I always find this topic interesting. My car is only a low 12 second car so; I'm not in the same class nor do I have the same needs as someone running 10.60's. The suspension on my car his not been touched since at least the mid 90's. I have the cheapest Monroe parts store shocks on my car that are most likely 30 years old. My car flat out hooks at the track and drives nice on the street. I've thought about buying nicer shocks but, I've decided not to right now; I don't see the need or value. If the car hooks now, what would shocks do for me?
Anyway, here's my opinion. I remember an old thread where Monte was telling a story about a high powered car that he was helping someone with. I can't remember exactly what the car ran but, I know it was at least an 8 second car. Monte seamed to be a big proponent of buying the best shock that you can afford. Some of these shocks are thousands of dollars. On this car, the shocks were upgraded and the car picked up a few thousandths or a little more; everyone was happy with the outcome. I remember thinking to myself, for a serious class or heads up racer, that may matter but, for most, bracket racing is the game and what does it matter if the car is .04 quicker, as long as the car is consistent. I personally would not pay $3300 for Santhuff shocks etc. to pick up .04. Frankly, I would be pissed if I spent that kind of money for that outcome.
The question to me is, what are you doing with the car, are you having issues hooking up now, is the car inconsistent etc.? Back to my situation, I'm having no issues and just don't think the value is there to justify spending $800-$1000 for better shocks. Your situation may differ.
I am sorta in the same boat as I am a very low buck street/strip car owner. And that's just how things ended up in my life when I got divorced after 25 years of marriage and then had to retire on disability. I was asked by one guy what my rear shock settings are and I told him they have no settings. They are the older MP longer extending shocks with no adjustments. And my front shocks are just the CE 90/10's. I just run SS springs and stock suspension on the rest of my car. But I use what fits my budget and what worked in the 70's when I did bracket race. Sure adjustable shocks should help my car but its run 10.70's at almost 125 with a 1.50 sixty and I can race in NSS and have a lot of fun just foot braking. But honestly if I had the money for the best shocks out there and went to Cal Tracs how much faster would I really go ? I would guess a tenth or two at the most which just is not in my budget to spend the money on great shocks for that little bit. If I could afford to race a lot and wanted all the performance I could get then heck yea I would have good adjustable shocks on my car. But I have to make the best of what I have as I am sure many low budget guys also do. Basically my car is an old school street car that I drive a lot on the street and have a lot of fun with it and race it about once a year or maybe twice some years. I have had guys tell me how my car will go much faster if I get rid of the Accel Coil I use and go to all MSD ign and so on. I asked him why and he says because my coil is 30 year old technology ? LoL. I said yea and it still works. By far using the best shocks they make today will make a difference but at the price of the real good ones they are not in everyone's budget for sure. Ron
