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).
Road test and performance review of the Bensport No.1 vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 3\4\ 04-page279 | |
| Date | 15th May 1933 | |
| X6633 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c.c. Wg.{Mr Gill - Financial Director} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} E.1/HP.15.5.33. re Bensport No.1. I had a very good run on the Bensport on Sunday over to Cambridge. The road holding capability of the car due to its low build and sporting springing and damping is beyond criticism. The engine is so smooth that the acceleration is not appreciated until one observes the rate at which the speedometer needle climbs, and the extreme ease with which the usual traffic can be passed. Several times the car was up to 85 m.p.h. and would have gone faster. The steering is very steady up to this speed. The oil temperature never exceeded 80°C. The third gear is very good, and although it does not give the push in the back that one expects at low speeds, the thrill seems to be there higher up, and this ratio is very useful for hopping by the smaller sporting fry. With regard to criticism, I should say that we have too much leverage on the brake pedal of this car. The brakes are very powerful and require careful application at low speeds in traffic. At high speed the brakes are very good, but two or three times the pedal was right down on the footboards. It is true that the pedal on this car requires adjustment, but some modification to ratio would give longer life, and require less delicate application at low speeds. It would be desirable to set the engine to idle more slowly to avoid having to use the brakes for checking the car. | ||