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).
Brake performance issues and brake fade experienced on a B.7 model at Ascot.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 84\2\ scan0054 | |
| Date | 5th October 1933 | |
| S/W. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C. X 206. Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington}21/WT5.10.33. The brakes on B.7 which I drove down to Ascot last Monday were very good all the way down from town, and for the first few runs round the course at Ascot were also excellent, but during one run when I put them on for a sharp corner there was very little braking effect - with further pressure one wheel locked for a short distance, but as the car still did not pull up quickly I should think the other brakes were doing very little work. I did not use the brakes hard again for a time and they became quite as good as they ever had been. I admit that I was using the brakes hard and often as the course had many corners but it was rather an alarming experience. I have had the same thing happen with our old cars when the brakes got very hot, and we found that the coefficient of friction of some brake lining material fell off very rapidly with heat when working with certain metals. I would like to discuss this with you when I am in Derby on Monday. I have never had this happen before when driving the new Bentley. Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} | ||