Orange, California-- Last month we completed the install of the Bilstein 5150 CrossFlow Shock Absorber on the front Warrior Beam of our VW 5/1600 soon to be race vehicle. However, other than running off the curbs of the local Orange County neighborhood about 50-60 times, we were out of town for nearly the entire month of July covering off-road events throughout America.

But soon after we arrived back to So Cal late last month, we got the car over to Race Prep Services and met with Barry Beacham and his ace fabricator, Justin. Known as RPS, they are professional desert racing fabrication shop that fabricates and preps the race vehicles of some of the toughest and hardest driving racers in the off-road desert racing world.

For example, they are responsible for Scott Steinberger's #7 Trophy Truck and Jesse Jone's #1476 Trophy Truck along with a host of other top-notch racing teams.

So when ORC rolled into the shop and met with them, the first requirement we had was for them not to laugh when they saw our project vehicle. Of course, then the laughing started.

However, 30 minutes later, after an inspection of the current lacking rear roll cage, the Bilstein 5150 CrossFlow Resevoir Shock Absorbers, still in the boxes in the back of the vehicle, Barry reassured me that his crew could make this rear suspension and roll cage into what it should be.

We are currently waiting for our new trailing arms to come in from McKenzies Performance. And as soon as they do, we will touch base with the head honcho at Race Prep Services and get the vehicle back into the shop for the rear shock towers and roll cage to be fabricated by the best in the business.

You can be sure that we will provide complete details as we wheel the 5/1600 out of the trailer and into the Trophy Truck fab shop. They we'll give you the low down on a full blown session of desert raging the latest in Bilstein technology, Bilstein's 5150 CrossFlow Shock Absorber!

Until then....Adios

Las Vegas, Nevada-- From German Autobahns To The Dirt Roads Of Baja. Bilstein is the world leader in the development of gas pressure shock absorber technology. For more than 45 years, Bilstein engineers have been perfecting this shock design which is recognized as the most efficient and durable shock absorbers in the industry.

Right from the start in Germany, Bilstein used motorsports competition as a proving ground and marketing showcase for their shock absorber technology. Working with such noted automobile manufacturers as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, BMW, Ford, General Motors and others on original equipment shock pro-grams, Bilstein-equipped race cars were soon winning road racing and rally championships around the world. This record of success has grown over the years and now more motorsports events are won on Bilstein shock absorbers each season than any other brand.

Bilstein shocks were first brought to North America in the late 1960's when off-road racing was in its infancy. A set of Mercedes-Benz original equipment Bilsteins was so impressive on a winning desert buggy at the NORRA Baja 1000 that an immediate demand was created.

Off-road teams found that these new shocks could withstand the brutal pounding handed out in their rugged sport. This started Bilstein's impressive program of shock absorber development specifically for the progression of off-road racing vehicles.

Following the use of street vehicle-based shocks on the first off-roadracing cars, Bilstein used their expertise to develop new larger diameter shocks followed by longer travel and multiple shock setups.

This led to the advent of remote reservoir shocks, in which Bilstein relocated the dividing piston into a separate canister for added working piston travel; this kept the shock oil temperature down, a critical factor in shock absorber performance.

All of the greats of off-road racing have won on Bilstein shocks over the years. From Malcolm Smith to off-road racing legend Ivan "Ironman" Stewart and many others, the winning tradition on Bilsteins continues today.Off-road racing has also played a major role in Bilstein's original equipment programs in this country. Engineers in Detroit specify Bilstein shocks for their performance-oriented truck and SUV models based on Bilstein's winning record in off-road racing. General Motors now offers Bilstein shocks as original equipment or upgraded suspension options on more than 30 models of trucks and SUV'S. Toyota is another manufacturer who selects Bilstein shocks for their new Tundra 4X4 model based on the highly successful PPI team and Ivan Stewart's Toyota off-road racing effort.

But Bilstein never rest on their laurels -- or medals. Development is well under way for new technology for the next generation of Bilstein off-road shock absorbers, and the next generation of drivers. Bilstein's goal is the same as yours; a winning performance every time you compete in the rugged world of off-road racing.
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Bilstein Shock utilizes the knowledge ganined from winning more off-road races than any other major shock manufacturer. Bilstein introduces the 5150 Series. The first production monotube high gas pressure, fixed CrossFlow reservoir shock absorber designed specifically for lifted and custom applications.

Off-Road.com to test Bilstein's 5150 CrossFlow Technology in extensive desert use.

Off-Road.com to test on the ORC 5/1600 Project Vehicle: Off-Road.com staffers have been using Bilstein exclusively for the past few years with outstanding success. The ORC Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 named, "The Desert Tank," has thousands of off-road Baja miles on the current set of Bilstein 5100's and they have withstood the ultimate test. Installation on the 5/1600 Baja car was easy and simple. With basic tools, even ORC staffers were able to install the new Bilstein 5150 CrossFlow shock absorbers onto the Warrior beam and Shourtz Racing tubed front-end. Next month we will provide you with an initial review on how they performed in the July desert heat as we take to the desert floor under the night stars of the Barstow Valley. As they say, "Hammer down boyz!"

Bilstein 5150 CrossFlow Shock Install by ORC Staff

Out with the old and in the with new: As you can see in the photo below, we've been running some old style Bilstein Shocks that continue to do the job on our 5/1600 Project Vehicle. Recently, we pre-ran the SCORE San Felipe Baja 250 in it's entirety over two days of hard running. One day in particular we chased the Baja.net Class 10 Lothringer built buggy all day long. We couldn't catch them, but we got through the toughest of all three washes in the San Felipe loop. Chalk up another personal victory because of Bilstein Shocks!!!

Bilstein has provided outstanding reliability and durability. As with the Bilstein 5100 shocks, we plan on a brutal test of endurance on the Bilstein 5150 shocks. If you visit the desert on a regular basis, you'll see the ORC crew flying through the desert testing these shocks out. Stop by and check them out. From Reno, Nevada to Farmington, New Mexico and throughout the Baja California Peninsula, you'll find us working the latest in Bilstein Technology.

Visit Bilstein Shocks at www.Bilstein.com