LARRY DEMAR
The Driver For the Common Man

Courtesy of Cho Lee

     Catamount Stadium, in its earler Flying Tiger division days, was not a place for fancy men. There ehad ebeen a few well  - dressed Montreal drivers in the days of the modified and sportsman coupes there; but, the coujppes were now gone. Be that as it may, there were still a few guys like the neat, military - trained Tom Tiller and the popular Winooski teenager, Ron Barcomb, who struck a chord with the ladies. There, there was the scruffy, long - haired Lennie "Tiger" Stockwell, whose name and Tiger - striped shirt were the very symbol of the rising support class.

     One of the several men who rose up to the Tigers from Thunder Road's old B class days was one Larry Demar, from Hardwick. Often sponsored by Hardwick's famed car owner George Hay, Demar always ran the Hay colors of dark  and light blue on his Fords. He didn't, however adopt Hay's numbers - 68 or the less - used 58. Larry went for a confident #1. This would place him directly in the way of another #1 Ford, belonging to the highly - dominant Jim LaFountaine of Peru, NY.

     No one would ever accuse Larry Demar of spending any time on his racing attire or the appearance of his car; but, he was the Ford to beat and did win at least one track championship before bowing out around 1972. Bob Dragon spokein awe of paving Demar pass him in practice at full speed, eating a sandwich; another driver said he =looked over at Demar at speed and Larry was lighting a cigarette with a match. Now slowed by a stroke, Larry still makes the occasional visit to Thunder Road. Red Mead, a long - time driver from around 1970 into the 1900's, used Fords numbered 1 nad painted blue in Demar's honor. Larry absolutley deserves his own page here.

McIver Photo Courtesy of Cho Lee RIght in the midst of his best period, the late '60's.	Courtesy of Cho Lee A win at Thunder Road around 1967 or 1968.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Receiving congrats from pit Steward Archie Blackadar as Ken Squier looks on in the Catamount infield.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Looking as dapper as ever, Larry is awarded another trophy at Catamount. His ever - present cigarette is visible.	Photo Source Unknown Another win, same "driver's suit".	Photo Source Unknown Larry is hit by the 44 of T Bone Curley as the 42 of Russ Ingerson gets by.
Courtesy of Steve McKnight Larry shakes hands with friendly rival Tom Tiller on the frontstretch at Catamount.	Courtesy of Cho Lee A very familiar Catamount finishing order: Bob Dragon, with Tiller and Demar close behind.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Like I said, a familiar Catamount finishing order.	Courtesy of Cho Lee Larry looks on from the podium as Bobby Dragon is congratulated by car owner Johnny Bourgeois.	Courtesy of Steve McKnight Can you tell it is late in a season? Larry has the largest amount of kiddie riders, but look at the condition of the car.	Courtesy of Chris Companion Driving the powerfui but heavy Paul Norton Fairlane 500 at Catamount [car 04].

Courtesy of Cho Lee

1967 Catamount NASCAR awards for Catamount: Bobby Dragon,  Andre Manny, Marcel Godard, Don MacTavish, Art Taylor, and Larry Demar.

Courtesy of Cho Lee

Larry Demar at Thunder Road with his B class car [and only  Chevy].

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