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

I looked in Jake's book and noted the starting point gears for Portland. Anyone have any thoughts on gearing for that configuration?
Jake's book states (9:31) and the old gumball Hoosier/GYs
20:30
22:29
24:28
25:26
The first gear is taller than a Willow Springs first. That seems pretty tall to me. The radial Hoosiers are a tad taller than the previous tire.
Anyone from the NW care to comment?

Dave, Having raced at the Portland track several times each year for many years. Here are some considerations. Except during the very early racing season each year, the track will be using the chicane on the front straight. And the entry announcement usually states that the front chicane will or will not be used subsequently during the balance of the season. The chicane is often referred to as the "Festival Turns". Plan on them being used for your event. I can only give you the 9:31 gearing for the "better" Club Fords using the "front chicane" (Festival Turns). I would guess that the recommended gears for a "modern Ford" as in Formula F be one tooth LESS for each gear ratio. Here are the gears used for Club Ford: 18:33, 20:30, 22:28, 25:27. A word of warning-the front chicane can and will be a "cluster F..." on the opening start/lap of the race. Good luck, hope that you do well and have a great weekend. :checkered:

Thanks

Hi Dave,
See you there, as the RV hook-ups are scarce or non-existant, pit close by and we can share resources.
I hope to be there Thursday PM, and good luck to us getting in on Thursday evening.

A bit closer on gears . I was there last year running with the Hoosier spec tire, so this is close.
17;33
19;31
22;29
21;24
Not only is the chicane (Karen McCoy verified we are using the chicane) really tight, so is the right turn onto the back straight, so I have a lower 1st gear than you have seen. (I also have the lap record)

BE SURE TO BRING A MUFFLER !!!! It is mandatory per Portland state regulations.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.


I'm going to OWWC also and have been given this gearing as a suggestion from a FF driver that was there a year or two ago.
19/32 22/30 24/28 25/26 with 9/31 final drive.
Anyone have anything to add?

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Originally Posted by larryw

Hey Folks!

Totally newbie here. Have a 1978 FF with treaded Dunlops and 9:31 diff ratio. I'm planning on going to the SVRA Open Wheel fest at Indy in June.

I'm still learning how to change the gears, only have a few spares, and not much idea how to figure out what I'm going to need for the June weekend.

Would sure appreciate any guidance.

Thanks!
Larry

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Anyone drive the Streets of Willow? Looking for an idea of top speed going counter clockwise. Porsche will be doing an autocross there in Oct. It appears that the main straight is about 400 yrs long.
Mark

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ray Rivard

http://www.apexspeed.com/resources/baseline_gearing.htm

This is a good summary for a 10:31 diff....

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Thx, but also needs a rear tire run-out number if available to be 100% complete.
cheers

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mwizard

Anyone drive the Streets of Willow? Looking for an idea of top speed going counter clockwise. Porsche will be doing an autocross there in Oct. It appears that the main straight is about 400 yrs long.
Mark

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It appears that the main straight is about 400 yrs long. That is really long.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Earley Motorsports

It appears that the main straight is about 400 yrs long. That is really long.

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Just guessing from the Goggle Map and the help of a spelunker.
Mark

RF84, Kent, 9:31.
thanks
Randy Smart

Good evening to all
Does anyone know the gear ratios used at the Cdn GP Circuit in Montreal for a Formula Ford ?
I have a 9 / 31 ring and pinion, but what ever information I can get would be most helpful....I can do the conversion if your information in for a 10/31

Thanks
Dave McGinnis

Quote:

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Originally Posted by McGinnis

Good evening to all
Does anyone know the gear ratios used at the Cdn GP Circuit in Montreal for a Formula Ford ?
I have a 9 / 31 ring and pinion, but what ever information I can get would be most helpful....I can do the conversion if your information in for a 10/31

Thanks
Dave McGinnis

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I have never been there so I cannot vouch for it but from the thread 'The Perpetual "What Gearing Do I Run at This Track?" Thread'


http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/sear...archid=1205570

"The Arizona group that goes to Montreal each year runs these:

Montreal
1st 18:33 1.833
2nd 21:30 1.429
3rd 23:27 1.174
4th 25:26 1.04"

Eric Little

The hairpin is surprisingly slow - even for the F1 cars. With a 17:35 first I was nearly tracking out before having to shift up, would recommend a tooth taller for a better driver.

The straight after that goes on forever. My Crossle' hit terminal velocity at 6600 RPM with 25:26. A slicker car, a good tow, a fresher motor might need 25:25.

YMMV but that's a good place to start.

I am running CTMP (Mosport) in a few weeks in a club ford on vintage hoosiers, I have the following ratio's recommended for a 9:31:
17/34 2.0
20/31 1.55
22/28 1.27
25/27 1.08

i realize Moss is a very slow corner but 17/34 seems awful low...input?

