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).
Serious accident in France with car 35-PK during stiffer front spring testing.
| Identifier | Morton\M3.4\ img006 | |
| Date | 8th August 1924 | |
| E.R. 493A (20H) (D.A. 652 20-3-24) J.E.D. EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. 35 PK SMASH Expt. No. 9841 To R.H. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to C.J. H.C. c. to O.A. c. to W.A.R. REF: Hsl/LG1 8. 8. 24. TESTS IN FRANCE WITH 12½% STIFFER FRONT SPRINGS. We have had a serious accident in France with 35-PK open touring car. Fortunately the men are not seriously hurt. 35-PK car has been run in France 22,000 miles. It ran 19,000 miles with the 25% stiffer front springs and has since run 3500 miles with the 12½% stiffer springs. Attached herewith is the driver's (Shepard) report in connection with the accident. Shepard has been one of the drivers on the car during the whole of the time the car has been running in France. He is an excellent driver; one of the best men we have had out there. From his report and from the information we have received, we do not think the accident would have occurred had the car not been fitted with brakes on the front wheels. The car was being driven at fairly high speeds and it was necessary to apply the brakes to take a right-hand bend. Owing to the fact that the road surface was loose, (although it was quite dry) the front wheels locked and the steering control was lost. On the previous days run the report on the brakes was that the rear brakes were very effective - the front brakes were not very effective. In the case of this accident, we do not consider the control of the front axle would have made any difference. It was simply a question of the front wheels locking on a loose surface which caused the driver to have no control of the contd:- | ||