RE: 164 L v S, can you imagine? (rpm's at speed)

["Sedon, Doug (OD/ORS)" <sedond@domain.elided>]

usually, to be honest, i loaf along at ~3500rpms - a hair over 80mph.  4k rpms
puts me ~94mph.  at this speed, i appreciate a little tactile sensation from the
engine - i did this on a trip thru western md once, no problem...   :>)

	-----Original Message-----
	From:	richard bies [SMTP:bies@domain.elided]
	Sent:	Wednesday, May 26, 1999 2:15 PM
	To:	Sedon, Doug (OD/ORS)
	Cc:	'alfa-digest@domain.elided'
	Subject:	Re:164 L v S, can you imagine? (rpm's at speed)



	On Wed, 26 May 1999, Sedon, Doug (OD/ORS) wrote:
	> 
	> differing tastes, i guess...
	> 
	Perhaps so.  I regard 4000 as too high for loafing along.  Something
like
	holding an engine at 5000, no-load.

	(For that matter, I disagree with max rpm at max speed even for racing
	(long stretches).  The power demanded to overcome friction/drag
increases
	with speed.  The power output of an engine climbs toward a peak, but
then
	falls-off.  For the highest top speed, the engine should be at max
output,
	not red-line.  If the engine will red-line in top gear, a higher gearing
	would give a higher top speed.)

	r.m.bies

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