Northern New York Drivers and Teams

A Look at the Coupes of Yesteryear

     Tracks in this area would include Airborne Speedway, in Plattsburgh; Fort Covington Speedway, Fort Covington, NY.; Moffitt Road, near Plattsburgh; Saranac Lake, Saranac Lake, NY; and more I haven't heard about yet. I am not including tracks from the 1980's, on up to the present.

CLICK ON THE TRACK NAME TO GO TO THAT SECTION
Airborne      Fort Covington      Saranac Lake

 

AIRBORNE SPEEDWAY
Plattsburgh, New York

I am not adding more to this section because Airborne has its own page elsewhere. CLICK HERE to go there.


Courtesy of Pascal "Magnum"

Paul Hamel,
Montreal, QU

 


Courtesy of Pascal "Magnum"

Andre Manny
Laval des Rapides, QU

Bernie_Griffith_711_Coupe.jpg (97333 bytes)
Courtesy of Mike Watts

Bernie Griffith,
Plattsburgh, NY

Bob_Brunelle_Mustang_Cropped.JPG (62844 bytes)

Courtesy of Pascal "Magnum"

Bob Brunelle,
Peru, NY

Bob_Bruno_Wolfe_Sedan.jpg (85168 bytes)
Courtesy of Mike Watts

Vic Wolfe's famed #66
Bob Bruno and Joe Bruno, drivers

Bobby.DuBrul.Beaver,jpg.JPG (121360 bytes)

Burlington Free Press

Jack DuBrul, Bob Dragon, and Beaver Dragon - The Vermont Contingent in 1971

 

Buck_Holliday_11.jpg (92447 bytes)

Courtesy of Mike Watts

Buck Holliday,
Waddington, NY

cabana_early_coupe_crew.jpg (125065 bytes)

Courtesy of Pascal "Magnum"

Jean-Paul Cabana,
Beloeil, QU

CHarland_Posing_Onfender_Perry.jpg (26289 bytes)

Courtesy of Rick Parry

Rene Charland,
Agawam, MA

 

Charlie_Draper_1.JPG (189755 bytes)

Cavalcade of Auto Racing

Charlie Draper,
Wilmington, NY

charlie_trombley.jpg (95441 bytes)

Cavalcade of Auto Racing

Charlie Trombley,
Mooers Forks, NY

color_danish_crew.jpg (139265 bytes)

Courtesy of Danish Family

Steve Danish,
Cropseyville, NY

Corey_FootonCar_Mott.JPG (54943 bytes)

Cavalcade of Auto Racing

Pete Corey,
Crescent, NY

 

Corriveau_40_LeQuebecois_Coupe.jpg (140694 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Marcel Corriveau,
Quebec City, QU

 

Denis_Giroux_50_Color.jpg (107410 bytes)

Photographer Unknown

Denis Giroux
Montreal, QU

Dick_Goodell_T800.JPG (52936 bytes)

Courtesy of Pascal "Magnum"

Dick Goodell,
Mooers Forks, NY

The Gaylord Rowe T-800

Dick_Nephew_1961.jpg (134945 bytes)

Courtesy of Cho Lee

Dick Nephew,
Mooers Forks, NY
CLICK HERE for his
page

 

Don_Mac_D8.jpg (186592 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Don MacTavish,
Dover, MA

DuBrul_Color_Coupe_1963.jpg (92724 bytes)

Bill Ladabouche Photo

Jack DuBrul,
Shelburne, VT

Early_Godard_Cropped.JPG (317044 bytes)

Courtesy of Cho Lee

Marcel Godard,
Montreal, QU

Ernie_Ried_Bob_Sall_Checkers.jpg (95290 bytes)

Courtesy of Mike Watts

Ernie Ried,
Massena, NY

Frank_Hodge_Lucky7.JPG (34875 bytes)

Courtesy of Pascal "Magnum"

Frank Hodge,
Montreal, QU

 

frank_provost_etal_cavalcade.jpg (92315 bytes)

