Steve Parrish - My Life As A Racer

[The Brummie]

His new book is a mere £6.00 at The Works.



Should be a good read of some happy times in a great era of motorcycle racing.

[bob1179]

He was at Mallory flogging signed copies of this book.

I asked him how many he had sold that afternoon, "fk all" was the response.

It actually looks a good read, glad I didn't get a full price copy!

[dibblecorse]

Honestly can't stand the fella .....

[chunder27]

Me neither, dined out on being Sheenes mate for 40 odd years, when he was not much of ma racer himself and an awful team manager!

Not bad in trucks though.

And sadly, better than Charlie Cox who you had to put with him for years

[srob]

chunder27 said:

Me neither, dined out on being Sheenes mate for 40 odd years, when he was not much of ma racer himself and an awful team manager!

Not bad in trucks though.

And sadly, better than Charlie Cox who you had to put with him for years

Yeah cos it’s a piece of piss to claim fifth in a 500cc world championship

[Andy XRV]

chunder27 said:

Me neither, dined out on being Sheenes mate for 40 odd years, when he was not much of ma racer himself and an awful team manager!

Not bad in trucks though.

And sadly, better than Charlie Cox who you had to put with him for years

Based on your comments I think you’d benefit from reading. He would probably be the first to agree with you.

Edited by Andy XRV on Tuesday 2nd October 15:30

[hebegb]

Third place finish in a Senior TT too , prior to being excluded for an oversized fuel tank , but having made two fuel stops like everyone else so no advantage whatsoever ....
Clearly st .

Did nothing ......

[chunder27]

Yes, he cheated, sorry, never been a fan, lived off an average career for decades.

[srob]

chunder27 said:

Yes, he cheated, sorry, never been a fan, lived off an average career for decades.

What’s average about his career?

I’m no particular fan and don’t know much about him but it does piss me off when forum warriors write off things like coming fifth (in what was a pretty dangerous era of bike racing) 500cc class and a throw away comment by someone like you writes off someone’s achievement.

I’d say if you were in any “career” and are proven to be the fifth best person at that job in the world at that time; it’s a a success.

[hebegb]

chunder27 said:

Yes, he cheated, sorry, never been a fan, lived off an average career for decades.

His team got caught , do you think he stipulated the size of tank and fitted it himself .....this is professional motorcycle racing we’re talking about you know ....

[The Brummie]

chunder27 said:

Yes, he cheated, sorry, never been a fan, lived off an average career for decades.

If you read the book, which I assume you haven’t, the explanation is that the fuel & the tank itself expanded because the bike was left outside in the sunshine for four hours after scrutineering.

On appeal to an international jury it was admitted by the jury that he had not gained any advantage because he stopped twice like all of the other riders.

He clearly didn’t cheat so your assumption is both wrong & unfair.

And fifth in the 500’s is hardly average. Far better than most of us would have achieved.

[Steve Bass]

Can't wait for your tome.....

" my life as a nobody " by Chunder 27.

[Biker's Nemesis]

Parrish has never and still is not a mug.

[Prof Prolapse]

I’d give my left bk for an “average” career in motorcycling compared to the st most of us do...

[A993LAD]

I wasn't really following motorbike racing in the 70s and 80s, so didn't know much about his career, but I've always thought he seemed pretty good as a commentator and I like his presenting style on the TT programmes.

Anyway, I quickly looked on Wikipedia to see what his racing career had been like I have to say I for one am pretty impressed.....

Career highlights
1976: Winner, British Solo Championship
1976: Winner, Grovewood Award, Best Young Rider, Motorcycles
1977: 5th, 500cc World Motorcycle Championship
1978: Winner, 500cc ACU 'Gold Star' Championship
1979: Winner, 500cc Shellsport Motorcycle Championship
1981: Winner, British Superbike Championship
1987: Winner, British Open Truck Racing Championship
1989: 2nd, British Open Truck Racing Championship
1990: Winner, European and British Truck Racing Championship
1991: Winner, British Open Truck Racing Championship
1992: Winner, European and British Truck Racing Championship
1993: Winner, European and British Truck Racing Championship
1994: Winner, European Truck Racing Championship
1995: 2nd, European Truck Racing Championship
1996: Winner, European Truck Racing Championship
1997: 8th, European Truck Racing Championship
1998: 5th, European Truck Racing Championship
1999: 4th, European Truck Racing Championship
2000: 5th, European Truck Racing Championship
2001: 6th, European Truck Racing Championship

To win the British Superbike championship as well as winning the truck racing championship and then winning the truck racing championship in the UK and Europe for several consecutive years after that seemed like a pretty good record to me.

He also ran the Yamaha bike racing team in the UK and has had a pretty accomplished career in TV, radio and other business interests since retiring from racing.

Anybody who is not impressed by that type of career performance is obviously a tough audience.

And whilst I don't know the guy at all, I think he lives or must have connections not far from me (Royston) as he regularly turns out and partakes in the Cambridge Children's Hospital motorbike charity run thingy. Which from memory is around Christmas time in the freezing bloody cold with wet roads and takes absolutely hours because they saunter along with a police escort at about 5 mph. So he must be a pretty committed motorbike fan and be a genuinely good bloke. Because if I had his money and exciting lifestyle I don't think I'd bother joining a bunch of hairy arsed nobodies in a pub car park on a winter morning for freezing cold Rideout.

Edited by A993LAD on Wednesday 3rd October 09:55

[chunder27]

Lol

Jesus, I just said I didn't like him, he didn't win much other than in trucks as a works driver and he had a career in media coz he was Barry Sheene's mate.

no need to get all shirty

[Andy XRV]

chunder27 said:

Lol

Jesus, I just said I didn't like him, he didn't win much other than in trucks as a works driver and he had a career in media coz he was Barry Sheene's mate.

no need to get all shirty

You really are an Ill-informed tt

[Charliecloud]

Andy XRV said:

chunder27 said:

Lol

Jesus, I just said I didn't like him, he didn't win much other than in trucks as a works driver and he had a career in media coz he was Barry Sheene's mate.

no need to get all shirty

You really are an Ill-informed tt

Succinctly put

[airsafari87]

Is he still banned from Malaysia? (Or somewhere along those lines?)

I vaguely recall a story about him, a couple of other 500 GP riders of the time, a brothel, some fireworks and a big boom??

[Jazoli]

Charliecloud said:

Andy XRV said:

chunder27 said:

Lol

Jesus, I just said I didn't like him, he didn't win much other than in trucks as a works driver and he had a career in media coz he was Barry Sheene's mate.

no need to get all shirty

You really are an Ill-informed tt

Succinctly put

Seconded

airsafari87 said:

Is he still banned from Malaysia? (Or somewhere along those lines?)

I vaguely recall a story about him, a couple of other 500 GP riders of the time, a brothel, some fireworks and a big boom??

He recalls this story and others on a recent Motorsport Magazine podcast, which is a good listen, I like the bloke and would give my left bk to experience some of the things he has.

link to podcast https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/opinion/motorcy...

Edited by Jazoli on Wednesday 3rd October 12:28