOND ERA - PAVED SURFACE

Russ Photo by Mike Watts Joe Thomas, The Jimmy Guynup 37	Mike Watts Photo Hank Stevens, Rocky Hills, CT	Mike Watts Photo Don MacTavish, Dover, MA
Mike Watts Photo Marcel Godard, Montreal, QU	Mike Watts Photo Kenny King, Rosemere, QU	Mike Watts Photo Ed Flemke, Sr., New Britain, CT
Bob MackeyPhoto Joe Thomas, Morrisonville, NY	Courtesy of John Grady Andy Romano, Johnstown NY	Courtesy of John Grady Maurice Tallard, Quebec City, QU
Courtesy of John Grady Will Cagle, Tampa, FL	Free Press Photo Bobby Dragon, Milton, VT	Courtesy of Otto Graham Website Ken Canestrari, Cohoes, NY
ACT Archives Andre Manny, Montreal, QU	Pascal "Magnum" Site Bob Brunelle, Peru, NY CLICK HERE to go to Bob's own page.	Courtesy of John Grady Marcel Corriveau, Quebec City, QU
Courtesy of Jim Ladabouche Nick Ronca, Clifton Park, NY	Courtesy of John Grady Ray Forte, Montreal, QU	Bob Mackey Photo, via John Rock & Bobby Castine Ken Platt, Rome, NY

EARLY PHOTOS FROM C. J. RICHARDS [and Others]

Courtesy of C. J. Richards

A 1957 sportsman field, including T-800, Dick Goodelle; 26, Bill Wimble;
someone in a Henry Caputo car; and C38, Buck Holliday.

Courtesy of C. J. Richards

A 1957 sportsman field, with one in the infield pond. Most likely, the driver on the roof is Bill Wimble [26] and the 71 might be Ernie Barcomb.

Courtesy of C. J. Richards

A 1957 sportsman start as Chet Hames gives the green to Jack Liberty.

Courtesy of C. J. Richards

The 000 is either Bob Bruno or Len Barcomb; GM6 is either Bill Bourgeest or Sherwood Holliday; the white car on the
outside is most likely Charlie Trombley [or Bud Besor's 50NY]; and the plain silver car on the inside looks a lot like Dick Nephew.

Courtesy of C. J. Richards

This 1960 shot of cars in the payoff line shows the only known photo of
Jim "Twelve Port" LeClaire's C37. Also seen are the Chris Drellos 111 and the
Red Knoblach 13 driven by Johnny Perry.

Courtesy of C. J. Richards

In 1954 Art Prairie was starting fields from the track. It was a big joke to both the
drivers and Art how close they could get without hitting him. People are
bright, aren't they ?

Courtesy of the Nephew Family
 An early field kicks up the dust at Airborne. Dick Nephew [6] chases the leader, a
1950 Chevy coupe [possibly Trombley in the Suprenant car].

Courtesy of Bucko Branham, via The Outside Groove Site
Once thought to be an early Mack Miller shot, this shows Ernie Reid traversing
the front stretch at an early and dusty Airborne.

THE DUTCHER CONSTRUCTION RACING TEAM OF 1954

Courtesy of Rick Reome From left- Bill Agnier, Jim Patten, Jackie Peterson  and Gale Wolfe just before leaving for a race in '54.	Courtesy of Rick Reome From left- Jim Patten, Bill Agnier, Bob  Tierney, and Gale Wolfe at the Dutcher Construction site.	Courtesy of Rick Reome Jim Patten and the Dutcher Constr. D9.
Courtesy of Rick Reome Jim Patten,  just before leaving the Dutcher site for a race.		Courtesy of Rick Reome Jackie Peterson, with the Dutcher Construction team car, D8.

EARLY PHOTOS FROM BOBBY CASTINE
CLICK HERE

THE EARLY DIRT LATE MODEL YEARS

Courtesy of Bucko Branham

This rough and ready bunch includes Gene Fountain, Bill Branham, and Don Burl. When lettered, this Studebaker was the famous 7UP.

