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).
Explaining the rationale for testing cars in France and addressing driver conduct following a recent accident with car 19-EX.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\5\ scan0055 | |
| Date | 28th February 1933 | |
| Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}11/MJ.28.2.33. TESTING IN FRANCE. We want to dismiss from your minds entirely that the reason we send cars to France for tests is in order that they shall be driven at high speeds. If the desire was only to drive a car at high speeds we could do this very much better and more efficiently by using Brooklands Track. The chief reason for sending cars to France is that after we are satisfied at Derby a car, or certain parts, should be adopted we wish to have an independent test made away from the Works under strenuous conditions. These conditions include bad roads and sustained high speeds. The reason why Chateauroux was chosen as a centre was because it was considered that the roads which radiate from Chateauroux allow for high speeds with perfect safety. There are so many roads in the district where high speeds can be run with safety that there is no sense in attempting high speeds where conditions do not permit. The cars which are sent to Chateauroux are the most valuable cars owned by the Company. If one of these cars are smashed up and the test delayed it means a very serious loss apart from the actual value of the car. In reviewing the recent accident with 19-EX. one is forced to the conclusion that the cause of the accident was an error of judgement on the part of the driver. We cannot afford to employ drivers who do not exercise good judgement. There is always a very great risk when changing over from a small car to the big car, when the big car will be more difficult to control at speed, but this cannot be looked upon as any excuse. We look upon the men at Chateauroux as being experts. The miles which we expect to cover each shift is a very moderate programme and can be done easily without any undue risk. On the whole we have had a very good record at Chateauroux and we want to keep it, and it is up to every driver to realise that when he is on the car he is in charge of very valuable property belonging to the Company and we expect him to handle it with care and good judgement. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||