Question about shifting

[Jim Garry]

Hi Guys,

Of those who have driven the 5 speed Staffs, can you talk about the shift from first to second?

I do know that selecting first gear is an issue. I just want to know about shifting OUT of first gear.

Is it the same as shifting a Mk 9 from 2nd to 3rd?



Thanks very much,

[Garey Guzman]

The few times I drove my Swift DB4 with the Staffs 5-speed, I found 1st hard to select. I really needed 1st on the Nashville SuperSpeedway road circuit but at Gateway, I basically drove a 4-speed, ignoring 1st other than the start.

YMMV, I'm not the most skilled or experienced FA racer, having only done 3 events with the DB4 more than 10 years ago. Also, this was before Lee Williams (WRD) went through the 'box. It's rebuilt now, waiting for me to someday reassemble and refresh everything.

Hi Guys,

Of those who have driven the 5 speed Staffs, can you talk about the shift from first to second?

Yes it's on the diagonal so a bit slower than a 1-2 shift in a Formula F, but is there any other limitation? Is there some kind of detent to deal with? Anything that makes it slower than a 2-3 shift in a Formula F?

(I am aware that going from 2nd to 1st is difficult.)


Thanks very much,

[Jim Garry]

Hi Garey.

Yup, hard to select 1st. Understood. But how was it when upshifting to 2nd gear?

[Jim Gustafson]

I used 1st in my DB-4, also in my Ralt RT-5 Super Vee (Mk-8). I also only make one downshift, to the gear I need for exit. At Road America, my home track that meant going from 5th to 1st two times per lap.

Jim G.

[Jim Garry]

And how is it to upshift from first to second? Is it simple and fast?

Is it just like shifting from 2nd to 3rd in a standard Mk 9 four speed box?


Or is it a little difficult?