I agree with you, @Stan Galat, the more I know, the more it seems I don't know!
The reason I keep questioning this, @edsnova, is conventional wisdom in the (not just aircooled VW) engine building world has always said that a camshaft's duration (or length of time the valves stay open) dictates an engine's powerband. You match all the parts (cam and rockers, heads, intake, exhaust and compression to make the best power in the same 3,000 or so rpm range, all hopefully reaching their full capabilities at more or less the same time (redline). You normally wouldn't use just a cam, or heads, or exhaust that will make power to 7500 or 8,000 rpm in an engine where the rest of the components will be done some 2 or 3 thousand rpm sooner.
If we look at the dur. @ .050" #'s of Engle's aircooled VW camshafts, you would expect a W100 (236' @ .050") to make power to approximately 5,000 rpm and have a ton of torque from almost idle all the way up. How well it does this depends on how close all the other components come to your intended goal- for example, it would be counterproductive (in this instance) to put 48mm carbs, big valve heads, or even a 1 5/8" exhaust on anything under 2 liters, as any 1 will soften the bottom end, it probably won't have the street manners you're looking for and mileage may suffer as well The engine just will not be all it could be. The same with a 2 liter or larger- 34 Ict's, stock valve heads or a 1 3/8" exhaust will not allow the engine to reach even close to the intended 5,000 rpm redline.
The same goes with the rest of the Engle W line- the W110 (247' @ .050") will make power to 5500 or so rpm, the 120 (253') will allow the engine to rev to 6,000 rpm or so, the W125 (262') to 65000, the W130 (267'- almost the same as the FK10) to about 7,000 and the W140 (274') will go to 7500 (or more). Now this assumes you've matched the other components to the rpm range/redline you're looking for, as well as taking into account displacement (remember, a 2 liter is almost 1/3 bigger than a 1600, so what works for carbs, heads and exhaust on the smaller engine will have to be sized up appropriately for something bigger, at whatever rpm range/redline you're looking for).
Now I know, Ed, you've wondered where I get these rpm ranges and redlines from- a lot of it is from different cam grinders recommendations, a little my own experience (I have run a Scat C25, W110 and W125 and Bugpack 4063? in engines I've built and I can tell you that the W125 will go to 6500 with power if everything is right, Ed) and a bunch more of it observations from other people (you guys see now why I'm always asking about specs with every build someone does here? You can never know too much; a smart man is always learning, and I like to think of myself as in that camp. It's all data, baby!). Anyway....
When someone with waaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy more experience than I does something that goes against the accepted conventional wisdom, I do take notice. Pat did the same thing (overcammed an engine by a good step or 2) previously in the Hot VW's "Engine Builders' Challenge" (iIrc that's what it was called) 5? 6? years ago (I'll look it up later), made 10 or 12 hp (with a big fat torque line, if I recall) than anybody else. I did go "hmmm...." and then promptly forgot about it, as I am easily distracted and have a very poor short term memory (my lovely wife will attest to- oh yeah, I just remembered I bought cookies yesterday! double chocolate... and you guys think I'm kidding!).
Anyway- after subsequently reading about a couple other guys doing the same thing and now Anand's engine with such great power output, I think I know what's going on. I think this is a way of getting the most from a set of heads- the big duration and lift letting the engine make as much power as possible while still not turning that much rpm's. 180 hp is huge (thought to be pretty well the absolute limit) for a 40x35 head. With that much duration, though, it would be interesting to see how it behaves/drives in the lower rpm's and off idle (although with a car as light as a Spyder and that much displacement, it probably doesn't matter!). Al
And btw, the cookie was delicious! (chocolate chocolate chip- my favorite!)