Funeral services will be Saturday, June 8, in Carencro, La., for longtime Great Racer Richard Fredette who passed away Wednesday morning at Lafayette General Medical Center. He was 75. Services will begin with a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Carencro. Interment will be held at a later date.
Richard had fallen off a ladder a week ago and was injured and had some surgeries, but his passing came as a shock to friends and family. Richard started Great Racing in the 1990s and had a tremendous amount of success and some disappointment through the years. But regardless of the outcome he always focused on the next Great Race. Everyone loved Richard and his passion for the sport, but mostly it was because he was one of the most genuine people you ever met. Through the years he built a number of fantastic race cars, including a flathead Ford racer and a Model A racer before his most recent combination of a flathead engine in a Model A roadster. He raced a 1935 Ford coupe for a number of years as well. Richard raced with a number of people through the years including his son Ken, his brother Wayne, Bill Loubiere, Jim Caudle and Curtis Jackson. You can click the link for Richard’s obituary. https://www.melanconfuneralhome.net/obituary/richard-fredette
I am truly saddened and shocked to hear of his passing. The GR family has lost a terrific member and my prayers go out to all of his family and friends. Godspeed Richard.
This is just devastating news for the Fredette and Great Race Family. Richard you were loved by all and I will miss you and your bright green sneakers! Ken, Lida, Jeff, Kim, Eric we at Hemmings are all so sorry for your loss.
Richard was a friend and a worthy competitor. Great Race has lost another one of our legends. Our love and prayers go out to all those who knew and loved him best. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.
We were so surprised and saddened to hear the news this morning. The Ferdette family is in our hearts and prayers, as well as all of Richard’s friends. We are truly sorry for the loss.
Goodbye, Richard. We miss you already!
We are so sad to hear of Richard’s passing what a shock . His family is in our prayers. Richard was one of those people you only have good memories of and we will miss his wonderful humor and kidding about our lack of rallying skills. We Will miss you Richard .
Tim & Marlene Mangan
I loved him like a brother. Rest in peace, dear friend.
Shocked and saddened by Richard’s passing. I will forever remember his patience in teaching me how to say, “Carencro” and “Tony Chachere”; and will forever cherish his kindness and humility, particularly one evening in Germantown, TN, when at the midpoint of the race, he and Ken won Rolex watches for being the leading team. Love and hugs to the Fredette family from “MotorMouth”
The news was a tremendous shock this morning. Stunned !! We were aware of the seriousness of his condition last night but we had been assured that he was stable and would be out of ICU in a couple of days. I can not express the profound sense of loss and my grief in words. So many great memories.
I am at a loss for words..Richard was one of my best friends, a guy you could always trust and rely on..He was, and will always be, a best friend to the VCRA family. Cannot imagine a rally without him! Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Fredette family..he was the ultimate competitor..and will truly be missed by all!!
What a great,friendly,honest,truly genuine person. All the kind words he shared with Ian and i , that helped to make us Great Race ready. One person we always looked forward to seeing at every event. Our family will miss him dearly. If there is a Great Race in heaven , i am sure he has a car ready to go.
This is a sudden loss to our family, not only the Fredette’s but Great Race. Richard started the tradition with dad in 1999 and it has always been an annual “Family” reunion for all of us. Richard’s determination and commitment is a testament for his love of the sport. He and dad are together in the Greatest Rally in heaven. His spirit will live on in all of us.
Richard helped us at every event that we participated in. He had a great heart and will be missed by the Great Race family. Our prayers go out to the Fredette family.
Peace be with you,
The entire Car #73 Team
Such a great loss. We met Richard the very 1st rally we ever did – the 2015 VCRA Rally in Joplin MO. Richard helped us tremendously along this journey. I looked forward to seeing him at the 2019 Great Race and will miss him. RIP my friend.
Jeff Hermanson & the 82 team:
Our first Great Race was in 2016. Had mechanical problems with my truck and Richard opened the trunk of his hot rod, handed me a re-built distributor and said “see if that fixes it”. He didn’t know me from the man in the moon.
Well, it fixed it. I said “how much do you want for it?” He said “ just send it to me when you get home.” . . . Didn’t know me from the man in the moon.
That’s just the kind of guy he was.
Really gonna miss talking to him this year.
RIP Richard.
Great Race has lost another essential family member. Richard was always a great friend of any Hudson really team and he will be truly missed. Great Race is what it is because of people like him. Our condolences to the entire Fredette family.
Speechless!
This was a true gentleman. God Speed My Friend.
Buddy Green
So sorry to hear of this loss. Prayers and thoughts with the Fredette family.
John & Joyce Lucke
Thoughts and Prayers to the Fredette family… I was shocked to hear the news yesterday…. My father and I enjoyed all the time we spent with Richard on the rallys.
Sandy and I were shocked and saddened to learn of Richards passing. I will always remember and cherish the times we spent together racing. Our thoughts and prayers to Bobby and the entire Fredette family!
We have lost a great friend and an amazing competitor. Prayers for the Fredette family and the many friends who have suffered a great loss.
Truly a great loss for the family as well as the Great Race family. We always looked forward to seeing Richard at the events and he was always helpful and fun to be around. Hopefully we can one day rally with him again on “the other side”.
Spending time with him after a tough day of racing always made me feel better about myself. The five years I’ve known him and his kind and giving ways taught me things about the Great Race that will never show up in books. I for one will truly miss him and his wit and wisdom. Rest in Peace my friend.
I am very sorry to hear this news. My condolences to the Fredette family. Liz Sutter Greatrace Checkpoint
I’ve never been in a Race that Richard wasn’t there for. He was always fun to be around and will be missed. We’re praying for the Fredette family
I met Richard at the Roughneck Rally in 2010. He loaned us tools to repair our speedster, and he left his trailer open in case we needed anything, “Just lock it up when your finished.” Truly a Great Person and competitor. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Fredette family.
Just read of the passing of Richard, with a heavy sigh of disbelief and sadness. Richard, as with Fredette Family, was always a class act. Thoughts and prayers to entire Fredette Family.
Richard was always a friend and mentor to me ever since I started the GR. Never any elitism but always a helping hand and advice. I’ll certainly miss seeing him next week. Our loss, Heaven’s Gain.
We treasure our memories of the GR with Richard — even though he beat us for the Rolex. You deserved it. We will continue to tell the story.
We were truly shocked by this news. A great friend and competitor.
Just came in from morning Mass and opened up GR web site. I was shocked to read about Richard. What a great friend he and his father were to our Ponca City X-cup teams over the years. The Fredette family is truley awsome. Godsspeed Richard.
Back in 2014, my wife and I purchased the Model A speedster that is pictured above from Richard. We enjoyed meeting him and hearing about his love of racing. I am saddened to hear of this tragic loss. My wife and I are dedicated to keeping up the car as a tribute to him.