Who are 'Racing Red'?
Discussion
I read with interest the advert for the new range of 'Racing Red'dampers on the back cover of the Feb 08 issue of Sprint.
I'm weighing up the options for dampers for my car but would like to know who this company is, or is it a 'brand' that is being marketed by an existing damper manufacturer or supplier?
I searched the pistonhead forums for Racing Red and found a post from last year that suggested these dampers were going to be sourced by Nitron from Japan and be supplied under the 'Racing Red' brand.
To confirm the accuracy of this I contacted Nitron who informed me that they had "part engineered the range" but have no involvement in their sourcing, marketing or supply.
I would contact 'Racing Red' but there website is not functioning other than a holding page and I don't currently have their contact number to hand.
Out of interest, until I can contact them, anyone know the facts?
I'm weighing up the options for dampers for my car but would like to know who this company is, or is it a 'brand' that is being marketed by an existing damper manufacturer or supplier?
I searched the pistonhead forums for Racing Red and found a post from last year that suggested these dampers were going to be sourced by Nitron from Japan and be supplied under the 'Racing Red' brand.
To confirm the accuracy of this I contacted Nitron who informed me that they had "part engineered the range" but have no involvement in their sourcing, marketing or supply.
I would contact 'Racing Red' but there website is not functioning other than a holding page and I don't currently have their contact number to hand.
Out of interest, until I can contact them, anyone know the facts?
Edited by McTavish on Thursday 7th February 13:15
Had a Newsletter from TCS, with some info+
'Track Car Solutions is also proud to be an appointed retailer for the new Racing Red range of dampers. These dampers use gas pressure monotube technology and are designed by Guy Evans from Nitron so you can be sure they are a quality peformance kit. At 646.25 including VAT and Delivery they are a performance bargain!
Track Car Solutions was involved in this product at R+D level before launch and we are confident you will find no better place for buying and setting up your car to your taste. Racing Red are available now either mail order for end-user fitment or for a full fit and set-up here in our own workshops. Fitting and set-up can be from as little as 100.00 pounds plus vat , please contact us if you require further information.'
Tim
'Track Car Solutions is also proud to be an appointed retailer for the new Racing Red range of dampers. These dampers use gas pressure monotube technology and are designed by Guy Evans from Nitron so you can be sure they are a quality peformance kit. At 646.25 including VAT and Delivery they are a performance bargain!
Track Car Solutions was involved in this product at R+D level before launch and we are confident you will find no better place for buying and setting up your car to your taste. Racing Red are available now either mail order for end-user fitment or for a full fit and set-up here in our own workshops. Fitting and set-up can be from as little as 100.00 pounds plus vat , please contact us if you require further information.'
Tim
Edited by TT Tim on Thursday 7th February 13:13
Thanks Tim for the information.
I contacted TCS by email and am awaiting confirmation of what warranty is given with these dampers. If its similar in length to the 3 years warranty on Protech units then I may consider purchasing a set of Racing Red, given they are of alloy construction also and in a similar price point.
I contacted TCS by email and am awaiting confirmation of what warranty is given with these dampers. If its similar in length to the 3 years warranty on Protech units then I may consider purchasing a set of Racing Red, given they are of alloy construction also and in a similar price point.
Edited by McTavish on Thursday 7th February 13:32
I think I can answer these questions.
You can compare Racing Red with Nitron and Ohlins but only as the method of construction, they are a mass-produced monotube and set up with valving and springs for road use and occasional trackdays.
If you are looking for bespoke valving and springs I would ignore them and look to Nitron or Ohlins because volume production means we have to fix bump rebound ratios and springs.
That said, we are not unilaterally setting valving, Topcats and Track Car Solutions will be assessing valving next week and based on their opinions, we will come up with a happy medium that will suit most TVR cars.
You can compare Racing Red with Nitron and Ohlins but only as the method of construction, they are a mass-produced monotube and set up with valving and springs for road use and occasional trackdays.
If you are looking for bespoke valving and springs I would ignore them and look to Nitron or Ohlins because volume production means we have to fix bump rebound ratios and springs.
