>> Look at cars where speed above 70MPH actually matters. Like, say, race
>> cars. They've gotten much faster.
>
> Pfft. Every time the engineers find a way to make the cars faster, the
> FIA finds a way to make them go slower again. :-P

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fastest_production_cars

The problem with top speed is that it depends on the cube root of power, 
so you need huge increases of power to get any significant top speed 
improvements.

The bigger improvements have been in cornering speeds and braking 
ability (both in racing cars and road cars).  If you look at videos of 
old F1 races there are many corners where they used to brake and change 
gear whereas in today's cars they just run flat out (Eau Rouge at Spa is 
the classic one, or 130R at Suzuka).  Tyres, suspension and aerodynamics 
have improved vastly to make such things possible.  Even in your road 
car braking distances have vastly reduced due to tyre, suspension and 
brake design (not ABS, that only really helps if you want to steer and 
brake or it's wet).

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