A bug was found it the patch by Klaus Weide. The attached patch implements this optimization in Apache-1.0.5.
Performance is examined in more detail in the long comment at the beginning of the patch.
Although the patch is for Apache-1.0.5, the port to 1.1bX should be fairly easy. I have only looked at your patch and do not know the rest of the apache code. I've updated the patch on my web page. To use this implementation, apply the patch to Apache 1.0. If so, try it out.