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).
Explanation of vehicle behaviour under severe braking conditions, specifically regarding Bentley brakes.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 88\1\ scan0018 | |
| Date | 4th November 1933 | |
| W/S. To C. from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}4/KT.4.11.33. BENTLEY BRAKES - C11/C&L1.33. Referring to your memo concerning a Bentley car turning round during a severe application of the brakes, we can give you the following information. A car with the front wheels only locked, or all four wheels locked, skids straight ahead with no tendency to turn round. A car with the rear wheels only locked if steered at all is unstable and will turn right round. All our cars during a violent application of the brakes lock the rear wheels only, and it is up to the driver to release the brakes or prevent the car turning round by steering into the skid. Even the most skillful driver cannot control a car with the front wheels locked which is the reason for the R.R. system of making sure the rear wheels only can lock. Probably in this case the driver being unused to a light servo brake, pressed the pedal too hard and never released the pressure. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||