Yesterday morning I took to the famed canyons of Malibu and headed to the famous Rock Store off Mulholland Highway.  Rode "The Snake" and had my picture snapped by a pro photographer.

Was a great day of riding especially because I was able to get 63 mpg.  What I can't figure out is why.  I was in the twisties for a good 30 miles.  I thought constantly speeding up and slowing down would make my mileage worse, not better.  Any explanations?

Flashback to 1971 -- had a '67 Spitfire -- about 1500 pounds with a 1300cc 4-cylinder mill with twin SU carbs.  I tracked my fuel mileage as whenever it dropped below 30 mpg I needed a tune-up.  That 30 mpg was actual hard city driving, WOT, shift at redline, etc..  Then I got to wondering if I'm getting 30 mpg with insane hard thrashing what would get if I drove it sanely.  So I ran two tankfuls driving gently.  Got 32 mpg -- less than a 10% improment and having no fun at all.

The way I figure it, you are getting a specific amount of energy from your fuel and what kills gas mileage is:  not moving (as in waiting at traffic lights) high speed (fighting wind resistance) and braking (using more energy to cancel the energy obtained from the fuel).

Without the traffic lights, without 55+ speeds, and without that much braking I would expect 60+ mpg.  Crossing the Mojave on CA62, running 50 or so, I got a hair over 70mpg.

it probably had something to do with centifugal force
and/or a good oxygen % in the air that day.
And maybe gravity was somehow involved.

Any engine performs best at sea level and dry conditions.
Had Santana winds that day maybe?

the Northern Hemisphere produces a summertime
minimum of CO2 in the atmosphere as well as a O2
maximum (due to photosynthesis). A reversal occurs in winter