OK, but... in a round about way, you did ask for proof?
It's all good, I'm just providing food for thought in response to what you said. I know some people get hung up on the idea that 'we don't race dynos' and all, especially John who started this thread, he beats that idea like a rented mule. It's OK to acknowledge an impressive achievement though even if it does not necessarily prove anything specific.
On the other hand, an impressive dyno number obviously does not mean that real-world tuning experience is any less important. You have to understand the numbers for them to be useful. I think that's where skepticism about dyno numbers comes from because they don't always translate to better ETs. Plain and simple it takes experience to be able to harness the info in a productive way.
But the underlying point here is that as we all know, a dyno sheet is just a tool. It's an established baseline conducted under optimal circumstances that is ultimately used for tuning in real-world situations that may not be so optimal. The tuning choices you make when using that info is reflected in time slips. No one complains about racers using weather stations but they are similar to a dyno sheet in that they provide helpful information to aid in making more informed tuning choices under specific circumstances.
Posting dyno numbers often seems to get interpreted as to whether the engine build was successful or not. While that's mostly true, it's not the whole story. Dyno sheets don't only show power output but specifically how the engine uses fuel and timing plus all sorts of other myriad data that can help the tuner make choices when trying to get the car do one thing or another. Why would you reject that kind of info outright? Knowledge is power, always.
Regardless, the F.A.S.T. cars are really amazing in that they are over-the-top, factory-correct restorations with stock 'looking' engines making close to 1,000 horsepower. If you're not impressed by that then you might have unrealistic standards.
Does not get much cooler than a stock-looking '71 Cuda going mid nines at 145 mph on 7" Polyglas GT tires...
