Thanks blue.
I made a search on the forum for Octane and came across this excellent thread from 2005:
http://986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3624&page=1&pp=20&highlight=high+octane+race
I do understand the concept of octane rating as a relation to compression ratio VS spontaneous ignition and the goal of raising the octane rating to prevent knocking.
Although I am still a bit confuse on the question of calorific value of Toluene VS gasoline and therefore the ability to raise the amount of energy generated through the explosion process.
interesting stuff for sure...