The Perpetual "What Gearing Do I Run at This Track?" Thread

[mike g.]

Anyone have gearing for a club ford for Indy Raceway Park, aka Oreilly Motorosports Park (http://www.oreillyracewaypark.com/) -
heading there for a test day and regional a week from Friday (May 1,2) and have no clue about gearing, or even how fast the track is.

Any help would be great, thanks,
-Mike

[bhayes]

I ran my Z-16 once at IRP, but keep in mind that was my very first race, so the gears were surely not optimized. But I ran the following with 9:31 r&p:
18/32
21/30
23/28
25/26

I have a more refined gear choice for my RF98, but they are on my other computer at home (I am in Europe right now). When I get back, I'll try to remember to post those as another reference point for you.

I'll be at IRP Fri-Sun, running a yellow RF98 car #74. Look me up if you need any help at the track.

Brad Hayes

[mike g.]

Thanks Brad -

I will have what I think are decent Mid Ohio gears in the car this Friday -
19/32
21/30
23/28
24/26

They look good enough to run ORP... If I get time to change them I will - but I'm out of town Mon-Thurs each week so it might be tough. Maybe Friday afternoon if I can run the test day I will change them - although I'm not quick at it and not sure I'm comfortable changing gears at the track yet.

I'll be there early Friday morning (towing just from Dayton) with my new-to-me Hawke...
Big white truck + big white trailer + small white club ford + big white dude looking out of place and probably scared = me.

-Mike

[Michael Rand]

With the 40th at Road America a few months away, how about some suggestions, other than the Lamont book mentioned way back in this thread ?
Both 9:31 and 10:31 ratios will be welcome information for all the Road America first timers.

[andyllc]

I will second what Mike Rand said about gearing for the 40th. Any suggestions? Tell us what ring and pinion so we can do math to convert if necessary.

Also, what about gearing for GRATTAN? Trying to make the first EWC in our Crossle.

[Scott Hanba]

From post #66

Jason Byers suggested 17/34, 19/31, 21/29 & 23/27 for a 10:31 R&P, and that converts approximately to

18/32, 21/31, 23/28, 25/27 for a 9:31 R&P

Jake's book suggests 20:32, 22:29, 24:27, 26:26 for a 9:31 which is way off the ratios above (but the ratios Jake suggested for 10:31 - 18:32, 21:30, 23:29, 25:27 - are almost an exact match).

In my FF, I've run 15:30, 18:29, 19:25, 23:27 (almost identical to Jason's). CF might need to step down slightly 2nd-4th gears.

[JByers]

I will second what Mike Rand said about gearing for the 40th. Any suggestions? Tell us what ring and pinion so we can do math to convert if necessary.

Also, what about gearing for GRATTAN? Trying to make the first EWC in our Crossle.

Andy,

I'll be at Grattan prepping for the 40th, get what you need and register.

Jason

[andyllc]

Hey Jason
We are trying...We have to get our car fixed, I met a tire wall recently and it wasnt pretty. All the parts are on order so we should be ok but we will see. Any gearing suggestions?

[mike g.]

Hello all,

Any other advice on gearing for Road America for someone with an engine that isn't so fresh? I think a 26/25 (0.9615) is a little too tall for an inclined straight and my motor, based on my limited knowledge and my skills :-) I am thinking 25/25... any ideas or experience would be great.

Also, is Lamont's book for FF or CFF? I figure that a front-runner new FF might run the taller gears and need that speed, but my brick-like-aero might not need it...

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Mike

[stommelen]

Gentlemen/ladies: I plan to go to Gingerman for trying out my elderly VD at one of the open track days (anyone going too?), so I would appreciate if someone were to provide a quick approximate description of the gears to use (not gearing, I have no idea what's in the box at the moment, it's something OK for BHF I was told, I will found out exactly only when, if ever, I will learn how to take apart the damn thing) around the track?

Thank you, stommelen

[stephen wilson]

Mike, if your Hawke is as poor aerodynamically as my RF78, I would use a 25:26. I can't even pull a 25:25 at Pocono with it's long flat front straight.
Steve

[trout roberts]

I thought that I'd seen this info somewhere on this forum but a search didn't turn up anything.

Can someone familiar with RA make a recommendation for gearing? I have a 9:31 ring and pinion ratio.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks...

[SCOTTY81]

Guys.....

Need help with FF gearing for the road course at the Milwaukie mile.
I never knew there was a road course there

scotty
Taylor Race Engineering

[PCalhoun]

Guys.....

Need help with FF gearing for the road course at the Milwaukie mile.
I never knew there was a road course there

scotty
Taylor Race Engineering

Can't help w/ gears, but here is a map, course runs clockwise.

[mdwracer]

I am going to the Glen on Sept 12/13 and not sure if it is long track or not and what gears to run. I have a 9:31 and will be on treaded Dunlops (taller than slicks)
thanks, Mike

[triumph_tech]

If your are running the"Fun One" with the SCCA you will run both the long and short course. I have only run the long course, on Dunlops, and I ran the gears right out of Jake's book. They seemed to work OK.
Just looked at the date and that is the Vintage Grand Prix weekend so you will be running the long course only

[Roux]

I don't recall the rear Dunlops being any different in diameter than the slicks. Certainly not enough to warrant a gearing change. The fronts are of course substantially taller.

The suggestion in jake's book is a good place to start.

[flat broke]

I don't recall the rear Dunlops being any different in diameter than the slicks. Certainly not enough to warrant a gearing change. The fronts are of course substantially taller.

The suggestion in jake's book is a good place to start.

Agreed Steve, I replied to this same request on the Vintage thread with ratios I used first time at the Glen long course (Dunlops). They are nearly identical to Jakes ratios for the short course. That will gets me flat from corner one (second) all the way through the esses in fourth. What a blast!

