Brooklands with Campbell, Bentleys and Barnato: Rivers Fletcher Reminisces....

[@bernardcurren1250]

What a fabulous film. A story from another era before health & safety had taken over the world. Many thanks for sharing.

[@byjingobob]

Thanks for sharing this, I could listen to Rivers Fletcher for hours. A real gem of a man and wealth of motoring history knowledge!

[@retromechanicalengineer]

What a captivating story teller. Amazing times.

[@rjay4197]

What a raconteur Rivers Fletcher was!! Amazing stories from the past when life was so very different. Thanks Ivan and Susie - most enjoyable. 😎

[@lancerbiker5263]

Great stories. And what a teller !

[@wilsonlaidlaw]

I remember Rivers well. At one point my brother and I nearly bought the Jaguar engined single seater that BRM built for him when he was their PR guru. We decided it was over ambitious for our then abilities and built a racing 4/4 Morgan instead. On another occasion, at Prescott, I took him for a ride in the Rabagliati H.M. Bentley Speed Six Special (BXB 8) which he had delivered to Euan Rabagliati , when it was newly built in 1934 and was very complimentary about in his Bentley book.

[@rallycrosscraig]

Tell us more

[@malcolmtill]

What a captivating story teller. I wish i spoke more like him.

[@TheCappedCruiser]

Absolutely brilliant! Rivers Fletcher never seemed to age: he was still regularly competing into quite old age (altho' you've got him beat, Ivan!), hill climbs mostly ... I remember seeing him in the 1960s at Wiscombe Park in his single-seater Jaguar - he also ran a Speed 20 Alvis, and had a tiny 250cc rear-engined car, which I believe he hated: I think it's been resurrected by his son, who regularly hill-climbs in a home-brewed Triumph-engined single seater. All the Fletcher cars were beautifully turned out in pale blue livery. Thanks Ivan, that was a real treat for a rainy Sunday afternoon!

[@phlize]

+1

[@HQBProductions]

That is a rare chance to see Rivers and hear his stories. He was one of the special men in the motoring world of Vintage cars for so many years. More of such films is very welcome!!😃😃😃

[@stevebettany8778]

Great fun and what a reminder of how our lives have changed. Thanks for another fine video.

[@paulhelman2376]

That Bugatti chair is admirable.

[@matthewhodder3029]

What an excellent story teller. Such memories to recount.

[@DANIEL-p1e6j]

Oh wow Ivan..That story was riveting, a pleasure to listen to. Please show more from the archives. Thank you so much.

[@pauldrury9695]

Quite a character! I thoroughly enjoyed Rivers banter. Lovely stories. Thanks for bringing this old video back to life for us. Cheers Paul 🤓

[@georgejohnson1498]

I loved every second of this! Thank you Ivan and team, and best wishes to all from George

[@davidparker886]

Just brilliant! More would be great!!

[@rodsdmba1571]

I thought for a second he was going to say that Barnato would give his 'guest" a nudge in the back when he was coming from behind.

[@BillMrWild]

Brilliant, I wouldn't have missed those stories for anything...

[@oldieman730]

That was great to watch. Thanks.

[@paulreymond2969]

Great stuff Ivan , I will be sharing far and wide

[@MrBristol405]

Fantastic addition to the channel which is going from strength to strength. Saw Tim racing at Circuit de Remperts in the Bugatti race. What a track that must be to drive

[@rodsdmba1571]

I saw a post On Facebook of someone using an Aston DB4 as his tow car, headed to some place I'd never heard of called Remperts. Of course I needed to Google it and then look at the course in Google Maps street view. It's a bit of a Mickey Mouse layout (short lap length and getting around the 3 switchback hairpins cleanly will 'make or break' your lap time) but I do admire that the event is run so many many years after it's heyday. Here in California they bulldozed Ontario Motor Speedway (Indianapolis clone closed in 1980) and Riverside Raceway (closed in 1989) and built retail centers. Between Internet sales and COVID lockdown I'll bet money that >15% of those buildings are empty these days. Let's tear them down and build a race circuit. . .

[@bryduhbikeguy]

Thank you for teaching us all more about the history, and the stories of,and about the vehicles and the people involved through their developements and uses.

[@simonvalente2187]

Awesome stuff. Thank you....

[@allanscott2778]

What a fantastic story i was in stitches listening to it

[@jefflormans5441]

Wonderful stuff.

[@davidhamer8333]

Absolutely fabulous story. thanks for showing it.

