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).
Meeting minutes discussing Bensport testing, production, and modifications to car 19-KX.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 30\2\ Scan162 | |
| Date | 31th January 1933 | |
| -2- Minutes. (Cont'd) Item 2. Bensport. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} asked if Bensport could not be sent to France at once for 10,000 miles test. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} said he particularly wished to make some tests on Brooklands Track during the next few days, and before the car is sent to France. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} informed Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} that he could have 12 Bensport chassis ready by end of July or early August. Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} also stated that if we install more machines etc. in accordance with schemes which are soon to be submitted to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} the combined output of Bensport and 20/25's may be from 20 to 24 per week. It was agreed to order up 200 sets of material for Bensport as the chassis stands at present as regards design, accepting only the correction of obvious errors and defects. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} referred to the gearbox now being designed with a view to adoption on Bensport and he said that it was no use whatever attempting to introduce a central change at a later date once we have launched out with right hand change. It can never be put into production. The number of experimental Bensports required was discussed and it was finally agreed that three more be built making four in all. These three chassis are to be built along with the 12 advance chassis already referred to and the same method of dealing with the production of them will apply. The quantity of 12 will therefore be increased to 15. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} asked whether hand or other control was required on the dampers. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} said he considered the car as he tried it without control was quite satisfactory. It was decided that no control be fitted on the first series. Item 3. 19-KX. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} said that 19-KX which is now in France requires modifications to the shock dampers to bring it up to date and he proposes to have the car returned to Derby as this is the most satisfactory way of dealing with the job. It was agreed that the car should be returned to Derby but before being sent back to France it should be modified to have the larger bore cylinders, larger carburetter and 25 gallon petrol tank. | ||