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 to 'The Autocar' magazine discussing the performance of various Bentley models in races.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 160\5\ scan0014 | |
| Date | 27th October 1940 guessed | |
| LETTER TO THE AUTOCAR. (Continued) Compared with these figures, the fact that in 1934, 1935 and 1936, Hall's Bentley on each occasion did the fastest time at 78.4; 80.3; and 80.8 m.p.h. respectively, must be considered as an astonishing achievement, particularly as in 1936 the first half of the race was run in a downpour which slowed the big cars up considerably. Such achievements by an owner entering a single car, will ensure that the modern 3½-litre and 4¼-litre Bentleys will, when the inevitable time lapse which is apparently necessary, has occurred, have a right to be classed in the very front of "vintage" models. LETTER TO THE AUTOCAR. We have noticed from your columns that there appears to be a certain amount of interest in the performance of E.R.Hall's Bentley car, chassis No: B-35-AE. As is well known, the new Bentley Company, formed in 1931, has always been adverse to entering Works teams in competition events. Mr. Hall, however, was so enthusiastic about his car that the Company decided not to put any difficulties in his way when he entered it for the Tourist Trophy Race. The compression ratio of the car was raised and though it would run perfectly satisfactorily on standard Ethyl fuel from the tank, i.e. 80 octane, it would have required fairly frequent decarbonisation to avoid pinking. In 1936, the engine gave about 165 h.p. With this power output, George Eyston succeeded in covering 114.62 m.p.h. with a saloon body. Mr. Hall was actually going to enter his car at Le Mans in 1936, and it was over there when the race was cancelled owing to French labour troubles. - Continued - | ||