Gary Z

I searched several sections but was surprised to find no match for “road racing shifter”. All the discussion of shifters seems to concern drag racing only. Do road racers and auto crossers mostly use the stock shifter?

roy

I'm not a road racer but I do occasionaly run sometracks. I use a B&M shifter. Works great for what I need. Bit Ithink its time for me to move on to a higher ratio longer stick combo.

AllZWay

iTrader: (1)

I open track my car and I use the SLP/Hurst shifter with the stock handle and it seems just fine.

SSixspeed

I use the stock Hurst shifter with Lou's Short Stick. It just replaces the stick part of the shifter and can be had for $47 from Afterthought's Auto, one of the sponsers.

It's almost 2 inches shorter than the stock Hurst.

Racehead

I do some road course stuff as well as ORR (Silver State Classic). I use a B&M Ripper and love it. I didn't exactly hate my stock Hurst shifter, but this one is better, more precise etc.

Gary Z

Thanks everyone for the responses. Since no one has mentioned downshifting I assume it is not a problem. I haven't used any of the common aftermarket shifters but somehow got the idea that they are spring-loaded to discourage 3-2 shifts and that this "feature" might interfere with downshifting.

-Gary

roy

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Gary Z:
<strong> Thanks everyone for the responses. Since no one has mentioned downshifting I assume it is not a problem. I haven't used any of the common aftermarket shifters but somehow got the idea that they are spring-loaded to discourage 3-2 shifts and that this "feature" might interfere with downshifting.

-Gary </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Spring loaded to nuetral. To discourage the dreaded 3-2 shift is more driver technique and hand placement on the shifter ball.

2FAST4U

there are allot of easyer ways to get rid of the 2-3 skip shift. Like 15cent resistor or in programing!

deviate42

iTrader: (2)

i like the B&M . it feels much better than my stock hurst did, and is more fun to use <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

roy

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 2FAST4U:
<strong> there are allot of easyer ways to get rid of the 2-3 skip shift. Like 15cent resistor or in programing! </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">2FAST
I think he was worried more about the dreaded 3-2 mishift.

Louis

iTrader: (7)

Slow and steady. Meticulous shifts, not power shifts <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

garfin

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by SSmokem02:
<strong> I use the stock Hurst shifter with Lou's Short Stick. It just replaces the stick part of the shifter and can be had for $47 from Afterthought's Auto, one of the sponsers.

It's almost 2 inches shorter than the stock Hurst. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is the exact combo that I use. I love it and road race the car as well. I feel this combo is more prescise than the stock Hurst setup. But that's only my opinion...
There is another school of thought on this that is based on not using a shorter lever. The reasoning is that it increases the distance between the steering wheel and the shifter handle. I know a couple of people who preferthe handle as close to the wheel as possible, to minimize the amount of time with only one habd on the wheel. Just a consideration - I don't have a problem with Lou's SS on the road course.

Best regardSS,

Elie

Cal

iTrader: (1)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by SSmokem02:
<strong> I use the stock Hurst shifter with Lou's Short Stick. It just replaces the stick part of the shifter and can be had for $47 from Afterthought's Auto, one of the sponsers.

It's almost 2 inches shorter than the stock Hurst. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm using the stock Hurst shifter also, but I made my own short-stick about the same length as Lou's. Works great for me; the shorter handle gives you better gear feel and shorter travel between gears.

trackbird

iTrader: (4)

I'm running a B&M ripper, it is agreat improvement over my factory Hurst. The bias springs are a little softer and it is not so hard to get out of the 3-4 gate to go to 1-2 or 5-6 and reverse. The B&M stick is about 1 inch or so shorter than stock. While you're at it, get a shifter ball with a jam nut so it won't rotate on hot days (I'm using a Hurst ball, black with the 6 speed shift pattern on it in white). Good luck.

mitchntx

iTrader: (14)

I open track as well. Have been for almost 3 years, 5 or 6 weekends a year. Just recently changed my stock clutch and have had zero trans problems ...

I went from the stock shifter to the Hurst BP and now run the new style Ripper. The new style has some adjustment on the base plate and a curved handle.

I like the curved handle because of the shifter ball placement. I would have a hard time reaching 5th and Reverse while strapped in my seat with a 5pt. I would imagine it depends a lot on how tall you are, though.

Shifter ball ... I had a hard, smooth, round ball on my car and a couple of times my hand slipped off. I found a leather Hurst shifter ball. It fits a hand really nice.

Shifting ... I read somewhere about shifting technique. I recall it was all about thumb placement.

When shifting between 1st and 2nd, the thumb should be draped across the top of the shifter ball pointing towards the front of the car.

When shifting between 2nd and 3rd, the thumb should be wrapped around the side of the ball, pointing torwards the front of the car.

When shifting between 3rd and 4th, the thumb should be along the shifter shank, pointing straight down.

These techniques work for either upshifting or downshifting.

It took me some time to get used to this, but it's second nature now, I guess ... kinda like muscle memory.

Take it for what it's worth ... JMHO