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).
From a testers' conference detailing observations from a car's road test.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 83\3\ scan0126 | |
| Date | 3rd January 1941 | |
| Testers Conference, Monday To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AA.{D. Abbot-Anderson} Copy to Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} Lp{Mr Lappin}'s car Bentley 1st chassis 200 Here are some observations regarding the run on Lp.{Mr Lappin}'s car on Wednesday. We were only able to make two runs on Towcester straight as Lp.{Mr Lappin} was in a hurry. However, with tyre pressures at 45 lbs. - pressure with tyres warm - a speed of 98 m.p.h. on the speedometer was obtained, R.P.M. 3900 approx. On the second run, with tyre pressures at 32 lbs., 93 m.p.h. was obtained, but road conditions of traffic were bad. On each run there was a fresh following wind. Later, on the level straight between Towcester and Oxford - longer than the bit into Towcester - we got 99 m.p.h. with the needle flicking to the 100. This was with tyre pressures at 32 lbs. and a fresh wind across the road. It would appear that the higher tyre pressure availed us nothing in speed. I would suggest, for Pomeroy's run, that pressures should be normal, or say 30 front and 35 rear, and so get a pleasanter ride at low speeds. The following are points I noted while driving the car in the normal way:- With luggage in the boot and a full load of people, the steering is inclined to saw at highish speeds. Servo groaned very badly - not due to water as we had dry roads - also judder was noticeable at times too. Braking seems to be a great deal on the rear drums. 2nd gear S/M seems poor. Shock damper rattle N.S. rear? All the above are the sort of things that one of our customers would drop on at once. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/AA.{D. Abbot-Anderson} al | ||