MINI STOCK ERA COMPETITORS


                                                                

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Courtesy of Chris Companion
Harry Gammell, like his dad, was one of division's favorite competitors.

    

     

    In response to the the rapidly - spreading popularity of mini stock divisions at other tracks like Oxford Plains, Northern NASCAR decided to put in a mini stock class at both Catamount and Thunder Road around 1974. The class started out very vaguely, with a group of cars from mostly North of the Canadian border. In fact, a Canadian, Monique Proulx, won the first mini stock feature, and she remained the only woman to win a feature at Catamount to this day.

 


Courtesy of Chris Companion
Monique Proulx, winner of Catamount's first mini stock race.


Courtesy of Catamount History Book
One race and finished. I doubt the car was absolutely legal. It served to help kickstart the division.

 

    Butch True became the division's first big star, and it seemed to be controlled by Burlington area drivers. But, but the second year, it was very clear that the class of the field seemed to be centered in the Barre area - especially in the persons of Jerry Perantoni and Joey LaQuerre. The division remained for about seven years. Although the Volkswagen Bug was always the car of choice, the division saw participation from other makes, like the Carmann Ghia, the four cylinder Ford, Volvos, and a few Datsuns [yup, they were Datsuns then].


Courtesy of Andy Boright
Mini stocks and mini modifieds line up for a race at T Road during the horrible Tommy Kalimiris era. Look at the
unmowed infield. Likely, they never were paid.

 

 

    The Mini Stocks produced its own stars of repute, and some of its participants went on to higher race divisions. Arguably the most prominent and accomplished graduate was Joey LaQuerre, Sr, who still excels in racing - especially at Thunder Road. Barney McRae, who started in the minis, has gone on to run in the NASCAR Busch Grand National North circuit. Boomer Mumphord and brother, Peter, went on to distinguish themselves in a similar division at Devil's Bowl.


Courtesy of Andy Boright
Kevin Frink [7] and Mike Richmond go off turn two during the pure mini
stock era at Thunder Road. Both were really on the binders here.

 

 

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Dick LaFayette
Barre, VT

 

Butch True
Burlington, VT


Courtesy of Chris Companion
Butch wins another one.

 

 
Courtesy of Cho Lee 
Jerry Perantoni
Barre, VT



Courtesy of  Ray Lasnier
 

Photo Source Unknown
Joey LaQuerre
E. Montpelier, VT


Courtesy of Terry LaFerriere
Nice color shot


Courtesy of Cho Lee
In a NH - bought
entry, late '70's.


Courtesy of Rich Palmer
John Mascitti,
Barre, VT



Courtesy of Paul Mascitti


Courtesy of Paul Mascitti
COUPES ERA


Courtesy of Cho Lee
Kevin Frink
Plainfield, VT

 

 


Ladabouche Photo
Randy Therrien,
Charlotte, VT


 
Courtesy of  Terry LaFerriere
[Front] Randy Therrien
[84] Don Therrien
Charlotte
, VT

Courtesy of Cho Lee
Ralph Potwin
Randolph, VT

Photo from Dan Nolin
Tom Glaser
Shelburne, VT



Courtesy of  Terry


Courtesy of  Jim Watson


Catamount History Book

 


Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Dale LaPerle,
So. Barre, VT

 
EARLY FLYING TIGERS


Photo Source Unknown
Harry Gammell,
West Barnet, VT


From Andy Bright, via Outside Groove Site


Courtesy of Johnny Racer

 

 
Photo Source Unknown
Bob Therrien
Ferrisburgh, VT
 
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Dave Gibbs,
Westford
, VT

 

 
Courtesy of  Cho Lee
The safety truck was none
too safe when Ken Hoadley attacked.


Courtesy of Paul Mascitti
Ken
Hoadley's car is
seen pretty well in this shot.

Courtesy of  Rich Palmer
Barney McRae,
St. Albans, VT



Courtesy of Paul Mascitti
Barney's first race car
exiting at Catamount
after a heat.


 
LIMITED SPORTSMAN

 
Courtesy of  Andy Boright

Remember when Ken Squier
 tried driving a mini ?



 
Courtesy of  Mark Austin
Jim Carlson,
Shelburne, VT
 
Courtesy of  S. Mishkit
Steve Mishkit,
Granville, VT
 
Courtesy of  Austin Wheeler
Ric Wheeler,
Middlebury, VT
 
Courtesy of  Eric Adams
Dave Ford,
Barre, VT
HURRICANES


Norman Morley Photo
Randy Therrien, Arlo
Cota, Jim Carlson, and
Ken Hoadley, among
others, mix it up at
Catamount around 1977.
 
 
Norman Morley Photo
Pace car ducks in.
 
