Treasured memories of a one-off – Chic Parr

What a character! …. such a pleasure to read Jamie Allium’s letter in the May ‘20 issue of OBM, enquiring about Chic.

There wasn’t a single subject on God’s earth about which Chic Parr could not expound a clear and forthright opinion… and from where I was standing I was sure he was invariably right!

Personality-wise, his nearest modern day equivalent would be Crocodile Dundee.

Extremely personable, interesting and kind, Chic was very popular and greatly respected within the large and vibrant motorcycle community of 1960s and 70s Leighton Buzzard.

During the 1960s Chic worked from a single width pre-cast concrete garage / workshop in a site behind an Esso service station in Stanbridge Road, in a small corner of a large site that was shared by Auto Electrics and Biggs Transport. Bikes in for repair were lined up outside, alongside the workshop. No thieves in those days (possibly not true, but no local thieves were going to steal from Chic Parr!).

Chic’s primary passion was Velocette, he was their local dealer and on very good terms with the factory in Birmingham who helped him with many of his road racing endeavours.

In spite of his tiny premises in the early 1960s, Chic was also entrusted as the main agent in town for Yamaha. While other dealers like Camden Motorcycles got Honda and Sid Mularney got the Suzuki agency.

The first few Yamahas Chic sold were 250cc YDS-2s and YDS-3s. I remember, at least the first four or five were soon in for serious front end repair, having crashed into the rear of other vehicles. One particular day a Yamaha owner took me out on the pillion for a short demonstration of the acceleration… well, I had a Tiger 100 at the time and I’m sure the YDS-3 could have eaten it for breakfast.

Chic gave his customers a smart, rectangular Yamaha-supplied sticker which could be applied to the back of the rider’s jacket or rear of the seat 'You’ve Just Been Yamaha-ha’d'.

As far as racing was concerned, Chic built truly remarkable machines with the help of his good friend Keith Powell. Keith was a very skilled engineering machinist who worked at

AC Delco by day but by night (nearly every night!) he could be found in Chic’s workshop.

Importantly, Keith was also the successful rider of the 250cc Parvel on which he won the 1963 BEMSEE 250cc class British championship in 1963 and was also clocked at 126mph on it!

The frame of the 250cc Parvel was entirely of Chic’s own design and construction, with brazed together Reynolds 531 tubing – Chic was very handy with oxyacetylene. The engine was a hugely modified and sleeved KSS with an MOV piston and of course, bevel driven SOHC. Coil ignition was by battery only, there was a carefully sculpted oil sump directly below the engine, a full fairing and lots of other details which I don’t now recall.

As Chic would say: “If it looks right, it generally is.” And the Parvel definitely looked right!

Much later on, Chic and Keith built a 350cc Parvel. Again, a bespoke frame, a very special KTT engine, GP Carburettor and a magnesium five-speed gearbox that was an unused development given to Chic by Velocette Engineering.

Chic also had cambox and head castings made for a four-valve top end. I don’t think Chic continued the development of the 350 for as long as he would have liked. I believe John Senior raced it for Chic a few times. Both Parvel machines had remarkable handling.

A little later Chic moved into a new workshop in Old Road, Leighton-Linslade.

Very sadly, he passed away about 1970 aged only 46 years.

He was a remarkable chap with no formal higher education, probably the best and definitely the most intuitive, engineer I have ever known. A natural, self-taught genuine expert.

I’m sure that very many people will remember Clifford John Ireson Parr as fondly as I do, and treasure the memory of him.

Chic had two very young children at the time of his passing and I often wonder if they know what a kind and special dad they had. I would be happy to talk about this further to Jamie, or other interested parties, if they wish to get in touch with me, please contact OBM.

Old Bike Mart,