Snap said:

-Must drive above ___ MPH to keep the battery charges: Probably

Alternators use juice from the battery to drive the stator, which in turn causes current to flow in the field. Regulation occurs by changing the current through the stator. This way, the field current can be kept constant over a wide range of speeds. I don't have any actual data, but supposing that an alternator charges well enough between 800 and 8000 rpm, then it should work equally well between 20 and 200 mph.

Snap said:

I do see an additional belt for what looks like a diff oil pump. I like that idea if it is under-driven enough to where you are always getting some flow, but arent stressing the pump at top speed.

Stress on the pump would only be an issue if there is some restriction in the circuit causing back pressure. If the pump is low-volume, and the lines and cooler are a reasonable diameter, there would be very little pressure in the system. Probably only a few psi, but I guess that depends on fluid viscosity... Guess it all depends how much flow is required to keep the temperature down to an acceptable level...

GunMetalGrey said:

How often do these guys break alternator belts?

If it breaks once and causes you to lose a race, then that's one too many times.

GunMetalGrey said:

It's interesting seeing a slide gate for the throttle plates compared to the standard butterfly setup.

Flat slide carbs were once common in motorcycles. I guess the logic is that when the throttle is wide open there is no obstruction in the intake path like a butterfly, and the air path through the throttle can match the runners (ie be round) unlike a round slide carb which widens in that area when the slide is pulled away.

How often do these guys break alternator belts? 

How did I not know about the M49?

It's interesting seeing a slide gate for the throttle plates compared to the standard butterfly setup.

Today I learned that the M49 is an engine. I always thought it was just the M88 and S38 that wore the trumpets in the early cars