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).
Article from 'The Autocar' magazine comparing the performance of various well-known sports competition machines.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0307 | |
| Date | 28th March 1941 | |
| 284 The Autocar March 28th, 1941 WEIGHING UP THE SPORTS CARS A Keen Student of Form Draws Interesting Conclusions from the Performances of Various Well-known Competition Machines By DENIS S. JENKINSON WHEN discussing fast sports cars, as has been very much the mode recently in The Autocar, it is futile to compare their performances under a classification of "sports cars"; it is like putting John Cobb's 369 m.p.h. in the Napier-Railton on the same level as Major Gardner's 203 m.p.h. in the M.G. No one can deny that these records are remarkable, but in comparing the relative performances it is generally agreed that the M.G.'s record is far superior to the Railton's; and so it is with the "fastest sports car." The performance of the 8-litre Bentley, of which much has been heard recently in the Correspondence columns, is certainly outstanding, but when compared with that of such small cars as the Alta, B.M.W. and Frazer Nash, and the medium-sized cars such as Alfa-Romeo, Darracq and Allard Special, it is apt to be overshadowed. The essential requirements of a good sports car are (i) outstanding acceleration, (ii) high maximum speed, (iii) good road-clinging qualities, and (iv) the ability to get from A to B at a reasonably high average, and with safety: in the last are included brakes, steering and tractability. As it is an impossibility to compare the cars mentioned in one test, the nearest approach is to compare their performances at well-known sporting venues, where one can be sure that the machines are giving of their best. Taking the first quality of my sports car, acceleration, no fairer test can be found than a speed trial, the most popular one being Lewes, and without taking into account weather conditions, which can have a very detrimental effect on performance, the following are the best times recorded by cars classed as sports and super sports:— OUR contributor is clearly one who takes a great interest in his subject, and who has amassed a considerable quantity of data relating to the performances of outstanding sports type cars in competitions. "The Autocar" does not necessarily agree with his views or with such conclusions as he reaches. I. F.{Mr Friese} Connell ... 4-litre Darracq ... 20.60 Sec. C. I. Craig ... 4.9-litre Bugatti... ... 22.75 A.{Mr Adams} F.{Mr Friese} P. Fane ... 2-litre B.M.W. ... 21.72 A.{Mr Adams} F.{Mr Friese} P. Fane ... 1½-litre Frazer Nash (S) ... 21.72 J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Eason Gibson ... 1½-litre H.R.G. ... 26.32 H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} C. Hunter ... 2.9-litre Alfa-Romeo ... 22.04 H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Griffiths ... 2-litre Alta (S) ... 22.30 J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} N. Innes ... 1,100 c.c. M.G. K3 (S) ... 25.06 N. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Lewis ... 2.3-litre Alfa-Romeo (S) ... 23.69 F.{Mr Friese} Lycett ... 8-litre Bentley ... 21.47 D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Silcock ... V12 Allard Special ... 22.99 All these were recorded in full road trim, i.e., with wings, lamps, screens, etc. It is beyond doubt that Fane's 21.72 sec. on the blown Frazer Nash is by far the best performance, especially when it is remembered that this was done in August, 1936, whereas the other figures were recorded in 1938 and 1939. As a further test of acceleration, Brighton speed trials could not be beaten, as here we have an acceleration test good and proper, with no corners or gradients. The best comparable figures are:— C. B. Follett ... 4-litre Railton Sports ... 28.77 Sec. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Griffiths ... 2-litre Alta (S) ... 27.36 K.{Mr Kilner} N. Hutchison ... V12 Allard Special ... 29.17 N. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Lewis ... 2.3-litre Alfa-Romeo (S) ... 28.96 F.{Mr Friese} Lycett ... 8-litre Bentley ... 29.10 Of these Griffiths' 27.36 sec. is by far the best. The ideal test for maximum speed would be a flying half-mile, but the nearest approach we can get is performances on the Brooklands outer circuit. Lycett has never extended the Bentley on the outer circuit, so we have no very conclusive figures, but he claims 135 m.p.h. as maximum with the 2.8 to 1 rear axle. Connell, we know, has taken the Darracq round the flying lap at 125.6 m.p.h., and as on this occasion Hunter passed him on the railway straight with the Alfa-Romeo, we can safely assume these two cars Hugh Hunter's 2.9-litre Mille Miglia Alfa-Romeo. A 18 | ||