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).
Test run of a Dubonnet car at Brooklands, detailing its general layout, handling, and the effects of streamlining.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161\1\ scan0031 | |
| Date | 6th April 1936 | |
| COPY. To Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} & Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}16/KW.6.4.36. Windage Reduction. We had a run in the Dubonnet car at Brooklands Track last week. General Layout. This car is illustrated in the "Motor" of March 31st. in the Illustrated Review, and in the "Autocar" of April 3rd, page 658. Considering that this chassis was made in a "back yard", and is quite unconventional from end to end, it behaved quite well. It was surprisingly stable at high speeds, going straight on the track. There was not enough damping on the road springs for the rougher portions of the concrete but the passengers' seats, being exactly in the centre of the car, were remarkably comfortable, even though the car was pitching about. We did not have a chance of trying the ordinary road holding capabilities. The point where this car scores over the "Burney" is that the power unit does not overhang the rear axle, and owing to the short unit, and the fact that the driver sits between the front wheels, the overall length of the car is small and it can be easily manouvred in a small space. Reduced Windage. The effect of streamlining is the greatest point of interest about this car. It can do 109 M.P.H. with 80 clutch B.H.P. for some reason, the general impression seems to be that streamlining only becomes effective at speeds round about 100 M.P.H. | ||