After both a good start in 1971 and 72, and the psychotic 1973 season which sometimes demanded five races a week, the late model sportsman class settled down to years of success, going through various phases [named after the predominant car type of each phase]. First, there had been the Chevelle phase, with most cars being the 1964 type; but there were a number of both later year Chevelles and other car makes, as well. The next phase seemed to be the Nova time. Again, there was a ton of Novas from around 1972, but here were later Novas, as well as Venturas and other car makes.

Courtesy of Andy Boright
The LaBerge Foundries Nova of Quebec CIty's Langis Caron was always among the cream of the crop.

Courtesy of Ron Shappy
Bob Dragon wheels the Moe Brown Le Mans out of the pits at T Road.

         The next phase [and my favorite was the Le Mans phase. Just like before, there were still some Fords and other GM makes, too. The final steel car phase involved a broader range of newer cars like Pontiac Grand Prix, Buick Regal, as well as a ton of other examples. Arguably, the LeMans and Regal eras could be one single phase. This is also when the better - financed teams also broke out the six cylinder cars for certain track configurations. The circuit, now having been a tour for years, enjoyed various beer companies as sponsors. When Curley and management split with NASCAR, the steel bodies went one more year - 1986. After that would come the ACT and plastic.

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Kennebunkport, Maine's Dick McCabe Regal is very typical of many of the full - bodied GM cars of this phase,
the last of the steel bodied sportsman cars before the American - Canadian Tour.

THE LATER SPORTSMAN CARS OF THE MID TO LATE 1970's
Nova Phase

 
Courtesy of Both Dave Moody and Dan St. Pierre
Morgan Shepard, Conover, S.C. stops at a Barre motel after being a guest star at Thunder Road during the Nova phase.

Ladabouche Photo Beaver Dragon, Milton, VT Black Magic - The poster car for the Nova phase of Northern NASCAR.	Ladabouche Photo Roger LaPerle, St Denis sur Richelieu , QU	Denis LaChance Photo Tom Rosati, Agawam, MA	Denis LaChance Photo Ralph Nason, Newburg, ME	Denis LaChance Photo Hector LeClair Fairfax, VT,	Denis LaChance Photo Don Brown, Scarborough, ME
Denis LaChance Photo  Andy Isbister, Connecticut	Ladabouche Photo Jamie Aube, No. Ferrisburgh, VT Former Moe Dubois/Ray Morin Nova- beginning of a huge career.	Denis LaChance Photo via Andy Boright Claude Aubin, Laval, QU	Ladabouche Photo Barney McRae, St. Albans VT	Dragon Family Photo Beaver Dragon's Quint Boisvert Ventura	Source Unknown - from Outside Groove Site When Beaver's Vermont Mack team dissolved, he took over Quint Boisvert's car.
Keith Smith Photo Dick Glines, Jackson, NH Car shown here with Beaver	Courtesy of Chris Companion Bill Dennis, Glen Ellen, VA Guest Star at both T Road and Catamount	Courtesy of Andy Boright Bob Pressley, Asheville, NC Guest Star at both T Road and Catamount	Courtesy of Ti-Gaz Genest Don Biederman, Port Credit, ONT Guest Star at both T Road and Catamount	Courtesy of Andy Boright Stub Fadden, No. Haverhill,NH	Courtesy of Andy Boright Gilles Lussier, Granby, Quebec
Courtesy of Andy Boright Hector LeClaire, Fairfax, VT	Courtesy of Ti-Gaz Genest Jeb Balise, Wilbraham, MA	Courtesy of Andy Boright Jerry "Magee" Miller, Pennsylvania	Courtesy of Terry LaFerriere Kevin Lepage Shelburne, VT	Courtesy of Terry LaFerriere Joey Kourafas Sharon, MA The Jay-Lin kit car	Courtesy of Denis LaChance Darrell Owen, Barre, VT His first Nova

v
Ladabouche  Photo
Veteran mini stock driver Mike Richmond tried a low budget late model sportsman. Here, he has it at my sign shop for lettering.
His car was a match to the Therrien brothers' mini stocks. Great shot of my Renault. Boy ! I miss that car !

