Sportsman Coupes/Modifieds

Thunder Road Sportsman Coupe/Modified division feature event winners and champions, 1960-2010. Thunder Road's first division, the flathead Coupes (also known as Class A cars), were the only group racing at the track from 1960-62 before the introduction of the Class B/Semi-Late Model/Flying Tiger cars in 1963.

NASCAR-legal Sportsman Modifieds ran with the flathead Coupes in the final race of 1964 and early part of 1965 before being outlawed in weekly competition (with the exception of Merlin Bean, whose Modified was so much slower than the New York and Québec cars, it was allowed to stay). One final open race was held the week after the Milk Bowl, won by Jean-Paul Cabana, who was dominant in the early '65 races.

Two special Coupe races were held in 1974, and then a lame attempt was put forth in 1978 by then-track owner Tommy Kalomiris to run the Bear Ridge Speedway Coupes on a regular basis. In fact, only one Coupes-only feature was held that year, won by current Bear Ridge Promoter C.V. Elms, III. In the only other '78 event where Coupes competed, the three cars in attendance ran with the Grand American division, with Pete Dunn and Elms finishing 1-2 in the race ahead of top GA racer Dave Gibbs. (The race counts as a Grand American win for Dunn on this website.)

One more Coupe race was held in June 2006 in conjunction with the Twin State Series (races were also held at BRS, Canaan Fair Speedway's dirt and asphalt tracks, and Riverside Speedway). The Valenti Modified Racing Series came to Thunder Road for three appearances on Memorial Day weekend in 2008-10.

Big time "THANKS!" to Cho Lee for his research help on this pioneering era at "The Nation's Site of Excitement!"

SPORTSMAN COUPE/MODIFIED "KINGS OF THE ROAD", 1960-1965

1960 - RONNIE MARVIN - BETHLEHEM, NH

1961 - ROY "PAPPY" FORSYTHE - KEENE, NH

1962 - LEE INGERSON - JEFFERSON, NH

1963 - LEE INGERSON - JEFFERSON, NH

1964 - HAROLD "HARDLUCK" HANAFORD - PLYMOUTH, NH

1965 - HAROLD "HARDLUCK" HANAFORD - PLYMOUTH, NH

ALL-TIME SPORTSMAN COUPE/MODIFIED FEATURE WINNERS, 1960-2010

Ronnie Marvin - 18

Lee Ingerson - 12

Roy Forsythe - 11

Harold Hanaford - 8

Tony Colicchio - 7

Russ Ingerson - 7

Doug Ingerson - 6

Norm Chaloux - 5

Jean-Paul Cabana - 4
Johnny Gammell - 4

Rex Shattuck - 4

Satch Hunt - 3

Mutt Dexter - 3

Paul Martel - 3

Freddie Mills - 3

Mike Osborne - 3

Chet Wood - 3

Bob Bissell - 2

Larry Granger - 2

Steve Masse - 2

Kirk Alexander - 1

Glen Andrews - 1

Sylvio Bilodeau - 1

Pete Bryant - 1

C.V. Elms, III - 1

Ernie Gahan - 1

Mike Gendron - 1

Clint Gerard - 1

Dick Hawkins - 1

Andre Manny - 1

Hank Montandon - 1

Bob Moore - 1

Dick Nephew - 1

Ernie Reid - 1

1960

Date Winner Hometown

6/30 #Lee Ingerson Jefferson, NH

7/07 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

(rained out 7/04)

7/07 Dick Hawkins Vergennes, VT

7/14 Freddie Mills Groveton, NH

7/21 Mutt Dexter Lisbon, NH

(Triple Crown winner)

7/28 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

8/04 Pete Bryant St. Johnsbury, VT

8/11 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

(Triple Crown winner)

8/18 Larry Granger Barre, VT

(Mid-Season Championship)

8/25 Tony Colicchio Barre, VT

9/01 Glen Andrews Oxford, ME

9/05 Norm Chaloux Barre, VT

(Labor Day Classic)

9/08 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

9/15 Rex Shattuck Burlington, VT

9/22 Johnny Gammell St. Johnsbury, VT

9/25 Mike Osborne Barre, VT

10/02 Rex Shattuck Burlington, VT

10/09 Mutt Dexter Lisbon, NH

(Triple Crown winner)

10/30 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

(Vt. State Championship)

1962

Date Winner Hometown

5/30 Paul Martel Plymouth, NH

(Memorial Day Classic/Martel Triple Crown winner)

6/03 Lee Ingerson Jefferson, NH

6/07 Paul Martel Plymouth, NH

6/14 Lee Ingerson Jefferson, NH

6/21 Rex Shattuck Burlington, VT

(Triple Crown winner)

