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).
Letter to E.R. Hall discussing the disappointing track performance of his car and potential causes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\2\ Scan070 | |
| Date | 9th July 1934 | |
| Exptl. Dept. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}5/KW. 9th July, 1934. E.R. Hall, Esq., The Beach Hotel, Frinton-on-Sea, ESSEX. Dear Hall, The results of your car on the track were very disappointing. In spite of the extremely sketchy coachwork its lap speed was only 90 M.P.H. which is some 5 M.P.H. slower than our streamlined saloon. Furthermore, over the half mile, even with a slightly following wind, we never attained more than 4300 R.P.M., the rev. counter seems almost dead accurate. It is very difficult to know what to do about these results, as the wings are fixed by the regulations, and the only reliable way of finding out what to do with the body is to do some wind tunnel tests. However, we are trying to get information from other people who have made similar types of coachwork and will let you know something in due course. In any case, it certainly appears that you will not require larger wheels and that the car geared at 105 M.P.H., 4500 revs, will never attain max. revs. even with the increased H.P. unless you get downhill with a following wind of considerable magnitude. As a matter of fact it seems that your present axle ratio will be the best unless we can improve the windage of the car. It is just possible but very improbable that your engine is down in power and I am putting this on the test bed to find out. | ||