Cavalcade of Auto Racing

Frank Provost [left],
Cadyville, NY

gahan_drellos_111.jpg (83974 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Ernie Gahan,
Dover, NH

Gaston_Desmarais_Fonda.jpg (92363 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Gaston Desmarais,
Tupper Lake, NY

guy_chartrand_69_coupe.jpg (109499 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Jean Guy Chartrand,
Montreal, QU

hamilton_worcester_69.jpg (213383 bytes)

Cavalcade of Auto Racing

Pete Hamilton
Dedham, MA

harry_provost_cavalcade_portrait.jpg (53296 bytes)

Cavalcade of Auto Racing

Harry Provost
Cadyville, NY

 

Jackie_Peterson.JPG (60978 bytes)

Cavalcade of Auto Racing

Jackie Peterson,
Plattsburgh, NY

The George Palmetier
6 and 7/8

 

Janoski_Color_Flag.jpg (74859 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

George Janoski,
Stafford Springs, CT

Jeep_earlyTrinkhaus_62_Color.jpg (37329 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Jeep Herbert,
Rotterdam, NY

jelley_X_coupe.jpg (164278 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Butch Jelley,
Pownal, VT

Jerry_Cook_LaterCoupe.jpg (28009 bytes)

Courtesy of Dan Nolin

Jerry Cook,
Lockport, NY

Jerry_Pennock_Ryan28_DBowl.JPG (64972 bytes)

Devils Bowl Yearbook

Jerry Pennock,
Warrensburg, NY

karvonen_coupe_era.jpg (17002 bytes)

Courtesy of Pascal "Magnum"

Bob Karvonen,
Wichendon, MA

 

Lazzaro_Fifield_Bergh.jpg (48406 bytes)

Courtesy of Bill Fifield

Lou Lazarro,
Utica, NY

mack_miller_cavalcade_portrait.jpg (86329 bytes)

Cavalcade of Auto Racing

Mack Miller,
Ellenburg Depot, NY

 

maurice_taillard_mohawk_chief_falcon.jpg (182785 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Maurice Tallard,
Quebec City, QU

Ray_Forte_Coupe.JPG (68352 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Ray Forte,
Montreal, QU

Roger_Gauthier_53_Victoria_Win_Novak.jpg (160400 bytes)

Courtesy of Bob Novak

Roger Gauthier,
Fort Edward, NY

Romano_Sedan_Color_CLseup.JPG (91711 bytes)

Courtesy of Saratoga Auto Museum

Andy Romano,
Johnstown, NY

 

Ron_Narducci_familiar98.jpg (73747 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Ron Narducci,
E. Haddam, CT

Russ_Shaw_8VT_1967_Malta.jpg (104417 bytes)

Courtesy of Bob Novak

Russ Shaw,
Bomoseen, VT

sapphire_leclair_c37.jpg (74558 bytes)

Bill Ladabouche

Jim LeClaire,
Plattsburgh, NY

Shoemaker_24_Victoria.jpg (95141 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Ken Shoemaker,
Westmere, NY

Trombley_Brothers_MBay.JPG (46418 bytes)

Catamount Yearbook

Trombley brothers,
Mooers Forks, NY

 

Tucker_14.jpg (14573 bytes)

Bill Ladabouche

The Tucker 14,
Burlington, VT

Various drivers

Wes_Moody_Earlier.jpg (118855 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Wes Moody,
Saranac Lake, NY

Pierre_LaFrance.JPG (23602 bytes)

Courtesy of Pascal "Magnum"

Pierre LaFrance,
Iberville. QU

Ronca.jpg (79972 bytes)

Courtesy of Jim Ladabouche

Nick Ronca,
Clifton Park, NY

Swires_Coupe_Before_Wreck.gif (14040 bytes)

Bill Ladabouche

The Allie Swears 51
Various Drivers

Wolfe_66_MaybeTrombley.jpg (104693 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Bob Bruno,
Schuyler Falls, NY

Wolfe_66_Joe_Thomas.jpg (129791 bytes)

Courtesy of John Grady

Joe Thomas,
Plattsburgh, NY

Wimble_Daytona_1961.JPG (96155 bytes)

Cavalcade of Auto Racing

Bill Wimble,
Lisbon, NY

welch's77.jpg (42006 bytes)

Bill Ladabouche

Welch's 77
Schenectady, NY
Various Drivers

Evans_Lancaster_BrunelleBackground_Bisci.JPG (118063 bytes)

Photo by Turn Five

Richie Evans,
Rome, NY
Bob Brunell's coupe in background.

