explain something... single seat racers

I have a fascination with the vintage racers of yesteryear. I have had an idea for a one-off scratch build for a while that I doubt I'll ever get to... but it's fun to dream

I was looking at the "cyclecars" thread and some pictures of the builds that Dan Webb did for the Golden Submarine and Remington tribute cars. There is something that got me wondering.

On a single seater, obviously the driveshaft goes right down the middle. How are the trans gear shifters set up? I'm guessing on most of the old racers, they used old 3 speed transmissions and the driver shifted between his legs?

If anyone has any pics to share on this type of set-up, it would truely be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ed

 

As they always say... A picture is worth a thousand words.

Thank you,

Ed

 

Oval track cars generally don't require a lot of shifting. Front engine road race cars often would often use a offset shifter arangement though.

 

Ed,I'm from the Northeast where Dirt Mods are popular.Back in the day racers would take their shifter linkage apart and fabricate individual rods and weld them to the flat stock of the old linkage, that were contoured to be easily reached.Most guys would enter the track in 2nd gear and once the car reached about 35 mph,they shifted into high and left it there until a caution,etc.Normally the green flag at my home 5/8th mile track,was taken in high gear.

 

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks.

Ed

 

Found an old pic from my old racer that I saved.Here is the shifter in my car.

 

Pics of not quite the type of car your refering to but I think it would be very enjoyable to drive it.

 

It's amazing the info you guys have. Thanks.

Ed

 

Those aren't as far off as you'd think. They do look fun to drive. The car that really has me inspired was Dan Webb's Phil Remington re-creation.

http://webbautomotiveart.com/?myportfoliotype=remington-roadster

Ed

 

That is Edsel Ford's custom built personal car built at the ford plant.

 

Which car are you referring to?

Ed

 

The red two seat speedster in post #8. Built in 34 I believe.

 

Nevermind. I figured that you were referring to the 1934 ford 40.

Ed

 

Actually, Edsel Ford and Bob Gregorie had the Triplane plant guys build it- the story is that they weren't all that busy in the midst of the depression

 

Triplane plant was still a ford plant.

 

Yes, but it certainly wasn't made at the car plant- Henry would've had a cow!

 

My '33 jalopy probably isn't the style you're talking about, but the driver sits in the middle of my car, with the shifter between the legs. At tracks around here back in the flathead days, drivers would almost always keep it in 2nd gear. I know of quite a few cars that had "hooks" welded onto the dash- once you got into second, you would hook the shifter in there so that it wouldn't pop out while you were driving.

My Dad has some other old race cars, and their a mix between sitting in the middle, and sitting on the left.