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).
Track tests of an Alfa-Romeo, detailing lap speeds, speedometer accuracy, and comparisons with other vehicles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 124\5\ scan0100 | |
| Date | 16th August 1932 | |
| COPY. To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} PN.{Mr Northey} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Hy.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} c. Hdy.{William Hardy} (W.W.) x4 82. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}11/AD16.8.32. x788. Tests have now been carried out on the Alfa-Romeo on the track. The following lap speeds were obtained. Lap Speed & Time .... 2 mins. 4.2 secs = 80.20 M.P.H. " .... 2 mins. 4.4 secs = 80.07 M.P.H. Windscreen down ".... 2 mins. 2 secs = 81.51 M.P.H. The speedometer reading was checked as it appeared to be exceedingly fast, with the following results :- at speeds of :- 50, 60, 70, 80, M.P.H. Reading fast :- 5.29 5.63 7.05 9.56 M.P.H. It is possible to draw one or two comparisons from these figures. Peregrine, with about the same horse-power laps at 71 M.P.H. i.e. the difference between the cut down Alfa touring body with racing wings and the normal saloon and wings of Peregrine, is about 9 M.P.H. 19-GIV car, China with the J.1 head, since it lapped at 80 M.P.H. with saloon body and cut-out closed, weestimate would be about 9 M.P.H. faster than the Alfa when both werefitted with similar bodies. Considering the smoothness and silence of 19-GIV unit this is rather a remarkable result. On the other hand, the Alfa that we have is rather out of dat and probably the latest 8 cylinder models would about equal the China J.1 head power output. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||