750 Rhys Parrin is one of many talented young drivers taking the step up from the Junior Bangers into the Nationals, and made his first appearance on home soil since graduating the formula at Kings Lynn for the Unlimited War of the Worlds event as part of the Aftermath Young Guns alongside another top emerging youngster, 707 Alfie Nottingham. Bryson caught up with Rhys prior to the meeting to get his thoughts on the process of moving up the ranks.
As is typically the case, Rhys followed his family routes into the ovals. ‘I grew up around it with both mum and dad racing when I was little.’ It’s not often that both parents are racers, but with father Andrew having been a star driver in both the National 2L Saloon Stock Cars and Bangers, as well as mother Terri being one of the leading names in the Ladies Banger scene, it was inevitable that Rhys would take to the track himself.
Given that Rhys has grown up around the racing, he’d have seen countless meetings up and down the country growing up. ‘I have quite a few memories from racing. I went to most World Finals, Firecracker meetings and Ipswich Gala Night’ – Rhys has listed many top meetings from the banger calendar, but there is one moment that stands out the most. ‘The best memory was when mum won the Lady Banger Gold Roof at Kings Lynn in 2011.’
Rhys has watched many meetings over the years, but got the opportunity to race earlier than many. ‘I had a Ninja Kart at Swaffham when I turned 6. I think it was a good meeting, but I don’t quite remember it.’ The Ninja Kart route always leaves young drivers with a choice to make, whether or not they go rod, stock car or bangers once they get to that age. Rhys opted to go for Junior Bangers, where he excelled in the formula. ‘When I was little all I ever wanted to do was race Bangers, so I had a go and loved it!’ admits Rhys.
Rhys had a brilliant few years in the Junior Bangers, especially here at the Adrian Flux Arena where he became a mainstay in the formula before recently turning 16. ‘I had a very good journey in the Juniors. Some of the best highlights for me would probably be winning the Trackstar Points, as well as any meeting where I got top 3 in every race. I also enjoyed having a crash now and then.’ As revealed by Rhys, he secured the points championship last season and had the opportunity to wear the silver roof in his final months which he certainly displayed with pride. ‘It was good having the silver roof, it’s the best thing you could ask for! It felt weird starting from the back every race, but after a few meetings, I got used to it.’
Rhys made his ‘adult debut’ at the recent Banger World Series round at Mildenhall, which he relives for us. ‘The build up to the day was quite good knowing that I had a chance to race with dad. The meeting itself, we were late as usual! We left the yard at 4pm, which was when the meeting started, so I missed my first heat but got out in both consolation races. The first one was good for the first time on proper shale in a RWD, and the second race was just a wreck up. Someone tuned around and I hit him head on and then the rest of their team hit me 5-6 times when the car was dead and it was the end of the day for me.’ Naturally the build times must take some getting used to, with a notable difference between the Junior Bangers to the Unlimiteds, which is something Rhys addresses. ‘It was a lot different to building a Micra; you could fully build one of them in 2 days, whereas the unlimited is more time consuming and takes about a week.’
Rhys is back for more in the Unlimiteds, this time guesting for the Aftermath as earlier mentioned. Many a top driver and entertainer have donned the famous red and yellow over the years, and Rhys is certainly humbled by the opportunity to add his name to that list. ‘It means a lot to me (to be in colours). I’ve always been good friends with them and get along with them. I’d just like to say thanks to Mark and Cock for letting me on the team for the meeting.’
We’re aware of Rhys’ natural ability at racing, but he is not shy to the fact that he may not fully have the opportunity to display that this evening. ‘I’ll see on the day what the game plan is, but I’m sure there will be plenty of crashing going on.’
Following on from tonight’s fixture, Rhys isn’t 100% sure on when we can next expect to see him out on track. ‘If we have a car ready and a meeting is on, I’ll just go and enjoy it really.’ The ultimate goal however for Rhys is to ‘be as good as dad when he raced the 2L Stock Cars back in the day.’ Given the nature of what Rhys has discussed throughout the interview, you can sense the admiration and pride he has for both his parents racing and the effect it has had on his own racing.
Given the nature of this being a team event, I asked Rhys who would he have alongside himself to form the perfect 6 a side team. His response was a slightly more unusual one to what we usually hear from our interviewees. ‘Me, (150) Andrew Parrin, (385) Roy Gedge, (707) Alfie Nottingham, and then not really sure on the others – whoever wants to be on it can be!’ He laughs.
Rhys would like to finish off with a few thankyou’s. ‘Anyone that helps little or big and to the man that makes it all happen, dad – I can’t thank him enough!’
With thanks to KB Race Photos/SHR Bangers, RGB Race Pictures & Shed’s Snaps for photos.
