Ken Slagle

[V8Wedgehead]

I just came back from meeting Ken Slagle for the first time. He was an absolute pleasure and thrill to talk to about his racing days. He has been sailing around the world for the last 11 years after selling his cars and buying a sailboat. He now lives about 30 minutes from me in Maryland and by chance found a posting on another forum from him. I managed to purchase a set of NOS Leyland ST close ratio gears for the Rover 5-speed. They were still in the BL box with the individual parts listing!


He also threw in a service tool.....anyone know what this is used for??? I know!

He had all kinds of parts left over that all had some story attached to each one of them. He also had sitting in the back the helmet he won the 1981 SCCA National champoinship in a TR8. I tried to buy that but I did not have enough room for the zeros on the check!

To cap it all off he signed my book Triumph TR7 The Untold Story. Oh what a day............



Michael
1980 TR8 FHCs; Rally Conversion #0020 & Stock #0058

If it is broken then fix it....if it is not then make it faster!"

[PeterTR7V8]

Very cool. I reckon those chopped racing wedges are the bizzo. They would have to be a better race care without the roof I would think. When I win lotto...




Never say die. At least not while you're still breathing.

[bmcecosse]

It does indeed look great without the screen! Smart paint-job too.

[Beans]

I want one [8D]

As for the competition ...

... that's the tool used for mounting the pinion bearing.

Did I win something, the car maybe [:)]

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car currently being restored)
In parts a 1980 TR7 PI DHC, 1981 TR7 DHC, 1981 TR7 FHC</font id="blue">
<font color="red">http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="red"></center>

[tr8]

Michael

You are like a bloodhound on this stuff...great job!

Paul

[TR Tony]

Nice one Michael - I bet that was a very interesting meeting.

There are a few people around who will be very envious of your gear set find! Rarer than rocking horse c**p[:)]

Tony

<font size="1">1981 2L FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 3.5L V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red - sadly sold!
TR8 FHC EFI Factory development car</font id="size1">

[V8Wedgehead]

It was one meeting that is up there with Bob Tullius & other Group 44 guys! So the close ratios are that rare? I know I could have bought a lot of stuff for my project with what the gears cost, but the transmission was going to be a weak link and the gearing from what everyone tells me is not suitable for racing. Ok so if that is the case how is it on the street using close ratio gears[:D] On another note Ken said he might have another set of gears so if anyone is interested let me know and I can pass the info onto him or set up a contact.

Michael
1980 TR8 FHCs; Rally Conversion #0020 & Stock #0058

If it is broken then fix it....if it is not then make it faster!"

[tr8]

How do you know if a transmission has close ratio gears? My race car came with a transmission that supposedley has them.

Paul

[V8Wedgehead]

Excellent question......let me see if I can get some answers or if anyone else in the forum can offer up the answer.......

On another note the gear ratios are 1st-2.33:1, 2nd-1.611:1 and 3rd-1.209:1 for the close ratio which is close to the stock TR7 4-speed ratios. Is the box in or out of the car? You can do the turn and count revolutions.

Michael
1980 TR8 FHCs; Rally Conversion #0020 & Stock #0058

If it is broken then fix it....if it is not then make it faster!"

[Beans]

According to one of the books I have lying around the ratios should be
1st 2.33; 2nd 1.611; 3rd 1.30; 4th 1.00 5th 0.833.
But doesn't say anything abouit th egears them selves. Are they straight cut?

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car currently being restored)
In parts a 1980 TR7 PI DHC, 1981 TR7 DHC, 1981 TR7 FHC</font id="blue">
<font color="red">http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="red"></center>

[V8Wedgehead]

I will take pictures of the gears after I unwrap them and expose them to sunlight for the first time since 1979.I hope they do not turn to dust [;)] I will also have the stock gears next to them to see if there are any differences.

Michael
1980 TR8 FHCs; Rally Conversion #0020 & Stock #0058

If it is broken then fix it....if it is not then make it faster!"

[FI Spyder]

I believe both Bob Tullius and John Buffum used close ratio gears but they didn't have 5th gear installed as they thought it was the weak link in the transmission. Not a problem for rallying but restricted top end speed for Bob. Probably the reason the 'Vettes were able to pass him at the longer straights at Daytona. Too bad they couldn't turn too.[:D]

Didn't seem to adversely affect him too much.



TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

[tr8]

The box is in the car right now. Even when it was out of the car, I didn't know how to check. I counted in/out revolutions, but didn't see any easy way to check.

Paul