Vermont Racing Pioneer & New England Auto Racing |
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| Webster Flats Speedway in Vermont in 1952 |
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| Car Owner Gordon Firzgerald of "Fitzgerald Ford" fame in 1964, one of Johnny's Vermont State Championship seasons. |
It’s been learned that 2008 New England Auto Racing Hall Of Fame
Inductee John “Johnny” Gammell passed-away peacefully at his home in St. Johnsbury, Vermont on Friday, July 4th following an extended illness.
Enjoying an extraordinary career that began in 1949 and concluded in 1972, he was twice a Vermont State Champion.
Scoring feature triumphs at virtually all of the tracks in his region, one of many career highlights came in 1969 when he won the prestigious Milk Bowl at Vermont’s Thunder Road wheeling the memorable “Hawaii Five-0” entry owned by Joey Laquerre.
The entire New England Antique Racers family takes this opportunity to extend its sincerest condolences to Johnny’s family and many friends on this somber occasion.
See the full obituary published online in The Caledonian Record; and reprinted below.
By Dave Dykes
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7/8/2014 John O. "Johnny" Gammell, 86, of St. Johnsbury, passed away at home on Friday, July 4, 2014, surrounded by his family after a seven-year battle with cancer. He was born May 27, 1928, at home on River Road in St. Johnsbury, the son of John and Lorraine (Gagnon) Gammell. John attended the St. Johnsbury Trade School until he entered the U.S. Navy in 1946. He served from 1946-1948 and again from 1950-1952 and was stationed on the aircraft carrier, the USS Oriskany. He was also a member of the VFW Post 793 of St. Johnsbury. John worked for Purina Feeds in St. Johnsbury for 25 years; there he worked in the mill and later drove a grain delivery truck until the mill closed in 1973. He later worked at Lawrence Sand and Gravel Co. in St. Johnsbury before he began an 18-year career with Northeast Tool Co. in Lyndonville, retiring in 1993. In 1994 John went back to work and drove an RCT bus until 2013, retiring at the age of 85.
Johnny was a well-known local race car driver. He was the first track champion at Northeastern Speedway in Waterford in 1959, the year the track opened. He also won the first feature raced at Riverside Speedway in Groveton, N.H. He raced at Catamount Speedway in Milton and at Thunder Road Speed Bowl in Barre. At Thunder Road, John won the state championship in 1964 and the Milk Bowl race in 1969. He retired from racing in 1972 and was later inducted into the New England Racing Hall of Fame on Jan. 27, 2008. John loved the time he spent at his camp in Sheffield, deer hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. He was a fine man who enjoyed helping people and always had something nice to say to them. He was a friend to many and will be deeply missed. Survivors include his wife of St. Johnsbury, Joan (Trombley) Gammell whom he married in 1976; four children: Alison Gammell of Lyndonville, John R. Gammell and his wife Billy of Ohio, Harry Gammell and his wife Melanie of Walden, and Steven Gingras and his wife Dawn of Sheffield; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his first wife and mother to his first three children, Gloria Charron of St. Johnsbury; six brothers: Richard Gammell and his wife Connie of St. Johnsbury, Robert Gammell and his wife Jini of St. Johnsbury, Roger Gammell of St. Johnsbury, Kenneth Gammell and his wife Joanne of Newark, James Gammell and his wife Lynn of Greenville, N.C., and Victor Gammell of St. Johnsbury; two sisters: Helen Laberge and her husband Robert of North Monroe, N.H., and Sharon Sinclair of St. Johnsbury; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; two sisters: infant Viola Gammell, Lorraine Stuart and her husband John; a sister in-law Ernestine Gammell; and a granddaughter Keisha Gingras. He passed with his loyal companion and friend by his side, his dog Teeni. Services will be held at the convenience of the family. Obituary published online in The Caledonian Record on July 8, 2014. |
