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).
Mr. Hall's racing performance in 1934, subsequent car modifications, and the 1935 race season.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\6\ Scan206 | |
| Date | 11th February 1941 | |
| - 3 - race, and these tyre changes cost him 5½ minutes. Part of this time being accounted for by a seized wheel nut. The remainder, by the fact that only one tyre change had been legislated for by the Pit Staff. The Bentley-Lagonda duel, which lasted for six laps, materially reduced Hall's average speed, and may have cost him the race, but from the crowds point of view, it was the most thrilling episode of the day. It was a magnificent race, and the car did far better than any of the Rolls-Royce engineers expected. After the race Hall took his car to Shelsley hill climb, and won his class for cars from 3,000 to 5,000 cc's, racing and sports cars, and also did the best time for any sports car over 1,500 cc's., clocking 48 seconds in pouring rain. 1935. In view of Mr. Hall's successful showing in 1934, we could hardly ask him not to race his car in 1935, and therefore it was agreed that he would run the same car the following year. The chassis had proved to be so satisfactory, that the only modifications of any consequence carried out, was an improvement to the power output of the engine. This was raised to 155 h.p., the compression ratio being put up to 8.35 : 1, and larger induction pipes and carburetters fitted together with larger inlet valves. We pointed out to Hall, that we thought that the windage of his body might be reduced, and as a result, he had some wind tunnel tests carried out, and a new shape of wing fitted. In view of the trouble that he had with tyres the previous year, a number of tests were carried out with increased sections. The axle ratio was lowered to give the same maximum road speed with the larger tyres, and modifications were made to the wheel nuts to avoid a repetition of the seizing trouble in 1934. In the race Hall again ran second, this time being beaten by Freddie Dixon in a Riley. He increased his average speed for the course from 78.4 m.p.h., to 80.36 m.p.h. The interest in the 1935 race, was increased owing to the fact that two 3.3 Bugatti's were running, and one of them driven by Earl Howe, who finished third, three minutes (continued) | ||