Courtesy of Caron Family Norm Andrews, Warren, VT The former Darrell Owen Nova	Courtesy of Andy Boright Joe Myers, Essex Jct., VT The former Norm Andrews, former Darell Owen Nova	Courtesy of Denis LaChance Dick McCabe, Kennebunkport, ME Sister Laughlin chassis car to Beaver's 75.	Courtesy of Dragon Family Beaver Dragon, Milton, VT Sister Laughlin chassis car to McCabe's 0.	Courtesy of Denis LaChance Mike Barry, Bolton, VT His own Nova	Courtesy of Denis LaChance Milt Wright, Hardwick, VT
Courtesy of Andy Boright Danny Perez, Tampa, FL One of his Novas	Courtesy of Andy Boright Danny Perez, Tampa, FL Another of his Novas	Courtesy of Andy Boright Peter Pizzagalli, Charotte, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Gardiner Leavitt, Kezar Falls, ME	Courtesy of Denis LaChance Steve Poulin, North Troy, VT	Courtesy of Denis LaChance Ralph Nason, Newburgh, ME His retro Chevelle body was somewhat of a protest against Northern NASCAR
Courtesy of Denis LaChance Robbie Crouch, Georgia, VT The beginning of the big Tower sponsorship	A & A Ward Photo Roger Camerota Massachusetts	Courtesy of RIch Watson Tom Tiller, Winooski, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Darrell Waltrip, Franklin, TN A guest star at Catamount and T Road	Courtesy of Silva Family Pete Silva, Waterville, ME His own Nova	Courtesy of LA West Dave Dion, Hudson, NH
Courtesy of Paul Mascitti Butch Lindley, Greenville, SC	Courtesy of Andy Boright Andre Beaudoin, Quebec City, QU	Courtesy of Cho Lee Barney McRae, St. Albans, VT One of my favorite lettering jobs	Courtesy of RIch Palmer Bob Brunell, Peru, NY	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Brad Kennedy, Woodsville, NH	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Brad Kennedy, Woodsville, NH Earlier car

 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Robbie Crouch returned from a hiatus to begin the career period where he was very successful.

c  Courtesy of Andy Boright Darrell Owen, Barre, VT A later Car	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Brent Hatch, Groton, VT	Norman Morley Photo Claude LeClerc, Repentigny, QU	Courtesy of Andy Boright Del Mayo, Colchester, VT	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Del Thompson, Randolph, VT	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Dave Dion , Hudson, NH Another of several versions of his Ford products.
Courtesy of Rich Palmer Dave Marcis, Wausau, WI Guest star at T Road and Catamount	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Joe Thomas, Plattsburgh, NY	Denis LaChance Photo Leland Kangas, West Paris, ME	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Keith Cavanaugh, Knowlton, QU	Courtesy of Andy Boright Fred "Sonny" Bonnette, St. Albans, VT	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Marty Borden, Burlington, VT
Courtesy of Andy Boright Pierre LaFrance, Iberville, QU An earlier car than the one shown above	Courtesy of Andy Boright Joey Kourafas, Sharon, MA Bob Curtiss Nova that won he first ever Oxford 250	Courtesy of Andy Boright Roger LaPerle St Denis, QU An later car than the one shown above	Courtesy of Andy Boright Skip Cahill, Bath, ME	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Stan Meserve, Winslow, ME	A&A Ward Photo Blair Bessette Burlington, VT
A&A Ward Photo George McRae Milton, VT	Ti-Gaz Genest  Photo Randy Corey, So. Burlington, VT	A&A Ward Photo Paul Mauceri, Ozone Park, LI, NY	Courtesy of Andy Boright Bob Ailes, St. Johnsbury, VT	Courrtesy of Andy Boright  Bob Greeley, Auburn, ME	Courtesy of Andy Boright Andre Beaudoin, Qubec City, QU

Rod McLeod Photo
Port Credit, Ontario's Don Biederman had cars much like himself - not lovely but very effective.  The cranky professional
driver came to our territory once in a while and  - like his arch rival Junior Hanley - usually escaped with all the marbles.
By Beiderman standards, this car was a showroom beauty.

