High vs low RPM

[wmhjr]

Until the 'speculators' show up on-track and prove their points, I'm not buying their logic. There are too many guys who actually have running cars and show up at events to listen to philosophers like this who either don't have running cars or don't show up at events to showcase them.

Scott, not sure which "speculators" you're talking about here. I kinda agree with you here. Remember that some of us haven't had the opportunity to get to some of the tracks you've been at, but may well be putting their cars through the paces as much as possible. For me, though I know I don't have the kind of build to really challenge Penny or Mary (that term compromise comes to mind) you can expect to see me at MMCC and/or the Motor State Challenge, and likely RTTH in 2011! I know I'm gonna get smoked but at least it ought to be some good guys laughing at me while it's going on.

With regard to the original post, I humbly submit that compromise is key. We (as a group) are fielding street cars. That immediately firms up a few things - like sub 9,000 rpm engines. So, make the best sub-9,000 rpm engine you can. Whether that's a small- or big-block is less important than the car's ability to put that power down and the driver's ability to control it.

It also matters if we're talking about a tight, twisty auto-cross course (adequate power to get out of shape is relatively low), a road course (longer straights and a wide range of tight and sweeping turns challenge the driver and suspension to stick all the way around), or an open road deal like Silver State (power and aero become priorities as the road is pretty much straight and flat, and the engine's durability will be tested as it must make steady power for more than an hour under high duress).

Building one, single car than can perform well at all of these places is an even greater challenge, and engineering a car capable of such performance borders somewhere between art and technical genius.

Couldn't agree more. That's why I'm more comfortable with torquey motors. JMHO. Because when you add in the activity of just cruising down the road, we've all got to admit that low end torque is really optimal for cruise driving. It all depends on what you are trying to do. There's no one recipe for success. If there were, we'd all be building exact clones.