From the Pascal "Magnum" Website

An early late model field comes out to race at Airborne in 1967.

Courtesy of Brian Branham

Is it Lou Diamond Phillips ? Nope it's a very young Wild Bill Branham.

Branham Family Collection Wild Bill Branham, Plattsburgh, NY Mike Watts Photo	Catamount Yearbook Gene Guynup, Cadyville, NY	Ladabouche Photo Vic Wolfe's 66 Morrisonville, NY
Courtesy Brian Branham Henry Jarvis, Plattsburgh, NY	Photo from Brian Branham Joe Goddeau and Junior Vorce Mid to late 1960's THE EARLIER PAVEMENT LATE MODEL YEARS	Dan Jerry Photo Courtesy of Jim LeClaire Roger Guynup
Devils Bowl Yearbook Bill Brooking, Malta, NY	Devils Bowl Yearbook Larry Curtis Argyle, NY	ACT Archives Courtesy of Cho Lee Ronnie Bonnette St. Albans, VT
Photos from Brian Branham Various shots of Roger Guynup	Photo from Brian Branham Various shots of Roger Guynup Photos from Dan Nolin	Photo from Brian Branham Photos from Jim Watson
LA West Photo Beaver Dragon, Milton, VT Airborne was his favorite track.	LA West Photo Ron Barcomb, Winooski, VT	Denis LaChance Photo The Bob Ferreira 38, Plattsburgh, NY Photos from Andy Boright
Dan Jerry Photo Courtesy of Jim LeClaire Unknown late model	Dan Jerry Photo Courtesy of Jim LeClaire Kevin Kezar	Dan Jerry Photo Courtesy of Jim LeClaire Leon Gonyo, West Chazy, NY
Dan Jerry Photo Courtesy of Jim LeClaire Steve Frennier, Plattsburgh, NY	Dan Jerry Photo Courtesy of Jim LeClaire Bernie Griffith, Plattsburgh, NY	Dan Jerry Photo Courtesy of Jim LeClaire Don Thomas, Peru, NY
Dan Jerry Photo Courtesy of Jim LeClaire Larry Delong	ACT Archives Andre Manny, Montreal, QU	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock & Bobby Castine Danny Bridges, So. Plattsburgh, NY
Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock & Bobby Castine Unidentified early late model driver.	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock & Bobby Castine Paul Cook [Vallaires] Plattsburgh NY	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock & Bobby Castine Jim LaFountain, Altona, NY
Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock & Bobby Castine Ronnie Miller NY	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock & Bobby Castine Lee Begore, NY	Bob Mackey Photo via John Rock & Bobby Castine Bucky Bousquet Plattsburgh, NY

AIRBORNE VIA SATELLITE

A Terraserver satellite photo of Airborne from the 1990's. At about nine o'clock on the photo you can see how the track used to be much longer. At eleven o'clock is the infamous, mosquito - breeding wetlands that breed 'em so big they have to land at the old airbase nearby. This configuration is basically the one laid out by C.J. Richards, for dirt and later paved by Tom Curley for ACT.

TODAY'S AIRBORNE SPEEDWAY

http://www.airbornespeedway.net/airbornespeedwayprofiles.html

    The Ernie's Discount Tools Modified Series features dirt modifieds racing on the the asphalt surface at Airborne. This is the brainchild of promoter Mike Perrotte, himself a dirt modified driver. The modifieds handle Airborne very respectably considering their considerable height disadvantage compared to their pavement modified cousins in southern New England.

Patrick Dupree, Onchiota, NY

Brian "Bucko" Branham, Plattsburgh, NY

George Foley, Saranac Lake, NY

Arnie Trudeau Items CLICK HERE
[ Arnie's Versatile Trailer Sales sponsors the Renegade Division at Airborne now. ]

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