Alright, weird question...I'll be doing my first track day ever at Buttonwillow in October at one of their schools. Do to some skip shifting when I first go the car, I have no fifth gear. Haven't gotten in fixed yet. I just haven't bothered, no real need for it on the street or autox.

At this track, will I need it. Fourth redlines at 114mph.

 

yes

 

? No you don't. Unless you're Schumacher status your first time out - but even then I doubt it.

 

I never used 5th in my stock AP1 and I was running 2:11's

 

Not even an issue.

 

New Schumacher or old Schumacher?

 

with ap1 gearing you don't need 5th gear at all on buttonwillow but ap2s do, at least on 13CW

 

I've run 2:02, and even then, I don't run into 5th. Unless you're running sub 2:00, or you have some really crazy power, I doubt you'll need 5th.

 

Cool. OK, one more question...regarding getting 5th gear fixed.

I've got the choice of getting a used transmission, or replacing 5th gear. I can get the gearset from Honda for less than $200. I know labor would be more to fix it than replace the tranny.

But with a used tranny, I don't know for sure how it was cared for. If I went used, I'd probably stay with an AP1. I know that I might like the AP2 better for the street or some road racing, but it seems that the AP1 would be better for autocross. Many time at an autocross, the AP2 guys are shifting into second, but I can stay in first, both because of the gear ratio and my extra 1000rpm.

So, what do you guys think about that?