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).
Race modifications and performance of a car entered by a private customer, Mr. Hall.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90a\6\ Scan205 | |
| Date | 11th February 1941 | |
| - 2 - average of their fastest car put up for 6 1/2 hours over the Ards circuit in the same year. To run a single car therefore in Ulster, without previous racing experience, seemed, from an engineering point of view, exceedingly bad policy, as a puncture or any other minor mishap, might ruin the car's chances in the race, and impair its reputation. However, as a sporting gesture, it was decided to let Mr. Hall enter as a private customer. The arrangement was, that Mr. Hall would suggest such modifications to R.R. as were permitted by the race regulations, and we would, if we thought fit, carry these out. The body work was left entirely to Mr. Hall. Alterations made to the car consisted of :- (1) 26 gallon Petrol Tank. (2) Altered gearbox ratios, giving a maximum speed on the lowest gear of 50 m.p.h. (3) 3.75 : 1 Axle ratio. (4) Hartford Shock Absorbers. (5) Extra Oil Tank. (6) Compression Ratio raised to 7.35 : 1. (7) A straight through Exhaust System to the Tourist Trophy regulations. The 1934 engine gave 130 b.h.p. Under the conditions in which it was entered for the race, the car was capable of about 110 m.p.h., on the road, but in view of the tortuous nature of the Tourist Trophy course, it was geared for 100 m.p.h. at 4,000 r.p.m. The race was fully reported in the 'Autocar' of September 7th, 1934. Hall ran second at an average speed of 78 m.p.h., putting up the fastest time for the course, but being beaten on handicap by 17 seconds by Dodson on an M.G. Magnette. His speed was 9 m.p.h., faster than the best average speed over this circuit put up by a supercharged 4 1/2 litre Bentley. Owing to unexpected rapid tyre wear, due to great precautions taken by the Ulster authorities to provide a non-skid surface, Hall had to change tyres twice during this (continued) | ||