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CATAMOUNT MOMENTS
The 1970 School Street School Model Show
In 1970, community support for Catamount Stadium was still very strong in Milton, Vermont. So, when that green new teacher, Bill Ladabouche, suggested that his school, then called The Milton Middle School, hold a model show to help kick off the new Catamount, everyone responded with enthusiasm - including Catamount. Catamount's Ken Miller lined up some coverage through Vermont's largest newspaper, The Burlington Free Press. School custodian Tracy Ryan, Sr. arranged for his son - in - law, Don Bevins, to bring his beautiful purple and black Dodge late model sportsman to show the kids, and a good time was had by all. One of the delighted kids won the model contest, and one and all went home feeling happy. Bevins won two features at Catamount with that car before hooking up with Canadian legend Jean-Paul Cabana. But, never again would Don win another feature.
Below, are some pictures from that wonderful evening in late Spring, in Milton, Vermont.
 Ladabouche Photos All Don stops the car to pose for my camera and for his newspaper photo. |
 Don is talking to car builder and chief mechanic Gil Rhoades, Sr. |
 As the car comes to a halt, Principal Dick Stewart [white shirt] talks to him as builder Gil Rhoades, Sr. [black shirt] looks on above the hood. |
 Don gets out to join a group of parents and his young admirers. |
 5th and 6th graders pose with Bevins for the newspaper photo. The tallest boy is Dave Robar, whose dad would go on to own Beaver Dragon's yellow #75 for years. Little did Dave know that then. Others in the photo include ralph McSweeney, Marcus Allen, and Dennis Leach. |
 The Catamount representative [white shirt and tie] starts around the back of the car to talk to Stewart. |
 Fifth grader Dennis Leach [now in his mid forties] turns around as I begin to shout out instructions to go display their models inside the gym. |
 A youngster admires a few of my models displayed on the trunk lid of Bevins' car. Note the #67 Joe Couture Ford. |
 Rich Palmer Photo Don Bevins with a later '68 Chevelle built by Jean - Paul Cabana. |
 Bevins also ran the second Cabana Chevelle seen here before it was sold to Jack Dubrul. |
 Ladabouche Collection Milton's Don Turner sr. brought his car to a late model show at the same school. |
 Both Bob Dragon and brother, Beaver [background] brought their cars to a later model show at the school. Parents Pat Wright and Howard Hurst are seen in the background. |
 This modified coupe model, in which I have 100 hours of work, was a hit at the last model show around 1979. |
 Bob Doyle Photo George Wells brought his Hurricane division T Bird to my first model show, joining Bevins that year. [One of my first lettering jobs]. |
 Bob Mackey Photo I think Bob Drgon's crew towed his modified up the hill to one of my first model shows, as well. [Another of my first lettering jobs]. |
The Church Street
and Zayres
Pre - Spring Green Car Shows
In the 1970's, the Catamount management used a car show [similar to the one in Barre every year] to promote the upcoming Spring Green race that was usually run in late April at Catamount Stadium. Before the days of the University Mall, but on the same site, a show used to be held in front of the now - defunct Zayres department store. Later, as the mall replaced that old shopping center, the show moved to the pedestrian walking mall on the former Church Street, in downtown Burlington. There are literally thousands of photos from those days; I have only a limited number - enough to spark memories of the events. Now it appears there was at least one car display on CHurch Street in 1973, as evidenced by the shot below of Beaver and Bob Dragon. Or , possibly, they posed alone that year.
Below, are some pictures from those well -attended shows.
 Ladabouche Photo Peter Bushey's Mini Stock, on display at Zayres. |
 Ladabouche Photo The newer vesion of Jim Barton's Camaro parks as my son , Seth, looks on. |
 Ladabouche Photo The last version of the original Barton Camaro, at the previous year's Zayre show. It was one of my favorite lettering jobs. |
 Ladabouche Photo The Zayres - sponsored Camaro of George Boudreau, naturally in front of Zayres. |
 Ladabouche Photo Same car; different year and different number [older version]. |
 Ladabouche Photo One of the Harry Rathburn twin Camaros. Behind the car is a who's who of support division names at that time. Recognize anyone ? |
 Ladabouche Photo The other of the Harry Rathburn twin Camaros. Both at Zayres. |
 Ladabouche Photo The Larry Caron Camaro Z28. Tom Waters may have owned this car, I am not sure. Zayre show. |
 Ladabouche Photo Brad Wright's second Hurricane car. Zayre show. |
 LaLancette Photo Bob Pratt's #4 Chevelle, then driven by Clem Despault. One of the Zayre shows. |
 Ladabouche Photo Beaver Dragon's high - buck Laughlin - chassis car is unloaded at the Zayre show. |
 Ladabouche Photo Barcomb's 09, at Zayre. He tied with Beaver for best car in show. I lettered both cars :) |
 Ladabouche Photo Randy Therrien, father of present drivers Tom and Bobby. |
 Ladabouche Photo Barcomb's Nova, the previous year at Zayre. |
 Via Andy Boright Jeff Stevens car on Church Street. |
 Chas. Casavant Photo Andre Beaudoin's Le Mans on Church Street. Kevin Lepage in background. |
 Dragon Family Photo Beaver Dragon's Deering brothers car on Church Street. |
 Chas. Casavant Photo Bob Brunell's Le Mans on Church Street. |
 Mark Austin Photo Andy Isbister's car on Church Street. |
 Free Press Photo via Wayne Bettis Beaver and Bob Dragon with Beaver's 1973 car on Church Street. This is BEFORE the Zayre show era. |
 Free Press Photo via Wayne Bettis Chuck Bown's Quint Boisvert 7 on Church St. |
Free Press Photo
via Wayne Bettis
Bob Dragon with his 1973 car and new sponsor
at an early Church Street show.
