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

It looks like my first race this year will be at the new Autobahn country club with Midwestern Council How do you decide which gears will be needed at a new track?

Paul T

I contacted the track to get info on any open test days. They said they had some open test days for 4K per day plus expenses. A little out of our league. No test and tune like Gingerman.

It'll be like the Indy F1 track at our level.... The only time you ever get to drive on it is when you're racing.

Bring plenty of gear lube that weekend... You'll probably change the gears a few times while there. :rolleyes:

Hey Dad... Was it $4k to do a test day per car or per test day with as many cars as you'd like? $100 if we got 40 people together is a bargain. If that was the case, we could set something up to get as many people as we could in order to do a test day.

It was for the complete day for as many cars as you can provide. Not including any emergency personal or track workers.

Paul,

I've got data from Autobahn and Blackhawk, so I'll compare and give you an idea. I was running an FSCCA car. My top speed at Autobahn was around 119, whereas I think Blackhawk was a little higher. I only ran two sessions at Autobahn and the track was pretty green, so it may be closer in gearing than I think. I had a lap time of 1:05. My time at Blackhawk was a 1:11.2. I've got to run now, but when I get some more time I'll try analyzing the data.

Steve

Anyone know what gears would be good for Fontana....??
Thanks..

Same as for Thunderhill plus a tooth for 4th. You'll probably run out of torque before you run out of track on the oval. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Anyone have any more thoughts on this? It is getting close (less than 2 weeks).

Thanks,
Paul

thedrol(at)comcast.net

I got about a dozen laps in an SUV and in someone else's FF last month... This was the 1.4 circuit, where MC will be running this month.

I'd say a short first gear is in order. Corner 2 is a very tight hairpin, probably slower than 3A at BFR. It's in the style of the 1-2 combination at GingerMan, but MUCH tighter... though not as tight as the hairpin at Milwaukee. My guess: somewhere between 18:33 and 17:33.
OTOH, a tall fourth may be needed as well. The last corner onto the front straight was flat out (think the Silo Turn at BFR), so you should be able to carry a lot of speed onto the front straight, which is 1237 feet long. My guess: somewhere between 24:27 and 25:26?

I have very little experience in the art of selecting 2nd and 3rd, and my time on the track didn't tell me anything about which way to go there. I THINK a lower-than-expected 2nd and maybe even 3rd may be helpful for corner 6 -- a very long, not extremely slow hairpin with two radii. It's going to be easy to get on the gas too soon there and run out of road.

YMMV... good luck!

I'm running BFR with VSCDA in June, so perhaps BFR gears would be a reasonable start for Autobahn and then keep them in the box for BFR 3 weeks later.

So what do people run at BFR?

Thanks,
Paul

Sorry, I ass-u-me-d that you had run BFR!

Taylor Race Engineering recommends (for a 9:31 r&p) 19:32, 21:31, 23:29, 25:27. That should certainly get you in the ballpark at least.

I have run BFR, only I ran it with a fixed ratio Renault gear box and then the second time with Road America gears.

So your assumption was safe (and corrrect).

Paul

I'm exploring the option of running the double regional in July, what gears for a club ford with a 10:31 R&P?

Thanks,

Wooly

Wooly, If you can do a conversion, the gears for a 9:31 are - 18:34, 20:31, 22:29, 24:27.
We're running there this weekend and our group has an extra "bonus" race on Sunday.

I went to Taylors site and used their chart and it looks like 16:34 first, 19:33 second, 21:30 third, and 23:28 for forth. Now to go check and see if I have them

Thanks,

Wooly

Hi gang, ..

Just wondering what gear for Nelson should be for a 10:31???

Has it changed since it was paved????

Thanks,

Curtis
FF#43

I haven't run a 1.6 there for a long time. However, for the 2L, my gears are:

1st: 19/32 or 19/31
2nd: 21/30 or 21/29
3rd: 23/29 or 23/28
4th: 25/27 or 19/21

For the 1.6, top would probably be about the same. 1st-3rd might be slightly lower, say 18/32 or 18/33 1st, and just space them similarly from there.

I do tend to run slightly taller gears than a lot of other people.

Since I run these gears that may be somewhat tall anyway, I didn't need to change after the paving.

Anyone have a base line ratio set up for Beaver Run for a FF with a 10:31 R&P? Thanks Allan

Please post your requests for baseline gearing setups in this thread. It will prevent redundant requests and also make it much easier to find.

Looking for advice on gearing (FF w/ 10:31 R&P) for CMP in Kershaw, SC.

Thanks !

Will be running a CF with a 10:31 R&P, my initial thoughts with my present gears is to run;
16:35
18:32
20:30
22:29

I won't be the fastest car in the group, since the last time I ran the track was in 1989 with Russell, but does anybody see any issues with the above selection?

