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).
T.T. race performance from 1934-1936 and the features of a new Bentley model from 1939.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0075 | |
| Date | 15th December 1940 guessed | |
| - 2 - quite apart from its good manners and economy, that he managed to persuade the Company to let him run as a private entry in the T.T. Race over the Ards Circuit in Ireland, one of the last surviving road races for the standard sports car. To run one single car in any race is tempting Providence, since a single minor defect or even a puncture may cause defeat. However, having bought the car, it was his to race if he wished. Three years in succession he ran in the T.T., on every occasion against teams of cars having larger engines, and on each occasion he put up the fastest time for the Course, though beaten into second place by a small car on handicap. His average speeds were:- 1934 - 78.4 1935)(record for any ) - 80.36 1936)(car, super- ) - 80.81 (charged or un- ) (supercharged. ) If anyone has a car which he thinks is fast, let him get up early one morning, take it onto the fastest section of the Great North Road, and try and cover 85 miles in one hour. Compare such a stretch with the tortuous Ards Circuit, add a tyre change, and Hall's figures speak for themselves. And so to 1939 and the outbreak of war. At this date a new Bentley was just starting in production and the first half dozen had been completed. But instead of gracing the stands at Earl's Court, they went into service on war work. They have covered many tens of thousands of miles and now, having become almost veterans, are being lent to the Technical Press, so that the Bentley public will have something of additional interest to look forward to when Peace comes. What of the new model? It has independant suspension, a new frame and more body room, whilst actually being built on a shorter wheel base. It is an improvement in every respect over its predecessors. It is a little quieter over the speed range, the brakes are slightly more powerful and progressive, the clutch and steering are lighter and the lock is better. The engine is smoother, it pulls better at slow speeds and is less obtrusive when idling. Probably the most noticeable difference between this car and its predecessors is its road holding, directional stability and suspension. A description of this sort of improvement can convey little. The | ||