a motorized vehicle equipped with an engine that is configured to operate in accordance with this disclosure makes a torque request which in one embodiment may comprise depressing an accelerator pedal the hydrocarbon or oxygenate fueled engine employed may have a relatively high compression ratio on the order of about 12 1 and the camshaft and valve timing are in a particular first state of operation having well defined events of valve openings and closings lifts durations at specified lifts such as 1 25 millimeters or any other selected amount of lift and overlap following the torque request the on board microprocessor is programmed to detect a signal from a knock sensor if knock is detected the microprocessor commands the valvetrain to effectively lower the dynamic compression ratio by altering at least one valve timing event if no signal indicating knock is received spark advance is effected the microprocessor then again attempts to detect knock and if detected the microprocessor commands the valvetrain to effectively lower the dynamic compression ratio if no signal indicating knock is received then the microprocessor commands the valvetrain to effectively increase the dynamic compression ratio by such a scheme feedback from the knock sensor is used to maximize dynamic compression ratio while maintaining ideal combustion.