Classic Bikes: Steve Parrish Ticks One Of Lifes Boxes
Steve Parrish finally gets to ride a Rob North Triumph Trident
Article by John Mitchell – Chris Chapman Racing – Lead photo – Derek Gallon
At Donington last year Steve Parrish was wandering around the pit garages and came across Chris Chapman’s 72 Rob North Trident, There was lots of hummms and ahhhhs from Steve who not only liked the look of the bike but commented on how well it fitted him. Steve also admitted that he had never ridden a North so I said one day we will try and make it happen.
Saturday July 10th at Brands Hatch Steve was stood next to me watching one of the races and asked if Chris had the North here, so on confirmation it was into garage No31 and Steve climbed aboard to see if the bike still felt as comfortable as before. “Yep, I’d sure like to try this out” so off I went to see what could be done.
Luckily for me on stepping out in to the pit lane more than half the people that I needed to speak with were assembled near the podium doing the presentations for the 500 King of Brands National Race.
All was arranged very quickly and thanks go out to Gordon Russell and Graham Lawlor for their part in running about. Mr Parrish strolled back up to our garage and asked “would you mind me sticking a bit of tape on the tank” no came the reply so on it went, out came the black marker pen and Steve wrote “1 DOWN” first time that I had seen a worried expression on Chris’s face all weekend, especially after Mr Parrish explained he was not used to a left hand British gear change.
So all was in place for Steve Parrish to start from the pit lane with Stan Woods on his 500 Yamaha immediately after the presentations for the 350 National Race. Stan Woods arrived about 15mins early as the 350 race was still in progress so I suggested he switch the Yamaha off and I will get a couple of guys to give him a bump start. Steve wandered over to chat with Stan and said “You’ve not ridden one of these before have you, so once you’ve been out on it you’ll then know how hard the likes of myself, Tait and Pickerel, had to work when we were racing them”
Off they went to do a couple of laps before the Classic Solo Parade bikes were let onto the track, Steve was very good for the first 2 laps and I was watching from pit lane next to Steve’s partner who by the 3rd lap lent over and said “I think he’s forgotten it’s only a parade” Steve had the bike singing and it looked like the pair were made for each other. Chris was thrilled as he had never heard his machine out on track before and judging by the way Steve was flying it might be said that he was smiling all the way down Paddock Hill.
The bike was finally returned to the garage and I did hear that Chris needed a crowbar to prise Steve off the North. A great time was had by all of our crew and visitors. So from Chris and myself we would like to pass on a huge thank you to the CRMC officials who made this happen.
Steve Parrish emailed me a couple of days later and I would like to pass his thoughts of the ride on to you.
“As for the Triumph, I remember riding a road triple that belonged to a rich friend in about 1971, thinking it was the fastest bike in the world, & then hearing the bikes of Tait, Pickerel, Cooper at Mallory whilst hanging over the armco, dreaming of racing myself. So I have now thanks to you guys ticked another of life’s boxes.”