Coupes seemed to remain popular at Plainville long-after many area Modified haunts had abandoned them for the more contemporary stylings of the Pinto/ Vega/ Gremlin onslaught (one of the things your author always admired about the place). Seen here in another classic image captured by fledgling racing photographer Steve Kennedy is Elliot Beveridge, one of the ¼-milers star performers. In the foreground, that’s Bob Vivari in the Chevy II-bodied mount, and Don Moon in his signature #9 Pinto. Expect to see “Moonie” at the Plainville Stadium Reunion this weekend. Note the vintage Fire truck manning the infield – a classic in-itself! (Kennedy Photo).

Before becoming a regular at Plainville, the well-traveled Sherm Saunders was one of the top-performers at the UNITED-sanctioned West Haven Speedway. Seen here in one of the Berndt-families North End Auto Parts cars, Saunders was a winner for the team. It’s believed that this shot is from 1974. (Kennedy Photo).   

The good-times only last so-long. By the late-seventies, the Coupes & Coaches of old were on the way-out even at the Stadium’, and most top-running teams had switched to more-modern equipment. See here with a slick Vega Notchback in July of 1978 is Tony Papale. Tony’s surrounded by members of a prominent Plainville racing family in this image. That’s New England Auto Racing Hall of Famer, multi-time champion, and all-time Plainville winner Dave Alkas to the inside, and Dave’s brother George (himself a formidable competitor), in the #64x. Dave will definitely be at this weekend’s Reunion, as he’s been instrumental in helping to put the event-together. (Kennedy Photo).

Honestly, I have little information on this driver, Jack Proulx. Graduating from the Novice Division where he was crowned champion in 1965, he ran this classic-looking Modified Coupe in the early-seventies (this shot is from Saturday evening, August 18, 1973). Records (sketchy as they are for Plainville), indicate that he was in-fact a winner, and remained one of the Stadium’s top-drivers for many seasons. It’s a great photo, and really illustrates what it was all-about during the much-heralded “Coupe Era”. That’s the infamous “Checkered Flag Announcer” AMC Gremlin of Paul Tremain sitting in the infield.  (Kennedy Photo).  

Nicky Porto remains one of the best to have ever-competed at Plainville Stadium. Another driver that spent the formative years of his career competing at West Haven Speedway where he snared multiple victories, his reign at Plainville was nothing-less than spectacular. Leaving the local scene for a brief period in the mid-70’s, he headed to Riverside Park during what was arguably one of that track's most-competitive eras becoming an almost instant feature winner (May 17, 1975 to be-exact). Porto later returned-home to “Tinty’s Place” picking-up where he’d left-off as a winner. This shot captures him on Wednesday June 29, 1977 on the evening of one of those great 100-lap open-comp shows that used to draw capacity-crowds to the Stadium’. (Kennedy Photo). 

As with the aforementioned Jack Proulx, the RTT archives are rather-unclear as to the career-accomplishments of this driver, Loren Trombley. Though Plainville remains among the most-difficult tracks to document, with the aid of several old trade papers we managed to determine that Loren was, in fact, a multi-time feature winner during his reign at the Stadium’ (an admirable-feat considering the level of competition during the mid-seventies). This is another shot from the open-comp 100-lapper on June 29, 1977. New England Auto Racing Hall of Famer Ed Flemke Sr. piloting the John Stygar-owned Pinto bested a star-studded field to win that night. (Kennedy Photo).  

That's it for this week. Email me at: foreveryounginct@gmail.com