dazco,
what measurement instruments did you use for these speed trials. How did you account for wind, temperature, etc... I also do product validation testing. Also, NGK recommends the 9, not the 8 for the Iridium, which I would assume is released to the general public through application trials and validation testing (since a mis-application could lead to litigation), just as my company (which makes car parts) does. Not knocking what you're saying, but more details please, other than "trust me, I know what I'm doing", cause I don't know you, so I don't know that you know what you're doing.
Iridiums