Benefits of a short shifter in a non-Drag application?
 

So are there any? Specifically, autocross, I suppose, since that's my application. Thanks guys!

Steve

anything that reduces shift times is a benefit in almost every application. if it saves 2 seconds in a run you may move up a few spots in the standings. some short shifters are also a little longer which gives you less time with your right hand off the steering wheel; although I'm not aware of any like this for an RX-7.

blah
 

Not really any gain in any form of motorsport.

The tranny can only be shifted as fast as the synchros will allow. Trying to do it faster is just asking for trouble. Any normal person can shift the stock shifter that fast.

Short shifters place the knob farther away from the steering wheel. This means you spend more time reaching for it. Less time with two hands on wheel, where they should be.

I have yet to see a short shifter that addresses these two concerns. I have seen custom shifters that are longer than stock - but they actually make the throw longer (it's just simple geometry) - they might be of some use for autocross or circuit racing, but I doubt it.

Not so, short throw shifters (not just shortened levers) make a world of difference. If you can shorten the time it takes to get into another gear (the time/distance it takes to move the lever) then you can get into a different gear faster, it's simple common sense. I'm not talking honda shifters that make the lever shorter so it looks cool, I'm talking mazdatrix (which by the way doesn't make the length much shorter imo) that make the lever throw distance much shorter so you have more time on the wheel. Not to start an argument, but install one and that should be enough to convince you...

skip barber school actually tested this....the results are in their racing textbook. going solely from memory, i seem to recall that they showed no appreciable improvement in lap times from "faster" upshifting. downshifting is proabalby irrelevant since it's usually done under braking anyways. so even if you believe that a short shifter can improve your "shift time", it doesn't appear to matter when it comes to lap time.

having said that, i like the way a short shifter "feels" on the track ....so i have one. i doubt it makes me any faster though.

fabian

if it was more accurate, that would help

mike

How many times are you shifting in a 1 to 1:30 minute autocross course.
The last one I ran in I think I shifted 2 times from first to second then back to first.

2 pennys