Roy "Pappy" Forsythe
One of the state's earliest superstars was an out - of stater named Roy Forsythe, from Keene, New Hampshire. Apparently, Forsythe tended to be competing against drivers younger than he was, thus the nickname "Pappy" came about. It is not a particularly accurate nickname given the fact he had movie star looks and never really seemed that old, but it stuck.
Forsythe started out at tracks in his region, most notably the Cheshire County Fairgrounds track near Keene, NH.. The track was run by an association and Pappy served as one of its presidents. He had keen competition then [if you'll excuse the pun] - the likes of Art Rousseau, Rene Charland, Cecil Bosworth, Art and Mike Cody, Ted Brown, Ernie Gahan, Sonny Rabidou, and Buddy Bardwell.
Scanned from an old issue of The Keene Sentinel
Although he was busy as MSCRA President, Forsythe was still able to be one of the track's premier competitors. He won numerous races at the fairgrounds - and at other tracks in the area, as well. His accomplishments earned him a good reputation and he caught the eye of an industrious Northern Vermont car owner named George Barber, of Bradford, Vermont. Barber and Forsythe would soon form a partnership that would be very dominant in the Northern Vermont region for years to come.
Scanned from an old issue of The Keene Sentinel
Barber's cream - colored Bradford Auto Supply #46 coupe was soon to be synonymous with excellence and success at places like Northeast Speedway in Waterford, Vermont and Barre, Vermont's Thunder Road. Eventually, Barber would add a second coupe, #47, but it was Pappy Forsythe who had established the team as one of the best in the history of racing in the state.
Bill Ladabouche Photos
The George Barber coupe Forsythe drove,
as it is restored today
by Lloyd Hutchins, of East Barre, VT
 Courtesy of Mike Gilbert The Forsythe coupe at Dog River Speedway in Northfield, VT |
 ACT Archives Courtesy of Cho Lee Roy and George trophied at the Thunder Road banquet in the early 1960's |
 ACT Archives Courtesy of Cho Lee Forsythe, Granger, and Pierson receive T Road trophies in 1960 |
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