5 Close Gears

[Bruce Tweddle]

One of the very first Berg 5 prototypes Gary built in 1978 was an all close ratio gearbox for his A/MC car.  It had:
3.78
2.25
1.58
1.31
1.17

All slid onto a stump pulling 4.86 R&P.

Given that it costs you a couple of tenths to do that extra shift, what are your thoughts of doing this type of gearbox instead of a conventional 4 speed?   ($ not considered)

[David Ward]

I guess it would make sense if your engine had a pretty narrow power band and the gear stack would keep the engine in its peak range throughout the length of the track.

[The Ideaman]

I don't believe it takes a couple tenths for an additional shift, especially on a proshifted box.  If the powerband was narrow enough to need the extra gear, it could help.  How many mph and what ET did the Berg car run in 1978?  Low 11's with 1850cc's?

[Zach Gomulka]

5 gears worked for Brian H...

[Tom Simon]

For drag racing, make it a sequential "dog box" and you'd rule super street.  IMO you'd make up for any lost ET of that extra shift by better splitting top gears up into the 'sweet spot segements' of the torque range.

A few years ago, the top pro stock bike guys all added a 6th (I think) gear.

Another interesting note: he NHRA pro stock boys have 2 or more 'half built' transmissions in the trailer during qualifying and on race day. After a pass, they down load the data logger, look at their notes, and make the final gear cog selection, and button it up. Since the trans is out between every round for clutch servicing anyway, they just hand the 'optimized' trans to the crew member to install before the next round 

[Steve D.]

If you make enough power, you don't need any extra gears...

[turbo_bob]

5 gears worked for Brian H...

Air shifted and small CC engine.

[turbo_bob]

Given that it costs you a couple of tenths to do that extra shift, what are your thoughts of doing this type of gearbox instead of a conventional 4 speed?

Maybe Johnny 9 Grand S. in S/G will find out this season ?

I think the ET loss would be around 1/10 for the extra shift, but the makeup on ET with a closer gear stack might get the 1/10 back, a wash maybe, only time will tell.

[turbo_bob]

If you make enough power, you don't need any extra gears...

So true.

I invision in the futrue some turbo bugs running 3 gears in the 1/4, 4.57 R&P, 3.11 1st, 1.67 2nd, 1.00 3rd and a .70 for the crusing gear