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Thread: Last Cruise for Richard Park (The Rodding Scene/Custom City)

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    Last Cruise for Richard Park (The Rodding Scene/Custom City)

    I am sad to report the passing of my big brother, Richard Park, for those who are old enough to remember, Richard along with Geoff Jago was one of the early pioneers of customising and hot rodding in the UK. Richard started his car accessory business, Custom City, in the late 1960s and joined Geoff Jago to form the Rodding Scene in Chichester, West Sussex. Geoff of course designed and built Model 'T's, then the Jago Jeep (Geep) and various other kit cars.

    Richard developed into an excellent custom car and chopper bike painter in those days when Metalflake and Candy Apple were king and his work was often featured in Custom Car magazine. For a short time in the 1970's Richard produced the Baja beach buggy (I seem to remember an awesome one with a Corvair engine?) and Geoff was manufacturing chassis for Panther cars. My own little contribution was buying the Trobike minibike business, the remains of which still litter Richard's garage! With their expertise in fibreglass moulding and painting, the Rodding Scene also branched out into building bodywork for racing cars inc. Brabham F.1. All-in-all the Rodding Scene was a little corner of the British motoring industry in the 1970's. During his lifetime, Richard owned many classic American cars but his particular favourites were Studebakers.

    I was fortunate enough to hang round the Rodding Scene in the early 1970's and I have very fond memories of Geoff, Bootlace, Kris 'Pop' Brown, Pete Sturman, Michael 'Fred' Rutherford, No 10, Peter 'Beard' Benson and all the other great hot rod characters there. And yes I was also fortunate enough to be a Jago guinea pig with the infamous 'T' with a Reliant 850 engine (surely worthy of the Guiness Book of Records as the least powerful rod ever built!) and the first Jago Jeep which I ran for many years.

    After The Rodding Scene, Richard returned to our country of birth, Sri Lanka, bringing back many classic British motorcycles, pedal cars, tin toy cars etc. Latterly Richard was to be found in a small antique emporium in Chichester where he specialised in motoring memorabilia and he was often seen touting his wares at the Goodwood festival of Speed & Revival etc. He worked in his shop until the very end.

    Richard leaves his wife, Lyn, and son Sam.

    The funeral is scheduled for the 8th June in Chichester - if anyone is interested in coming along I can let you have details later. Also if anyone has any old photos of Richard/Richard's work or any old magazine articles, I would be very grateful for copies.

    Richard Park 02/03/1944 - 16/05/2016
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  2. #2
    Guest yjohnb's Avatar
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    Very sad news , my condolences to you the family and friends.
    Best regards
    John

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    NSRA member Jimbob's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by yjohnb View Post
    Very sad news , my condolences to you the family and friends.
    Best regards
    John
    Sad news, another British "Name" gone. My thoughts are with his Family and Friends.

    Regards, Jim.
    It's only original once...... But you can rod it as many times as you like!

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    NSRA member MisteR Tee's Avatar
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    Great pics Howard, is that Kris Brown in the last one?

    I'd be interested in the funeral details when you can.
    MisteR Tee
    Ah, Nostalgia, it ain't what it used to be!

    No longer wanted: Steel 26/27 Ford Model T coupe rear fenders.

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    NSRA member 33HEMI's Avatar
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    My Condolences to you and all of his family. RIP.

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    Moderator Brizey's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MisteR Tee View Post
    Great pics Howard, is that Kris Brown in the last one?......
    They are excellent photo`s, and yes, that`s definitely Kris with the cap on Mo!. That photo reminds me of when I collected my old roadster body from Jago`s in `73 from the old dirt floored workshop. Even though work was being done there seemed to be a lot of horse-play going on too, it was obviously a happy place to work!.
    Our thoughts are with you and yours Howard...
    "The older i get, the faster i was".
    Out to pasture ...
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    NSRA member rem's Avatar
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    Sorry for your loss. They are great photos and it looks like they were having fun, which is what it should be all about.
    Sent from my Kitchen Table using a little box full of smoke and dangerous radio waves


