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 1936 T.T. race regulations, eligibility, and proposed rules for modifications and production volumes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\4\ Scan031 | |
| Date | 9th March 1936 guessed | |
| x62 I have discussed the 1936 T.T. regulations with Messrs. Bentley Motors, because this year it is necessary to get their official permission before I can enter my car for this race. Messrs. Bentley Motors have expressed the opinion that they are in agreement with the tightening up of regulations relative to alterations in the chassis and in addition to those proposed, would like the clause allowing variations in material to be dispensed with. They do, however, feel very strongly that to define exactly the alterations permitted, without at the same time specifying precisely what constitutes an eligible car, is dealing with only half the problem. As an example, we believe we are correct in saying that in the 1934 race the Lagondas had front axles and brakes fitted which had never previously been sold to the public or even fitted to production models. We see nothing whatever in the 1936 regulations to prevent this happening again. Other examples of discrepancies have been brought to our notice. Briefly, our policy is such that all our chassis are built to carry saloon bodies with refinement, we do not make a special high performance chassis in small quantities that is an ideal basis for a Tourist Trophy racing car and has many modifications that would prevent it being acceptable to the general public. We believe that the R.A.C. wish the race to be for cars that are a commercial proposition. This being so, we should recommend the following proviso :- (1) That a model, to be eligible, must represent a certain minimum percentage of the firm's total annual output, and that a six months output of such a model must have been produced. (2) That 50% of this output must have been sold to bona fide customers unconnected with the firm in question, and that the cars raced must conform with the cars in private hands except in so far as the regulations permit modifications. | ||