b'ShocksPrototype Development Group Achieves Big Gains with RSRT ValvingCalifornia-based Prototype Development Group race team is a three-time Western Endurance Racing Series Champion. At the time, they were racing with Carl Rydquist from Sweden at the wheel. Despite their success, the team yearned for more performance out of their Factory Five GTM car. They knew they needed a top level partner for their suspension development. PDG found both with Ridetech and Ron Sutton Race Technology.The partnership was sparked when PDG reached out to Ridetech for a shock development partnership. Ridetech\'s Bret Voelkel accepted the proposal and linked the team to work with Ron Sutton. Ron worked up two sets of Fox/Ridetech shocks for them to test. Shortly after,PDG traveled to Buttonwillow Raceway for a test that produced eye-opening results. "We had customized name brand race shocks and ran into a limit with the shock absorbers ability to control wheel motion," PDG crew chief True Tourtillott said. "I was aware of Ridetech and Ron Sutton\'s expertise and their commitment to be a market leader. Their product is multiple steps better than anything on the market. I saw the success they were having and it sparked my curiosity in Ron and Ridetech to try to take it to the endurance road racing environment."On May 27th, the team traveled to California\'s Buttonwillow Raceway to test their new Fox/Ridetech shocks with Rons piston & valving package. Buttonwillow Raceway is one of the bumpier tracks on the WERC circuit making it the perfect venue to put a suspension package through its paces. Driver Carl Rydquist was tasked with track testing each shock package the team had brought using one set of tires for an accurate comparison. Rydquist went out and set a baseline time of 1:49.9 with PDG\'s current shock set-up.The crew then installed the first set of shocks that Ron Sutton provided them. The Fox/Ridetech Triple Adjustable shocks with "Track-Star" valving. The shocks carry the same valving that Sutton has used for clients in dual purpose autocross & track applications. Carl said the PDG GTM car immediately had more grip with a best lap of 1:46.8, a shocking 3.1 seconds quicker than the baseline package."We haven\'t done of a lot of hardcore, fender-to-fender racing so we were happy to see the results. It was an epic improvement!" Ridetech\'s Bret Voelkel said. "I would not have predicted that level of improvement. It is almost unheard of and really promising."Excited by the progress PDG moved on to the second set of Ridetech Triple Adjustable shocks that had been provided to them. This set of shocks carried RSRT\'s "Race-Star" valving and the performance was even more impressive. The car gained another four tenths of a second for a total best lap of 1:46.8. PDG had gained 3.5 seconds a lap in time simply by changing to Fox/Ridetech shocks with Ron Sutton valving.580'