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).
Profitability and performance issues related to Raymond Mays' car, B.144.LS.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\4\ scan0154 | |
| Date | 9th March 1938 | |
| 261 S.S. W/S. C. from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}5/R.9.3.38. Raymond May's Car - B.144.LS. C7/C8.3.38. Mr. Raymond Mays takes up a considerable amount of our time, and I am not sure how profitable the business which he brings is to the Company. We do seem to do a good deal of special work for him, such as fitting aluminium drums, high compression heads, etc. I suggest that you point out that the horse-power of all Bentley engines is carefully checked, and we know that he has got standard horse-power, plus the benefit of the high compression head. Therefore, as far as we are concerned, comparative tests with his old car will not serve any useful purpose, particularly as this old car has run many thousands of miles. If he likes to go back to the old tyres he can do so, but in actual fact the big tyres do not affect the performance of the car, except in so far as they increase the gear ratio by 2%. If Raymond Mays persists in complaining about his car's performance, we recommend that J.L.E. takes it on Brooklands and confirms that it is up to standard, it is possible that the instruments on his old car gave optimistic readings. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||