AST chosen as new Shock Supplier to GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge

[Fair!]

I thought I'd relay this bit of news from last week:

• http://www.grand-am.com/news/index.c...=229&cid=39084

Aug. 11, 2010
Michael Harker, GRAND-AM

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Competitors in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will have their choice of two high-performance shock absorber suppliers starting in 2011, as KONI Shock Absorbers of Hebron, Ky., and AST Suspension - USA of Plano, Texas, will be co-suppliers for the series.

It marks the beginning of a partnership between GRAND-AM and AST Suspension, while KONI continues a relationship it started with GRAND-AM since 2006. Additionally, both companies will also participate in the series' contingency program.

"AST Suspension and KONI each have great reputations for producing high-performance shock absorbers for a wide variety of racing vehicles," said Kevin Hindson, GRAND-AM vice president of marketing and communications. "We have built our relationship with KONI over the years and are delighted to continue that relationship. Likewise, we are excited to begin a new partnership with AST. Both companies will provide teams with outstanding shocks."

The next event for the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge is the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières on Friday and Saturday in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada.

Congratulations to AST - they fought against a lot of strong bids from other major shock manufacturers and came out ahead due to their supplied shocks' dyno results, competitive pricing offered to GRAND AM competitors, and promise of track-side support.



I've heard from AST-USA that they are already getting inundated with calls and are already building shocks for next season for many GA teams. Please note: Current GRAND AM teams need to contact AST-USA directly for their AST "GA" spec shocks, special GA competitor pricing, and AST contingency. If you are not in GA but want shocks with the same features, you can contact us at Vorshlag and we can get you a quote and help put together a similar set-up.

• AST-USA: 972-424-3700 - GRAND AM Teams, please contact them directly
• Vorshlag: 972-548-7770 - everyone else, feel free to call us

Many of the features available in their 2011 GRAND AM series of AST shocks are already standard features on AST 5200 shocks, but there are several new additions and tweaks developed specifically for GRAND AM - using AST-USA and AST Holland's wide range of experience in sport car and endurance racing from all over the world. We will share some of these new features in this thread soon.

I am confident that GRAND AM competitors will enjoy the new shock choices available from AST for the 2011-2013 seasons. We at Vorshlag are anxious to get our hands on some of the latest AST shocks with the "GA" tweaks added. Stay tuned for testing results with upcoming "5200-GA" shocks on our new 2011 Mustang GT.

Thanks,