These are words I didn’t expect and certainly wished I’d never have to write, but it’s with great sadness to announce that Ricky Parker-Morris passed away last week.
Obituary written by Jules Truss.
Tricky, as he’s known in Fast Car, will need no introduction to old-school readers, as he was the magazine’s main photographer and technical writer from the mid-nineties until the late noughties. For the new school? Well, just mention his name in car culture circles and you’ll be blessed with smiles and stories.
I first met Trick back in 2002 when he came into Fast Car HQ to shoot the products. Being an aspiring photographer and long-time reader of the magazine, he was somewhat of an idol of mine, and I was genuinely nervous to meet him. Did I need to be? Absolutely not! He treated me as a mate from day one, like he did with everyone he met.
Tricky loved a wind-up. You’d learn to never fall asleep while in the passenger seat during a road trip and if you did, you’d probably wake up with whiplash or hypothermia. On the days you finished a shoot early, he’d insist on going to the pub instead of going back to the office. You’d then get a mysterious phone call from the boss asking where you were, unaware that he’d sent a sneaky picture of you enjoying your pint.
One of the fondest memories I have is of a Pirelli press trip to Rome. We were given the keys to an Impreza WRX in the morning and by the time we’d stopped for pizza in the afternoon, the brakes had pretty much caught fire. The memories we made will last a lifetime and everyone he worked with will say the same. I have so many more stories to tell, but they just aren’t suitable for print!
Despite all the silliness, Tricky’s passion for the magazine was infectious. He was on top of his game and produced stunning images that helped propel Fast Car to pole position. Even though his last commission was a decade ago, he’ll always be associated with FC and remained an ambassador for the brand up until his passing; his race car still wears the Fast Car livery today. A race car he built with his brother in the early 90s as a Fast Car project and successfully resurrected a few years back to take class and overall wins in the Special Saloons series.
Before Ricky worked on FC, he was an engineer, then a race driver instructor at Brands Hatch. He then worked tirelessly as a site manager refitting hospitals after his stint on the mag came to an end. His spare time would be spent with his family, racing his 309 with his brother and being a Classic Sports Car Club Committee Member and Driver Representative for the Special Saloons and Modsport Series.
Tricky was a top photographer, a talented wheelman, and a guy who could party with the best of them, but more than that, he was the best bloody bloke you could ever meet, a loving brother to Danny, a dedicated son to Helena, an amazing dad to Bailey–D and a caring husband to Toni.
We’ll see you on the other side Trick; I know you’ll have a beer or white wine spritzer waiting for us! ‘Ave it LARGE up there fella; we love and miss you!