Joseph John Barzda (May 22, 1915 – October 11, 1993) was an American racing driver from New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Barzda was primarily a midget racing and sprint car racing driver but made ten starts in the USAC National Championship from 1952 to 1959. His best race finish was a pair of fourth places in 1958 at Springfield and Trenton. He finished 18th in the 1958 National Championship. He unsuccessfully attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1951, 1952, and 1953. He retired after he was involved in a crash at Williams Grove Speedway in 1959 where Van Johnson died. Barzda survived with minor injuries.Van Johnson, veteran race driver, killed in Grove crash, The Gettysburg Times, July 20, 1959, Retrieved September 1, 2013
In 1958 and 1959, Barzda was noted for fielding a Chevrolet-powered sprint car at a time when nearly all competitive sprint cars had Offenhauser engines.Joe Barzda Entered In Opener, Reading Eagle, March 27, 1959, Retrieved September 3, 2013
Barzda and his brother Jim owned California Speed Shop in New Brunswick, New Jersey and continued to field racing cars after Joe's retirement from the cockpit.Joe Barzda, Old Racing Cars, Retrieved September 3, 2013
Racing record
Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pts 1951 Joe Barzda Maserati 8CTF Offenhauser 4.5 L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0 1952 California Speed Maserati 8CTF Offenhauser 4.5 L4 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER NED ITA NC 0 1953 California Speed Maserati 8CTF Maserati 3.0 L8s ARG 500 NED BEL FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0
References
External links Joe Barzda on Champ Car Stats Joe Barzda on Ultimate Racing History