OLD RELIABLE, CHARLIE LADUC

            Around 1963, the hobby division at Fairmont Speedway got a new competitor by the name of Charlie LaDuc. While most of the division was opting for the newer allowable bodies in Chevrolet and Ford, Charlie blossomed out with a 1950 Oldsmobile coupe. The original version was nothing much to look at. He had bought the car from builder Phil Russell, of Sudbury, who was known for running the yellow and black Checkmate cars.It was clear after a short period

LaDuc Family Photo

The original car, at the LaDuc farm with all the kids pretty excited.

of adjustment, that Charlie would be one of the better drivers in the division. Charlie won a little in 1963; but, by 1964 he not only had greatly improved the appearance of the car, but he won a number of features and was declared Summer Champion.

LaDuc Family Item   Ladabouche Photo Charlie's 1966 Membership card. Note the strange name - no Fairmont or CVRA mentioned.

LaDuc Family Item   Ladabouche Photo Charlie's 1966 Membership card. Note the strange name - no CVRA mentioned. Was it established by 1963 ?

            By 1965, he had purchased the 1940 Ford coupe that Ferrisburgh's Dick Hawkins had run at Otter Creek Speedway, and his sportsman career was off and running.

Bob Frazier Photo Courtesy of Chris Companion

The Oldsmobile takes a win at Fairmont in 1964.

Hackel Family Photo
The Oldsmobile in the bottom of this photo is
probably exactly what Charlie's first car once looked like.

             Life was not as easy in the sportsman class because Fairmont was now attracting some fairly good talent from places like Lebanon Valley, Fonda, Southern New England, and even Canada. The Hawkins car had already had some pretty intense use before Charlie ever bought it, and the Orwell dairy farmer could not afford engines from big speed shops like many of his competitors could.       

Bob Frazier Photo  Courtesy of C.J. Richards

At Fairmont with the ex-Hawkins 1940 Ford.

   
            Nonetheless, Charlie was respectable at Fairmont, and when C. J. Richards moved the CVRA operation up Route 22A to Devils Bowl, Charlie came out with one of the most memorable cars to ever run there - the Henry J. Charlie would run well enough and consistently enough at the Bowl to earn the nickname "Old Reliable", and it stuck from then on.

Cavalcade of Auto Racing Photo, Probably by Bob Frazier

Charlie and THE Henry J.

            A nifty 1934 five window Ford coupe would follow, and the last car I can remember Charlie running was one of the modern dirt modified bodies that were so prevalent in the early to mid 1980's. Charlie went through a variety of cars before his final modified. He ran a Gremlin - bodied car for a long period of time, and spent a year or two down in the late model division [successfully] with a nice - looking Pontiac Firebird.

Bob Frazier Photo  Source Unknown

Charlie, in what I believe was his best car.

           When CVRA unexpectedly paved Devils Bowl, and then - one year later - joined up with Northern NASCAR, Charlie was faced with either chasing dirt racing far from home or building a late model pavement car. He did the latter; but, it was a tough road for the Orwell farmer. Trying to compete against the big - budget NASCAR teams on a circuit that could drag him to as many as five tracks a week, the #54 struggled through the season with several blown engines. It must have been a relief when C. J. tore up the pavement and went back to dirt racing by 1974.
 

LaDuc Family Photo

Charlie's last car, at home.

           When he unexpectedly passed away while working on the farm, that was the car he still had. Son, Tim, has continued the racing tradition and is a very stout runner at Devils Bowl, He has also ventured to Albany - Saratoga and maybe a few times to further away places like Bear Ridge. Tim's cars have always been top - looking cars, and he really flies at Devils Bowl. In 1007, he finished second in Bowl points to Ken Tremont, Jr. [a team with a many time bigger budget than Tim].

LaDuc Family Photo

Charlie enters the racing surface at Catamount, in 1973.

LaDuc Family Photo The original car, bought from Phil Russell and named"by Grandma LaDuc.	LaDuc Family Photo This serves a dual purpose: the car and"the familiar 54 shirt he and Barb always wore.	LaDuc Family Photo Yup, Barb, too.
LaDuc Family Photo Hooking the car up to Tom WIlliams' punchless truck.	LaDuc Family Photo The improved 1964 version. [Not Charlie, just the car]	LaDuc Family Photo Charlie lining up behind Timmy Baker in 1964 at Fairmont. Timmy LaDuc was named after Baker.

DEFINITELY MORE TO COME... AND SOON

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