Art Carr-Winters Shifter & Parts | Sidewinder Gated Race Shifter

The Winters Sidewinder Shifter is a gated automatic transmission shifter designed for racing, off-road, and performance applications. Unlike traditional ratchet shifters, the Sidewinder uses a mechanical steel gate that physically guides the shift handle through each gear position. This provides positive gear engagement, precise shifting, and helps prevent accidental shifts during aggressive driving.

Art Carr originally developed the gated shifter design that became popular in racing and off-road applications. Today, Winters Performance manufactures and supports the Sidewinder shifter line. Many enthusiasts still refer to them as "Art Carr shifters," but modern Winters Sidewinder Shifters feature updated manufacturing, improved components, replacement parts availability, and support from Winters Performance.

Winters shifters are popular because they are simple, durable, and reliable. The gated design provides positive gear selection and helps prevent missed shifts during hard acceleration, rough terrain, and competition use. Unlike many spring-loaded shifters, the Sidewinder uses a mechanical gate system that remains consistent and predictable in harsh environments.

Winters offers transmission-specific gate plates and shifter configurations, including reverse pattern valve body setups commonly used in racing and off-road vehicles.

A gated shifter uses a precision-machined steel gate to control shifter movement between gears. This design creates positive stops for each gear position and helps prevent accidental shifts. Many racers and off-road drivers prefer gated shifters because they offer more confidence and control than traditional automatic shifters, especially in high-performance environments.