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 detailing the preparation and racing history of E.R. Hall's Bentley in the Tourist Trophy races.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0268 | |
| Date | 7th March 1941 | |
| 214 The Autocar, March 7th, 1941 The "Secrets" of the T.T. Behind the Scenes in the Preparation of a Traditionally Superb Type of Car EVERYONE interested in the classics of motor racing will recall the exploits of that fine driver, E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hall, with his modern Bentley in a succession of Ulster Tourist Trophy races. The subject of his performances in those events has arisen lately in the Correspondence columns, and a number of readers have expressed lively interest in the details of the car he used. In 1934, starting virtually from scratch in a field of forty competitors, he failed to win from C. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} P. Dodson's M.G. Magnette by a margin of only 17 seconds over a distance of 478 miles, comprising thirty-five laps of the Ards circuit. Hall's average speed was 78.4 m.p.h., and he made the fastest lap of the race at 81.15 m.p.h. During a part of the race he fought an epic duel with Brian Lewis' Lagonda. Again, in the 1935 race, with thirty-five starters, Hall drove his way up into second place, 73 seconds behind F.{Mr Friese} W. Dixon's Riley. Hall's average was 80.36 m.p.h., the highest at which any car had ever finished in the race. For the third time, in 1936, Hall drove the Bentley into second place. There were thirty-one starters, and the Bentley's average speed had risen to 80.81 m.p.h. A Lone Entry and the Same Car Now, the interesting features of the performance of this Bentley are these. First, it was a privately owned car, and not a new one. Secondly, the same car, with relatively minor alterations, ran through all these races and other events. Thirdly, the Bentley put up higher average speeds over the whole course than had previously been achieved. Fourthly, these three races were the only ones in which Rolls-Royce had countenanced an entry since 1906. And, fifthly, in each case Hall's was a solitary entry, with no team to attempt to see close rivals off the course. In view of this very remarkable sequence of successes a true account of the history of the car and the work done upon its preparation is particularly interesting. It may be said at once that the “secret” of the success of the car is, in fact, not in the least mysterious. The results were accounted for by routine preparation, scientifically conducted for a special purpose, of an exceedingly well-designed and well-made chassis. Here, then, is the essence of the actual history. Rolls-Royce, Ltd., took over the Bentley company in 1931. The first model that they produced, which was designed and built in the Derby factory, was the 3½-litre, which made its appearance on the market in 1933. Apart from the radiator badge and a family resemblance, this chassis had no feature in common with its predecessors. Towards the end of 1933, E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} R.{Sir Henry Royce} Hall purchased “B.35AE,” one of the first 200 cars built, and took it over to Italy to use as a practice car for the Mille Miglia, in which he was driving an M.G. When he returned in May he wrote to Rolls-Royce an enthusiastic letter saying that the Bentley had covered over 4,000 miles at racing speeds and that he was very impressed with the average speeds he was able to accomplish over tortuous mountain passes. Almost immediately afterwards he asked the managing Hall and the Bentley near Dundonald in the 1935 race. “No. 7” taking Comber corner in 1934. A14 | ||