The Alpine Trial victory in 1913, which Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is celebrating on its 110th anniversary, cannot be exaggerated in terms of its significance to the company's legend.
It has been 110 years since Rolls-Royce Motor Cars' victories in the Alpine Trial in 1913.
The initial testing event was 2,600 kilometers and eight days long. Marque's victory at the race cemented Silver Ghost's status as "the best car in the world."
Rolls-Royce recalls the people, vehicles, and circumstances that shaped the history of the automobile industry.
We hand-build what many refer to as 'the best car in the world' at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood. Following the Silver Ghost's complete dominance of the difficult Alpine Trial in 1913, Rolls-Royce received that designation for the first time 110 years ago. We proudly uphold the remarkable design and engineering expertise that made those early Rolls-Royces so successful in our capacity as stewards of this special history. These wonderful works of art by our founders are a true inspiration, and we can still appreciate and experience their exceptional qualities because of the expert care and attention that today's happy owners pour on their amazing automobiles. More than a century later, everything we do is modeled around the Silver Ghost's unmatched fusion of performance, strength, durability, technological innovation, driver engagement, and comfort. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Chief Executive Officer Torsten Müller-Tvös
The Alpine Trial victory in 1913, which Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is celebrating on its 110th anniversary, cannot be exaggerated in terms of its significance to the company's legend. This challenge, which spanned eight days and 2,600 kilometers, cemented Rolls-Royce's status as "the best car in the world," a title it still holds today. Rolls-Royce takes a look back at the people, vehicles, and circumstances that shaped the history of the automobile.
AN UNMISSABLE CHANCE AND A DAUNTING CHALLENGE
Rolls-Royce had an exceptional reputation for quality and dependability as soon as it was founded in 1904. The new 40/50 hp vehicle's flawless performance in the 1907 Scottish Reliability Trials, which led to its subsequent unmatched display at the renowned 1911 London to Edinburgh Top Gear Trial and Brooklands 100 mph Run, confirmed this.
Rolls-Royce gained the moniker "the best British car" as a result of these efforts. However, this was only the beginning for the vivacious, aspirational managing director Claude Johnson, who referred to himself as the hyphen in Rolls-Royce. He realized that winning a prominent continental competition was the key to dominating the European market. He would find the opportunity he was hoping for at the 1913 Alpine Trial.
COMPLETELY PREPARED
A Rolls-Royce Works Team was specifically chosen by Johnson and led by Eric Platford, one of the most dependable workers at the company and a former mechanic for Charles Stewart Rolls. Curt Friese, the Silver Ghost's representative in Austria; Jock Sinclair, an accomplished Alpine driver; and EW Hives, a senior member of Derby's Experimental Department and the first person to drive the Silver Ghost at 101 mph, would be behind the wheel of the specially equipped Silver Ghosts.
James Radley, the enthusiastic owner of the privateer Silver Ghost, was also invited by Johnson to serve as the team's pacesetter.
The dangers of a springtime Alps crossing were well planned for in the Works vehicles. Extreme temperatures, high heights, harsh gradients, and dizzying descents were all present, just as they are now, but without the luxury of contemporary road surfaces.
The Silver Ghosts underwent a number of significant technical changes, including a new four-speed gearbox with a special low gear, strengthened chassis and suspension, a larger main fuel tank with a reserve, and a new starting system that could start the engine in less than a minute even in subfreezing temperatures.
The team traveled to Vienna for the commencement of the Alpine Trial on June 22, 1913, following a successful reconnaissance expedition in May, during which the cars handled horrendous conditions with faultless composure.
THE FIRST DAY (260 MILES, UP TO 4,000 FT)
The Silver Ghosts, the most potent of the participating vehicles, were launched first, under James Radley's intended direction. Radley finished the first day's race after starting at 5:00 a.m. and was followed by the rest of the Works Team 45 minutes later. Even on this relatively simple stage, no other vehicles were able to match their speed, and the race's first retirements occurred.
