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).
Car performance tests, comparing petrol types, and track results.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\3\ scan0239 | |
| Date | 4th May 1935 | |
| x200d 25 RUE GIDE LEVALLOIS-PERRET. Seine. France. 4th May 1935. To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From G.W.H. 5 B IV. Your Memo. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} I6/KW of 2/5/35 received this morning. We sent to you yesterday the results of our tests. We did not mention the fact that we tried Azure and Esso Petrol during our tests. The Azure gave us less detonation with the high compression head. The speeds obtained by Monsieur Lappin, we do not doubt, and the pick up of 2 MPH. may seem good. We would like to give our opinion re. high compression head. If we were obtaining 5 MPH. maximum speed, we should say the objectionable detonations and roughness was worth it, but as it stands, definately No ! Sr is of the same opinion. We let Sr. try the Car as far as Montlhéry and he handed it back with uncomplementary remarks. I appreciated all he said as I drove his trials Car, which is streets ahead with regard to, road holding qualities, steadiness and selectivness of steer-ing, riding qualities. Engine smoothness and quietness with all our padding. It was 2 MPH. down at maximum speed, but nothing in it getting away. With regard to the results obtained on Brooklands as against Montlhéry, we would beg to state that average speeds on Brookland, can, with a driver knowing the track be increased one or two miles per hour as against lap speeds on Montlhéry. No advantage can be obtained on the Montlhéry Track, choose how-ever one tries. With regard to the Cut-out closed and open results there was a gain of only I MPH. The Exhaust on Lappin's Car can-not be baffled very much to make so small a difference. We have gone over, and tried everything to obtain a higher speed, but it will not do it. If the Valves are off their seats, we cannot detect it. We can switch off at maximum speed without a single following explosion. ..................... | ||