6/28 Mike Osborne Barre, VT

7/04 Roy Forsythe Keene, NH

(Firecracker 40)

7/12 Ernie Gahan Scarborough, ME

(Triple Crown winner)

7/19 Freddie Mills Groveton, NH

7/26 Johnny Gammell St. Johnsbury, VT

(Mid-Season Championship)

8/02 Clint Gerard Littleton, NH

8/16 Bob Bissell St. Johnsbury, VT

8/23 Sylvio Bilodeau Whitefield, NH

8/30 Freddie Mills Groveton, NH

(Governor's Cup)

9/03 Mutt Dexter Lisbon, NH

(Labor Day Classic)

9/06 Doug Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

(Triple Crown)

9/09 Harold Hanaford Plymouth, NH

9/16 Harold Hanaford Plymouth, NH

(Vt. State Championship)

9/30 Harold Hanaford Plymouth, NH

(1st Annual Vermont Milk Bowl)

1964

Date Winner Hometown

5/24 Harold Hanaford Plymouth, NH

5/31 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

(Memorial Day Classic/Marvin Triple Crown winner)

6/04 Lee Ingerson Jefferson, NH

6/11 Harold Hanaford Plymouth, NH

6/18 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

(Triple Crown winner)

6/25 Tony Colicchio Barre, VT

7/03 Chet Wood Orange, VT

(Firecracker 40)

7/09 Doug Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

7/16 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

(Triple Crown winner)

7/23 Lee Ingerson Jefferson, NH

(Mid-Season Championship)

7/30 Satch Hunt Franconia, NH

8/06 Lee Ingerson Jefferson, NH

8/13 Russ Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

8/20 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

8/27 Tony Colicchio Barre, VT

(Governor's Cup/Colicchio Triple Crown winner)

9/03 Satch Hunt Franconia, NH

9/06 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

(Labor Day Classic)

9/13 Johnny Gammell St. Johnsbury, VT

(Vt. State Championship)

9/27 Harold Hanaford Plymouth, NH

(3rd Annual Vermont Milk Bowl)

10/11 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

1974-2008

Date Winner Hometown

6/20/74 Norm Chaloux Barre, VT

8/22/74 Bob Moore Topsham, VT

5/21/78 C.V. Elms, III North Haverhill, NH

6/18/06 Mike Gendron East Corinth, VT

(Twin State Series)

5/25/08 Kirk Alexander West Swanzey, NH

(True Value Modified Racing Series)

5/24/09 Steve Masse Bellingham, MA

(True Value Modified Racing Series)

5/30/10 Steve Masse Bellingham, MA

(Valenti Modified Racing Series)

1961

Date Winner Hometown

5/25 Mike Osborne Barre, VT

(Governor's Cup)

5/29 Roy Forsythe Keene, NH

(Memorial Day Classic/Forsythe Triple Crown winner)

6/09 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

(rained out 6/08)

6/16 Roy Forsythe Keene, NH

(Disqualified, decision later reversed)

6/22 Roy Forsythe Keene, NH

(Triple Crown winner)

6/29 Roy Forsythe Keene, NH

7/04 Roy Forsythe Keene, NH

7/06 Roy Forsythe Keene, NH

(Triple Crown winner)

7/13 Tony Colicchio Barre, VT

(Triple Crown winner)

7/20 Roy Forsythe Keene, NH

7/28 Roy Forsythe Keene, NH

(Mid-Season Championship/Forsythe Triple Crown winner)

8/03 Norm Chaloux Barre, VT

8/10 Roy Forsythe Keene, NH

8/17 Tony Colicchio Barre, VT

8/24 Norm Chaloux Barre, VT

8/31 Tony Colicchio Barre, VT

9/03 Roy Forsythe Keene, NH

(Labor Day Classic)

9/07 Tony Colicchio Barre, VT

(final points race)

9/14 Rex Shattuck Burlington, VT

9/17 Norm Chaloux Barre, VT

10/01 Larry Granger Barre, VT

10/08 Bob Bissell St. Johnsbury, VT

1963

Date Winner Hometown

5/30 Russ Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

(Memorial Day Classic)

6/07 Lee Ingerson Jefferson, NH

(rained out 6/06)

6/13 Lee Ingerson Jefferson, NH

6/21 Johnny Gammell St. Johnsbury, VT

(rained out 6/20 - Gammell Triple Crown winner)

6/27 Doug Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

7/11 Lee Ingerson Jefferson, NH

(Firecracker 40 - rained out 7/04)

7/11 Lee Ingerson Jefferson, NH

7/18 Satch Hunt Franconia, NH

7/25 Doug Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

(Mid-Season Championship)

