[fzust]

The single biggest contributor to faster lap times is good suspension. Period. Even better than stickier tires, proper damping provides grip, chassis control, and confidence. At Blackwatch Racing we’ve been working on dampers i.e. “shocks” for the Lotus since 2006. While there are many names in shocks, there is one that stands apart for Racing: Penske Racing Shocks.

Penske Racing Shocks have an impeccable pedigree having won in Formula 1, Indy, Nascar, World Challenge, LeMans, MotoGP, Australian Supercar, and many more. At Blackwatch we’ve spent hundreds of hours on the shock dyno at all hours of the day and night chasing the perfect Lotus shock setup.

The results have been 4 SCCA national championships on Penske Racing shocks of our own specification.

Additionally, we’ve been using them on our daily-driving Elise test mule that doubles as a track-day, street-tire auto-crosser, quarter-mile machine etc. We routinely drive faster laps in this car on street tires than many 911s, built EVOs, Corvettes etc on race tires.

Over the years, we’ve provided custom built double and triple adjustable BWR Penske’s to customers. One customer told me that he “dropped 8 seconds per lap” at Limerock -eek-when he put the BWR Penske’s on his car! That is the promise of quality shocks, improved grip and tire performance over a range of conditions. In other words, the tires remain in optimal contact with the pavement, which delivers to the driver a predictably handling car that is more comfortable to drive at the limit.

Penske has a proven record of success because they use only the best materials, all engineered and maintained to their own specifications. They use the highest grade stainless steel shims, billet aluminum bodies and pistons, linear and precisely matching adjusters, Viton shaft seals for low stiction, Teflon-lined bearings and they even have their own spec fluid. The result is a quality product that is the best that money can buy. Proven performance and strict manufacturing specs do add up though: A complete double-adjustable Penske shocks START at $5500 a set. Triple-adjustables generally begin around $7000 with options running higher.

Until now…. More to follow....

 

[fzust]

Lots of time on the shock dyno.....

 

[fzust]

Blackwatch Racing has taken on the challenge of engineering a set of shocks that will fit the very difficult packaging of Lotus Elise/Exige. These cars are tight and extraordinarily hard to fit. Nothing is standard in these vehicles, from the length of the shock, the available droop, compression travel, even spring sizes are different from most vehicle standard fitments. This makes designing a high performance shock an exceedingly difficult task and more costly than more “normal” cars.

We’ve been working diligently with Penske Racing Engineers to provide the best quality, double-adjustable shocks with independent compression and rebound adjustments at a VERY attractive price point. Our goal was to provide our customers with the quality and adjustability of a standard $5500 double adjustable for less money, simpler installation, and fitment for the biggest wheels & tires. While this was certainly a huge engineering challenge, we felt that our customers would be very excited to have this level of technology and car enhancement available to them, all in a package that doesn’t restrict their wheel selection at a better price.

The result of months of research, design, development and testing, these shocks are AMAZING. We started with the best valve setups from our own racecars, which have been tweaked and tested for years. Next, we worked with Penske Racing to produce our shocks using their latest technology, which means you are getting the latest winning racecar engineering on YOUR shocks, something you won’t find just anywhere. Who else can say they took the latest technology developed for winning F1, NASCAR, Indy, and World Challenge teams and put it to use in products designed for you? The end result is a shock that combines millions of dollars’ worth of racing R&D, technology that allowed us to meet OUR goal of providing the car control and precision of the top Penske double adjustable in a bolt-on package that will work in the tightly spaced Lotus Elise and Exige cars. Fitting all of that technology into such a tiny space was no small feat, but our efforts combined with Penske made it all happen!

We designed our new shocks around a shock body with a floating compression piston integrated into the main body vs. a separate canister. This eliminates the separate compression canister and gives more inboard clearance for use of wider wheels. The fitment is even tougher because the shaft and body lengths have to be perfect. However after months of measurement, test fitment, and CAD work, we’ve put together a bolt-in package that fits perfectly in the Lotus Elise and Exige!

 

[fzust]

40 clicks of rebound adjustment and 20 sweeps of Rebound give our customers lots of tuning range!

Penske doesn’t have a “value line” like other manufacturers on the market. These shocks use the same top quality 55mm Bodies, Pistons, shims, seals, wipers and adjusters as the rest of the Penske lineup. These aren’t built in China and shipped here. Each set is built to our spec in the US and dyno tested before shipping.

 

[vstryker]

How easy are they too adjust? Do you have to take the wheels off to adjust?

 

[fzust]

A word about springs:

One might think that springs are all the same. They are not. Performance springs cannot sag over time. They HAVE to have accurate rates from spring-to-spring. What matters in a spring? How accurate is their initial free length? Are they optimized for weight? How good are the inspection standards? Do you know who made them?

When we started this project there were only a couple of suppliers we would even consider. Ultimately we went with the best and most expensive option, Hyperco. Hyperco is THE name in race springs. They are widely known for their manufacturing quality. We run them exclusively on our Lotuses.


