Frana Rides Oshkosh to a TOP-5 Finish

John Frana Loves Park, IL (July 27, 2010) After a history making weekend in Bark River, John Frana was looking to keep his #907 BrandName Discount Drug Card, Frana Vehicles Sway-A-Way BFGoodrich Tires AWD Super Buggyat the front of the pack. The off-road track that TORC within the ½ mile stock car clay oval looked to be just the perfect course for the Frana designed AWD Super Buggy. At least that's what everyone in the packed grandstands thought.

The Oshkosh Speedzone is a beautiful and spotless facility with plenty of parking, camping area, and all the amenities of a first class race facility. Even half of the grandstands are covered to protect spectators from the elements. The USAC track crew designed a slightly different track from years past. It incorporated approximately eighty percent of the oval track and then ran a lengthy section through the infield. The infield included a very tricky and rough rhythm section as well as a six foot tall table top jump. The course brought the fans to their feet lap after lap and really created challenges for both buggy and truck competitor alike. The heavy rains the day before the event, caused race officials to cancel all practice sessions in order to ensure a properly maintained race track. This meant every competitor would be guessing at the correct chassis setup. John and Ryan Brummond, the team’s crew chief, made a few adjustments to the Sway-A-Way shocks and hoped for the best. Friday evening’s Round Seven saw the #907 BrandName Discount Drug Card, Frana Vehicles Sway-A-Way BFGoodrich Tires AWD Super Buggy get a great start as all four BFGoodrich Tires really put the team inside the Top-5. Then the first trip through the rhythm section really tossed John around. The AWD Super Buggy is heavier than all it competitors and the jumps and holes really challenged John to keep it under control. Ultimately the pace of the #907 had to be reduced in this section of the track. After fourteen laps, John Frana crossed the finish line in sixth place. Saturday evening’s Round Eight saw the team make additional adjustments looking to improve the handling through rhythm section without depleting the Super Buggy’s cornering ability. As John and Ryan were making changes to their set-up so were most of their competitors. The final result saw quicker lap times by the #907 Super Buggy and a fifth place finish. “This weekend the infield portion of the track was a hand full,” commented John Frana. “The rhythm section was really rough. Not just for us, but everyone else as well. The extra weight we carry really made it difficult to get through that section quick. All in all our performance was solid and we able to drive the buggy into the hauler under its own power. I can’t wait to get back to Bark River.” Next Race in the Traxxas TORC Series presented by AMSOIL for John Frana is August 14-15 in Bark River, MI. For more information about John Frana and team sponsorship opportunities for the rest of the 2010 TORC race season please visit: http://www.franavehicles.com or email: johnfrana@yahoo.com About the Frana Vehicles AWD Super Buggy Frana’s buggy represents a new era in open wheel off-road race vehicle design. In the spirit of the wide open Super Buggy rules (often referred to as the Formula One of off road racing), Frana designed and built this radically different tube frame buggy, utilizing a mid engine mounted Honda 1600cc engine, delivering the power through a five speed sequential shifted transmission designed and built by Loves Park, Illinois based Frana Vehicles franavehicles.com. Many of the chassis components, including the control arms, spindles, wheel hubs, bumpers, tie rod ends, shocks, and brake components are interchangeable front to back, left to right. Virtually the entire suspension, frame and running gear was designed and built by Frana, with custom CV joints and drive shafts manufactured by RCV Performance Products http://www.rcvperformance.com .Engine work on the Honda power plant was done by JAMR Racing Engines http://www.jamrracingengines.net .