January 4, 2005

MUSEUM TO ADD QUENNEVILLE MODIFIED TO RACING GALLERY

Saratoga Springs, NY When the permanent New York State Stock Car Association Hall of Fame exhibit is unveiled at the Saratoga Automobile Museum on January 29th, visitors will also get their first look at a restored modified driven by the late Vince Quenneville, who was inducted into the NYSSCA Hall of Fame in 2001.

Mike and Chris LaFond, who operate Green Mountain Auto Parts in Bomoseen, VT, completed the body and mechanical work on the 1987 Champ Car chassis, then had it lettered by Gloversville, NY's Paul Lakata, who had done the car's graphics when it was new. The Nick's Café/Ryan's Express/Mobil 1 Racing #28, complete with period tires, sports an engine by builder Jack Edgerton and is ready to race.

"We had Vince Jr. drive the car around the Devil's Bowl Speedway last year during their memorial event and for a moment, it seemed like his dad was back," said Mike LaFond. "This was the last car he drove before he was killed in a truck accident on the Northway, so everybody was pretty emotional."

Quenneville's tragic accident ended a career that spanned two era's, from the rather crude homemade modifieds to sleek, factory built chassis, and he was a big winner in both. A native of Canada who moved to Vermont in his youth, Quenneville won in Vermont, New Hampshire, Quebec and New York, including the 1970 Race of Kings at the Lebanon Valley Speedway. In 1987, he scored three times at the Devil's Bowl Speedway, claiming his third win on July 5th, just ten days before his demise.

The Quenneville modified marks the second car in the Racing Across New York gallery to be associated with NYSSCA Hall of Fame members, joining a Bruce Carman restored track roadster driven by HoF members Bob Whitbeck and Pete Corey over three decades ago.

The Hall of Fame unveiling will be held at 2 pm and will be followed by a conversation and autograph session. Visitors will also be able to view the "Cars of Carroll Shelby-The Ford Connection" in the museum's Golub Gallery and the museum gift shop will be open with a number of popular items on sale, including the new book on New York NASCAR star Richie Evans that has been receiving rave reviews. The Saratoga Automobile Museum is located on the Avenue of the Pines in the Saratoga Spa State Park.