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).
Outlining the plan for wind tunnel tests on a Bentley car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\2\ scan0195 | |
| Date | 24th July 1934 | |
| X4578 To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}.....from Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} Copy to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} re:- Bentley Wind Tunnel Tests. ------------------------- I have just heard from Mr. Pierson of Messrs. Vickers, of Weybridge, that we can have the Wind Tunnel on Friday next, the 27th July, for the day, and, possibly, Saturday morning. Messrs. Offord's have completed the model of Mr. E.R. Hall's car and I propose taking it (together with other models which we have) to Weybridge on Thursday afternoon, so that we can get a clean start on Friday. As we shall be using the comparative method of testing, i.e. calculating the actual drag by proportional deduction from the actual drag of the Bentley Standard Saloon, I propose to use the "Flat Plate Method", because it is the quickest to operate in the tunnel. The following programme of tests will be worked to, subject to variations that results may dictate as the tests proceed. (1) Standard Bentley Saloon (2) E.R. Hall's car as tested on Brooklands by Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} (3) E.R. Hall's car as it is to be raced. The following modifications will then be tested as applied to the car in racing trim:- (4) As in Test 3. but with spatted front wings. (5) As in Test 4. but with rear wings fared to the tail. (6) As in Test 5. but with cowl to the radiator. (7) As in Test 6. but with spare wheel let into the tail. (8) As in Test 7. but with widened bonnet and longer tail. (9) As in Test 8. with screen flushed up to the body. (10) As in Test 9. but with faring behind the driver's head. It will take 1 1/2 days to cover this programme, at least. After doing this and analysing the results, I suggest that we meet in Derby to discuss what we can persuade Mr. Hall to do with safety, and what line our further wind tunnel investigations should follow. Ev.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork} ----- EV.{Ivan Evernden - coachwork}/AH | ||