We recently congratulated ACT alumnus Rollie MacDonald on his being named to the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame. Turns out, he’s not the only one that deserves accolades. After fifty-plus years of driving, owning and building race cars, legendary underdog Gardiner Leavitt of Kezar Falls, ME (photo left with Bruce Elder (L); Steve LeClair photo) has been inducted into the Maine Motorsports Hall of Fame.

Leavitt, who celebrated his 74th birthday on Sunday, was the sentimental favorite on the former ACT Pro Stock Tour (shown right in 1982), and used a sort of “tortoise and the hare” approach on the race track. While he was by no means the proverbial tortoise, Leavitt earned just three Top 5 finishes in 231 starts on the Tour. Despite never carrying the checkered flag, however, Leavitt finished fourth overall in 1979, eighth in 1980, and later found great success with Kelly Moore, Brad Leighton, and Steve Knowlton steering his famous #1x machines. Today, Gardiner and wife June Leavitt are still a vibrant part of the Thunder Road and ACT scene, and make the eight-hour round trip to Barre, VT each Thursday with their much-visited and much-appreciated Action Racing parts trailer. It is our hope that the Leavitts remain a part of our lives for many years to come, and we humbly congratulate you, Gardiner, on your award.

Barre, VT – Hannaford Markets and Pelletier & Son Quick Lube have reached an agreement to present the Thursday, June 2 race event at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl. The 2005 season marks the second year of involvement for Pelletier & Son Quick Lube, while Hannaford has been in association with Thunder Road since 2001.

While much has been said about the interest shown in the ACT Late Model Tour for 2005, the NAPA Tiger Sportsman division and the new Tiger Tour seem to be moving – nay, rocketing! – forward, Joey Laquerre’s entrance notwithstanding. Over forty licenses have been sold to date, and we’re hearing more rumors than a high school freshman at their first big dance. Should things pan out as told to us by folks allegedly “in the know”, Laquerre will be one of at least four veterans returning to the Sportsman class with more than one championship under their racing belts. We won’t say anything officially until it becomes official of course, but it sure does look like the Sportsmen are in for a wild season – their 24th consecutive year of racing on the Barre high banks!