I haven't got a horse in the race now, but I've had a few. I cannot adequately describe the driving joy gained from taking a car and wringing it's neck to get the last ounce of performance, whether it be a 500hp mid engined sports car or a front engined tin top, and you cannot do that with excess hp.
I've owned cars with excess hp on the street and it was fun for a while but to be honest, it became boring. There's a culture thing going on here, and I believe Mericans will always plump for big numbers because someone whispered to their mama while they were being conceived "there's no substitute for inches." Have I got that right?
For a street '40 I would be happy with 375-425 at the wheels and for the track 500 rwhp tops, remembering that you are in the twisty bits far more than you are on the straight bits where hp counts.
I would then "add lightness".
I would just add that with mid engined cars they can snap oversteer on the throttle quite quickly and given the lack of protection etc....
I've owned cars with excess hp on the street and it was fun for a while but to be honest, it became boring. There's a culture thing going on here, and I believe Mericans will always plump for big numbers because someone whispered to their mama while they were being conceived "there's no substitute for inches." Have I got that right?
For a street '40 I would be happy with 375-425 at the wheels and for the track 500 rwhp tops, remembering that you are in the twisty bits far more than you are on the straight bits where hp counts.
I would then "add lightness".
I would just add that with mid engined cars they can snap oversteer on the throttle quite quickly and given the lack of protection etc....