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Tony Curcio · 09-20-2013, 08:31 AM

High gear retard was an old trick that worked back when Sunoco 260 was the highest octane gasoline available. Ray Allen had a switch on the shifter of the famous SS/EA Chevelle convertible that sold at auction a few times in recent years. It still is worth something when the rules limit your fuel, or in boosted applications.

After a few experiments, I found a consistent one or two hundredths at an elevated track, when switching from C12 to C11. The track in question is about 900 feet above sea level. Just switching to the lower octane C11 showed gains at the 60, 330 and 660 foot timers, but a loss at 1,000 and 1320.

Connecting the ign retard to a switch that activated when the shifter moved to high gear resulted in the small, but measurable gain referenced above.
Back home at sea level, the lower octane fuel does nothing for my combo, so no need for the high gear retard.

09-20-2013, 08:31 AM	#3
Tony Curcio Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 271 Likes: 1 Liked 4 Times in 1 Post	Re: High Speed Retard Question High gear retard was an old trick that worked back when Sunoco 260 was the highest octane gasoline available. Ray Allen had a switch on the shifter of the famous SS/EA Chevelle convertible that sold at auction a few times in recent years. It still is worth something when the rules limit your fuel, or in boosted applications. After a few experiments, I found a consistent one or two hundredths at an elevated track, when switching from C12 to C11. The track in question is about 900 feet above sea level. Just switching to the lower octane C11 showed gains at the 60, 330 and 660 foot timers, but a loss at 1,000 and 1320. Connecting the ign retard to a switch that activated when the shifter moved to high gear resulted in the small, but measurable gain referenced above. Back home at sea level, the lower octane fuel does nothing for my combo, so no need for the high gear retard. __________________ Tony Curcio 1860 STK Last edited by Tony Curcio; 09-20-2013 at 08:35 AM.