STRANA: STRANA to test run at Laguna Seca

STRANA eyes Laguna Seca for 2nd demo event

Driver Mike Ryan prepares super truck for "Corkscrew"

New Albany, Ohio (September 12, 2002) ­ The Super Truck Racing Association of North America (STRANA) will hold its second demonstration event Sept. 21-22 as part of the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, Calif.

"We are overwhelmed by the positive response to our first demonstration at Mosport International Raceway in August, and we're being bowled over by the anticipation and excitement our run at Laguna Seca is creating," said STRANA Executive Director Brian Till. "People can't wait to see our super truck on the race track, and are especially curious about seeing it handle in the famous Corkscrew."

STRANA driver Mike Ryan said he plans to make several modifications to his purpose-built, 1,260-horse-power truck to improve its performance and give fans a great show. A majority of the modifications to Ryan's record-setting Pikes Peak Challenge truck are due to the fact that it's running on asphalt instead for dirt and gravel, and doing so on Continental racing tires instead of off-road treads, said Ryan.

Modifications expected include: - Stiffer springs on the front and possibly the rear - Increasing the negative camber in the front end to evenly distribute the load across the front of the truck, allowing it to enter and exit corners faster - Lowering the overall ride height by two inches for better track control, and - Lowering the gear ratio to around 3.20-1 from 3.42-1 to increase top end speeds.

"The traction the Continental racing tires gave me at Mosport was incredible," said Ryan, comparing the challenge of the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca to Mosport's Turn No. 2, both of which feature turns on downhill lines.

"There's some mystery to the Corkscrew and you don't know what to expect," said Ryan. "It's a matter of feeling it out."

STRANA's demonstration runs are scheduled for 12:55 p.m. PST on Saturday, Sept. 21, and 9:30 a.m. PST on Sunday, Sept. 22.

Based in suburban Columbus, Ohio, STRANA is the governing body for class-8 super truck racing in North America. Its mission is to promote super truck racing and the trucking and transportation industry.

Sponsoring STRANA's demonstrations at Mosport and Laguna Seca are: Alcoa, Continental Tires, Haldex, Shell, www.1800DRIVERS.com, Truckin' Bozo Radio Network and America Trucking On The Road magazine. Those sponsors are also supporting a half- hour ESPN special on super truck racing, slated to air on Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. in place of "RPM2Night."

-- www.stranaracing.com --