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).
Pros and cons of Bentley's participation in motor racing for sales promotion.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\2\ Scan192 | |
| Date | 9th October 1934 | |
| 87962 To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}C. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Cxe. Ba. re Bentley Competitions. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}14/E9.10.34 Referring to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}3/WJ.6.9.34 and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}2/WJ.2.10.34, when I was last at Derby and we had a preliminary discussion about the future racing policy of the Bentley, it was agreed that it was really a Sales problem, i.e. is racing necessary for sales promotion? Sales have, therefore, considered the whole matter very carefully, weighed up the advantages and disadvantages, with a view to coming to the right decision. It is a difficult matter because there is a good case on both sides. The original policy when we first put the Bentley on the market was definitely not to race. Even if Sales had wished it, we were given to understand that the car was not designed for and, therefore, not suitable for racing - ( valve operation in particular was specified). One also has in mind the fact that the history of the motor-car business shows very clearly that, whilst many firms have taken up racing, it is very difficult to name any firm who have built up a successful business on a racing policy. This view, I think, was also widely held at W. The car has been selling very well on its merits. Despite the wonderful boost it had when first launched it became evident that orders were not easy to obtain without actual demonstration, but time has proved very conclusively that orders followed promptly wherever the car went for demonstration purposes. We have, as you know, followed the policy of lending the demonstration cars at week-ends to important people, whether they were prospective purchasers or not, and we can say that we have had high praise from all and sundry to whom the car has been lent. All of this has been done without racing. It does not appear to us essential that we race for the sake of our business, i.e. sales, and it does not | ||