    Shine is Fine

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    It is indeed Kris, 'Pop' Brown in his prime!
    The funeral is next Wednesday 8th June at 12.30p.m. at Chichester Crematorium, Westhampnett Road, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 7UH. However we are trying to plan a final cruise for Richard from the Co-op Funerals in Bognor Regis, to the crematorium - via the old Rodding Scene premises - as soon as timings for this are known I will let you know. Richard will be travelling in a hot rod hearse from http://thefinalcruise.co.uk/Pages/En..._2968_lge.html

    It would be great if there were a few rods & customs following.

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    Many thanks. Have lots more photos of those days which I will try to post.

    In case you are interested, the funeral is next Wednesday 8th June at 12.30p.m. at Chichester Crematorium, Westhampnett Road, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 7UH. However we are trying to plan a final cruise for Richard from the Co-op Funerals in Bognor Regis, to the crematorium - via the old Rodding Scene premises - as soon as timings for this are known I will let you know. Richard will be travelling in a hot rod hearse from http://thefinalcruise.co.uk/Pages/En..._2968_lge.html

    It would be great if there were a few rods & customs following.

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    Quote Originally Posted by rem View Post
    Sorry for your loss. They are great photos and it looks like they were having fun, which is what it should be all about.
    Yes indeed, fun times. Thanks for your kind words. It would be great to see some faces from the rodding world at Richard's funeral.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Brizey View Post
    They are excellent photo`s, and yes, that`s definitely Kris with the cap on Mo!. That photo reminds me of when I collected my old roadster body from Jago`s in `73 from the old dirt floored workshop. Even though work was being done there seemed to be a lot of horse-play going on too, it was obviously a happy place to work!.
    Our thoughts are with you and yours Howard...

    Yep - the workshop was not quite like today's F.1 factories! Thanks again for the kind words.

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    Quote Originally Posted by yjohnb View Post
    Very sad news , my condolences to you the family and friends.
    Best regards
    John
    Sorry for the late reply - traveling back from France etc.

    Your words are much appreciated.

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    Quote Originally Posted by jimboroadking View Post
    Sad news, another British "Name" gone. My thoughts are with his Family and Friends.

    Regards, Jim.
    Gone but thanks to you guys, not quite forgotten...yet.

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    NSRA member MisteR Tee's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Howard Park View Post
    It is indeed Kris, 'Pop' Brown in his prime!
    The funeral is next Wednesday 8th June at 12.30p.m. at Chichester Crematorium, Westhampnett Road, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 7UH. However we are trying to plan a final cruise for Richard from the Co-op Funerals in Bognor Regis, to the crematorium - via the old Rodding Scene premises - as soon as timings for this are known I will let you know. Richard will be travelling in a hot rod hearse from http://thefinalcruise.co.uk/Pages/En..._2968_lge.html

    It would be great if there were a few rods & customs following.
    Thanks for letting us know the details, unfortunately it looks like I won't be able to make it now after all. Great shame as I'm sure some old familiar faces will be there, however if things change I will try to be there.
    MisteR Tee
    Ah, Nostalgia, it ain't what it used to be!

    No longer wanted: Steel 26/27 Ford Model T coupe rear fenders.

    My Intro My website my cars

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    Just to confirm the service at Chichester Crematorium is at 12.30p.m. this Wednesday 8th June. However we have booked a hot rod hearse to take Richard from the Co-op in Bognor Regis to the Crem, passing the old Rodding Scene site - if anyone would like to follow the hearse, I suggest we meet at about 11.15 at the Co-op - address below:



    Cooperative Funeral Care,
    230 Chichester Road'North Bersted

    Bognor Regis PO21 5BA

    01243 865119


    Chichester Crematorium
    Westhampnett RoadChichesterWest Sussex PO19 7UH
    Hope to see some cruisers there and have a good catch-up.


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