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I realize that this forum is used by many different types of slot racers with different approaches to their enjoyment in the hobby. My question is more aimed at the semi serious racer who is interested in not only the fastest lap he or she might turn but the best car set up and gearing to be able to turn fast lap after fast lap without the fear of consistent deslotting. When you get to a track and have time to set up a car, how do you gear your car? I know that on a personal basis most of my cars are geared either at or near the 3-1 ratio for a base line starting gear ratio. Next, if I want to change gears I always gear to get the best performance and drivability out of my car in the more technical parts of the track, even at the expense of a bit of top end. I spent quite a few years running on an Engelman track and those who know these tracks know that they have two long straights, the main straight going into the bank and the secondary and somewhat shorter straight that heads towards the driver panel. I always geared my car to make the max of the secondary straight. I have always thought that if your car winds out a few feet before the end of the longest straight you most of the time have the ability to turn consistent laps. That is my two cents, now I would like to hear some ideas from other racers.

When I raced flexi cars on commercial tracks I basically followed the same basis as you, maxing out on the second longest straight. For that type of racing, you don't want too much top end because the motor will "drag" coming out of the corners... causing it to over heat. With too low end, acceleration, the motor will top out early and over heat as well.

Now racing 1/32 on home tracks, no longer that 90' laps, that I have to gear things differently. We use a standard 18k rpm motor for most of our cars. At this point, almost all of my cars have the same gear ratios to reach maximum performance in lap time. However, with this tuning method, I have not been able to tune for the second longest straight... But it just seems where the power band of the motor wants to be.

Mr. Lap Timer will settle it. When you can turn the fastest laps and you like the feel of the car, the gear ratio is correct.

I agree with the aspect of topping out about 4/5s of the way down the longest straight, but I like to go deeper into the corners too.
Also agree with RM, I will use a larger dia pinion wherever possible. I can set gear mesh with spacers
so I dont have to worry about the motor shaft running in the self centering groove on the inline crown.
I just shave the motor shaft down so it clears the collars. Anyway thats what works for me.