Shock upgrades for my TVR Chimaera 500 for track day work

[V8Symphony]

I am looking at upgrading my bog standard shocks to something that will sharpen turn-in and grip for track days.....I read some nasty stuff about Gazgolds on a 2009 post....Racing Green say ASTs are the best but cannot get them for a month....does anyone have good input on this one?

Elmwood TVR say Gazgolds are 'night and day' better than the standard shockers.....would love to hear from people on this!

This is my third Chimaera....am so addicted to these cars, they are what life is all about.

[TV8]

It is as much about the set-up as it is the shock absorbers. I am very pleased with my Gaz Golds. Not sure where you are but pop over and see them in Essex if you are local. They make and test them there. They have a ramp to fit via Derek at ABS Shocks and then get the whole suspension set-up after they have settled at a place of your choice. Post-sale, if you have any concerns, they are very helpful.

[QBee]

You gets what you pays for, but i agree with the words of the last speaker - set up is as important.

Strangely, when i was speaking to Derek at Gaz yesterday (small world), I did ask him if I would need to get the car re-geo'd after putting the new shocks on. He seemed to say no, but then when i was discussing whether to get Mat Smith (Mat Smith Sports cars, great TVR guy) to do the instal for me (for the added benefit of it being done by someone who would know if anything else needed changing), he was very positive both about Mat and his ability to align a car for track/road use.

All I can say in addition is that when i first had my car it seemed intent on taking me for a swim - i lived in the Fens at the time, rivers and ditches everywhere. Mat did a 4 wheel alignment and I thought I was driving someone else's car when I collected it, it was so planted and right. Still feel the same way about it.

[AdriaanB]

I've replaced the 20+ year old stock shocks by a set of GAZ gold and pretty happy with it. Indeed read the older, negative reviews but little problems with GAZ nowadays it seems, had mine recommended and fitted by TVR Power. At the time also had the alignment done, but another 2k miles down the road had it perfected by Taylor TVR (took it some minor vibrations). Haven't used these shocks on track and current drive them in a relatively easy-going comfort mode, but will take the car to the track coming year.

[QBee]

Since my last post I have done about 20 track days on my Gaz Gold Pros. They were excellent. I only changed them when I got my hands on a nearly new set of Racing Reds (forerunners to Nitrons and similar in response to Gaz Monos).

I am sure you will enjoy the car on track on your GGPs. You will need to adjust them to full hard at the front, to stop it diving under hard braking, but experiment with the rear settings. If there was a hairpin in the track (Snetterton, Mallory Park, Oulton Park), I used to keep the rears quite soft and on my road setting, as otherwise it tended to hop on the hairpins.