The Taffspeed effect

Of all the past Lambretta/Vespa memories that are discussed by scooterists, probably the one that causes the blood to boil more than any other is the tale of the guys who produced some remarkable Dealer Specials; the AF S-type, Supertune, among them. Then there was Taffspeed, a couple of larger-than-life brothers based in Newport, Wales; they raced scooters on race tracks across the country, competing alongside the likes of Dave Webster and Norrie Kerr.

The brothers raced scooters and successfully won trophies throughout the 1970s and when they eventually opened their shop, the pair became a huge name during the 1980s as demand for scooters grew in the burgeoning UK rally scene.

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Terry and Ian Frankland opened their shop on Corporation Road, Newport, South Wales around 1983; it soon became the mecca