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).
Factors affecting maximum vehicle speed, with results from tests at Brooklands.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 29\3\ Scan143 | |
| Date | 7th November 1925 | |
| R.R. 4824 (R(H).D. 21. 100-24) J.H.W. *EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. -3- Expl. No. REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Bm2/LGI 71125 FACTORS AFFECTING MAXIMUM SPEED. Top windscreen panel raised. .8 m.p.h. Increase of 11.3 clutch HP. (i.e. cutout opened). 2.0 m.p.h. Increase of 13 clutch HP. (high comp:) and sports body. 5.1 m.p.h. Removal of sports body front wings. 6.4 m.p.h. During the various high speed tests which have been carried out at Brooklands, we have endeavoured to ascertain to what extent various factors influence max. speed. From the tabulated results above it will at once be apparent that by far the easiest method of increasing the speed of the car is to pay attention to the streamlining of the body. With a normal body, a large increase in H.P. at the clutch produces an insignificant gain in speed. Removing the front wings, on the other hand, even though they be of the sporting type, makes a very appreciable improvement. This fact is appreciated in the sports Sunbeam where the windage of the wings is reduced to the absolute minimum. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham. | ||