8/08 Chet Wood Orange, VT

(rained out 8/01)

8/08 Russ Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

8/16 Lee Ingerson Jefferson, NH

(rained out 8/15)

8/22 Russ Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

9/01 Hank Montandon St. Johnsbury, VT

(Labor Day Classic)

9/08 Harold Hanaford Plymouth, NH

(Governor's Cup)

9/15 Chet Wood Orange, VT

(Triple Crown winner)

9/22 Russ Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

10/06 Lee Ingerson Jefferson, NH

(2nd Annual Vermont Milk Bowl)

1965 (All winners driving Sportsman Coupe unless noted)

Date Winner Hometown

5/16 Ernie Reid Malone, NY

(Modified)

5/23 Andre Manny Montreal, QC

(Modified)

5/30 Jean-Paul Cabana Beloeil, QC

(Memorial Day Classic/Modified)

6/06 Jean-Paul Cabana Beloeil, QC

(Modified)

6/17 Jean-Paul Cabana Beloeil, QC

(Modified)

6/24 Dick Nephew Mooers Forks, NY

(Modified)

7/01 Paul Martel Plymouth, NH

7/04 Russ Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

(Firecracker 40)

7/08 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

(Triple Crown winner)

7/15 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

7/29 Harold Hanaford Plymouth, NH

(Mid-Season Championship)

8/05 Doug Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

(Triple Crown winner)

8/12 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

8/28 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

(rained out 8/19)

8/28 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

9/02 Ronnie Marvin Bethlehem, NH

9/05 Doug Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

(Labor Day Classic)

9/19 Russ Ingerson North Haverhill, NH

(4th Annual Vermont Milk Bowl)

9/25 Jean-Paul Cabana Beloeil, QC

(Modified, non-points)

Sportsman Coupe/Modified Division Stats & Facts

First season: 1960

Events held: 109

Total winners: 29

Total repeat winners: 19

Most wins: Ronnie Marvin (17 - 15.9% of all races run, 1960-65)

Most wins in one season: 10, Roy Forsythe (1961)

First event: 6/30/60

First winner: Lee Ingerson

First champion: Ronnie Marvin

First rookie winner: Lee Ingerson (6/30/60)

First Modified winner: Ernie Reid (5/16/65)

First repeat winner: Ronnie Marvin (1st win - 7/07/60; 2nd win - 8/11/60)

First back-to-back winner: Roy Forsythe (5 straight - 6/16/61 to 7/06/61)

First New Hampshire winner: Lee Ingerson (Jefferson, 6/30/60)

First Vermont winner: Dick Hawkins (Vergennes, 7/07/60)

First Maine winner: Glen Andrews (Oxford, 9/01/60)

First New York winner: Ernie Reid (Malone, 5/16/65)

First Quebec winner: Andre Manny (Montreal, 5/23/65)

Most point-counting events in one season: 20 (1964)

Most winners in one season: 14 (1962)

Fewest point-counting events in one season: 17 (1960)

Fewest winners in one season: 8 (1961, 1963)

Win streaks:

Roy Forsythe - 5 (6/16/61 to 7/06/61)

Ronnie Marvin - 4 (8/12/65 to 9/02/65)

Harold Hanaford - 3 (9/09/62 to 9/30/62)

Jean-Paul Cabana - 3 (5/30/65 to 6/17/65)

Roy Forsythe - 2 (7/20/61 to 7/28/61)

Lee Ingerson - 2 (6/07/63 to 6/13/63)

Lee Ingerson - 2 (7/11/63 #1 to 7/11/63 #2)

Ronnie Marvin - 2 (7/08/65 to 7/15/65)

Steve Masse - 2 (5/24/09 to 5/30/10)

DISCLAIMER: Many of the photos on this website have been used without prior permission, and for that, we're sorry. For the ones we did ask to use, thanks a ton! Proper credit is due every photographer, but since tagging every single shot would take a really long time, and we've forgotten a lot of who took what, let's just thank everyone who has "helped" out now: Alan Ward, Eric LaFleche/VLFPhotos.com, Gene Gagne/OutsideGroove.com, Leif Tillotson, Brian McCullough (RACEGOD), the late David Heath, Dave Brown, Cindy Weed, John Sullivan, Norm Marx, Bethany Bell, vintagemodifieds.com, the late Bob Doyle, Ron Pittsley, David Paris, Jim DuPont, Tom Herzig, and myriad others. A huge thanks goes out to contributors Andy Boright, the late Cho Lee, and Christian "Ti Gaz" Genest, all treasurers of racing history. You're all awesome and very much appreciated!!!

--- Website updated and maintained in memory of Cho Lee ---