Thanks,

Wooly

Wooly
Those ratios will work just fine if you're using American Racers.
dave

Gentlemen,

I have worked out a Kershaw FF1600 gearing starting point, based upon data from other cars. Here is what I came up with:

10/31 ring and pinion
19/31
19/27
19/24
21/24

9/31 ring and pinion
17/35
21/27
21/24
23/24

Craig

Hey folks,

Looking for some gear recommendations for BeaveRun.

Club Formula Ford
Hoosier R60's
9:31 R&P

Jerry Santucci was kind enough at some point previously to post the following recommendation:

19:32 (1.684)
21:29 (1.381)
24:27 (1.125)
25:26 (1.040)

...but I was having a hard time using the 25:26 at The Glen and would be surprised if I'd be able to use it on the 1.8 mile BeaveRun track (though I've never been there).

Thanks in advance,
Erik

Does anyone have the FF gearing (10:31 R&P) for the Glen. If you have 9:31 that would be good too as I can convert back. This would be for Long Course w/the bus stop.

Thanks in advance...

I haven't tried them yet but here is the recomendation I got when I ask the same question. These are much like the gears in Jake's book, it seems like there isn't much difference between the short course and long gears.

19:33
21:31
22:29
24:28
with a 10:31 R&P.

Thanks for the info Gary...

My calcs with 10:31 & 22.5" tires @ 6500 RPM shows:

Your First 19:33 80.81 MPH
2nd 21:31 95 MPH
3rd 22:29 106.5 MPH
4th 24:28 120.3 MPH

Looks like we have all except for 21:31 (95 MPH second), we'll use 21:30 (98 MPH Second) in it's place)

Can Anyone Give An Idea Of What Gears To Run At Summit Point And Sebring.

I looked in the "sticky" thread, I tried to find the place on Taylors web site, but couldn't find anything on Savannah gears.

Club ford, 9:31 RP, any advice?

Thanks, Brian

Does someone have the gear ratios for Gateway with a 10:31 RP?

Thanks!

Can someone tell me the gears for Gateway for a 10:31 RP..Thanks..Todd

Here you go Todd,


Gear selection for a FF w 10:31 CWP on Hoosiers.

1 - 18.32 or 17.33
2 - 21.31
3 - 22.29
4 - 24.27

Pleae Remember To Post Requests For Formula Ford Gearing Here

Thanks Gary..See you at STL...Todd

Any suggestions for Hallett in Oklahoma?

Mike

newbie here any clue for gearing at willow springs, long track, and I got a box of gears tied in pairs any advice.:D

Depends on which ring and pinion you have 9:31 0r 10:31. The Jake Lamont book only has one listing for Willow Springs, I guess it is the long course.

The gearing will change as you go faster, and have better engines. A place to start with 9/31 ring/Pinion is 19/31 21/29 24/28 25/26

where would I find a copy of the Jake Lamont book...........John

I got mine from Pegasus.
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/Pro...asp?RecId=1639

I am thinking of going to Memphis March 11-12. Anybody have some baseline gearing for memphis motorsports park? I run a 9:31 R&P with hoosiers.

Thanks!
Andrew

A buddy of mine will be running his vintage FF at Hallett in a few weeks with CVAR. He needs a good place to start with respect to ratios.

This is what I have been told:

9.31 R/P

17-34, 19-31, 21-29, 21-25

10.31 R/P

16-36, 18-33, 20-31, and 22-29.

Are these ratios close?

Yes, at least without checking tire diameters. They are close to what I ran with 22.5 inch diameter tires in CF. I did change, though. I sent you an e-mail.
- Frank C

I've used 18:34, 20:30, 22:29, 23:27 sucessfully (9:31 w/ 22.5" rears)

What would be the best gears (9/31) for Savannah?

savannah >>>here's something 20/32 21/30 24/28 25/25

here's something else...run a taller first than above, just a tooth or two under the second ratio...use it as an alternative second if you're slowed a little by traffic in turns 5-6 ..also get a one tooth under fourth - if the wind is coming strong from the west, run it

Thanks, it will be usefull...

We run these gear sets for the following cars at Hallett:
Merlyn MK 11 9/31 17/35 19/32 21/29 23/28 best lap 1:23.87 Dunlop Mono Tires
Crossle 16 9/31 17/34 19/32 22/30 23/28 best lap 1:25.48 Dunlop Mono Tires
Sauce FF 10/31 16/35 18/32 20/31 22/29 best lap 1:18.89 Goodyear 175 c

Need FF gearing suggestions for the Shenandoah circuit at Summit Point for a 10:31 final drive ratio. If you do not have it for a 10;31, I can convert if you specify what FDR it is for.

Ian L. McKechnie

I'm hoping to go to this track. Any NorCal guys care to share gearing? I have a 10:31 R&P in my Swift but I can easily convert from 9:31 info.