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).
Road test and climb of Mt. Ventoux, comparing performance and temperatures of a 25 HP car and a Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 83\4\ scan0197 | |
| Date | 8th May 1936 | |
| x264a To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 8th May, 1936. We met M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Monestier Sr's. Agent at Lyons on Friday morning as arranged, then left for our run down to Orange and the Bedoin arriving at the latter just after lunch. M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Monestier being a Frenchman gave us a typical run. To say our cars are never driven as fast on the 10,000 miles test by a private owner is just a myth, I was flat out the whole way and never smelt him. They go through the towns and villages just about double our speed. Anyway the 25 HP ran extremely well, not a sign of over-heating, of either oil or water. The steering is very fine for general conditions, but there were several unexpected kicks which are very nasty when you do get them. I've got a partially strained wrist this morning from the result. The Bentley ran very well, this engine has improved and is running smoother. We started the climb of Mt. Ventoux just outside Bedoin. The actual distance is 22 kilometres. Altitude at start 296 metres above sea level, average climb 1 in 13.5 max, 1 in 7.15, height 1912 metres. At the top, snow was still on the road, a clearance having been made just sufficient to get through. This climb is really a test for speed, the gradient is not sufficient at this time of the year to affect water temperature. It is chiefly 3rd gear work. From M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} Monestier's point of view the 3rd is too high, and the second too low, but this is as I remark, chiefly from a speed climb point of view. The following figures were taken driving max. speed. 22-C-V every 2 miles, time 24 mins. Water G11 Under Bonnet Air 80°C 78°C 52°C 25°C 80 80 47 19 85 82 43 15 83 82 42 13 85 82 42 10 ---- ---- ---- ---- average 82.6°C. 80.8°C. 44.4°C. 16.4°C. Apart from the flat spot at 25 m.p.h. the carburation was perfect. At the top the slow running was very good and no sign of strong mixture. Stopping | ||