Road race and track publicity possibilities, including entering the Le Mans 24-hour race.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\3\ scan0016 | |
| Date | 29th November 1938 | |
| -4- Photographs of the wind tunnel model could be incorporated and reference made to the fact that Rolls-Bentley were sufficiently interested to give their assistance to the customer in making the best type of car for his particular purpose. Naturally it would be advisable to endeavour to get these articles into print at a date when they would be likely to have the most effect on the Bentley Sales. ROAD RACE AND TRACK POSSIBILITIES. The one other major piece of publicity would be to enter for the 24 hour race at Le Mans next year. All the necessary development work was done 18 months ago, and the car has never been dismantled. This race is ideal for the Bentley in that it necessitates stamina, also the fastest car wins irrespective of engine dimensions. Any failure is, of course, public property, as in the Tourist Trophy race. The gamble would be too great to take with a single car. The Paulin Bentley, suitably modified, might make an attractive second string. The open car would certainly have to have a streamlineExperimental Streamline Bentley B.23.A.Ed body which could be developed by Paulin. Whatever the result, the appearance of a Bentley at Le Mans again would create tremendous Continental enthusiasm, and would be bound to get considerable publicity over here. Unfortunately, the race is not until June. On the whole, however, we would rather avoid racing in any shape or form if the necessary publicity can be obtained otherwise. Jaguars have got a remarkable press without ever running in anything except a Brooklands Sprint race. We think E.R. Hall ought to do something with his car in parallel with the Paulin so that its wonderful T.T. and Shelsley record can be recapitulated in the press. This car, you will remember, was fitted with an enormous petrol tank (48 gals) a reserve oil tank, a completely duplicated petrol system, and everything else we could think of to improve its reliability under sustained maximum speed conditions. Its engine unit was run continuously on the bench developing over 160 B.H.P. at revs of 4,000 and over for 24 hours and stripped perfectly. With the exception of the engine unit, which would want overhauling after its long stand, the car if fitted with a suitable Paulin body, saloon or open as considered desirable, would be immediately available to attempt to run 24 hours @ 100 M.P.H. | ||
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).