[@nigelsears7191]

thanks for the film really interesting

[@HanstheTraffer]

Another marvelous story time....Thanks Ivan and Susie.

[@rallycrosscraig]

Wow that’s hilarious where did you find that? Please share some more ….

[@daviddjerassi]

WOW that was a blast thank you both for the film and the story bring on some more please loved it .

[@petergoodrum1607]

Brilliant absolutely brilliant. Thank you Ivan and Susie..... 💥👍

[@gasballoon]

Bloody marvellous. Rivers talks a bit like Steady Barker. More films pleeeez !!!!!

[@ramseybarber8312]

Lovely stories Ivan Keep them coming.

[@Rog5446]

Priceless!

[@oldschool1993]

What a great story, he brings to life what England was in those days, how sad to see her now.

[@ralphmillais5237]

That was fascinating. Could listen to much more of such stuff. It was so long ago. I don't suppose there is any similar footage of John Bolster? I still have the full run of Old Motor magazine that they did in the 1970s, it only ran for a a couple for years but was full of fascinating recollections from Rivers Fletcher, (and Bolster) but I have never heard him speak. I would love to see more!

[@markligertwood565]

Wonderful! Thank you so much😊

[@Taedy]

Wonderful!

[@lotus7even]

Wow fantastic what a story

[@janebrown4319]

Not one to comment usually but that was pure class. Laughed all the way thru - esp the bit about having to report the crash to the boss - in bed with the stunning blonde...

[@erichlausch9886]

This time will never come back 😀

[@shedbythetracks]

Interesting, but I prefer watching Ivan putter around in the shed. Cheers

[@shed_racing]

more of that to come very shortly....

[@shedbythetracks]

@@shed_racing 😁

[@brianrule5547]

Susie is a hell of a better camera operator than whoever was responsible for videoing that interview, IMO Great storyteller in any case !

[@TamTran-vw7zm]

@@shedbythetracks I love both types of content. Thank you.

[@johnrussell5245]

@@brianrule5547 It was cropped in the transfer.

[@richardhintonracing]

Oh yes good stuff.

[@ribohne]

That could have been oh so boring but in fact was riveting. Almost as good as you Ivan. A bit longer winded but it nevertheless kept ones complete attention. Great stuff.

[@richardfearn6638]

What a great video

[@martinspeak-nd3ob]

❤

[@David_Walker16-3-51]

In my life, I have met rich people and I’ve met Gentlemen, I much prefer Gentlemen.

[@oldmod2866]

Remember Rivers Fletcher at various meetings, he would be just sitting round with the rest of us, no big celebrity deal then how different it would be now.

[@GasoliniASMR]

It was a different time.

[@blacksquirrel4008]

“A bit posh…” A BIT‽

[@rallycrosscraig]

Wonderful to see isn’t it?

[@dennismccarthy7032]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@mikemccarthy1398]

what a brilliant story....he wouldn't get any speed up in London now

[@russellharris9579]

How do top that ,if I did that I would still be in jail😂👍👍🦘🇦🇺

[@63sgjunior]

There's always something fascinating to find on this channel love the historic anecdotes films and tinkering simply brilliant. Long may it continue.👍

[@flatbrokefrank6482]

The art of storey telling - Brilliant stuff!

[@davidforeman8347]

As you well know the folks that watch your videos will watch and listen to any thing you do or say!! Thank you Ivan and Ivan! Cheers from Alberta Canada !!

[@daleskidmore1685]

Nearly as great a raconteur as yourself Ivan! Riding Mechanic with Campbell is a real ripping yarn. I think this could be a feature that will run and run.

[@meeshker]

I went to a talk by Rivers in the 90s talking about , his years of motorsports stories. Really enjoyed it.

[@tommyrot7276]

What a gem, a world apart. another age, why was I born to late😪

[@MartinBaldock]

How delightful!

[@camcutcnc]

What a great story. Speaking of lovely ladies Susi I probably spelled that incorrectly, is such a treat !! I have watched the channel for years, the addition of Susi has taken it from a grand channel to an awesome channel !! Keep up the good work, and thanks !!

[@Fintoman]

Fascinating stuff.

[@richyrich7122]

When are you at portimao so we can come and see you. Love the old film with Rivers what a character so very British of a bygone age.

[@trevorashworth7307]

I remember watching a program or video years ago about cars and Rivers Fletcher who I think was driving an Alvis.This vid Was Great.

[@glynluff2595]

Once again you have made me roar with laughter. Oh I wish my mentor of many years ago were alive to hear that story! Wonderful! Keep it all coming!

