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).
Internal memorandum discussing the potential entry into the Le Mans 24-hour race.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\3\ scan0273 | |
Date | 20th February 1939 | |
1379 SECRET. To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Herewith is copy of letter I have had from Eyston regarding the 24-hour run on the track at Montlhery and Le Mans. He went over to Paris, of course, to try the Paulin car and also drove it round the road circuit, so that he is fairly competent to express an opinion as to the chances of the car. Our own feeling is that if we go whole-heartedly for Le Mans we ought to be able to put up a good show and that Eyston's assistance should be invaluable to us. Even if we do not win, we should be unfortunate if we do not enhance the reputation of the Bentley. We think it is absolutely essential that if it is done at all, it is done to the best of our ability because our reputation is such that we have a lot to lose if we fail in any way. With regard to dislocation of our "bread-and-butter" work, as we have previously pointed out, no design work is required. The necessary parts do not require a great deal of making. See attached list. It would be necessary to let Eyston have two of our testers for five or six weeks so that we can ensure that the best is got out of the prototype car. Briefly, though as we have already pointed out, we are opposed to entry for a race, our recent experience seems to show that the maximum amount of publicity cannot be obtained in any other way. One other point, this is the last chance we shall have of cashing in on the work done on R.R.Hall's chassis but never used. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||