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).
Poor performance of an Ulster Bentley and seeking advice on modifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\2\ Scan060 | |
| Date | 6th July 1934 | |
| W/S - Bn.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}18/KW. 6.7.34. ULSTER BENTLEY. We have had a run on Hall's car with the final body fitted to it and are most disappointed with the windage of the car. With a standard engine and a 5% higher axle ratio than standard the best lap we could get with the cut-out open was 91 m.p.h. Under similar conditions the streamlined Saloon did the lap at 95 m.p.h. Hall's car has of course a most attenuated body which is almost a two-seater, with no windscreen, etc. It has the regulation type of wing on which covers one third of the circumference of the wheel. As you have probably had experience with this type of body we wonder whether you can give us any information to improve matters. Alternatively can you find out whether we can alter the outside of the body very much provided we make it bigger and not smaller; i.e. can we increase the length of the tail, or alter the front wings ? One would imagine that our panel type of front wing might be better than these from the results obtained. Two other points we should like a ruling on are :- (a) Any fuel can be used that is easily obtainable. Does this now include Discol ? We conclude that naturally Ethyl is permitted. (b) They talk about not altering the external appearance of the engine. We presume that we can remove the air intake silencer if we like. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||