depends on your definaition of fast. And what configuration the trannies are in.

just because its a manual doesnt mean its hard to drive. Some dont even use a clutch.

If you are rowing the gears and running 10.50s or lower than your in a very small catagory. Running 9.99 or faster and you are in VERY elite catagory. 8.99 or better...I bet you could count the people doing that with a full clutch setup on one hand...maybe two.

I think the difficulty factor of a fast (10.5 or less ) manually shifted full clutch car is atleast 10 times more difficult than an auto car.

Unfortunately its genrally about that same factor of 10 times more unreliable and costly. So i certainly dont blame people for going auto if they want to go fast reliably. There is a certain amount of skill involved in a large stall T braked manually shifted auto as well.

I have owned a 9 second capable manual (of course it only ET'ed 10.0 ) and then converted it to a low 10 second auto.

I loved the challange of the manual. But I hated the $2500-$3500 in clutches a year.

I do give a VERY fast manual a bit more props. However...a loss is still a loss when it comes down to a race. And that extra respect will do nothing to get you the win light.