 

PLATTSBURGH LEGENDS PAGE from a Catamount Stadium Yearbook

Photographer Unknown

The late models move out for a heat as action continues in the Dick Nephew pit area, in the top right of the photo.

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FORT COVINGTON SPEEDWAY
Fort Covington, New York

    The track in Fort Covington was so close to the Canadian border that a few of the old hands  would exaggerate a bit and say one of the turns was actually in Canada. I don't think this is true. I have a Terraserver Satellite photo of the old layout which will make the location more correct; but, I don't a lot of pictures specific to Fort Covington. Many of the teams that ran Airborne or Saranac Lake would have run at Fort Covington, I suppose.


Courtesy of the Pascal "Magnum" Website

Medor Viau on the track at Fort Covington.


Terraserver Satellite Photo

The Fort Covington track is located right in the middle of this shot, just below where the river [which is the international boundary] starts to arc to the right. Notice the track IS quite close to that.


Terraserver USGS Topographical Map

The track is seen right under the Ft. in "Ft Covington".


Courtesy of Pascal "Magnum" website

Future engine builder Ovide Doiron is on the Fort Covington track in
what appears to be a late model race.


Courtesy Pascal
"Magnum" Website

Paul Hamel, with the
Gaston Ethier #66
likely drove at the Fort

 


John Grady Photo

Wadington, NY's
Buck Holliday
ran at Ft. Covington

John Grady Photo

Dick Nephew, of nearby
Mooers Forks ran at
the track

Bill Hoffnagle Photo
Remains of frontstretch,
Fort Covington

Bill Hoffnagle Photo
Remains of stands,
Fort Covington


Bill Hoffnagle Photo
Remains of the railroad,
ties at Fort Covington.
Maybe like those in the
photos above.
 


Bill Hoffnagle Photo
Remains of a storage
building that probably
came after the track
had closed.
   

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SARANAC LAKE SPEEDWAY
Saranac Lake, New York

     If I can catch Wes Moody at a time when he is not involved in preparing his modified for action on the pavement on at Airborne, he might have time to tell me about the track in Saranac Lake. I think I found it on Terraserver Satellite, but, as of right now, I have no photos of anyone directly identified as being on that track. Jim Hoyt, another Saranac Lake native, might be another good resource.


Terraserver Satellite Photo

This clearly shows what must be the old Saranac Lake Speedway. It is actually closer
 to the town of Lake Colby than it is to greater Saranac Lake.


USGS Terraserver Topographical Map

The old Saranac Lake Speedway is located halfway between the left side of that diagonal line running from lower right to upper left and the short street of the trailer park that points straight out to the right and stops. I am not sure what the diagonal line is - it isn't a road.


John Grady Photo

Wes Moody,
Saranac Lake, NY

First man to go 100 M.P.H. at Syracuse

 


Courtesy of Mike Watts

Vince Quenneville,
Whiting, VT

First actual Saranac
Lake photo I have.


Courtesy of Mike Watts

Unknown hobby driver

2nd actual Saranac
Lake photo I have.


Courtesy of Mike Watts

Bernie Kentile,
Saranac Lake, NY

In Dick Nephew's
car


Courtesy of Norm Vadnais

Charlie Draper,
Wilmington, NY


Courtesy of Norm Vadnais

Andre Smith,
Canadian Driver

     

Courtesy of Mike Watts

Graham Trudo,
Fair Haven, VT


Courtesy of Ardyce Blohm

Rod Ritchie,
Saranac Lake, NY


Courtesy of Mike Watts

The infamous shared
Studebaker, of Nephew and
Ritchie. Fran Kane in the
background.

     

 

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