i must be completely missing something ?!?

I your car was doing all the stuff down the track and on the road you described. There was something else wrong with your car. I have been driving several different cars on the street for 20 years with a spool and I never could tell the difference with or without the spool on the street. I drove my Demon 1000's of miles with a spool and a 5500 stall 8 in. convertor, 4.30 gears and never had a issue.

I'll second that..i've got 4.30's with a spool in my duster no issues what so ever on the street you just to remember you've got a spool when taking turns..