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 crash of Mr. Tips' Bentley car in Belgium, detailing issues of shimmying and brake-induced wobble on pave roads.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 88\1\ scan0087 | |
| Date | 26th September 1934 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Db{Donald Bastow - Suspensions} Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wox X7961 EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}18/MH.{M. Huckerby}26.9.34 re MR TIPS' (OF AVIONS FAIREY, BELGIUM) BENTLEY CAR + B 9 BN{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} We understand from Jackson (our aero engine tester-mechanic in Belgium) that Mr.Tips has crashed his Bentley car, which he only recently took delivery of. Although Mr.Tips acknowledges the fact that the accident was entirely his own fault in "an error of judgement" and to the insurance and police authorities he has accepted this responsibility, he has privately informed Jackson that although he was very satisfied with the car the car suffered from two things .- (1) Shimmying of the car on the pave. (2) Shudder and wobble, which was set up by application of the brakes at high speeds. The accident took place on a straight pave road, and Mr.Tips said "I clapped on my brakes, which jaggered and set up a wobble in the steering. I had a few minutes previous to the accident, experienced the same trouble, and had remarked at the time that I did not know what would happen if I was in a tight corner under such circumstances." I am giving this information as possibly you may have some comments to make on this matter, as to whether you have experienced similar trouble on pave roads. We should certainly like to have some information to convey to Jackson in regard to this matter. We do not wish the car to continue with this trouble if it can be avoided. According to our records of the complete final car test, the steering was satisfactory when tested prior to delivery, in this country. EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} CB | ||