Dale Brede, a well-known and highly regarded driver in the world of motorsport in Australia, has tragically passed away at the age of 48. With a successful career that spanned both two and four-wheeled disciplines, Brede made a name for himself in various racing series, including the Supercars championship and the Australian Superbike circuit.
Brede’s untimely death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from those who knew and admired him. His close friend and former Bathurst co-driver, Will Davison, expressed his shock and heartbreak in a heartfelt message posted on social media. Just days after the birth of his first child, Davison reflected on their conversations about Brede’s excitement to meet the newest addition to his family.
I love you mate, Davison wrote. Still shocked and heartbroken. We were only just chatting about how excited you were to meet Dash. I’ve been struggling with the reality of this post for days and haven’t quite processed the incredibly sad loss of one of my best mates Dale Brede.
Davison went on to describe Brede as kind, gentle, intelligent, witty, and always the life of the party. He acknowledged Brede’s talent both on four wheels and two, as a successful Supercars driver, superbike team owner, competitor, and businessman. Davison concluded his tribute by expressing how much Brede would be missed and sending his love and thoughts to Brede’s family.
Brede began his racing career in go-karts before progressing to Formula Ford and then making the significant leap to Formula Holden. He raced in the country’s top open-wheel series for National Capital Motors and eventually made his way to the Supercars championship in 2001, initially driving a Holden under the NRC International banner.
Over the years, Brede drove for various teams in the Supercars development series, claiming several notable finishes. Notably, he finished second to Paul Dumbrell in 2003 while racing for Harris Racing. He also secured enduro drives with teams such as Briggs Motor Sport and Young Lions, as well as Brad Jones Racing, where he participated in his final Bathurst 1000 in 2006 alongside Michael Caruso. Tragically, that weekend saw the loss of Brede’s intended co-driver, Mark Porter, during a development series race.
In addition to his exploits on four wheels, Brede achieved success as a team owner in the Australian Superbike Championship, running the Canberra Motorcycle Centre and capturing an ASBK title with rider Josh Waters in 2017. In recent years, he worked as a stunt driver at Movie World in Queensland.
The tragic loss of Dale Brede has left a void in the world of Australian motorsport. His talent, personality, and contributions will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.
