a) Propulsion isn't everything in autox.
b) If your gear ratios are tight enough to keep in the powerband, it doesn't
really matter
whether it is down low or up high.
c) What ultimately matters, torque-wise, is not whether it's high or low but
how wide it
is. As you keenly observe, at least in Stock we have to live with the
factory gears.
How much of 20-70mph is within the engine's powerband is the key. Points
deducted
for having to shift to keep it there.
That's why I love the LS1 and Viper motors - the torque curve is so flat that
they're at 80% of peak torque throughout almost that whole speed range. Doesn't
get much better than that without going electric.
KeS
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of James Creasy
> Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2001 15:20
> To: ba-autox@autox.team.net
> Subject: hp, torque, and autox
>
>
> http://www.vettenet.org/torquehp.html
>
> i found this to be an excellent description of torque and horsepower in
> cars.
>
> what i took away from the article is that torque is what works if you cant
> be in the right gear for high revs. since we dont shift much in autocross
> and rarely hit the power peak, mid range torque should rule the roost.
>
> so how did a torqueless S2000 win A-stock at nationals this year? i imagine
> because the redline is so high that it doesnt have to shift and lower the
> effective torque. it doesnt pull harder, but it pulls LONGER. so it ran
> the course in 1st, vs. andy's MR-2 in 2nd and so had more effective torque?
>
> -james c
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