That said, we are not unilaterally setting valving, Topcats and Track Car Solutions will be assessing valving next week and based on their opinions, we will come up with a happy medium that will suit most TVR cars.
rev-erend said:
At the end of the day - it's always good to have a choice.
Exactly, we have been looking for alternatives ever since we started up and like buses two come along, I think the Racing Reds are a good alternative for road cars and Intrax will suit the more serious track day stars.rev-erend said:
The only think I would say about Aluminum is that don't assume it's fit and forget ..
The Alum Nitrons (and others) I beleive need regular rebuilds and checks to check for fatigue cracks..
do they? rebuilds are sensible to keep your damper tip-top, but what's this about cracking? never heard that one, but then i've only been fitting nitrons for 5 years ..The Alum Nitrons (and others) I beleive need regular rebuilds and checks to check for fatigue cracks..
trackcar said:
rev-erend said:
The only think I would say about Aluminum is that don't assume it's fit and forget ..
The Alum Nitrons (and others) I beleive need regular rebuilds and checks to check for fatigue cracks..
do they? rebuilds are sensible to keep your damper tip-top, but what's this about cracking? never heard that one, but then i've only been fitting nitrons for 5 years ..The Alum Nitrons (and others) I beleive need regular rebuilds and checks to check for fatigue cracks..
I though some of the Tasmin racers had problems with cracking on the shocks .. I know it's a extreme example but Aluminum is just some soft compared to steel.
rev-erend said:
trackcar said:
rev-erend said:
The only think I would say about Aluminum is that don't assume it's fit and forget ..
The Alum Nitrons (and others) I beleive need regular rebuilds and checks to check for fatigue cracks..
do they? rebuilds are sensible to keep your damper tip-top, but what's this about cracking? never heard that one, but then i've only been fitting nitrons for 5 years ..The Alum Nitrons (and others) I beleive need regular rebuilds and checks to check for fatigue cracks..
I though some of the Tasmin racers had problems with cracking on the shocks .. I know it's a extreme example but Aluminum is just some soft compared to steel.
S5TVR said:
Joo,
I'm a bit confused - where does this leave the Protech damper ?. Are racing red a spin off from Protech or are they completely separate as I thought you also had some input into the design of the Protech dampers ?.
Simon
It means the protech now has to compete in the same market place as the racing red and all the other dampers in the 500-600 pound bracket, it's probably the most fiercely contested part of the market place as it's the point at which you start to get proper products. I had no input into the design on teh protechs, I just have them built to a spec which suits me ie lengths, body diameter, rod diameter, valving and end fixing types.. but this is separate to damper design in itself which is an area I know nothing about. Protech mix and match parts already designed and available to get me the damper I require.I'm a bit confused - where does this leave the Protech damper ?. Are racing red a spin off from Protech or are they completely separate as I thought you also had some input into the design of the Protech dampers ?.
Simon
trackcar said:
A handful of tasmin dampers did fail in the very early days, but was not a damper problem but the way they had been mounted .. someone forgot that the damper moved through an arc as the suspension went up and down and bolted the top of the damper virtually solid ..
IIRC, it was the bottom mounts that were failing, and it was due to the design specs given to Nitron that were wrong, not the actual dampers. They were using the same top mount as the original dampers, which was all wrong for a coil over, and put too much stress on the bottom mounting on the damper.. It also damaged the top mountings on the chassis. mine bent by 1.5 inches and i snapped a damper on my second only race !!!Nitron, quickly redesigned the dampers properly in house and gave the guys with the original dampers a very good deal on replacement, after they had rebuilt a few of the old ones gratis.
Once Nitron had looked at the dampers in operation and designed them properly as opposed to building them to someone elses spec, the only ones that broke were when they hit things hard like barriers !!!
sorry to revive an old thread but i wondered if 6 monhs down the line if anybody had any more feed back on racing reds compared to Gaz Golds still not as common i believe and is it better the devil people know or the new kids on the block, looking for mainly fast road use with a little moderate tracking.
only me said:
sorry to revive an old thread but i wondered if 6 monhs down the line if anybody had any more feed back on racing reds compared to Gaz Golds still not as common i believe and is it better the devil people know or the new kids on the block, looking for mainly fast road use with a little moderate tracking.
What he said. I too would like to know any feedback on the racing reds.Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff