Roy ‘Royspeed’ of Hornchurch passes away | NEWS

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Roy 'Royspeed Cary outside his shop on closing day 2010
Roy ‘Royspeed Cary outside his shop on closing day 2010

 

Sad news reaches us that Roy Cary, the Roy in Royspeed, owner of Roy of Hornchurch passed away peacefully at home yesterday morning (18th, February 2021). Roy’s shop was well known for pushing the boundaries of Lambretta tuning back in the day and his Royspeed logo adorned many scooter side panels. 

 

Back in 1971, his tuning options included a top-end tune to race spec, 30mm Dell’Orto and Royspeed exhaust (amongst others). His dealer specials would be finished with Royspeed and the rider’s name sign written on the side panels. 

 

Local scooterists gathered near the shop for a tribute to Roy when the shop closed for the last time - Roy watches them pass
Local scooterists gathered near the shop for a tribute to Roy when the shop closed for the last time – Roy watches them pass

 

‘Roy of Hornchurch’ were situated at 35 High Street, Hornchurch. Over the years, aside from being both a Lambretta and Vespa dealership, Roy had several other business interests and connections including being the UK Fantic Motor concessionaire. Over the years the business had moved away from scooters and stocked high-end Italian branded children’s products, ride-on toys and accessories. They moved to new premises in 2010 and Roy finally retired in early 2020.

 
Roy leaves his lovely wife, Helen, a son and very many friends who are sad at his passing. We’d like to give our sincere condolences at this sad time.
 
Royspeed memories?
 
Please feel free to add your own memories of Roy and his scootering past.

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1 Comment

  1. Warkton Tornado No.1
    @

    The trip down to Royspeed was the first long journey that I made in 1973.

    The shop was brimming with tuning even goodies of the time & I think Roy coined the phrase “Bolt on Power”

    Possibly Roy was the UK agent for a range of paints. Cal-Custom springs to mind. In any case, the quality of the few bikes there was amazing & I had never seen modified scooters that looked so ‘right’

    Roy was a pioneer & it took a long time before the rest of the World caught up with his innovative ideas. The Royspeed Clubman exhaust was the best available & well built. If a box fresh NOS Royspeed Clubman were to be found today, it would be comparable with Ron Moss’ & Ralpth Saxelby’s.

    The timing of Roy’s ventures with Lambretta was wrong, what with Innocenti selling out to British Leyland. However, that should never diminish Roy’s genius & inspiration to those of us that carried the dim Lambretta torch through the 70’s to allow the following generations to inherit UK Lambretta heritage.

    If it hadn’t been for Gentlemen like Roy & the racing element, scootering via a Lambretta would never have survived.

    Rest In Peace Roy

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