4th gear in a Vee

[alangbaker]

Folks,

A fellow racer who races FV at Mission was asking whether there were any tracks where the Vee actually gets into top gear.

I'm assuming that at the Runoffs at Daytona it would have been in use, but where else?

[jpetillo]

I don't believe there is a track where we don't get into 4th gear. It's pretty much 3rd & 4th at all tracks - in the US, anyway.

[Robbie.Arthur]

Alan, you've driven a vee... (same car I put into the 18's at mission ) I'm almost positive you've shifted into fourth a couple times when you drove?

If you're asking about hitting the top of fourth, I have no experience of such a thing in my short stint in a vee

[Jphoenix]

3rd and 4th, at some tracks like the ridge and Spokane, only down to 3rd twice. At the end of the long straights in 4th, I'll see 5500 at most.

[rickb99]

I know absolutely nothing about Vee racing, but aren't there two different transmissions available for the Vee's? A 'long box' and a 'short box'?

Perhaps Alan's friend has the wrong 'standard' box in his car.

I have no idea what I"m talking about so forgive me.

[problemchild]

4th gear is the predominant gear that is used in a FV, probably averaging 80% of the time. Some tracks are 100%. Most tracks have 2 or 3 slow corners that will require brief use of 3rd gear.

[jpetillo]

I know absolutely nothing about Vee racing, but aren't there two different transmissions available for the Vee's? A 'long box' and a 'short box'?

Perhaps Alan's friend has the wrong 'standard' box in his car.

I have no idea what I"m talking about so forgive me.

This is true, but the 'long box' vs. 'short box' are only about 6% different in gearing, and doesn't change that you are predominantly in 4th gear at most circuits.

[smsazzy]

3rd and 4th, at some tracks like the ridge and Spokane, only down to 3rd twice. At the end of the long straights in 4th, I'll see 5500 at most.

Unless you are running a fan, there is something wrong with your motor if you only see 5500 at the end of the Spokane or Seattle straight. I used to see 6500 by myself in Seattle, 6750 with a draft at Seattle.

[TJSFVGUY]

Is it possible the car in question has a 0.82 fourth instead of 0.89? This could explain not being able to use fourth. I suggest checking the ratios.