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).
Test report detailing issues with headlamps, oil consumption, and explosions in the silencer during a run.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 56\2\ Scan036 | |
| Date | 1st August 1932 guessed | |
| -2- The head lamps should swivel, as part of the test is during the night chiefly on passes with the result that the beam of light shoots over the side when cornering and one is left perfectly blind. A spot lamp is useless as it makes a blind spot the same as an outside mirror. Attention must be paid to the rear bearing of the engine. Too much oil is lost when climbing the passes. The Katchberg is very bad for this. I had put approximately 2 gallons in the engine before starting this particular day's run and we lost 1/2 gall. when we reached the top. Mr. Pass was anxious about having a good supply of oil with a view to keeping it cooler, also for the long journey. It so happened that the consumption was very small - I have not had to replenish, (apart from the extra I put in the second day) throughout the run, which has worked out at 2000 miles. For the 25 H.P. extra oil to the cylinders would be needed. During the third day's run one does not drop below 6000 ft. The cutout was used throughout the test with the exception that when travelling through Switzerland where it is not allowed. Also the maximum speed in this country is approx. 25 M.P.H. but we are not aware whether an exception is made for the test. The police were hot on [strikethrough] the speed during our run. We did not, of course, complete the route so I cannot say what the conditions are for the complete course. We did not encounter any route with rocks projecting as we experienced on the previous test but which was cut out. There are one or two passes with loose dressings and can be called rough, the others are in good condition. Mr. Pass's chief complaint was explosions in the silencer on the over-run. It certainly was very bad, but otherwise the car ran very well and gave no trouble. G.W.Hancock. | ||