Getting back to the subject of automatic vs. manual -- and more importantly, 440 vs. Hemi -- someone has an excellent video on YouTube.com of two 1966 Chargers racing. The 440 auto dominates off the line and apparently reaches the finish line first because the Hemi 4-speed appears to pull ahead near the end of the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8yiuvuqJw0&NR=1