[Tommy]

RET_COP,
I consider myself an inexperienced novice whose autocross experience is approaching ten years old, which is why I recommended Bruce Cambern for advice. But my recollection is that the hardest part of autocross the first half dozen times I did it was not getting lost. I too struggled with the gear shift question and settled for shifting into second one time and then staying with it. It was hard enough wrestling that beast around those tight corners without worrying about shifting gears too. ... My only other thought is that courses change from event to event. So the ideal rear end ratio for one course might not be right for the next. .... Good luck at the track. And when you get tired of long days with little track time to show for it, look into track days. I found them more to my liking.