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 four years in a row. Few can say that.

Courtesy of Daniel Hansell
I found this on the internet. The contributor, Daniel Hansell, thinks it is the first Rene Charland car. The owner would likely be a Hansell.
If true, it is almost certain the car would have run places like Hindsdale, NH, West Brattleboro, VT, Millers Falls, MA, and the Cheshire Fairgrounds,
near Keene, NH.

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 Ron Wetzler Driving a modified similar in appearance to the early car at left.	Ladabouche Collection The same shirt; maybe the same awards banquet.
Racers Bored Message Board Photo The 12, in action at Rhythm Inn.	Courtesy of Cormie Family Quite the name - dropping photo: Roy Forsyth, in the legendary George Barber 46 hits future 4 time national champ Charland in the 12.	Gordon Collection Receiving an award from racing at Cheshire Fairgrounds.	Courtesy of Cho Lee With the Leo Matte 107 at Brattleboro Speedway, where he reportedly won his first feature.	Courtesy of Ross Family Watching the Gordon Ross car at work.
Ladabouche Collection The Fred Rosner - built coach gave him a big advantage for a time.	Ladabouche Collection Later coupe.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Rene, Jerry Humiston, and Dick Dixon at Stafford in the 1960's.	Courtesy of MP Roy A win in Canada during the title chase years.	Perry Photo Charland posing with one of the championship coupes.

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 Mark Charland
Apparently, Mrs. Champ. She must have had the patience of a saint.

Ladabouche Photo
Rene's Weedsport HOF plaque. I don't necessarily agree with the choice of car, unless he requested it.

8MM FRAMES FROM BRATTLEBORO SPEEDWAY, WEST BRATTLEBORO, VT
Typically Poor Quality Photos

Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock and Bobby Castine Leaning on one of his #3's at Airborne around 1962.	Courtesy of The Bullfather HAMB Site Charland walks by his hauler at an undetermined track.	Ladabouche Collection Running against Roy Messic - likely at Stafford Springs.	Courtesy of Mark Charland Another coupe during the Championship chase era.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock Another of the many 3MA coupes used in the championship chase.
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.	Ladabouche Collection What might be a former Charland Permatex car, used as a sign at Malta.	Ladabouche Photo The four NASCAR National Sportsman Championship cups.	HAMB Message Board Photos The classic brown coupe that had a matching hauler [below]
Courtesy of Andy Towler Fan Club Banner in 1963.	HAMB Site Photo Another shot of the brown coupe and matching hauler.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of John Rock and Bobby Castine Leading a sportsman heat at Airborne around 1962 with the brown car.	NE Vintage Mod SIte SItting on the starting grid at Fonda with Lou Lazzaro. Frank Simek Photo Not such a good day.	Courtesy of Cho Lee The Smith and Son sedan at New London - Waterford Speedbowl.
Courtesy of Cho Lee Rene poses next to Roger Rouleau at T Road in his 1965 chase for points.	Courtesy of Cho Lee A T Road win with George Hay's 68.	Courtesy of Cho Lee A T Road Governor's Cup win with [left] Bob Doyle, Stuart Martin of WCAX, and Gov. Phil Hoff.	Ladabouche Photo The Geo. Hay car he used at T Road during one of his title runs.	Bob Doyle Photo Courtesy of Cho Lee Losing to Harold Hanaford at T Road.
Courtesy of Mark Charland The coach at Utica - Rome.	Source Unknown The controversial Czepiel 888, probably at Fonda.	Source Unknown A Rosner - built coupe, at the home base, along with some other Charland projects.	Source Unknown One of the Czepiel cars restored.	Source Unknown At speed at Langhorne.
Chrome Horn - Vin Mod Site At speed with the Roehrig Bros. 99.	Courtesy of Mark Charland Some time, in the Roehrig era, - what looks like a win.	Courtesy of Mark Charland With the Roehrig Gremlin.	Courtesy of Mark Charland A later version of Roehrigs' 99 coupe.	Courtesy of Dick Schoonover A Fonda win for Charland in the Roehrig Gremlin.
Courtesy of Otto Graham A later modified win. No idea whose car it was.	Courtesy of Mark Charland Likely same car - it ended up driven by George Rettew, a Charland protege.	HAMB Site Photo An unfamiliar coupe. Note All Star League helmet.	HAMB Site Photo Same coupe, obviously at Riverside.	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.
Courtesy of Hemmings Website Charland, with Val Lesieur and Punky Caron.	Courtesy of Russ Farr At Devil's Bowl with former drivers Jim Spaulding and Steady Eddie Allen.	Courtesy of Mike Pa Charland had a turn with the prestigious Russ Betz 59.	Norwood Arena Site Photo One of the Holiday Magic semi late model sedans restored at the Norwood reunion.	Courtesy of Ron Wetzler He must have set some sort of record for the most modified rides by one driver in a career.
Courtesy of Phil Butler A modified ride later in his career.	Courtesy of Ron Wetzler There is currently strong debate on how many Charland cars looked like this one. [See Farress photo above].	Rod Nacewicz Photo Missing the mark a bit at Utica - Rome with the old familiar brown car.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Dave Brown 1972 pit meeting at Airborne Spdwy.	HAMB Site Photo The Lilac coupe, during the points chase era.

