287 HP engine, MT = 60 MPH at rev limiter in 2nd.
300 HP engine, MT = 64 MPH at rev limiter in 2nd.
305 HP engine (HR), MT = 70 MPH at rev limiter in 2nd.

<sarcasm>Gee, I guess all of the Porsche drivers that have been complaining about being geared too high because their car could do 70 MPH in 2nd gear don't know what they're talking about.</sarcasm>

Courses have been getting slightly tighter -- and hence slower -- over the past couple of years. For example, the '00-'02 Honda S2000 has a top speed in second of just over 60 MPH, while the '03-present Honda S2000 has a top speed in second of 54 MPH, yet it is the more recent Honda S2000s that are now more sought after. The Solstice tops out around 60 in second, the Solstice GXP tops out around 54. They're in two different classes, yet both are competitive in their respective classes.

Sure, I do hit the rev limiter on course, but only when I'm at the beginning of a longer straightaway do I shift to third. The cost of the upshift (0.3 seconds of mild deceleration) means that I need enough distance to make it worthwhile.

 

While I don't disagree with your overall point, the '00 - '02 S2000s actually top out around 68 mph in second (plus or minus a mph or two -- it's been a while since I had mine) while the newer ones top out around 60.

As the owner of a Boxster S with a second gear that goes to 70 mph, I'd much rather have one good to 65 mph or even 60, as I find myself bogging out of slow corners far more often than I ride the rev limiter.

 

It all depends on the engine. With the strong engine like the VQ, you do not need gears this short. It makes no sense. The gears on the Z is odd, there is no reason for the car to have gears like what we have.

 

It all depends on the course. Some courses work with the Z's gearing and others make you work the gears. I think this would be true for any car.

I was in 3rd for most of this course...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rAHpOy_Lfg

And barely used third on this course...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71E606ghYeM


Ok. it's uploaded now...

 

Thanks for the comments. I’ll keep that in mind.

I raced today at Ripken Stadium, Aberdeen, MD. Its difficult to tell if I am bumping the rev limiter because I’m trying to pay attention to so much other stuff.

 

Sometimes my rear tires may be spinning 60 MPH, but I don't think that my car is going 60 MPH.

 

That's pretty much the story. The fact is that the Z can handle the typical range of autocross speeds in 2nd gear. The reason I got the RevUp engine was because of the extra 500 RPM.