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).
Responding to Lord Howe's report on a Bentley's performance, discussing springing, steering, and braking.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\6\ 06-page087 | |
| Date | 13th November 1933 | |
| X48852 To W.G.N. from K.{Mr Kilner} E.1/HP.13.11.33. c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}—By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Replying to your memo wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}3/r.11.11.33, I regard Lord Howe's report as highly satisfactory, particularly since he is as much pleased with the performance of the Bentley as with the manner in which it does it, and its freedom from the usual trouble associated with the average sports car. Replying now to the various points raised by Lord Howe. Firstly in connection with the springing, here we are always in between the devil and the deep. There is no doubt that stiffer springs would improve the steering cornering at high speeds, but the ride would undoubtedly suffer at low speeds and we necessarily seek a compromise. The damping of the shock absorbers again is necessarily a compromise, having regard to the fixed adjustment, but we shall eventually fit a damping control giving a sufficient range for all purposes. With regard to the steering ratio, this has been arranged in concert with other steering characteristics and for giving the best results and least driving fatigue covering the average use of the car. Any higher gear I believe would make the car very heavy to hold on bends with the present degree of caster action. Regarding the position of the gear change lever, we agree that this is not ideal and we are at the present moment looking into the question of moving it more towards the edge of the car. We have not however found any difficulty in operating the hand brake as it is not necessary to use this brake when driving. In connection with the brake adjustment, we have had under consideration for some time the feature in which all the brakes can be taken up from the driver's seat while the car is under way, but this is not really necessary when the car is fitted with good and lasting brakes and accessible thumb screw adjustments such as we provide on each axle of the Bentley. | ||