Selecting gear ratios

[Ron Roberts]

In selecting a tranny for our rides, the common considrations are fitment to the engine, and the car (like the porsche being longer)but not much is given to gear ratios it seems. Drag racers pick a close 2nd and 3rd, but in a lot of applcations folks just stick with the stock ratios designed for under powered stock engines. I was looking at some info from Weddle, and it seems you can get about any combo main shaft you could want. So, Why have a 1st gear that redlines at 30mph when you have an engine that can take off in 2nd gear without a fuss? When an engine has gobs of torque wouldn't it be ideal to select gearing that had some longer legs?

Ron