Have you ever been to a dirt track and watched a World of
Outlaws winged sprinter race? No? Then that is most certainly
your loss. What you are missing is truly spectacular racing and
the chance to see a vehicle with a very high degree of
optimization of moment of inertia. Listen to one of these
400-inch, 800hp injected alcohol monsters rev up, and the
greased-lightening throttle response leaves the impression that
it defies the laws of physics. It sounds as though it's digital
(a step function) rather than analog (a progressively increasing
function). In other words, it sounds as if it goes instantly
from 1,200 to 7,500 rpm. This eardrum-fraying whiplash lets you
know right away this is not an engine for the faint-hearted.
Sprinter-like throttle response is a target I strive for (to a
varying degree) with every engine I build. Although having an
effective engine spec in terms of induction, compression, cam,
and ignition is half the battle, it's important to realize that
it really is just that-half the battl