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).
Decision on whether to support driver Hall in the 1935 Bentley competitions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\2\ Scan236 | |
| Date | 13th October 1934 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From Hc. C. to Wcr. C. to G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} C. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} C. to Sx. C. to Nn. BENTLEY COMPETITIONS. Replying to sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}14/19.10.34. We had hoped that the decision as regards taking part in competitions could have been definite and that if the decision was against racing we could forget it altogether. If we are going to support Hall in 1935 then we can only assume that we should do all we know so that we should not lose prestige by these events. To put the same car in as run this year one can foresee that it certainly will not show up us well. My anxiety is that we shall not be asked at the last minute to rush in and prepare a car. It is no less work for us because Hall is a private entry, in fact it makes it more difficult. He being very enthusiastic can take up a lot of one's time in discussing the job. There is another reason why one has to consider these things at a very early stage. In the Ulster T.T. one is allowed to alter most things on the engine except the crankshaft. The present crankshaft is the standard on the Bentley and limits to a great extent our performance. We have another crankshaft on test which improves this and in order to make sure that that crankshaft will be standard on cars at the time of the next Ulster Race we should at once have to expedite our test. There is a definite advantage in the shaft on the standard Bentleys but under normal development it is doubtful whether it will be on the cars by that time. We would like you to consider whether we could not make it definite either that we support racing with all our resources or whether we keep out of it wholly and entirely even to the extent of removing a special unit from Hall's car. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||