It's a gross oversimplification, at best.

 

Horsepower is derived from Torque over Time. I say Horsepower wins brags torque wins brags but this discussion could go on forEVER!! If you want to get a little more in depth than that, torque is important... as well as what rpm you make it at. (I'm guessing and making assumptions... Hopefully I'm right) If you make tons of torque down low but falls off at 3500 rpm you are going to have to shift too soon to make up for the loss of high end torque. If you shift at 5 grand, you'll have a shoddy time if trying to win the race you're in.

 

Anything you read on Black Echo's old cobweb is suspect. He didn't know what he was doing or what he was talking about; and when he finally gave up trying to turn his hallucinations into anything resembling fact, he didn't bother to take that crap down. So be REAL CAREFUL with it. It contains some truth; but it's not "true".

 

Another oversimplification.
The way I was told years ago was that torque gets you going and hp keeps you going. This leads me to believe that, all things being equal, the higher torque vehicle will get up and go quicker but the higher hp car will end up outrunning the torquemobile.

 

If we're talking about a 1/4 mile drag race, provided you can get all that torque to the ground efficiently,my mony's on the car with 300lbs of torque

 

So a torque monster like those 1980 Trans AM, is quick? Was it the '80 or the '70 T/A?

 

Gears play a big role in this as well. A torque heavy engine needs a tall gear (lower numerical) to put down a good amount of speed over a narrow RPM range. A car with a lot of top end needs a shorter gear to quickly reach its powerband, and since gears multiply torque, shorter (higher numerical) gears can make up for a lack of lowend torque. However, taller gears will not make up a lack of horsepower, which is why higher horsepower usually wins.

 

NHRA is trying to keep top fuel dragster speeds down for the sake of safety. They limit engine RPMs to accomplish that goal.

Now, think about it - would ET's be higher, or lower if they didn't limit RPMs???

 

Might be a different result if they race from a roll, esp a highway roll.

 

LOL One controversial topic at a time. I agree though, makes you wonder what "would" happen.

 

Race a "300HP" diesel truck and find out All 600ftlbs of torque of it

 

Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races. Again an oversimplification, but it does hold some truth. Horsepower is a measurement derived from torque. The higher RPM at which you make your peak torque the more peak horsepower you will make.

 

It's been said that horsepower rules the track while torque rules the streets...