The Infamous Pit Bleacher Collapse
In 1965, the Catamount management bought all the bleachers from the Lyndon B. Johnson inaugural parade and had them moved back to Milton in an ice storm. Some of those were used until the track closed 22 years later; some were replaced by higher stands from UVM's Centennial field in the 1980's; but, the most famous ones werethe pit bleachers which collapsed around 1982 during a NASCAR North race that Robbvie Crouch was leading.
The race was red flagged as frantic efforts were made to free trapped people and deal with a few serious injuries. The area was cordonned off, and the show was finished. Catamount closed in 1987 with replacement it bleachers.
 Via Andy Boright This shot was taken after the track was closed for the day, apparently. |
 Via Andy Boright Some leftover bleacher fragments. |
 Via Cho Lee Two men being attended to after the bleacher collapse. |
 Via Cho Lee The collapsed bleachers are off limits as the race is finished. |
 Via Cho Lee Track workers have just knocked down the rear section that had remained standing. |
 Via Cho Lee Track workers have just knocked down the rear section that had remained standing. Another view. |
 Via Cho Lee Pit onlookers try to see the race as it is about to restart with the felled bleachers on off limits. |
 Via Cho Lee The ribbons cordoning off the felled bleachers can be seen here. |
 Via Cho Lee Track workers have just knocked down the rear section that had remained standing. |
 Via Cho Lee Thek people standing on the still - intact upper rows are helped down, as seen here with Bob LeStage . |
 Via Cho Lee A policeman stands by as an injured woman is stablized right in the remnants of the stands. |
 Via Cho Lee Track workers, rescue workers, and police load a victim into one of the many ambulances called to the scene. |
 Via Cho Lee A Rescue worker waits with a victim for one of the many ambulances called to the scene. |
 Via Cho Lee Track workers, rescue workers, and police load a victim into one of the many ambulances called to the scene. |
 Via Cho Lee Police and a man who looks a lot like Joey LaQuerre gently extricate a victim from the bleacher remains. |
 Via Cho Lee The man is now stabilized to be moved. |
 Via Cho Lee Police supervise the bleacher remains to keep people off them. |
 Via Cho Lee Police and a track worker prepare to cordone off the bleacher remains to keep people off them. |
 Via Cho Lee There is a lot of milling around the collapse area as police were too busy with rescue to clear people out. |
 Via Cho Lee Milton Fire Dept member and Beaver Dragon crewman Don LaCroix [far left] looks on as a victim is removed. |
 Via Cho Lee An EMT yells out to someone as a victm is attended to. |
 Via Cho Lee The cars are either under red flag or beginning to restart after the collapse. |
 Via Cho Lee A front view of the collapsed bleachers |
 Via Cho Lee A policeman comforts an injured man. Those in the middle of the stands got it the worst. |
 Via Cho Lee Another man is stabilized to be moved. |
 Via Cho Lee The man,now stabilized, waits to be moved as Linda Strobridge looks on. |
 Via Cho Lee Another injured man is surrounded by workers and well wishers. |
 Via Cho Lee Track employee nancy Tracy [2nd from left] looks on as another injured person is moved out beside Bob Doyle's photo displays to be treated. |
 Via Cho Lee People were told to stay put. Track employee Neoma Paquette leans out to look back at rescure efforts. |
 Via Cho Lee People carry out Paul Norton, one of the race car owners. He suffered rib injuries. |
 Via Cho Lee Those who could escape scramble off the lower sections. |
 Via Cho Lee Former driver Ron Bettis holds what might be an injured nose as others remain on the bleachers. Former driver Don Bevins, [hat and shiny jacket] is among these. |
 Via Cho Lee A fireman waits for equipment or help on the intact upper section of the bleachers. |
 Via Cho Lee Some of Bob Doyle's retail display waits to be moved as he had been set up right under the bleachers. |
 Via Cho Lee A side view after it had been knocked the rest of the way down. |
 Via Cho Lee People wait with an injured woman. |
 Via Cho Lee A female victim with an air cast is now stabilized to be moved. |
 Via Cho Lee A concerned driver watches as Milton Rescue Squad workers tend to his friend. |
 Via Cho Lee A concerned Ken Squier looks on. |
 Via Cho Lee The remains, from the top of one of the haulers nearby. |
 Via Cho Lee Milton Rescue's Al Beaupre [right with white hat] waits for a victim to be moved from the old cement loading platform. |
 Via Cho Lee You can get an idea here of the size of the response after the accident happened. |
Via Cho Lee
The race finally continued and so did
Robbie Crouch's domination of it.
