I never really knew Pat Braden. Nor had I the pleasure of meeting him. Over the years, however, our paths intersected on various occasions. Having the same interests, we exchanged a few phone calls and letters, and when I was doing research for the Illustrated Abarth Buyer's Guide, Pat was very helpful, providing names, photos and advice. During the Great Years of Exportation, 1985-1991, I would find a rare Alfa or Abarth on the east coast, only to learn that somehow, Braden had already been there and done that despite being 3000 miles away. He was always a bit ahead of the rest of the pack; most of us literally followed in his footsteps.

It was like that with writing as well. Over the years, Pat wrote or co-authored seven books, most on Alfas, but also penned the "The Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona" and "The Toyota Performance Handbook". His book, "Abarths, Fiat, Simca, Porsche, Street and Racing", written with Greg Schmidt, was the first reliable and believable books to be published on the subject It was instantly devoured by thousands of information-starved Abarth enthusiasts and paved the way for more works devoted to Abarth and his cars. Technically minded, Pat also wrote very good books on Webers and Alfa tuning.

Remarkably, Pat was born, in 1934, in Flint, Michigan, the center of the American car universe. He overcame that handicap, and took his love of Italian cars, classical music and opera with him to California in 1979, where I'm sure he found a few more people who shared his somewhat unusual tastes. Pat was devoted to Alfas and Abarths and was one of the founding fathers of the Alfa Romeo Owner's Club.

He also collected cars, mostly of the rusty Italian variety. According to Pat’s friend Stu Schaller, he owned at one time or another, all kinds of exotic cars and bikes, including a 6C1750 Alfa, an 8C2300, Lancias, Maseratis and a Moretti. He was known to pick up a stray Alfa on the way home and find a place for it in his yard, saving it from the scrap heap.

Like most of us, Pat had to work for a living, with careers in teaching, writing, editing, marketing administration and advertising. And perhaps, worked too hard; he was working on another book on BMW when his number was called.

I'll miss Pat, and never again being in his shadow.

Of Braden, Schaller wrote "Perhaps my fondest memory of Pat comes from a trip, he, Dave Mericle and I made to the Monterey Historics a few years ago. On the way back home, while traveling through the desert at well over 100 mph in Dave's Alfa Giulia Super, Pat fell sound asleep in the back seat. Rest in peace, good friend."

- Pete Vack

Braden's friend Gary Patitz captured Pat the way we'd like to remember him---