Man I wish I was going to the Glen this year. Ruptured my achilles tendon water skiing. Surgery last week. Any of you folks using the latest generation of slalom boot may want to send me a pm.

Tony

[Garey Guzman]

I don't recall the rear Dunlops being any different in diameter than the slicks. Certainly not enough to warrant a gearing change. The fronts are of course substantially taller.

The suggestion in jake's book is a good place to start.

The rear Dunlops are nearly 1" taller than R60's. For my Zink, this meant 63-6400 at the end of the straight vs 6800 with the R60. This was a slower track, about 115 in 4th.

[Frank C]

Back in February, Mike Sauce suggested [10:31] 17/33, 20/31, 22/30, and 24/28 to start with for Eagle’s Canyon. Any updates?
- Frank Chambers

[beachguy12]

I need some advice on gearing for Buttonwillow. Yea, I know how many configurations there are. That is why I am asking for some advice. I am setting up my Crossle 32 for Super School and my first race.

The configuration for Super School is the East Loop. The race is scheduled to be 1CCW (Star Mazda, Lost Hills, Bus Stop). I need to make my motor last a couple seasons, so my planned **** point is 5800-6000 RPM. I do have several sets of gears available. Any advice or recommendations for gearing or set-up would be greatly appreciated.

[rickb99]

Roldand Johnson from San Diego has this in the pertetual 'what gearing' section for Buttonwillow with bus stop.

9/31 ring and pinion.

Using 6,000 RPM shift point:

1st 17/34
2nd 20/32 RPM after shift 4,800
3rd 22/29 RPM after shift 4,943
4th 24/27 RPM after shift 5,121

Top could be 24 / 28.

Assumes you have a 9/31 ring and pinion.

TOP SPEED at 6,800 in 4th 117 MPH

That 4,800 and 4,900 post shift RPM is gonna put you pretty far down the power curve. Due you have a dyno curve on the engine?

You're planning on reving pretty low with that 5,800 to 6,000 shift point. But in 4th let it run on up. If you use the 24/27 4th that should help keep your RPM's at the top end down.

Do you have an XLS spread sheet for gear evaluation? If not contact me and I'll send you one. Helps with looking at RPM drop with shift points. Or use the chart generator on the Hewland site.

Take ALL of the above with a grain of sand. We run an FC so things are a little different.

[Roland V. Johnson]

Those gears should work for the school. You should look at running with HSR West. SCCA has all but killed off Formula Ford around here. The Series runs with HSR and has good legal competetive fields. I'll be out of town until after the first. If you have any questions email me.

[Albatross]

Haven't driven Road America - yet, but recommended by Pegasus;

9:31 R & P

19:32
22:30
24:27
26:25 (26:26) if your new to the course, or
lack some power

[Swift17]

9:31 gears please -- Oak Tree Nat'l Course

Thank You

EJ

[thewarehouse]

Guys.....

Need help with FF gearing for the road course at the Milwaukie mile.
I never knew there was a road course there

scotty
Taylor Race Engineering

10:31, running 20.5" R35s.

ANy idea on gears here??

[JLuxon]

What is the preferred gearing for the new layout at Gingerman for a Formula Ford with a 10:31 r&p?

Running Hoosiers with the regular rear tires.

[Spdracer00]

I am running a 10:31 ring and pinion.....any good ideas....mid pack driver....Thanks...Tony

[Robert J. Alder]

It's been several years since running at Topeka, before the recent track changes done for SCCA. Would someone be willing to share Formula Ford gearing along with pinion ratio and rear tire diameter? I can convert to my pinion and tire diameter. Probably not that much different than before, but.....thought it wise to consult the cornucopia of all knowledge, Apex Speed. for latest info.

Thanks.

[Bill Bonow]

Robert,

Check the VERY long list of track gearing in the sticky thread listed here:

http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12877

I'm sure Topeka is in there somewhere

[Robert J. Alder]

Robert,
Check the VERY long list of track gearing in the sticky thread listed here:
http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12877
I'm sure Topeka is in there somewhere

Thanks. Probably there somewhere, but damned if I could find it.

[Bill Bonow]

Looked through the list...... Many posts asked for Topeka gearing, but no gear list are given.

I'll move this thread into the track gearing sticky to keep things in order.

OK successful thread move.

Anyone know what gearing for HPT?

[archie]

has anyone ran Miller Motorsport park in a formuls ford.......east and west loop.
going to the double national and the formula ford festival

[Daryl Harsha]

If anyone's been out to ORP, could you share some gearing guidelines? I actually run FC but my car is a real mongrel based on an RF83. It would help if you could also provide gearing for a track I'm familiar with like PIR (w/ or w/o chicane), Pacific Raceways or Spokane.

Thanks

[Michael Edick]

looked thru the entire thread and couldn't find any gearing suggestions for a FF (or a CF in my case) at Thunderhill...any ideas?

thanks!

[Albatross]

18:34,20:31,22:29,24:27 also try calling Neil Porter Racing @ (209) 722-7373

[Bill Steele]

looked thru the entire thread and couldn't find any gearing suggestions for a FF (or a CF in my case) at Thunderhill...any ideas?

thanks!

CF on AR tires, 9:31 CWP = 18:33, 20:30, 22:28, 24:27

If you get going pretty good, you will probably need a tooth higher 4th with any tail wind at all on the main straight.

[Michael Edick]

Thanks to "Al", Dan and Bill!

can't wait to get on the track!

[CF56]

Any recommendations for a CF with a 9:31 at VIR?

[Brian331]

Can anyone tell me the right gearing to use with a 10 31 RNP at Lime Rock. I'm having trouble figuring out which second gear to use.

Thanks,
Brian