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One of the best ways to choose a shift point is to watch the rpm of the higher gear. You want to shift up and down when the higher gear is at an rpm that isn't giving you enough torque to accelerate (note: in racing you are always either accelerating or braking hard; that and a good line that doesn't scrub speed is how you get fast times).
So if you up shift at 4500 rpm, the next gear is likely to be near 3500 and the engine will bog down; you need to run to a higher rpm to keep the next gear working well. Injected street engines have a flatter torque curve, so don't get too bogged when shifting. Highly tuned race engines with a lot more HP are usually very 'peaky' and need to be kept in a narrow rpm band to perform best (this is why racers use close ratio gearsets).
Alfas are sweet racers and will tell you all you need to know just by sound and feel. Practice and learn the sound and feel of the 'right' shift points and you will find that you don't need to look at the tach much (more time to watch the mirrors if you're reacing with others).
Racing is very much a 'feel' thing, very zen-like. When you've got it right its like watching a really good pair dance a tango. Just beautiful, fluid motion.
Robert
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