RE: Do velocity stacks lessen power.
The primary reason for a velocity stack on a two cycle is to retain the fuel from carburetor stand-off. If you examine the carb in operation, you can see a mist of fuel outside the carb entrance. A stack captures this fuel. This can only be seen when there is dead air around the carb. One of the most obvious cases was on the McCulloch racing carts. They would wet a hand placed several inches from the carb.