Norman Morley Photo
Randy Therrien [48]
paces a heat.

Courtesy of  Andy Boright
Minis mix it up at
Catamount, prior to the building of the luxury boxes.
 
Helen Owen Photo
via Walter Newell

My Lord, Tom is
that exhaust high
enough ?
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN

Early

Later


Courtesy of Cho Lee
Mark Rossi,
Barre, VT
Father of 2010
Tiger Champ, Tony
Rossi
 
Cho Lee never drove
his mini mod at
Thunder Road, but
he deserves to be
on the page.
 
Denis LaChance Photo
An unidentified Mini Mod
 at Catamount. Might be
Dan Meservey.
 
Ladabouche Photo
Joey LaQuerre's Pit Area
Chris Ford and John Mascitti visible cars.
Sorry, they used textured photo paper in this era
 
 
Courtesy of  Johnny Racer
Another one for Joey
MINI STOCKS

 
Ladabouche Photo
Mike Richmond's
Pit Area
Dave's Automotive Team
Sorry, they used textured photo paper in this era

 
 
Ladabouche Photo
Mark Senesac and
Barney McRae at
Church St Car Show
 

Ladabouche Photo
Shorty LeClaire,
Hector's brother, made a
rare Catamount visit.
It's a Lebanon Valley
Mini Mod
 
Ladabouche Photo
Stu Fenton,
Plainfield, VT
The Volvo
 
Courtesy of  Brian Manning
More Joey
GRAND AMERICANS

 
Ladabouche Photo
Don Therrien,
Hinesburg, VT
Team Car to Brother,
Randy.
 
Mike Cain Photo
Roy Dyke,
Bristol, VT
 
Courtesy of Mike Gilbert
Only shot I have of Steve,
Fenoff - following Perantoni
 
Courtesy of Andy Boright
I'm using a number of shots
from T Road to try and get
a full complement of the
division's teams in one place.
The "Joe Fan" car [1] was actually won by Stan mason and campaigned with
limited success at both tracks. I think 15VT is Frank Wilder.

 
 
Courtesy of Andy Boright
I'm using a number of shots
from T Road to try and get more teams in here. Good shot of Ed Orton. I need help with that Renault in the rear.
Don't think it's Arlo.
STREET STOCKS

al_theanimal_simoneau.jpg (82785 bytes)


Courtesy of Cho Lee
Ken Thompson,
Randolph, VT
 
With Lennie Stockwell

Courtesy of Andy Boright
Ken Thompson, in action
 
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Catamount Mini action with Glaser, Joey, Steve Mishkit,
and Harry Gammell.
 
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Danny Casey,
Jericho, VT
 
Courtesy of Rich Palmer
Dale LaPerle,
Barre, VT
 
ACT CARS

Beaver_SCarConn_91_Pepsi_Milwaukee_DonTheis.jpg (126264 bytes)

 
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Vince Conti,
Barre, VT
Possibly a Suzanne Legault car
 
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Ken Thompson,
So. Royalton, VT

Ladabouche Photo
Peter Bushey,
Burlington, VT
 
 
Norman Morley Photo
Danny Casey and one
the the LaQuerre cars
can't seem to get along.
 
 
Courtesy of Andy Boright
Johnny Gammell,
St. Johnsbury Ctr., VT
The Suzanne LeGault VW
 
NEW TIGERS


Ladabouche Collection
Arlo Cota,
Essex Jct, VT
The one and only Renault 

Courtesy of Cho Lee
Bill MacRitchie,
Montpelier, VT
 
 
Courtesy of Steve Pecor
Boomer Mumphord,
Charlotte, VT
Last Catamount champion 

 
Courtesy of  Cho Lee
Steve Fenoff leads
Harry Gammell
 
 
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Dick Myers,
Jericho, VT
 
LIMITED SPORTSMAN
2ND ERA 1976

 

 
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Joel Jennett,
Northfield, VT
 
 
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Joey LaQuerre, Jr,
East Montpelier, VT
A 2nd generation
driver
 

Courtesy of Cho Lee
Mark Senesac,
St. Albans, VT
 

Courtesy of Cho Lee
Mike Richmond,
Williston, VT
 
 
Courtesy of Cho Lee
Dick LaFayette,
Barre, VT
Earlier version of
his car
 


Courtesy of Cho Lee
A freshly - discovered and better photo of Dick Myers. I believe he built the Carman Ghia used by Danny Casey and Ken Squier.

Do you have pictures of other drivers from this era at Catamount ? If you would like to make them available for me to place on this site contact me at: wladabou@comcast.net

or

Bill Ladabouche
23 York Street
Swanton, VT 05488
802-868-4339

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