I'm asking in the G-stock forum, so this is about
the six speed transmission. Do you ever get to 3rd gear in an autox ?
Do you do much 2 - 3 - 3 shifting up and down ?

I have an H-Stock Cooper and just leave it in 2nd, except for some
very unusually tight courses.

Cooper gearing * final drive
1st gear: 13.46
2nd gear: 7.67
3rd gear: 5.25
4th gear: 4.15
5th gear: 3.33

Cooper S * final drive
1st gear = 11.43:1
2nd gear = 7.18:1
3rd gear = 5.40:1
4th gear = 4.41:1
5th gear = 3.66:1
6th gear = 2.97:1
Reverse = 11.13:1


ratios from discussion on MotoringFile

 

Never here. I could not imagine doing 70+ for long enough to need 3rd. Who knows though.

 

Second gear is good for about 62mph with smaller diameter race tires mounted. The likelyhood of hitting 3rd gear is VERY rare.
But, it's not because the course isn't fast enough, it's because of the lack of traction coming out of turns to get to the necessary speeds. I'm confident that had the MINI been RWD and LSD, coming out of one of the last turns on the North Course in 2002 would have needed 3rd for several seconds. Instead, I was just lighting up the tires for most of the straight until I had to slow down.

Nope, I've never hit 3rd either. Keep in mind, it's also better to sit on the rev limiter for about 1 second or so, instead of shifting up and then shifting back down.

Brian

 

I’ve found most auto-x courses to be set up in such a way to provide the thrill of speed but only for short bursts. To use 3rd gear would be very hard. However I raced an auto-x a few weeks back at Gainesville Raceway that was on their test track and 3rd gear was a must.

_________________

 

Depending on the autocross course setup, most times it is only possible to use 1st and second gear once you get up to speed. Generally less shifting is usually a good idea and reving up your MINI rather than shift will yield faster times.
Since most runs last about a minute or less you won't need third or be able to make it worth the effort. A longer fast course or on a short track would be different.

 

Come to San Diego Region. We had an event where I was deep into third. It was a track event with cones I run a Cooper w/215/40 16s.