Day 2 (262 miles, highest point 5,700 feet)
The Tauren Pass, the oldest road over the Alps, which gained 2,900 feet in about 12 miles with a maximum gradient of 27.9%, was the challenge for the racers on the second day. Many found the effort impossible due to the terrible weather and road conditions. Radley averaged 25 mph and never dropped below 17 mph, even on the hardest hills, while the Silver Ghosts, in contrast, floated over at half-throttle.
3rd Day: 246 Miles
The Rolls-Royce squad took the lead right away on a much easier, more level route that ended at the banks of Lake Garda, and Radley lamented the slow pace set by the authorities' car in front.
THE FOURTH DAY (192 MILES, A MAXIMUM ELEVATION OF 7,400 FT)
The highest point of the trial, the Pordoi Pass, was featured in stage four, which brought the teams over the Dolomites. The Rolls-Royce squad was unfazed when the rain quickly changed to thick snow, and they took the top four spots on the day.
Day 5 (205 miles, highest point 3,500 feet)
The Works Team once again took the lead from beginning to end on a lengthy journey across southern Austria via steep, difficult, and numerous hairpin turns, including the Wurzen and Perdils hills, to the port city of Trieste despite the frigid weather.
DAY 6 (3,500 FT MAX ELEVATION, 242 MILES)
Following a day of relaxation in Trieste, the teams traveled to Klagenfurt for the last overnight stop, where the Rolls-Royce team once again won with a perfect record. The Loibl was the steepest pass of the entire competition, gaining 2,300 feet in just three miles. Radley delighted observers by taking a drink as he passed the final bend, cutting the record time for the ascent from six and a half minutes to only five.
7th day (260 miles, maximum elevation change of 5,000 feet)
The infamous Stubalpe Pass stood between Klagenfurt and the finish line in Vienna. The road had 125 gullies that dumped water onto the pavement and had to be traversed slowly while walking. On the fast last stretch to Vienna, where Radley reached 70 mph three times, the Silver Ghosts were unhampered as usual.
However, Jock Sinclair's Silver Ghost was hit by a fast-moving car being driven by a non-competitor as they were passing through the village of Guntramsdorf and pushed into a telegraph pole. In his one working (third) gear, Sinclair limped into Vienna after fixing the near-side front wheel and tire. It was the first and only time the team didn't finish in the top four in the competition.
UNQUESTIONABLE CHAMPIONS
Only 31 of the 46 starters made it to Vienna. The Rolls-Royce automobiles were the undisputed stars of the event thanks to their exceptional speed, strength, and dependability. Their drivers received the most coveted individual awards as a result, which were given out by Austria's Archduke Leopold Salvator. A unique award was given to Radley by the city of Trieste.
The whole automobile industry praised and admired the brand for its outstanding performance. This success led to rapid growth in European sales, which were possibly even more significant to Claude Johnson than those in the UK.
Rolls-Royce never again entered a works team because there was no need to, even though the Alpine Trials were held until 1973. The distinction of "the best car in the world" had already been attained and would never be lost.
A PERMANENT LEGACY
Unquestionably, the most well-known Rolls-Royce ever produced is the Silver Ghost. It is a credit to its proud owners' care and attention that so many specimens are still in operation and capable of the astounding feats they performed more than a century ago. These passionate enthusiasts are an inspiration to everyone who knows and loves vintage Rolls-Royce automobiles and play a crucial part in preserving and honoring this valuable automotive legacy.
However, works of art like those included in the anniversary reenactment are also part of a wider heritage. As a permanent, concrete testament to our founders' talent, vision, technological prowess, and unrelenting quest for perfection, almost 80% of all Rolls-Royce automobiles ever produced are still in existence and in use today.
The staff at the modern home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, which celebrates its own 20th anniversary in 2023, is the fortunate curator of that irreplaceable history as their successors. The performance, strength, dependability, comfort, driving experience, and technical excellence standards first established by the Silver Ghost are being upheld by every automobile that is still hand-built at Goodwood today. These qualities are renowned and held in high regard across the world.