Joe & Clara Patrick
Inducted 2013
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Joe and Clara Patrick are no strangers to the trials community. Since their involvement in the early 1970’s, they have been not just enthusiasts, but promoters and contributors to the sport as a whole. You could always spot Joe at any event as you scanned the crowd for the infamous yellow hat (which, I believe his three daughters somehow disposed of secretly).
The Patrick’s served the motorcycle atmosphere for many years. Joe was instrumental in helping put on the ISDT Qualifier back in 1975 in preparation for the ISDT at the Isle of Man. One of Joe’s first bikes was a Cushman and you could often find him in later years at an event with his Honda TL125 (with a knobby tire on the back) cruising the pits for a good conversation to be had.
Joe and Clara had three daughters, Vonda, Carolyn, and Rhonda and they got them all started riding motorcycles at an early age. If you had asked some of the guys back when they were competing, they were usually frustrated when the VCR “Patrick Girls” showed up at an event. They all knew how to ride well! One of Clara’s favorite things to do is watch all of the riders and enjoy the family atmosphere.
In 1987, the Patrick’s purchased Trials and Enduro News from Curt and Dewanna Comer, then rebranded it as Trials Competition. This kept them actively involved in all of the local, national, and world competitions. You could always count on them getting one of the publications into your hands for a great read of what was happening around the globe. Clara was a workhorse in getting this publication out every month by editing, cropping, cutting, arranging on the light board, and making sure the articles and ads got in there.
In 1997, Joe passed on, leaving Clara and the daughters to continue carrying the torch. The Roper’s and Saum’s got pulled into the Patrick family by marrying two of the daughters. The legacy of the Patrick’s has continued on to the families with even the grandson’s active in competition. Vonda and Carolyn still enjoy competing on their trials motorcycles in local events and are both active in the NATC as Scoring Steward and CFO. Altogether, Joe and Clara Patrick have now contributed to 48 years and 3 generations of trials history.
The Patrick’s served the motorcycle atmosphere for many years. Joe was instrumental in helping put on the ISDT Qualifier back in 1975 in preparation for the ISDT at the Isle of Man. One of Joe’s first bikes was a Cushman and you could often find him in later years at an event with his Honda TL125 (with a knobby tire on the back) cruising the pits for a good conversation to be had.
Joe and Clara had three daughters, Vonda, Carolyn, and Rhonda and they got them all started riding motorcycles at an early age. If you had asked some of the guys back when they were competing, they were usually frustrated when the VCR “Patrick Girls” showed up at an event. They all knew how to ride well! One of Clara’s favorite things to do is watch all of the riders and enjoy the family atmosphere.
In 1987, the Patrick’s purchased Trials and Enduro News from Curt and Dewanna Comer, then rebranded it as Trials Competition. This kept them actively involved in all of the local, national, and world competitions. You could always count on them getting one of the publications into your hands for a great read of what was happening around the globe. Clara was a workhorse in getting this publication out every month by editing, cropping, cutting, arranging on the light board, and making sure the articles and ads got in there.
In 1997, Joe passed on, leaving Clara and the daughters to continue carrying the torch. The Roper’s and Saum’s got pulled into the Patrick family by marrying two of the daughters. The legacy of the Patrick’s has continued on to the families with even the grandson’s active in competition. Vonda and Carolyn still enjoy competing on their trials motorcycles in local events and are both active in the NATC as Scoring Steward and CFO. Altogether, Joe and Clara Patrick have now contributed to 48 years and 3 generations of trials history.