A writer who caught the attention of the fans and racers when he was still in high school, Mark “Bones” Bourcier (DOB: August 16, 1960) took his talent for telling a story and built that into a journalistic career which has seen him author countless personality profiles and feature-length stories dealing with all aspects of auto racing.
And this, in turn, has not only allowed him to become a trusted voice in the Sport and Business of Auto Racing but a friend, advisor and biographer to many of the top stars in a wide variety of motorsports endeavors.
A native of Southington, Connecticut, Bourcier first got interested in motorsports as a kid attending the Modified Stock Car Races at the old half-mile-asphalt Plainville (CT) Stadium. And with in innate ability to put into words what his active mind was thinking, he began his duties as an auto racing scribe with the old Gater Racing News when he was just 15.
Tagged with the nickname “Bones” by his fifth-grade teacher because he was “skinny as a rail,” Bourcier used that moniker when he wrote his first Gater Racing News story and it just stuck. But his time at that paper was relatively short as in 1979 at the age of 19 he became the managing editor for the old Speedway Scene.
As he developed his skills as a writer and editor, Bourcier brought to the fore stories that were crafted as a result of in-depth interviews and ability to clearly transfer those interactions through to the written word.
And he expanded his influence as a writer and observer of the motorsports scene beyond his Northeast audience in 1988 when his work began to be published in such major magazines as Open Wheel, Stock Car Racing and Speedway Illustrated.
A resident of Indianapolis since 1997 and a freelance writer since 1999, Bourcier has authored several biographies on some of the top personalities in motorsports and they include such well-received efforts as those on A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Richard Petty, Bill Simpson, Tony Stewart, Parnelli Jones, Ed Pink, Bentley Warren, “Bugs” Stevens, Richie Evans, Ed Flemke and Sammy Swindell. And in addition to those expansive works of journalism he currently pens a monthly column for National Speed Sport News.
During his career, Bourcier has always said that he enjoys writing about people and he hopes that what he writes will allow his readers to learn something new and different about the person or topic in question.
As someone who wants to get the best story that he can, Bourcier never shies away from “a tough interview” as the emotion that might take place in that situation or the effort to draw-out some comments from a person who normally doesn’t speak that often is something that adds to the true feelings and overall presentation of his resulting story.
And while he accepts the fact that there are those who might not agree with his opinions or have gotten mad at what he has written, his primary goal as a writer is to get the facts right.
But more than that, as a historian of motorsports and someone who takes a look at all angles before he sets about to present his thoughts and ideas, Bourcier’s efforts as a writer have set a new standard for motorsports journalism and his volume of work is something that for a long period of time has been seen as insightful, above board and worthy of exceptional recognition. |
