I used to run autocross events with my '69 and kept the 2.56 gear to reduce the tendency to spin the tires around the slow corners, while allowing up to 60 mph before having to shift out of First ('66 Olds TH400), faster than I ever had the opportunity for (lots of long black marks when I got fed up with excessively tight courses set up by and for Mini drivers). To recoup some of the lost performance off the line I made use of my switch-pitch torque convertor, which then required a bit of restraint on the gas pedal. I too would lose a bit of ground off the line but rarely had to look at other's taillights on a rolling start, even with the 750 bikes of the time.
So there are different ways to achieve close to the same goals, and different goals for different people. Decide how you realistically want to use your car and post it here. By the way, I managed about 17 US mpg at 70-75 mph in the low stall position with basically a '69 RAIII 400.