Yes you are seeing that correctly, it is a 3 piece straight axle, there are 6 pinch bolts, a 1/2 inch key and the thru-bolt is there to ensure the axle is retained. I would like to say gear changes were easy, they are not hard in the shop when the car is already apart, but a little tougher on the salt. The new trailer will make it easier, we put a support under the flat part of the car for jacking and tested it on the salt.
We have used split sprockets in the past, but keeping them aligned was a problem even with precision bolt holes. The sprockets are 1 piece now and we usually make our first gear change at the front.