Thanks, Robby

Nevermind. Wrong Track

Hi All,
I need gear choice for Watkins Glen long course. 10:31 Club Ford
Thanks Wes

Going to Indy first time. Not certain these are best but this is what I'm thinking below. We don't normally run 1:1 top but watching lots of videos, it looks like with a good tow you'll run out of gear with a 25:26.

20:32, 22:29, 24:27, 25:25. 9.31 CWP

Thoughts? Is first too long?

Thanks! Pretty excited.

JG

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BorkRacing

I am running CTMP (Mosport) in a few weeks in a club ford on vintage hoosiers, I have the following ratio's recommended for a 9:31:
17/34 2.0
20/31 1.55
22/28 1.27
25/27 1.08

i realize Moss is a very slow corner but 17/34 seems awful low...input?

Thanks, Robby

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That is the gearing given to me by a person who ran a FF at Mosport.
chris

Wow, looks awfully low - guess if you are revving to 7500 or 8000 you should be OK. Lower than Lightening and Thunderbolt. First is lower than Summit or VIR both have 2 slow turns. Robby, I would gear higher and just go faster around the slow turns. Anyone else offering help here?

BB

anyone have a suggestion?

JG, One of our NM drivers used this set and was very successful A bit hard to get out of the paddock he said.

INDY Road

19/32

21/29

24/28

25/26

By comparison I ran

18/33

20/30

23/29

25/26

and was off the power band more than I liked.

Hope that helps
Larry

Thanks, Larry. Sure does. John

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lch Racing

JG, One of our NM drivers used this set and was very successful A bit hard to get out of the paddock he said.

INDY Road

19/32

21/29

24/28

25/26

By comparison I ran

18/33

20/30

23/29

25/26

and was off the power band more than I liked.

Hope that helps
Larry

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Rick Kirchner asked about gears for Barber the other day so that makes 4 people in FC who want to run Barber in August.........and they have NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE.......plus they will be making LONG TOWS......and they really want to help support the SOUTHERN CONTINENTAL CHALLENGE aka Brad's series which in turn helps FC CAR COUNTS in addition to OVERALL FORMULA CAR COUNTS!!!

Ok, that's the best whining I can come up with........... Somebody throw us a bone! Please?:beer::beer:

Going to the HMSA event at Mont Tremblant in July. Gear ratio suggestions, anyone? 9:31 Diff, 1975 Zinc Club Ford. Thanks.

I did pretty well with

17:35 20:31 22:28 24:26

Better driver might need a tooth taller - the back straight goes slightly downhill before the braking zone, and Namerow winds out in first before any comfortable place to shift.

Hi
I searched the thread, but no answer to Thunderbolt at NJMSP.
Can someone supply the gearing for 9 31 ring and pinion.
Thanks
Greg Kokolus

Greg:

Here's the link to a separate thread from 2013: http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/show...erbolt-8-17-18

I've also received recommendation from BB2 who last ran the track on Avons, and is a little different than those provided on the above link. He ran 20:31, 22:29, 23:27 and 25:26.

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Originally Posted by Garey Guzman

From Jake Lamont's book, a great source of info for every FF'er:
18/34 20/30 23/29 25/27 with 10/31

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Looking into Road America gearing and found this. Anybody know what tires and era car this would be for? I'm looking for gearing for a club ford on dunlops

Thanks

That was for a "modern FF" although Jake's book is almost 20 years old.

The tires were the bias ply Hoosiers that I used back in the days of the 40th. My car is a DB6. I think I changed my 3rd a little but the other gears were fine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AVR_Shane

Looking into Road America gearing and found this. Anybody know what tires and era car this would be for? I'm looking for gearing for a club ford on dunlops

Thanks

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We are going to Texas motor speedway for the first time in a vintage formula ford. Does anyone have gears suggestions?

[QUOTEWe are going to Texas motor speedway for the first time in a vintage formula ford. Does anyone have gears suggestions?[/QUOTE]

Per Mike Sauce, who I believe holds the lap record there:

10/31 R&P

18:34
20:31
23:28
24:26

Hope this helps

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Woodracing29

We are going to Texas motor speedway for the first time in a vintage formula ford. Does anyone have gears suggestions?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by GregSmith

Quote:

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We are going to Texas motor speedway for the first time in a vintage formula ford. Does anyone have gears suggestions?

