Pfft, mine's made of 1/8" 6061 T6 L channel with steel bracing. I thought about shocks, but my truck is so incredibly powerful and heavy that it would just compress them in the instant it wheelied and still end up on its roof.
I like that other black newera wheelie bar- exact effect I was shooting for really more or less. The traxxas forum guys found some nice things to out on the end of my bar:
http://taildevil.com/ (what's the black pads made from, anyone care to guess?)
http://www.skates.com/Heelys-wheels-s/40.htm (one of the wheels)
I like the idea of sparks....