On his BBC mule engines, this had the effect of increasing torque all over, needing less valve spring, and making the same max power at lower RPM with better idle quality and part-throttle manners.
His opinion is that you HAVE to initiate intake flow ASAP or the rest of the intake cycle is playing catch-up, so big OL + 1.9:1 rockers get the valve open around TDC really quick & far.