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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).
Letter from Cadillac regarding vehicle handling tests, the use of a skid pad, and the PIII's oversteer characteristics.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 170\3\  img110
Date  17th November 1936
  
CADILLAC MOTOR CAR COMPANY
DETROIT. MICHIGAN
[CADILLAC and LaSALLE MOTOR CARS logo]

[Handwritten top right]: [circled] 64

November 17, 1936.

[Handwritten]: Gry{Shadwell Grylls} Are we doing this Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}

Mr. W. A.{Mr Adams} Robotham,
Rolls Royce, Limited,
Derby, England.

Dear Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}:

Yours of November 2.

L. A.{Mr Adams} Danse is taking care of your babbit inquiries.

Regarding your skid pad. The cost on these things is not the first cost but the "upkeep". It is also true that they are valueless till you use them - like a Bump Rig.

You have now at your beck and call a device which can repay a hundred fold in showing you how and why cars go round corners.

I would start with any car, fully instrumented with autosyn motors and theodolite, and with a lot of ballast and some air pressure, find how it takes the turns with different weight distribution, relative front and rear inflation pressures, etc.

If you plot the results against lateral acceleration expressed as decimals of g (not against speed) you will find the charts of slip angle, roll angle, steering angle, etc talking in no uncertain terms.

A few experiments on the effect of relative diameters of front and rear stabilizers will show surprising changes in attitude and steering angle.

A few experiments with a torque reading device on the steering wheel will give you steering effort curves which are a revelation of how thoroughly lousy most steerings are.

"En effet" I would recommend a lot of hard work on the pad, because I think the P III oversteers.

Sincerely yours,

[Handwritten signature] Maurice Olley

Maurice Olley

M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Olley
H
  
  


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