TOM TILLER

McIver Photo, Courtesy of Cho Lee
The Kentucky Colonel, from Rush, Kentucky and Winooski, Vermont

    From the limited knowledge and contact I have had with Tom, I would conclude he came up into our region while a member of the armed forces - maybe the Air Force. While in this area, Tom saw racing at Airborne and at Malletts Bay. He raced briefly at Malletts Bay and even at Otter Creek Speedway; but, he became well - known while driving in the Flying Tiger division at Catamount Stadium.
    Using yellow cars numbered 77, Tom became labeled as "The Kentucky Colonel" by inventive announcer Ken Squier. He became a regular feature winner at Catamount and Thunder Road by the time I saw him in 1968. With occasionally hiatuses from the sport, Tom participated from the 1960's - on into the late '80's and maybe the early '90's.
    One thing I remember him for is innovation. He tried some very different cars, such as Pontiac Tempest and a Plymouth Roadrunner. His last car, in the new Tigers, was a Ford T Bird. Like Beaver Dragon, Tiller is an avid outdoorsman. His son, Tom, went on to the Presidency of Polaris, Inc. - a source of pride for Tom.

Courtesy of Chris Companion Tom's familiar early Tiger sits near his Gas Station in Winooski.	Courtesy of the Gilbert Family Tom at Catamount around 1967.	Courtesy of Jim Watson Tom, with a familiar Catamount pose around 1970.

Courtesy of Rich Palmer Tom hastily built this 4 door after a mid - season wreck. Only to wreck it, too.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Tom's 1957 Chevy chases Bob Dragon around 1969.	Courtesy of Andy Boright Tom's 1962 Dodge. He eventually built two of them.
Courtesy of Andy Boright A rare shot of Tom and Bob Dragon as team mates.	Bill Ladabouche Photo One of several cars Tiller ran in the early 1970's.	Bill Ladabouche Photo Tiller's short-lived but popular Roadrunner.
Courtesy of Chris Companion A heat win with the Roadrunner.	Bill Ladabouche Photo Tiller's nifty little Dodge Dart.	Courtesy of Andy Boright One of several cars Tiller ran in the early 1970's.
Courtesy of Chris Companion Going for a spin in the Dart.	Bill Ladabouche Collec. Running against Don Bevins.	Photo Source Unknown A 1969 trophy after a big win.
Courtesy of Jim Watson Tiller poses with the Dart	Ladabouche Collection The Dart heads up to the track at Catamount.	Courtesy of Justin St.Louis Tiller, towards the end of his career in an ACT late model.

ACT Archives Courtesy of Cho Lee
Archie Blackadar hams it up with Tom after a late spring snowstorm
delayed Catamount's opening day.