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).
Driver behavior, experimental testing schedules, and the advantages of Continental proving grounds.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0357 | |
| Date | 28th October 1941 guessed | |
| - 2 - it is the simplest thing in the world for the un-mechanically minded and inexpert driver to do irreparable damage by unintentionally driving in third gear instead of top. We rarely get any serious trouble from experts like Raymond Mays, E.R. Hall or Myston, although they frequently use their touring-Bentleys for practice under racing conditions, quite apart from getting the maximum from the vehicle under ordinary touring conditions. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that no amount of experimental testing can ensure one hundred percent satisfied owners, but it does seem that the somewhat strenuous schedule adopted by Rolls-Royce, and outlined hereafter, has enabled the Rolls-Bentley to satisfy quite a number of people. Since the days when the "Silver Ghost" competed with success in the Alpine Trials in 1913, Rolls-Royce have favoured the Continent as a proving-ground for their products. It was not, however, until after the last war that we set up a permanent establishment in France from which to run continuous experimental tests. Sending a car overseas has one great advantage - it gets away from the factory and calls a halt to the process of fitting new and alleged 'improved' pieces. Apart from this, for fast road-work, poor surfaces and mountaineering, there is no comparison between the terrain of the British Isles and that of the Continent. It is necessary to supplement Continental testing with running under London traffic conditions, as this throws a peculiar strain on the clutch and transmission and also emphasises over-oiling and overheating under idling | ||