Courtesy of Andy Boright Laurent Rioux, Blainville, QU	Courtesy of Andy Boright Mike Barry, Bolton,VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Mike Johnson, Hollis, ME	Courtesy of Andy Boright Mike Williams, North Bellmore, NY	Courtesy of Andy Boright Mike Perrotte, Plattsburgh, NY	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Richard Pinkham, Scarborough, ME
Denis LaChance Photo Courtesy of Andy Boright Phil Gerbode, Enosburgh Falls, VT Ex Butch Lindley Car	Courtesy of Andy Boright Dave Gibbs, Westford, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Moe Dubois, HInesburg, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Stan Meserve, Winslow, ME He has just bought this, the final Blake & Lose 51 of George Horn.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Claude Gou, Montreal, QU	Courtesy of Cho Lee Beaver Dragon, Milton, VT
Courtesy of Andy Boright Quint Boisvert, Littleton, NH	Courtesy of Cho Lee Ralph Nason, Newburgh, ME	Denis LaChance Photo Peter Pizzagalli, Charlotte, VT

THE LATER SPORTSMAN CARS OF THE MID TO LATE 1970's
Le Mans Phase 

Denis LaChance Photo
Langis Caron's Le Mans.

Courtesy of Cho Lee Randy LaJoie, Norwalk, CT	Ladabouche  Photo Dana Patten, Enfield, NH	Denis LaChance Photo Allen Whipple, Claremont, NH	Courtesy of Andy Boright Claude Aubin, Laval, QU	Courtesy of Andy Boright Ron Barcomb, Winooski, VT	Courtesy of Dragon family Beaver Dragon, Milton, VT In this car briefly before it went over to Bown and his big sponsorship.
Denis LaChance Photo Courtesy of Andy Boright Chuck Bown, Littleton, NH Same car as previous photo with Beaver.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Bob Brunell, Peru, NY	Denis LaChance Photo Bob Dragon, Milton, VT	Denis LaChance Photo Bob Dragon, Milton, VT The strong departure from their usual graphic package.	Courtesy of Mr. Chevy Black Roger LaPerle, St Denis, QU	Courtesy of Andy Boright Jean - Paul Cabana, Beloeil, QU
Ladabouche Photo Tom Glaser, Shelburne, VT C.A. Crouch Team Car	Courtesy of Andy Boright Claude LeClerc, Repentigny, QU	Courtesy of Andy Boright Dick McCabe, Kennebunkport, ME	Courtesy of Mr. Chevy Black Dave Dion, Hudson, NH	Courtesy of Chas. Casavant Tim Dykman, New York, NY C.A. Crouch Team Car	Courtesyof Bill Towers Hector LeClaire, Fairfax, VT
Ladabouche Photo Pete Silva, Waterville, ME	Source Unknown Steve Poulin, North Troy VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Dan Perez Tampa, FL	Denis LaChance Photo Wes Rosner, Agawam, MA	Ladabouche Photo Mike Barry, Bolton, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Gardiner Leavitt, Kezar Falls, ME

v
A and A Ward Photo
This shot shows the period of transition from the Le Mans to the Regals and Grand Prix style.

Ladabouche Photo I think this is Marshal Hurley	PinterestUK Paul Mauceri, Ozone Park, LI, NY	Norman Morley Photo Montreal Tampa, FL	A & AA Ward Photo Jerry Bartlett	A & A Ward Photo Unknown Car 8	SA & A Ward Photo Chuck Beede, Graniteville, VT
Courtesy of Andy Boright Bobby Glass, Revere, MA	Courtesy of Andy Boright Andre Beaudoin, Quebec City, QU	Denis LaChance Photo Courtesy of Andy Boright Jamie Aube, No. Ferrisburgh, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Bobby Babb, Windham, ME	Courtesy of Andy Boright Bruce Haley, Minot, ME	Courtesy of Andy Boright Sometimes driven by Blair Bessette
Courtesy of Andy Boright Dick Glines, Jackson, NH	Courtesy of Andy Boright Dave Dion, Hudson, NH	Courtesy of Andy Boright Dave Dion, Hudson, NH A later steel body variation	Courtesy of Andy Boright Frank Fraser, Schubenacadie, Nova Scotia	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Leland Kangas, West Paris, ME	Norman Morley Photo Jean-Paul Larose, Ste Eustache, QU
Denis LaChance Photo Allen Whipple, Claremont, NH	Denis LaChance Photo Robbie Crouch, Georgia, VT Pre Tower / pre L&W car	Denis LaChance Photo Mike Johnson, Hollis, ME	SCR magazine Photo Geoff Bodine, Chemung, NY The Emmanuel Zervakis Le Mans  may not have visited T Road but it was ba very important car.	Walter Newell Photo Larry Pottle, Benson, ME	Walter NewellPhoto Ralph Nason, Newburgh, ME The later kit car
Courtesy of Andy Boright Bobby Babb, So. Windham, ME

THE LATER SPORTSMAN CARS OF THE EARLY TO MID 1980's
Regal / Grand Prix Phase 

A and A Ward Photo
Stub Fadden puts the heat on Barney McRae.

