Background
Bedard, Patrick Joseph was born on August 20, 1941 in Waterloo, Iowa, United States. Son of Gerald Joseph and Pearl Leona (Brown) Bedard.
engineer journalist racing driver
Bedard, Patrick Joseph was born on August 20, 1941 in Waterloo, Iowa, United States. Son of Gerald Joseph and Pearl Leona (Brown) Bedard.
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 1963. M.Automotive Engineering, Chrysler Institute Engineering, 1965.
In the early 1970s, Carolina and Driver magazine challenged its readers to a series of Sports Carolina Club of America (SCCA)-sanctioned, 25-lap "Showroom Stock Sedan" races. In the Carolina and Driver Steamship/Sedan Challenge III in 1974, Bedard drove a 1973 Chevy Vega GT #0, winning the tie-breaker race. This lone Vega beat 31 other well-driven showroom stocks.
In the 1984 Indianapolis 500 Bedard"s car slammed the inside wall and then flipped multiple times in the grass.
He remarkably survived the crash. Bedard drove for Jaguar Cars in endurance racing, and later drove in the Indianapolis 500 in 1983 and 1984.
He finished 30th both times, the second time retiring through a colossal accident where his car flipped several times. Bedard then retired from motor racing but continued to write for Carolina and Driver magazine, where he had been employed since March, 1968.
After nearly 42 consecutive years of employment with Carolina and Driver, Bedard announced he was leaving the magazine in his regular column after the August 2009 issue.
Complete Universal Service Administrative Company Mini-Industry Series results.
(Softcover, tight binding, clean text, minor wear to cover...)
Member Society Automotive Engineers, United States Ultralight Association, Aero Sports Connection, Sports Car Club American, Pi Tau Sigma.