A brief
history of Parkpre USA.
Parkpre started in 1989 after Cozy Yamakoshi, a product
and development manager, left Diamond Back to start his own company. Parkpre
USA were based in Moorpark,
Southern California, USA., Producing bikes from the early 1990's until
sometime in 1998 when they closed.
Company
Parkpre is the product of Cozy Yamakoshi. The actual
name of the business was Integra Precision Corporation, it would not fit
on the down tube, the Parkpre name came from Cozy's friend
and mentor, Mr. Park, who was originally from Korea but changed his name
upon moving to Japan. The Pre (precission) part of the name caused some
consternation when Pre Skis got all hot and bothered over the Parkpre
logo. Ever wondered what Parkpre USA's distribution centre
looked like here are some
pictures.
Parkpre frames were made at the
Fairly Bike Manufacturing Co Ltd factory in Taiwan, where Cozy
had a relationship. Cozy designed a few other things, he designed the
original Timbuk II tyre, and had something to do with the Porcupine tyre.
A Californian guy originally designed Pulstar Hubs, featured on many Parkpre
bikes, Cozy took the design overseas, mass-producing it for the inventor.
I think that this was the Hubs downfall, as the bearings and races used
were of inferior quality, the hubs failed long before the wheelset should
have. I'm sure many of you can verify this, I can.
Cozy was a famous frame designer before
starting his own company... he built frames for REI under their own brand
name (Novara), and designed and built the Kastle ski brand bike.
Cozy Yamakoshi has been in the bicycle
business for over 30 years. Cozy was a Product Development manager at
Western States Imports for many years. WSI was the company who made Centurion
and Diamond Backs. He was instrumental in the manufacturing of BMX bikes
in Japan and importing them to the United States.
People
Craig
'Stikman' Glaspell [Leigh Donovan's husband / bike mechanic] raced
XC for Parkpre in 1992. Go to his web site and check out the racing
picture, very retro.
Allen Bean
was the team trainer/coach from 11/91 to 01/93.
Dr. Terry Wheyman was the team
doctor/chiropractor from 1991 onwards.
List
of riders who have ridden under Parkpre sponsorship throughout
the world, I am sure there are many that I have missed. If you can add
to this list use the contact form.
Parkpre sponsored many top riders
including most notably Paola
Pezzo, 'Pistol' Pete Loncarevich
and Christophe
Sauser.
Article from Cyclingnews.com
about a guy who has made up a cyclo-cross bike from a Parkpre MTB
frame.
Parkpre Today
Ken Yamakoshi (Cozy’s son) is in the process of re-launching Parkpre
in the US. Firstly introducing road bikes into the US market. The grand
plan includes time trial, mountain and time trial frames. Focusing on
high-end frame and forks only and not complete bikes. You can visit the
website at ParkpreUSA.com.
Ken is the team manager for a US based UCI Division professional team
for 2009.
Parkpre Bicycles [Italy] were an
official supplier to the Toyota-F1
team for 2003 season.
Help required
I need you to fill in the large gaps in this short history. Do you know
anything about Parkpre USA in the nineties? Did you, or someone
you know, work for the company? Any information will be appreciated. Email
me.
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