[CR]Marina Del Rey

(Example: Racing:Jacques Boyer)

From: FredParr Bicycles <fredparrbicycles@msn.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Wed, 02 Jul 2003 12:51:54 -0700
cc: fredparrbicycles@msn.com
Subject: [CR]Marina Del Rey

To all,

To clear up facts about west coast dealers.. In the Seventies Santa Monica had a number of Pro Shops, so did Marina Del Rey.

Marina Del Rey Bike and Cycle is the same store now called Helen's Cycle (mdr) Helen's was a clunky Schwinn shop back in those days and very hostile towards other shops in the area. Like my Friend Alan Goldsmith and His Bikecology Stores( A major dealer in Masi) Mdr sold out to Helens when the owner retired.

There was a hayday there for many years before it shut down, with bikes from the four corners of the world and many customs by Fred Parr and Bruce Gordon and Al Eisentrout.

Most of the pre figuring that went into making Windsor into Italavega then to Univega took place there.

I left there to buy a home in San Diego County in 1978 and sold many more customs, but also began making four wheel drive components, such as steerable rear axles (with separate tillers) for those that wanted bigger than life four wheelers.. (They are now showing up with computer controls-20 years later)

Bicycleville in Santa Monica handled my Pro Customs until I shut down to help run my Fathers Growing Nursery in central California.

I returned to Santa Monica two years ago and joined with my old friend Georgine Piper and the old store is now closed.

None of the Old system is in place, but we have now opted to open again on a limited basis due to constant requests for Sunday Bikes, and have 14 in progress.

During the time I was at MDR, Our Friend Hank Folson really helped the cycling world and was a regular at the shop, we made many fine bikes with his parts and with Prugnat and Nervex Lugs.

Hank is a dear special person..

The new Pacenti lugs are also quite wonderful and we have split camp on which ones to use and for what, Richard Sachs has a right on racing oversize set that I just love.

So when you look at various notes and records and wonder where was this and when-- it goes like this for me 1962 -1966 US Army Helicopter Mechanic and Instructor (USAAVNS) (Rode the Velo in Tokyo before the beginning of the 64' Olympics-Fun!!) really set the bug to race!! Hit by car in 65 and crippled. ( unable to walk well but could still ride)

1966 Colley Ave Bike Shop, Norfolk Va.. bought it and the sold it back to Ben Potts 1967 Mission Bay bike rentals -Mine and customs where made

1970 Culver Bike Rack (Culver City )part mine part investors- no customs

1971 Susies Bike Shop -Mine

1973-78 Marina Del Rey -Framebuilder -many customs

1979-88 Fred Parr Cycle Design- Mine Lancaster CA -customs and many of them- plus Four wheeler transmissions and suspensions. And Some Great Indian Motor Cycles restored.

1989 Lavenderhill Nursery -Dads- a few customs but mostly Four Wheel custom fab and the Nursery of course 1999 divorce and total shut down..

2000 Joined with Georgine and re-started Customs and added sales of Welding Supplies.

The only bike I never handled in one of those shops was Masi.

We sold tons of every other bike you can think of.

Freddy Parr Palms California 90034 310-204-5689 310-612-8714 fredparr@fredparr.com http://www.parrbikes.com .........................................................................................................................................Freddy ....