Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: oldbike54 on January 19, 2016, 09:16:10 PM
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Who was Norris Rancourt ?
Dusty
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http://www.riderfiles.com/the-story-of-norris-rancourt-and-his-orrin-hall-built-parilla/
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You cheated Dean :laugh:
Dusty
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Maybe he cheated but it's a great story.
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Weren't that old man Rancourt's boy? Good story indeed :thumb:
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Yes , a great story . I have known about the "Gadget" for years , for some reason Norris Rancourt just popped into my head this evening . Hmm , Ralph Glorioso raced 250s for a few years , Ralph , did you know Rancourt ?
Dusty
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small world.
The reason I ride a Guzzi is because of John Burdette. John Burdette and Orrin Hall were partners in Hall-Burdette Motorcycles--the most incredible old dealership in North Sacramento. When I knew the shop, Orrin was no longer there.
I'm thinking that Parilla was the one kept in the shop (it was the only bike with a 'do not sit' sign on the seat). John was an important Norton man, and I'm pretty sure he was the biggest Norton dealer in California at one time.
When I met him, he ran Ducati and Guzzi, but was just as apt to have a few Monarchs on hand, too. I was a kid with no money and a Guzzi Eldo that wasn't that great to begin with. John (and his mechanics and parts guy) were happy to lend me tools that I needed and were always willing to help me out in so many ways.
Somewhere back in my closet is a Guzzi T-shirt John gave me.
Here's a shot of both of them:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=116873238&PIpi=119635274
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Amazing Deke :thumb: Yes , small world .
Dusty