BARRE, VT –Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl mourns the passing of one of its legendary stock car racing pioneers, Henry “The Frozen Logger” Montandon of Waits River, VT. Driving a flathead-powered #76 Ford coupe owned by Lloyd Hutchins, the popular Montandon scored the biggest victory of his career at the Barre, VT track in the 1963 Labor Day Classic.
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“That victory was a bit of an upset, and it still means a great deal to me,” said Hutchins. “Henry was a sweet man with a good sense of humor. He was full of one-liners, and everyone loved him.”<\/p>\n
A woodsman by trade, Montandon was successful in both the open-wheeled coupes and the full-bodied Flying Tiger cars that brought Thunder Road to national prominence in the 1960s. During the formative years of Thunder Road, he often out-dueled high-profile racers including Johnny Gammell, Ronnie Marvin, Harold Hanaford, the Ingerson brothers, and National Champion Rene Charland.<\/p>\n
Montandon was also a frequent winner at tracks in Rumney, NH and Waterford, VT, and competed into the 1990s. He had been a frequent visitor to Thunder Road and other New England tracks in recent years with Hutchins and their fully restored coupe racer.<\/p>\n
“Henry helped Thunder Road become what it is today,” said Ken Squier, the track’s founder. “The impact he had on stock car racing in and around Vermont during the early years will never be forgotten.”
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Mr. Montandon passed away on Friday, March 14 at his Waits River home. He was 72. Calling hours will be at the Hooker-Whitcomb Funeral Home on Academy Street in Barre, VT on Monday, March 17, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Funeral services will be at Waits River Church on Tuesday, March 18 at 2:00 pm.<\/p>\n