The story of Norris Rancourt and his Orrin Hall-built Parilla

• Larry Lawrence

I got a wonderful opportunity to meet and interview Norris Rancourt last week. Norris and his Orrin Hall-built Moto Parilla were the 250 to beat in AFM races in the early 1960s. Just before he retired he and Orrin went to Daytona in ’64 to test themselves against the big boys. Norris and the little Parilla that could ended up beating all but one of the factory Yamahas and Harleys. Read about Norris here: http://cyclenews.uberflip.com/i/354059/112

Norris Rancourt stands next to a painting of him racing the famous Orrin Hall-built Parilla. Norris was the 250 rider to beat on the West Coast in the early ‘60s. He had a family and two jobs and decided he needed to quit racing. Orrin convinced him to go to Daytona in 1964 to test themselves against the factory bikes and riders. Norris, Orrin and their little Parilla proved they were national class by beating all but one of the factory Harleys and Yamahas. (Larry Lawrence photo)

Norris Rancourt stands next to a painting of him racing the famous Orrin Hall-built Parilla. Norris was the 250 rider to beat on the West Coast in the early ‘60s. He had a family and two jobs and decided he needed to quit racing. Orrin convinced him to go to Daytona in 1964 to test themselves against the factory bikes and riders. Norris, Orrin and their little Parilla proved they were national class by beating all but one of the factory Harleys and Yamahas. (Larry Lawrence photo)

 

 

One thought on “The story of Norris Rancourt and his Orrin Hall-built Parilla”

  1. And more of the Gadget’s story from Frank Scurria:

    Hi guys,
    I can add a bit to the Gadget story. Orin’s bike (the original Gadget) started life as a 175. And it was fast, but didn’t always live long. Then Orin made it live long and go fast. I won the AFM 175 championship on an F3 Ducati, but it was obvious at the end of the season that Orin had the magic and was going to make life hard for the 175 class. For the next season I raced a 250 for ZDS Motors and won the 250 championship and I think the Gadget was 175 champion. The next year I had a 250 F3 Ducati from Berliner, but surprise, surprise, Orin made the Gadget into a 250 and life was hard for all other 250 racers. Norris was an excellent rider and won the championship, and then repeated it again.
    Norris retired from racing and became a Honda motorcycle and car tycoon. Ron Grant became the Gadget’s rider. My 250 Ducati had a major blow-up and went back to Berliner for a new set of cases, but never came back to California, so I didn’t have a 250 to race. Then Orin called and told me he was building a second bike and would have a two bike team. He asked me if I would like to ride Gadget Two. Well, I may be a little crazy, but I’m not stupid, so I became a Gadget racer.
    The two Gadgets were not exactly the same. Gadget 1 had the early frame, Parilla forks, and a Manx front brake that Orin machined to make it lighter. It had the aluminum fuel tank off the Twin Cam bike. Gadget 2 had the later frame, Ceriani forks, a 200mm Oldani front brake and an early aluminum Aermacchi fuel tank. But the bikes were the same in performance. The first time I raced Gadget 2 was at the AFM National at Cotati. The bike was perfect. Ron and I were up against four factory prepared Yamahas—Murphy, Vesco, Hetzler, and one other, but I don’t remember who. I won, first time on the bike. I don’t remember which Yamaha was second.

    Frank

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