Courtesy of Andy Boright The Lopardo - built late model sportsman, at Thunder Road. The car flew, but not the way he planned on it.	Burlington Free Press Photo Ladabouche Collection Another photographer, different view of the flight.	Courtesy of Cho Lee The Champ makes the walk back to the pits talking to flagger Bob Quinn.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Back on the T Road track after the flight - a little worse for wear.	Ladabouche Photo The first version of the Northern NASCAR LMS, arrives at Catamount Stadium in 1973.
HAMB SIte Photo The Permatex series Studebaker, trailered.	John Grady Photo The Permatex series Studebaker.	Ladabouche Collection The Permatex series Studebaker, in the Daytona pits.	Bob Mackey Photo Courtesy of Mike Watts The Permatex series Studebaker. It was very aerodynamic.	Ladabouche Collection The Charland Grand National Ford.

LadabouchePhoto The final year of the Northern NASCAR LMS car. Next to fellow Agawam, MA runner Little John Rosati.	Courtesy of Mark Charland The late model was backed by top quality Massachusetts talent; but, Rene had a rough time with it.	Courtesy of Mike Watts At Daytona's Permatex race, lined up with Jean-Paul Cabana.

Courtesy of Cho Lee via 176 Racing.com 1965. He took a spill at the Milk Bowl in the Geo. hay 68 he used for national points.	Unidentified Internet Source Another of those familiar 3 window coupes with the League sign on the roof. [Or, maybe the same car a different color]	Gater Photo A rare shot that includes the Roehrig brothers.	Bobco Photo I have no idea. Still has the ASL helmet, but the vehicle next to him is too new for that.	Courtesy of Ron Wetzler Talking to an ASL official while he was a member of the Albany - Saratoga team.
Courtesy of Tom Ormsby He has obviously just said something to break up the gang at the autograph table.	Courtesy of Andre Chausse About 1973, he was going to be some sort of racing commissioner in Quebec. Here, he poses in Quebec with a group that includes promoter Andre Beaudry at far left.	Courtesy of Bob F. Being fitted for one of his later sedans by Wild Bill Corliss.	Courtesy of Bob F. Wild Bill Corliss and that same project.	Source Unknown A family gathering.
Unidentified Internet Source Unloading one of those cookie cutter Rosner coupes.	HAMB Site Photo I don't know what's with the rebel flag.	Unidentified Internet Source. With Jean - Paul Cabana, in Quebec.	Joel Naprstek Photo On the grid at Ken Shoemaker's Cairo track with the Roehrig 99.	Paul Michaud Photo At Drummondville in Quebec.
Bob Farley Photo On the track at Stafford Springs with Gahan.	Racing One Photo Talking with Glen Wood at Daytona in his championship days.	Miller Photo May to October was goosing season to any woman within arm's reach of Rene.	Image Shack Photo More of that brown coupe.	Courtesy of Otto Graham Enjoying time with Jack Johnson.
Lew Boyd's Collection I like this shot because it shows Russ Bergh's Checkerboard Photo Stand at Fonda.	Shaney Lorenzent Photo They look like they're running a figure 8 race here, in Rene's early points chasing days.	Dick Tanner Photo for Gater Racing News Racing with Richie Evans in what might be an All Star League race.	Unidentified Internet Source. Norwood Arena 1961 banquet.	Unidentified Internet Source. Another Norwood banquet.
Mary Fillimon Photo A lineup at Old Bridge Speedway in NJ.	Courtesy of Tom Ormsby A post - coupe era body - very likely in Canada.	Sophie Hertkoen Photo Posing with the often - intimidating Pee Wee Griffin.	Gunther Photo A a scooter with his dog, talking to Ray Hendricks. This is probably at a Dover Downs All Star League show.	Unidentified Internet Source. With the Godfrey Wentzel coach, winning one at Fonda.
Stock Car Racers' Reunion Site Photo At New London - Waterford Speedbowl with the Wentzel sedan.	Gater Photo With a car borrowed from Denis Gioux, he works to pass A-S team mate Andy Romano at Stafford.	Courtesy of Dave Dykes That 3 window coupe with only H for a number.	John Grady Photo Charland had a close friendship with the owner of Utica - Rome.	Courtesy of Ron Wtezler Somewhere, during a break in the action.
Unidentified Photographer Rene was clearly very proud of his role in the All Star League. He took every opportunity he could to wear that helmet.	Unidentified Photographer Holding a '70's style bumper sticker with whom could be his wife.	Grady Photo The tough old Marine as Shoemaker called him, with his veteran hat on.	Dave Innes Photo Earlier years, and another hat.	Unidentified Internet Source. A pose during the championship era.
Frank SImek Photo Rene in Vic Lane at Fonda. This could be the infamous Wimble "hari kari" race referred to in the Fonda book.	Bill Flood Photo Posing in 1964 at Seekonk.	Unidentified Photographer With the Czepiel pavement - oriented 888. Cars set up like this one could be very dominant on the Fonda track, for some reason.	Ginny Rosds Collection via Dick Hansen Rene watching work on someone's motor - maybe his, but not necessarily. He didn't miss many chances to needle the competition.	Unidentified Photographer With the very - familiar Andrea car