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).
Letter detailing the results of the 1920 Indianapolis 500 race, highlighting that all cars were fitted with Rudge-Whitworth wheels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 159\7\ scan0060 | |
| Date | 24th June 1920 | |
| RUDGE WORKS, COVENTRY. WHITWORTH WORKS, BIRMINGHAM. RUDGE-WHITWORTH LTD. CYCLE MANUFACTURERS BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT TO H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} M.{Mr Moon / Mr Moore} KING GEORGE. Telegrams: "RUDGE, COVENTRY." Telephone: 1104. Rudge Works, COVENTRY. Messrs. Rolls-Royce Ltd., 24th June, 1920. D E R B Y. Dear Sirs, In the 500 Miles Speedway Race at Indianapolis, won by the Munroe Car at a speed of 88.16 miles per hour, every single Car in the Race, whatever the nationality, was fitted with Rudge-Whitworth Detachable Wire Wheels. There was no other equipment of any kind that was not subject to variation; for example, on the ten makes of Car there were 3 makes of carburettor, 5 kinds of ignition, 4 kinds of plugs, 5 kinds of tyres, and even the fitting of a differential was not universal. Among the causes of trouble and retirement were tyres, valves, steering arms, broken springs and other mechanical failures, but no trouble of any kind with Rudge-Whitworth Detachable Wire Wheels was experienced. We give the following table of winning Cars which is taken from "Automotive Industries," June 3rd, 1920:- Driver. Car. Elapsed Time. Miles per hour. 1 - G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} Chevrolet Monroe 5 40 16.14 88.16 2 - Thomas Ballot 5 43 2.29 87.47 3 - Milton Duesenberg 5 46 43.38 86.52 4 - Murphy Duesenberg 5 52 31.37 85.10 5 - De Palma Ballot 6 5 19.15 82.12 6 - Hearne Duesenberg 6 14 19.16 80.15 7 - Jean Chassagne Ballot 6 15 16.68 79.94 8 - Klein Frontenac 6 21 41.55 78.60 9 - Mulford Mulford Special 7 19 3.75 68.33 10 - Anderson Revere 7 21 40.8 67.93 All Cars fitted with Rudge-Whitworth Detachable Wire Wheels. Yours faithfully, For RUDGE-WHITWORTH, LTD., John. V.{VIENNA} Pugh | ||