I watched Dick compete in SCCA races at VIR (Virginia International Raceway) several times. The last race of the weekend was the A Production / B production race which featured the 427 Cobras vs the Vettes. VIR’s back straight is >6000 feet long, so the big boys could get up to full speed before the hairpin at the end. Here’s Dick with his #198 427 Snake. Just like the original image except you’ll note the Snake is shod with Goodyear Blue Streaks (SportsCar Special) racing tires. I’ve ridden in both the 289 and 427 Cobras, and the 427 is a BEAST.

That's a ligitimate situation to ponder. EV cars ( the high-end stuff ) are impressive in aceleration because they produce their torque ratings almost immediately whereas gas engines lag behind in reaching their maximum torque. Running flat out for top speed is a differnt issue. Right now, the top speed for street cars is somwhere around 270 - 290 MPH in a Bugatti that producing around 1700 HP. There's a number of folks taking a shot at the top speed. It's far from a static field of contenders. Top speed comes from the aplication of power, gearing, and aerodynamics of the vehicle. I'm not sure that, in these cases, it matters whether the power comes from ev motors or gas engines. some one more knowledgeable than I am about these matters may want to chime in.