21 replies to this topic

[RC162]

Hi all
Went to Lydden Hill for a bike show and some track time a couple of weeks ago and met someone riding pair of TZeds called Kevin Richards. He is now 64 and started racing in 1968. It seems he was pretty quick around Lydden and could give Dave Potter a run in the Lord of Lydden events. He now races in an inter club championship that caters for TZeds and is currently running second. I mentioned the name Steve Parker who used to race his bikes with stars all over ithem and Kevin remembers racing with Steve. Recently Steve Parker placed an advert in Classic Racer looking for a ride in Classic events as it seems he is returning to the UK after several years in Spain.

[Paul Collins]

I remember Steve Parker, he had a TZ350 and an ex kenny Roberts (reputedly) TZ750, I remember the paintwork with all the stars.

I got to know Steve in my early days of racing, this was around 1978, I often wondered what became of him.

[picblanc]

Steve is very much back in UK, I have been in touch with him & his son who races here.
Kevin Richards was very much a Brands & Lydden specialist & still races in some CRMC meets.
It was an ex Roberts TZ750 & I will put some pics up later.

[picblanc]

I used very much a lot there didnt I

[fil2.8]

I used very much a lot there didnt I

Very much so

[Paul Collins]

I remember his mechanic, cant remember his name but he had a beard and glasses, told me it was an ex KR OW29, or so I seem to remember.

I used remember a lot there didnt I

[tonyed]

I remember his mechanic, cant remember his name but he had a beard and glasses, told me it was an ex KR OW29, or so I seem to remember.

I used remember a lot there didnt I

I remember Steve with the 'OW29' at Snetterton. Rumour had it that it was a genuine OW but as none of us were really conversant with anything other than a TZ (250/350/750) or an RG500 at the time the fact that reputedly it was ex-works and went like SOAS was good enough.

It might well have been and probably was but few will really know and whether it was full of megabits - well

[picblanc]

Steve Parker OW29 Yamaha @ Brands Hatch 1977.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Edited by picblanc, 07 June 2011 - 18:05.

[picblanc]

Kevin Richards @ Brands Hatch 1977.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Edited by picblanc, 07 June 2011 - 18:26.

[picblanc]

Steve Parker with his Dad on left @ Brands Hatch 1975.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Edited by picblanc, 07 June 2011 - 18:48.

[RC162]

Steve Parker with his Dad on left @ Brands Hatch 1975.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

That's a pretty serious drop angle on those clipons. Reminds me of the way Barry Utting always had his. It felt like your hands would slide off.

[larryd]

That's a pretty serious drop angle on those clipons. Reminds me of the way Barry Utting always had his. It felt like your hands would slide off.

"Jarno" bars those were known as, for obvious reasons

Had them on my TZ250 - surprisingly comfortable !

[Herr Wankel]

"Jarno" bars those were known as, for obvious reasons

Had them on my TZ250 - surprisingly comfortable !

I have just carried out a an experiment in my state of the art lab. using the wife as a 'crash test dummy'.She had no idea what it was about and has never ridden a motorcycle.Got her to hold her arms out in front of her,and let her hands assume their natural position(no,not round my throat !!).Et voila,the JARNO position.(of course not all wives are the same !)

HW

[LCRider]

Hi - haven't been around much recently - although been on FB - and have some pix on there

Remember Steve and Kevin. I think Steve rode an RG500 after he finished with the "ex-Kenny Roberts TZ" but I thought that was a 700 anyway? Not saying it wasn't ex-KR but a bit like Paul Harris ( ex KR TZ250) wouldn'#t have had ALL the trick parts would it?

Think Steve fell off the RG big time and injured himself. Good rider on the 350 when I started going to bikes circa 1974

Kevin was also good at Snetterton (Bemsee mostly)

No pix of these guys as before I owned a decent camera (sham, damn and blast) but thanks Graham for posting your shots!!

[RC162]

I was marshalling at Snetterton in the mid seventies and I was at Sears corner and one of the great scraps of the day was between Steve Parker and a guy called Fred Riley on a really quick Commando. Fred fell off at Sears and my main memory is of him wandering around the track trying to find bits of his ignition system. Sadly I seem to remember reading some years ago that Fred died in a road accident. Does anyone else remember Fred Riley and his Norton ?

[picblanc]

Yes, & he had a Brother Robin Riley who raced, sadly both gone now.

[tonyed]

Yes, & he had a Brother Robin Riley who raced, sadly both gone now.

Didn't know they'd both gone

[RC162]

Yes, & he had a Brother Robin Riley who raced, sadly both gone now.

Is there a chance of any photos ?

[picblanc]

Fred Riley @ Waterbeach 1977.

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Edited by picblanc, 10 June 2011 - 23:03.

[picblanc]

Fred on a TZ with Des Barry @ Brands Hatch 1980?

Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Edited by picblanc, 10 June 2011 - 23:05.

[Robin127]

Yes, & he had a Brother Robin Riley who raced, sadly both gone now.

Weren't they both killed in road accidents?

[picblanc]

No one of them died from an illness (Leukaemia?)