Let's face facts. The power an engine produces is the result of how much fuel it can burn efficiently. All of the laws of chemistry, physics and thermodynamics apply to a racing engine. The push on the piston - otherwise known as brake mean effective pressure, or BMEP - determines how far the needle on the dyno moves and how fast the car can ultimately run on the racetrack. There are a lot of ways to make an engine perform below its potential, but there is no way to make a well-developed engine perform beyond its physical limitations. If you really want to raise the power level, you must either increase the engine speed or increase the pressure on the pistons. 

     Some parts have more miraculous attributes than others. No one buys a valve cover or connecting rod with the notion that those parts will add 100 horsepower. But a carburetor or a camshaft - those have mysterious properties in the minds of some racers. The reality is that a carburetor doesn't increase manifold pressure. If you have a fuel curve that fits the engine's needs and sharp throttle response, that's about all you can ask for. At least carburetors are cool to look at and offer lots of adjustments, which adds to their air of mystery. Camshafts, in contrast, all look pretty much alike; without special fixtures and software, you'd be hard

     My advice is to ask an expert. There are engine builders who are good at what they do, and you can identify them if you pay attention at the races. Years of racing experience have given them the insight to select parts that complement each other and to analyze results accurately. The good builders are graduates of the University of Hard Knocks, where the course curriculum is building engines, dyno testing engines and running engines on the drag strip. Experience matters. 

     Maybe the success of the infomercials says something about our society. We're looking for the quick fix. Fifty pounds overweight? Take these pills or drink this potion and the pounds will just disappear, without dieting or exercise. Bankrupt, unemployed and under indictment? Just dial this telephone number and get the brand-new luxury car you deserve. Diagnosed with cancer? Our offshore clinic can prescribe magic pills that kill the bad cells without harming the good ones. 

     In drag racing, as in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.