Technical Fast Rev/Return

One of the unique attributes of racing engines I always tuned into was the ability to rev up and return to idle quickly. This was often the hallmark of a 'hot' engine.
I'd imagine this was due to a few different things; Individual runner intakes, high compression and low rotating mass.
What steps could be taken to safely get this kind of responsiveness in a street engine?

 

Lotsa initial advance and a properly tuned carb.
6sally6

 

A balancing job is a great start. Efficiency of large air volumetric combustion exchange process .. is next.

That's pretty much it. Just money & time. Your personal finance investment may vary.

You're welcome.

 

A nice aluminum flywheel ...

 

Lighten the rotating mass, all of it.

 

Go in the pits at a dirt late-model race. Whole lotta WHAP..WHAP...WHAP...gonin' on!

 

Light flywheel !

 

^^^this! throttle a small block with just a flexplate-quick revs!

 

A few years ago I had a late model "muscle car" it would rev quick but was REAL SLOW returning to idle, I hated that. I'm sure it was in the programming.

 

Now I want to go to the strip.......I wonder how much snow is on it?

 

My flathead has a snappy rev, kinda weird for a flathead but I like it. Aluminum Flywheel, aluminum Ross pistons on a merc crank, lots of porting, 471 doesn't hurt.

 

Sprint cars used aluminum rods, plus lots of drag cars. They had to be replaced more often.

 

Like 302 GMC says Aluminum Flywheel.