A & A Ward Photo  Brad Kennedy, Woodsville, NH	A & A Ward Photo Jerry Lesage, Colchester, VT	A & A Ward Photo George McRae, Milton, VT	A & A Ward Photo Kevin Lepage, Ogunquit, ME	A & A Ward Photo Marcel Corriveau, Quebec City, QU	A & A Ward Photo Barney McRae, Milton, VT
Ladabouche Photo  Jamie Aube, No. Ferrisburgh, VT	Source Unknown  Beaver Dragon, Milton, VT Deerings' first Dragon entry	Dragon Family Photo  Beaver Dragon, Milton, VT Deerings' 2nd Dragon entry	Dragon Family Photo  Beaver Dragon, Milton, VT Bob Miller's 1st Dragon entry	Dragon Family Photo  Beaver Dragon, Milton, VT Farrell's 1st Dragon entry	Dragon Family Photo  Beaver Dragon, Milton, VT Farrell's 2nd Dragon entry
David Turner Jr. Photo  Bob Dragon, Milton, VT	David Turner Jr. Photo  Bob Gahan, Dover, NH	Courtesy of Andy Boright Ron Barcomb, Winooski, VT W.F. Griffin 77 out of Maine.	Courtesy of Rich Palmer Barney McRae, Milton, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Bob Ailes, St. Johnsbury, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Possibly Bob McGonnigle
Courtesy of Andy Boright Dale Shaw's backup car, Center Conway, NH Maybe Reggie Ruggierio driving	Courtesy of Andy Boright Dale Shaw, Center Conway, NH	Courtesy of Andy Boright Dan Perez, Tampa, FL	Courtesy of Andy Boright Jack Bateman, Claremont, NH	Courtesy of Andy Boright Joel Jennett, Northfield, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Owner Sandy MacKinnonn, Kennebunkport, ME Drivers: Joe Kourafas, Bob Randall, Dick McCabe

v
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Another photo of the period where there were still many well - financed teams using Le Mans and others going to the newer bodies.
These are mostly Catamount shots because I have few of T Road at this time, but it's the same cars.

Courtesy of Andy Boright Owner J.P. LaRose, Ste Eustache, QU Driver: Junior Hanley	Courtesy of Andy Boright Kevin Lepage, Shelburne, VT Father's car - before and after the Prescott ride.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Peter Gibbons, Stouffville, ON	Courtesy of Andy Boright Peter Schotanus, Nova Scotia	Courtesy of Roger Minkler Dale Shaw, Center Conway, NH	Courtesy of Roger Minkler Dale Shaw, Center Conway, NH
A & A Ward Photo Unidentified #82	Courtesy of Andy Boright Mark Bogue Wilton, ME	Courtesy of Mike Cain Stub Fadden, No. Haverhill, NH When everyone's bodies were getting larger, Stub went with a smaller car.	Courtesy of  Jeoy Kourafas Joey Kourafas, Sharon, MA One of the several drivers for Bob Ferreira	Courtesy of Paul Mascitti Darrell Owen, Barre, VT	Courtesy of Paul Mascitti Gardiner Leavitt, Kezar Falls, ME
Walter Newell Photo Kelly Moore, Scarborough, ME	Courtesy of Jay Caron Larry Caron, So. Burlington, VT

vv
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Bob Dragon not only drove the V6 that his brother had driven for the Deerings and Rossi Buick, but his D.J. Robertson team built this one.