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Per Mike Sauce, who I believe holds the lap record there:

10/31 R&P

18:34 [(1.8889)]
20:31 [(1.5500)]
23:28 [(1.2174)
24:26 [(1.0833)]

Hope this helps

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I bought my car from a guy who only raced it (as in once) at Texas Motor Speedway and my gears were;

16:29 (1.8125)
20:30 (1.5000)
19:24 (1.2632)
24:26 (1.0833)]

So very similar to what you were just told except for 3rd gear. Could there have been a typo, Greg?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alangbaker

I bought my car from a guy who only raced it (as in once) at Texas Motor Speedway and my gears were;

16:29 (1.8125)
20:30 (1.5000)
19:24 (1.2632)
24:26 (1.0833)]

So very similar to what you were just told except for 3rd gear. Could there have been a typo, Greg?

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Nope, that’s what Mike told me. He also mentioned that 2nd gear is the really important one, as that’s the gear used in the two “horseshoe” turns in the infield. I’ve driven it in a Vee several times in the past, this will be my first in a Ford. Pretty slow infield but you really get moving by the time you get to turn one.

If anyone would know that track , It would be Mike
I ran the ratios . 10-31 @6800 with a 22.5 tire
MPH and RPM drops at the bottom of the chart

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SCOTTY81

If anyone would know that track , It would be Mike
I ran the ratios . 10-31 @6800 with a 22.5 tire
MPH and RPM drops at the bottom of the chart

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Interesting.

What's the reason for the big jump between 2nd and 3rd? Is it optimizing for a couple of important corner exits?

Just trying to understand this stuff better.

Not for sure Alan . If they are running the old SCCA lay out , You turn into the infield half way on the back straight .
Then you reenter almost the the same spot .

Starting out with:
19 32
22 30
24 27
26 26 on a 9:31 in my Titan - hope to see you there.

What car will you be in Woodracing29?

JM
https://www.apexspeed.com/forums/att...id=82212&stc=1

We will be running the 063 Crossle 25. Thank you to everyone who helped us.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Messenger Racing

Starting out with:
19 32
22 30
24 27
26 26 on a 9:31 in my Titan - hope to see you there.

What car will you be in Woodracing29?

JM
https://www.apexspeed.com/forums/att...id=82212&stc=1

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Thanks to everyone who is sharing their gears ratio. I would like to learn how to select the good ratio by myself. I already have spreadsheet to help me but is there any doc I can read to understand how does is work?

Hi all:

I have started compiling a spreadsheet of the gearing recommendations from this thread and other sources. It is geared to my Tiga FFA-77 with American Racer slicks, but I think it would work for other 9:31 gearboxes, as well.

I've attached it as a .xls file...


It's just a start - feel free to change, fix, etc.

Regards,
James

Attachment 89849

I couldn't attach the live Excel file - so I uploaded a .pdf version.

Please email me fshortATflashDOTnet for the Excel version.

Also, a list of gears currently available.


Attachment 89850

I would appreciate suggestions for club 1.6 Kent and 2.0 pinto.
Thanks!

For an 85 Van Diemen FF Sandia with a 9/31; I used 15-36 17-34 20-32 22-29 I recall wanting a lower first.
Tight track that powders off track. I recall running off track at one point and having waves of powder coming over the nose and over me. Like a boat in a storm. Very tight track but fun in October 2015.

Jim Edmonds
Phoenix, AZ

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jrh3

I would appreciate suggestions for club 1.6 Kent and 2.0 pinto.
Thanks!

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I run 16:36, 18:32, 20:30, and 23:29 with a 10:31r&p in my Elden FF at Sandia, home track.

Sean Guthries advice several years ago was: 14/36, 17/34, 20/32, 22/29. if you don't have a real low 1st then 17/35, 19/33, 20/30, 22/29 and run 3 gears.

I would have to dig for my F2000 gears but if I recall they are similar.

Hope to see you there as soon as we can open up. If I can help w/anything let me know by pm.

I am thinking of running CF at the upcoming Barber race. Any recommendations on gear ratios? I didn't find any when searching.

Does any one have good Cota gears for VFF or CFF? All we seem to have on the data base is "should be Atlanta gears with slightly taller 1st". Thanks!!-BGG

In my RF94 10/31 I've run 17/33 19/31 20/27 and 24/27 Not a bad place to start.
YMMV

Have fun today

Jim Edmonds
Phoenix, AZ

In 2018 with my Crossle' 30/32/45, a soft redline of 6500 and a 9/31 I was pretty happy with

18:33 20:30 23:29 25:27

but I was turning 6800 at the end of the back straight and could have used higher corner entry speeds several places so planned for 2019 to run

18:32 21:31 23:28 25:26

Unfortunately never got to try it, but that's another story.

Does anyone want to share their gearing for Pitt Race running the Hoosier radial and a 10/31 R&P?

We are looking at running Carolina Motorsports Park - CMP in a FF with Hoosier radials. Anyone with a starting point?

TIA,

Jay Messenger
Messenger Racing Team