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).
Steering test for car 7.B.V., comparing old and new steering geometries and noting issues with wandering and heavy steering.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 100\2\ scan0110 | |
| Date | 27th April 1939 guessed | |
| 450 + 400a To Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} STEERING TEST - 7.B.V. I took out 7.B.V. as instructed in order to gain a general impression of the characteristics of the old geometry. This car is a great deal better directionally than the present 'M' series, so that all criticisms should be accepted as relative to the new geometry, to which we have become accustomed. During a varied run of 50 miles I was aware of the wandering characteristics perhaps a dozen times and inconvenienced by them three times, twice on corners and once on the straight. The so called wandering takes the form of a sudden and unexpected dive and on each occasion accompanied a diagonal or one wheel bump. I have never at any time experienced a similar phenomenon with the new geometry on 8.B.V. or 9.B.V., whereas it frequently occurred on both these cars when fitted with the old geometry. In addition to the above I found 7.B.V. steering too heavy and difficult to get a gentle and progressive change of direction, particularly when being close to the side of a cambered road. I found 7.B.V. considerably more difficult to steer through narrow gaps. The steering feels a lot more rigid and direct, but I was able to derive no benefit from this and being accustomed to the lighter and more progressive steering on 8.B.V., found it objectionable and a lot more tiring to drive. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} | ||