www.rivers-fletcher.com
The Croft, Lighthorne Rd, Kineton, Warwick CV350JL
Tel: 01926 642313, click on the link below to e-mail me
All my life, I have been interested in motorsport. In my early twenties I autocrossed a Ford Anglia, raced Austin Healey Sprites in Hillclimbs and had
a real desire to follow in my father’s footsteps and compete in single seater racing cars in sprints and hillclimbs.
In the 1990's, I had the opportunity to re-kindle my motorsport passion, and
I and my girlfriend designed and built a single seater hillclimb car for
competition purposes. The project took 18 months of hard slog, dedicating weekends, evenings, and holidays to building this car, but finally it was
ready for scrutineering at Prescott, and the “Triumph Special” came to be born.
It was born as a Triumph GT6, but I had to make my own chassis, fit a 2 ½
litre straight 6, and cobble together a body resembling a 1950's racing car.
Fifteen years later, the car is still going strong. It took Yve (originally my girlfriend, (now my wife) to a championship win in the classic racing car
class in Hillclimbs with me coming second. Each year it seems to get modified
still further, and with a Reliant Scimitar back axle, welded diff, bespoke front suspension and fifteen inch wheels, the only “Triumph” parts left are the
engine, gearbox and front uprights. The car is much admired by the
unknowing public who don’t have to drive it. It really is a bit of a handful
to drive as it rarely points in the right direction. We both love the car to bits.
A few years ago, I thought of trying circuits, and bought a 1983 Royale RP 33 Formula Ford. I raced the car with the Monoposto Racing Club for a couple of years, thoroughly enjoying learning the circuits and using up all my modest savings. I then put the car into “Sprint” format, with wings, wider tyres
and an uprated engine and both Yve and I raced the car in hillclimbs. This time
I won the classic championship with Yve coming second. We had some good
years with the car, but the old Triumph was calling me from the garage,
and now the Royale sits forlornly waiting to be re-assembled.
Just like my father, I always have ambitious plans for the future. I have a 105E Anglia sitting in the garage for preparing for historic circuit meetings. It’s a shame it’s been waiting for 7 years! The Royale needs assembling, but the faithful Triumph is still working. I’d like to try a French hillclimb, I must add Wiscombe and some other venues to my CV. The important thing is to carry
on enjoying the sport which I love so much.
A typical paddock scene.
Jeremy looking after his father’s Alvis
at a Prescott meeting.
So nearly coming off the track at
Loton Park.
The Triumph Special has loads of oversteer.
Aged about 7 his first actual race at Silverstone. A pedal car race for children of racing drivers (he came third)
Building the Triumph Special
Jeremy with his father
at Brooklands
Jeremy in the Royale at Loton Park in April 2005
