From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
The steering of cars at high speeds, discussing the effects of rear spring flexibility, shock absorbers, and weight distribution.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 20\2\ Scan053 | |
| Date | 27th January 1920 | |
| x963 To CJ. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to PN.{Mr Northey} " " SA. " " Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} " " Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} " " EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} " " HM.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} R8/G27.1.20. X.1295. X.2461. X.2628. X.963. RE STEERING OF R.R. CARS AT HIGH SPEEDS. I have sent to the Works one or two suggestions bearing on this point chiefly. I think we may most probably be getting some effect from the lateral flexibility of the rear springs. This would vary with the type of body, and would be especially bad with a type of body as a cabriolet open. Shock absorbers, will, to some extent, reduce this, and will make the riding altogether more pleasant. You will understand from long experience that it is almost impossible to spring a car suitably for all conditions of road and speed, and yet for the car to travel smoothly. It has been remarked that on rough roads the R.R. cars are driven fast because of their smooth riding. It is well known for racing purposes at really high speeds which is approached when past 50 miles an hour, the position of the weight in the car must be well between the wheels, neither too far forward nor too far backward, so that the extremely light body used in racing cars is well back, and the engine just a little in front of the centre. When we make a luxury car we care very little about any such question as long as it has some fashionable appearance, then also we expect it to ride smoothly at slow speed and run extremely fast at high speed, which naturally presents difficulties. It is well known that the springing of a Contd. | ||