.....and, at least for me, a big reason for putting in a high horsepower engine is the BRAGGING RIGHTS. I have a BB Ford that someday will get stroked to 514 cubes. Why? Because it's impressive. Will I drive the car "hard" 99% of the time? Nooooooo -- you don't spend that kind of capital on something (don't forget the cost of the rest of the car!) just to dive like an idiot and wreck it! I think The Al Show has it right: Power when you need it for spankin'. The rest is for the bragging.