[@Radioman1937]

absolutley fabulous and much appreciated. lets see more

[@barrystokes5837]

very enjoyable ivan. would like to see more of these films. being of a certain age,i had heard of rivers fletcher but didn't know much of his history. back to the present,there is a rivers fletcher i've seen competing in hill-climbs. wonder if he is the son? competed in a couple of oddball single seaters that i think would interest you.

[@russelljones-d4h]

Thanks Ivan, brilliant.

[@paulshubsachs4977]

Thanks so much for airing the Rivers piece. Joyful, even without a time machine! Interesting that Fletcher Senior disliked Malcolm Campbell despite his legendary ability behind the wheel. In particular, the biography of Leslie Ballamy (by Tony Russell) confirms that Campbell was a bit of a cad when steeped in the motor trade.

[@453421abcdefg12345]

What an absolutely lovely chap Rivers Fletcher is in this interview, not many like that around now. Please put up more of these treasures! Chris B.

[@martinspeak-nd3ob]

More please - Brooklands is so important to motor racing history - Rivers Fletcher a true Gentleman Driver !

[@TamTran-vw7zm]

This was an unexpected treat. Thank you for this. If there are more, I for one (and it seems many others) would love to listen to history, and the stories we are never privy to. Thank you again.

[@BerlietGBC]

What a wonderful find , just outstanding, thank you

[@chrishill1219]

What a marvelous toff Rivers is. He should be in charge of English in all of our schools.

[@Pete-z6e]

Hear hear what!!

[@h-j.k.8971]

What a gem.

[@paullynn-i7x]

More Please!!!

[@paulhelman2376]

Brooklyn was " full of goats "??

[@rallycrosscraig]

Ghosts old chap, ghosts!

[@grahamrowley-n7k]

Ivan,what an incredible way to start a motoring career,thanks for sharing history with us.

[@brokenbritain9441]

I recently watched a video on KZbin where Clive dunfee over shoots the banking at 130 mph 😮 those Bentley cars we're very fast. The crash happened at Brooklands.

[@boydsargeant7496]

Great Ivan and Suzy! I loved it. The last story about crashing the Bentley is in Peter Grimsdales book Driving in the dark which is all about Bentley and leMans, an excellent read!

[@jamesthomas4301]

very very good ..........................................................................................

[@GaryPullinger]

Fabulous Ivan, more of the same please,

[@PhilPrater]

I absolutely love this! Rivers tells a story as good as you, Ivan. I'd love to see more. And I'm shocked that you only have 24,000 subscribers!

[@douglasmcdermott2830]

Ivan, just out of curiosity what’s the story behind the half finished live steam LNER V2 on the bookshelf behind you?

[@rogermarkham9062]

This is like listening to Rivers Fletcher narrating one of his books like Mostly Motor Racing or More Motor Racing it's utterly fantastic a totally different world.

[@mrnice30001]

Fantastic. we need a website dedicated to such content. I could listen to this all day no matter how they speak -which is irrelevant anyway. In fact, Rivers used to travel the country giving similar talks until he was quite elderly. I remember him in the '70's at Prescott with his light blue Alvis which I once had the pleasure of helping to push in the paddock.

[@HenryMitchell-x8x]

Fabulous - used to watch him drive at Prescott - always looking immaculate. I went with my father to a few talks and film shows that Rivers gave. Brilliant to hear his voice and stories once again and see him reaching a wider audience.

[@Lemma01]

"...scowling at me over the top of his egg..." 😂 Tremendous. ❤

[@phillippowell3847]

wonderful stuff the camera man was rubbish but sound was spot on

[@blacksquirrel4008]

No tripod, poor fellow had to hold it the whole time.

[@janebrown4319]

And the interviewer just let him get on with it with no interruptions - brilliant!

[@mk1cortinatony395]

Brilliant I could listen to Rivers for ages, what a character

[@Hazzy238]

This video could go viral. Best historic motor I've seen.

[@Pete-z6e]

Ivan, absolutely special, a great story told by a real character!!

[@arielsaeth]

What could possibly go wrong??

[@garthwalker1025]

What a joy! More please!

[@BokorRider]

great story more if can get them

[@schulzcc]

There always old John, making a racket over the video😂

[@dog8nut]

What absolutly wonderful file clip ! Now know I was born 50 years to late ! Should have be 1894 not 1944 ! I saw one of those Delage "sp" GP cars at a museum in Southern Cal. in the late 60s ,work of art it was.