Hyperco tests EVERYTHING. They magnaflux their springs two times during the manufacturing process. They measure free-length to 0.100”. They have accuracy to 5lbs on each spring. They use custom wire diameters to optimize spring weight-to-force. They have pioneered hydraulic perches and even Carbon Fiber springs! The springs on the Blackwatch Racing Penskes are OBD or “Optimum Body Diameter.” They have a slight beehive shape to reduce lateral deflection to reduce rubbing on the shock body and increase maximum compressed length. The best news is that we have been able to engineer a fitment of these shocks to use standard 2.25” springs reducing cost and improving the selection of available spring rates.

 

[andy7777]

I'm getting a car woody.

 

[fzust]

Blackwatch Racing is offering these Penske Racing shocks with Hyperco springs, adjustment tool, a baseline setup, plus all mounting hardware you need to give your car the performance suspension and ride it was meant to have.

Bring your Lotus to life with Blackwatch Racing Penske suspension!

We were able to get the first batch at 2012 pricing (finalized that deal literally on 12/31!) and once that is gone, it is gone. We’re offering introductory pricing at $3,295 on the first batch.

Click here to order:

Penske Lotus Elise Exige double adjustable BWR spec

 

[WhatsADSM]

These look really nice. Can't wait to hear the reviews. Kinda bummed I just bought a set of 46mm SA Nitrons. I would have been all over these.

 

[ageshelin]

re: Penske's

I have been looking for Penske shocks for the Lotus, since I started my build 4 years, ago. I contacted Penske... somebody was going to make me some shocks... but they never did... Finally they are here!!! and with my favorite (best) springs!

I settled for Nitrons from Sector111, I insisted on getting my own springs. It was highy unusual for them. So I have Nitrons with Hyperco springs.

Where were You 4 years, ago?!?

Are You going to offer triples? (got spoiled by Nitrons and the Penske's we put on Vettes.) The price for doubles is very reasonable.

Anybody looking for a set of triple adjustable Nitron's (V1)?

Anton

 

[fzust]

Anton,

Thanks for the kind words. Glad to see another fan of the Hypercos! The difficulty with these cars is finding a fitment that will clear everything and use 2.25" springs.

The BWR Penskes can be converted to triples but would require the extra canister for the dual speed Compression bleed.

2 adjustments are more than enough for most folks. Even the triples on our XP car really only get adjusted 2 way. We've spend alot of time on these to make sure we have the right balance on the compression.

 

[fzust]

How easy are they too adjust? Do you have to take the wheels off to adjust?

Vstryker, Nope, not necessary at all. Easier to adjust rear rebound with the wheels off, but it is possible. The other adjustments simple wheels on or off. We provide a long-handle 5/32 hex tool to adjust compression so you don't have to reach into the hot, dirty wheel well.

 

[cashxdr]

I have a APR 200 wing, side skirts and canards plus Kevin's Race Spiltter. So with my aero I would pick the race weight springs due to my down force correct?

 

[fzust]

I would choose based on the use of the car. The aero change isn't hugely significant. If you're tracking the car and you are not driving it every day, definitely. If it is mostly daily driven with occasional track day, I would go softer.

 

[cashxdr]

Roger, thanks for the info, I sent my order in. Looking forward to tearing up the roads/track with these on the Dragon!

 

[sleepe]

My Elise is currently fitted with Nitron Single adjustable: 525/650 (I believe?).
They are about 4 years old with ~20,000 hard driven miles..two of the springs are rusting btw.

In general, how does Nitron compare to Penske in terms of quality, technology, and ability to perform? I have been considering a new damper package for a while but don't want something that requires a team of suspension techs to setup properly.

-Robert

 

[fzust]

Robert,
Penske is in F1, MotoGP, Indycar, Nascar, and about every form of Motorsport known to man. They are known for driving technology as well as their amazing quality and consistency. Checkout Racecar Engineering last month about their Regressive Valving technology. I hope that helps.

-Fred

 

[sleepe]

you're post is like a slap to the face, thanks....I guess Nitron and Penske cannot share the same sentence. I'll do homework...

 

[fzust]

One day and we're about halfway through our first batch at introductory 2012 pricing. Thanks everyone! We'll be shipping by end of next week. Shocks are done, waiting on CAD designed front shock mounts to get zinc plated.

Remember, the great thing about being in the Penske line is that all the parts are interchangeable. These can be upgraded to 3-ways, or any of their exotic stuff like Dual-bleed shafts($700 each just for the shafts!) or Regressive valving(See Race Car Engineering article last month) if you decide you want to later on down the road.

Not only can Blackwatch service these shocks but so can any Penske dealer near you.

 

[fzust]

you're post is like a slap to the face, thanks....I guess Nitron and Penske cannot share the same sentence. I'll do homework...

Tried to keep it positive. Sorry, but yeah, they are the real deal and hence why we're so excited by the integrated piston technology to save cost but keeping the performance of the $7000 Penske DA.

Having dynoed MANY other shocks that you would think are good and being HORRIFIED at the matching, valving, and overall crappiness(KW Variant 2s on the Viper ACR come to mind), then take a set of Penske's and the curves lay right on top of each other with linear and consistent adjusters. It is really impressive.