[Spridgets] Dog or Synchro

[Ron Soave]

--- Weslake1330 at aol.com wrote:
> A dog box has dog gear engagement rather than
> synchro because it is tougher  
> and less easily damaged than synchromesh.  I think
> dogs survive clutchless  
> gear changing (shifting) a lot better than synchros

Yes - that's my very, very limited understanding.
Supposedly if you drive them correctly, which means
shift extremely quickly, they are indestructible. The
number of rebuilt units on the market would seem to
indicate that isn't exactly true. They are NOT at all
suitable for the street. I have also heard from
several SCCA guys with data acquisition systems that
they save between .05 and .1 seconds per shift. Given
the number of times you shift on the track, that adds
up in a hurry. Another advantage of the
Richmond/Taylor setup is the availability of many
ratios for the track. One fast guy with a Mini told me
he has his 4 speed geared so he can do 70 MPH in 1st
gear, with 2, 3, 4 extremely close in ratio. You can
usually spot those guys on the grid, as they have
people pushing them to get rolling. On turn 7 at
Blackhawk Farms, for instance, which is a really great
Sprite track, I take the turn in 3rd or occasionally
2nd with a BMC factory straight cut close ratio box.
The Richmond guys take it in 1st without drama and are
able to keep their motors perfectly in the power band.
I think I have just as much fun for $4000 less,
though.

Ron


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