Courtesy of Andy Boright Mike Rowe, Auburn, ME The Phil Gerbode six banger.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Jeff Stevens, Kennebunkport, ME His own six banger.	THE SIX BANGERS	Courtesy of Jay Caron Larry Caron, So. Burlington, VT First one to seriously try a V6 in competition in Vermont.	Courtesy of Dragon Family Chuck Bown, LIttleton, NH First of the major teams to seriously try a V6 in competition in VT.	Three Phases Photo Beaver Dragon, Milton, VT The Rossi Buick / Deering six cylinder car
Courtesy of Dragon Family Beaver Dragon, MIlton, VT The L.E. Farrell Pepsi six banger.	Howie Hodge Photo Joey Kourafas, Sharon, MA Sandy MacKinnon's 6 cylinder entry	Courtesyof B. Dragon Family  Bob Dragon, Milton, VT The Rossi Buick 6 cyl.	Source Unknown Robbie Crouch, Georgia, VT The L&W Buick Somerset 6 cyl.	Source Unknown Dale Verrill, South Paris, ME	Source Unknown Dick McCabe, Kennebunkport, ME His own 6 cyl.
Source Unknown Dale Shaw , Center Conway ,NH 47	Source Unknown Harvey Sprague, Bangor, ME	Source Unknown Jamie Aube, No. Ferrisburgh, VT The Mt. Racing 6 cyl.	Source Unknown Larry Caron , So. Burlington, VT The man who started it  all with a newer sixer.	Source Unknown Marty Bezema, Wrentham, MA	Source Unknown Mike Maietta , South Portland ,ME Former Crouch Buick Somerset
Source Unknown Randy MacDonald, Oshawa, ON	Source Unknown Randy Slack York, ON	Source Unknown Steve Poulin, North Troy, VT

THE PLASTIC BODIED PONY CARS OF 1987, ACT's FIRST YEAR


Courtesy of Andy Boright
Robbie Crouch was pretty much the cream of the ACT crop - especially at first. Once he and other former steel body drivers got the
hang of the pony cars, he really blossomed. His only hiccup was the era of Junior Hanley, and that was everybody's hiccup.

Courtesy of Mr. Chevy Black MIke Rowe, Auburn, ME	Courtesy of Pascal Cote Andre Beaudoin, Quebec City, QU	Courtesy of Dragon Family Steve Poulin, North Troy, VT Beaver's backup car.	Courtesy of Don Theis Beaver Dragon, Milton, VT	Denis LaChance Photo Courtesy of Andy Boright Jean - Paul Cabana, Beloeil, QU	Christian Ti-Gaz Genest Photo Claude LeClerc, Repentigny, QU
Courtesy of Andy Boright Dave Dion, Hudson, NH	Courtesy of Cho Lee Bub Bilodeau, Standish, ME	Courtesy of Cho Lee Jake Bateman, Lebanon, NH	Courtesy of Andy Boright Junior Hanley, Oakville, ON Not sure he appeared here  in 1987	Courtesy of Mike Cain Kevin Lepage, Ogunquit, ME	Courtesy of Andy Boright Kevin Lepage, Shelburne, VT Post Norseman ride
Courtesy of Mike Cain Milt Wright, Hardwick, VT	Courtesy of Andy Boright Ralph Nason, Newburg, ME	Courtesy of Mike Cain Paul Richardson, Georgetown, MA	Courtesy of Mike Cain Steve Grissom, Gadsden, AL All Pro star visiting T Road pre GASCC	Norman Morley Photo Tom Quinney, Haverhill, MA	Courtesy of Andy Boright Mike Weeden, Haverhill, MA
Courtesy of Andy Boright Jamie Aube, No. Ferrisburg, VT Like others, he tried ACT first then went over to the more familiar equipment of BGNN	Courtesy of Andy Boright Stub Fadden, No. Haverhill, NH Like others, he tried ACT first then went over to the more familiar equipment of BGNN	Courtesy of Walter Newell Barney McRae, Milton, VT	Courtesy of Justin St. Louis Ricky Craven, Newburg, ME	Courtesy of Andy Boright Jean-Paul Cabana The second ACT car	Courtesy of Dan St. Pierre Gardiner Leavitt, Kezar Falls, ME

Courtesy of Dan St. Pierre
Barney McRae, Claude LeClerc, and Robbie Crouch are recognizable in this Oxford Plains shot.

Source Dan St. Pierre Lucien Rocheleau, Boisbriand, QU

Ron Pittsley Photo Jeff Milot, Maine Dale Shaw backup car.

Courtesy of Andy Boright Kevin Lepage, Shelburne, VT

A & A Ward Photo Bob Dragon, Milton, VT Beaver's backup car.

Mike Cain Photo
Barney McRae bought the Beaver Dragon backup car in 1987 and darn near beat Beaver with it.

Dan St. Pierre Photo
The first ever ACT late model race, at Lee. Among the unblemished cars are Aube, LeClerc, Crouch, and Beaver.

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