This has not yet been mentioned as a possibility, but also could cause some issues. If there seems to be no change inthe flat spot, it is possible that the secondaries are getting more air than they should, off idle. This isa rare occurence with AFB-styled carbs, but does happen. Perhaps the air valve is not heavy enough, allowing secondary response before there is sufficient fuel flow to cover the additional air. To check for this possibility, tape the secondary air valve closed, and launch the car. If the flat spot is gone, the problem is a light air valve, and more weight on the counterbalance is needed. The problem is usually a heavy air valve, but this can happen with a radically-tuned engine. From the amount of tail-chasing that seems to have been involved in this problem so far, this is a possibility worth considering.