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).
The preparation plan and status for a Le Mans race car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\4\ Scan235 | |
| Date | 22th May 1936 | |
| V162 To RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} c. to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Swdl.{Len H. Swindell} c. to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GR.{George Ratcliffe} c. to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Gry.{Shadwell Grylls} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}6/KW.22.5.36. Car for Le Mans. The programme for this car has now simplified itself. The position at present is as follows. We have quarrelled with the undershield on the car. It weighs ½ cwt., we think the increase in speed which it gives the car is negligible. It is likely to cause axle and gearbox failure by overheating. We have asked Hall to take the car down to the track early next week and find out whether taking the undershield off does make any difference. In order to enable the undersheet to be removed we want the bottom side of the tail to be faired into the petrol tank so that the wind does not get under it. To enable Hall to take his car down to the track we want to put the race engine in it with a standard cylinder head. This will run the engine in without stressing any of the parts. When Hall has made his track tests he will bring the car back here and we shall put the correct cylinder head on and if it is decided to leave the undershield off, make certain that this is O.K. With regard to the brakes, we are so behind with the aluminium drums that we shall not fit these unless Hall finds in practice that he cannot manage with what we have given him. We want to test the aluminium drums out here on our car so that we have them ready in case we receive an S.O.S. You will appreciate that we have had absolutely no experience with the new leverage, etc., up to date. We have explained the cylinder head position to you. Fortunately we find that the cylinder head with improved water circulation round the valve guides is a big improvement, we can follow up and fit this to the car. In any case we hope to hand the car over to Hall and let him take it away before Whitsuntide. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||