DA CHAMP RENE CHARLAND

He might have been the most annoying jokester on the planet and getting straight talk out of him was darned near
impossible, but he WAS the National Sportsman Champion three years in a row. Few can say that.

Courtesy of Jim Young
In the Glory years, with the John Lopardo-wrenched 3 Mass. Probably at Malta.

Courtesy of Cho Lee A very young Rene with a feature win somewhere.	Courtesy of Cormie Family Young Rene with the famous airplane - engine car at Rhythm Inn Speedway.	Ladabouche Collection Charland with a #12 that no one knows much about. He didn't recall the car.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Rene, Jerry Humiston, and Dick Dixon at Stafford in the 1960's.
Ladabouche Collection The Fred Rosner - built coach gave him a big advantage for a time.	Gordon Collection Receiving an award from racing at Cheshire Fairgrounds.	Ladabouche Collection The same shirt; maybe the same awards banquet.	Ladabouche Photo The Geo. Hay car he used at T Road during one of his title runs.
Courtesy of MP Roy The French Barbeque that happened in the mid '60's.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock and Bobby Castine Leading a sportsman heat at Airborne around 1962.	Courtesy of MP Roy A win in Canada during the title chase years.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock and Bobby Castine Leaning on one of his #3's at Airborne around 1962.

Source Unknown
A pose in the Fred Rosner - built, John Lopardo - wrenched Czepiel 888. This car may or may not have been completely
within the rules for NASCAR dirt track cars at the time, but he ruled Fonda with it - especially in 1967.

Courtesy of Andy Boright
The Lopardo - built late model sportsman, at Thunder Road. This was not a particularly high point
in Charland's career. LMS racing was not his forte, clearly.

Ladabouche Photo Having left Catamount after a less than stellar LMS experience, he came back with this modified for one of the track's special mod shows.	Source Unknown A Rosner - built coupe, at the home base, along with some other Charland projects.	Ladabouche Collection One of Rene's GN cars, maybe the one for the Fonda race.	Source Unknown The controversial Czepiel 888, probably at Fonda.
Courtesy of Bill Farress It looks like the Czepiel 888, with a different numeral. This one was later wrecked at Fonda by Maynard Forrette.	John Grady Photo A 1960's Utica - Rome win with starter Cliff Kotary.	Courtesy of Otto Graham A later modified win. No idea whose car it was.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Mike Watts The Permatex series Studebaker. It was very aerodynamic.
Ladabouche Collection What might be a former Charland Permatex car, used as a sign at Malta.	NE Vintage Mod SIte SItting on the starting grid at Fonda with Lou Lazzaro.	Courtesy of Ross Family Watching the Gordon Ross car at work.	Chrome Horn - Vin Mod Site At speed with the Roehrig Bros. 99.