Ricspeed - Rich Smith - Rest In Peace

[Ian Hepworth]

Such sad news.

I only met Rich once but he felt like a close friend, that's how he was. We had lambrettas, fatherhood and trains in common. More recently he sent me messages of support when my Dad had a stroke and again when my Dad died.

The time I met him was when he had offered an auto engine, free to a good home. I had in mind to fit it to a vega.
I offered and offered but he didn't want anything for it. In the meantime people started offering him money but he turned them down because he'd made an agreement with me.

I turned up with a case of Stella which he agreed to take as payment for the engine.

We chatted for ages. He told me about his eldest son who has learning disabilities. We talked trains, music, parenthood, all sorts.

He was the kind of guy who didn't have a bad word to say about anyone, the kind of guy who would help anyone.

I hate to think what life must have been like for him recently but his sense of humour shone through up until the last.

He will be missed.

[corrado]

I met Rich a few times and always at the Scooterotica Garage, I think it was his 2nd home. He was always building some form of cutdown or racer every time I saw him and he struck me as being a bit of a "nutty professor" too, I see that as a positive in a person.
Losing a loved one is the worst thing that we have to deal with in our lives, not everyone can cope with it and carry on, clearly Rich fell into that category.
RIP Rich, the scooter world is all the poorer without you.

[blue]

So sad, RIP Ricspeed

[sean brady scooters]

tbh i,m still in shock ...just cant believe that ricspeed has gone

[stew]

My sincere condolences to all his friends and family R.I.P

[TED CRUD]

I met Rich at the Dyno shoot out and i had a good conversation with him I would of liked to continue for many years to come ,But I am saddened to hear of his passing .
TED Washington Posse s.c
R.I.P Rich

[gavi4t]

a sad loss, ride on Richie, rip mate

[joespeed]

i met ric a few times traded bits and bobs,and had a chat at the dyno shootout,had hoped he would do more sprints and race meetings for us to follow,i was saddened to here of his passing,he will be missed greatly here on scooterotica,
r.i.p. ricspeed.

[ralph95]

Sad to hear this
R.I.P

[Dazza]

R.I.P Rich...