Racing Green TVR have been developing new shock absorbers for the TVR Chimaera and Griffith. Whilst there are a number of shock absorbers on the market for TVRs, Racing Green has never been completely convinced that any of them are ideally suited to the cars. Most customers require a very capable shock absorber that gives good levels of compliance and great confidence in corners. Rod ends/rose joints are too extreme for general road use and bushes are by far the best option. Over the past 9 months Racing Green have been working closely with AST in the UK and Holland to develop an extremely competant but compliant set of shock absorbers and springs for the Chimaera and Griffith. This has now been achieved and these shock absorbers are now available from Racing Green.
These shock absorbers are available as one way adjustable and 3 way adjustable units both with spring platform adjustment complete with the recommended springs. The standard shocks can be upgraded at a future date to the full 3 way adjustable ASTs with remote reservoirs. These 3 ways are adjustable for bump/rebound and high and low speed compliance as well as the variable spring platform. High speed compliance gives adjustment for hitting ruts at high speed whilst the low speed complaince acts effectively as a variable roll bar. These shocks are supplied with extremely high quality German bushes as fitted to BMW, the bushes typically have been tested to 150,000 miles lifetime.
Whilst these shock absorbers are very compliant on the road they are very much focussed on the race track as well. They are easily adjusted and have a very positive 12 position setting. They offer supreme levels of control and this is what we believe that the TVR driver wants, not a hard, bouncy jolting ride that so many of these high performance shock absorbers give as standard.
The first set of one way adjustables have been fitted to a customers car and his comments on the set up are below in italics. The car is relatively standard but with Racing Greens front lower wishbone polyeurathane bushes. The customer is highly delighted with the shock absorbers/springs arrangement and the fitment of these shocks has tranformed the handling of the car. The shocks are very smooth and silent in operation
The AST shocks developed, supplied and fitted by Racing Green have completely transformed the drive of my Chimaera. Immediately it feels so more solid and sure-footed on the road, but far more importantly is the way it now corners. The car feels positive and predictable and so much more glued to the road. At a recent wet track driving experience the new ASTs gave you so much confidence to push the car in corners and even in extremely wet conditions trying to get over steer was not as easy as expected with a TVR and when we did achieve over steer the car was collectable and controllable. I have now fallen back in love with this car and enjoy every minute driving it. On spirited drives I now enjoy twisty roads which I had only previously enjoyed in a Caterham. Now I can enjoy the BHP in a straight line and in cornering even powering out of corners with far more throttle than before and sticking with cars halve the weight of my Chimaera.
Thanks to Bryan and all the guys down at Racing Green who have done a great job at installing and setting up the ASTs, and importantly staying in touch to ensure all is as expected.
Next for me is a track day, the weather will not put me off – just have to lower the decibels to get on the tarmac! RDLH
AST may not be a well known manufacturer of shock absorbers in the UK but on the continent they are heavily involved with Ford and Audi Motorsport divisions and are exceedingly well respected. All their shock absorbers are fully serviceable and they come with an unlimited mileage 12 month warranty
These shock absorbers will shortly be available for TVR Tuscan, Tamora, Sagaris, T350 and Cerbera. For more information on this range of shock absorbers please contact Bryan Sutton on 01252 894787
