GREETINGS FROM BRIDGEPORT, NEW JERSEY.

 

I WOKE UP IN NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE THIS MORNING. THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

 

AND THE READERS RESPOND

 

Rather than identifying my readers by name in the “And The Readers Respond” section, I will identify them by their geographical region.  This will allow some to offer more direct points of view.

 

 

From a reader and Virginia Tech alum who lives in SoCal regarding my misidentifying a Virginia Tech Hokie:

 

A Hokie is not a gobbler. The V.T. mascot is a gobbler – which is actually the team moniker. The word Hokie originated from a team cheer from many years ago and somehow it stuck. You need to watch more college football (non Pac Ten) and you would likely hear of the background on the Hokie – the ESPN announcers seem to take great joy in repeatedly telling the Hokie tale.

 

 

SPECIAL PEOPLE NEWS

 

Recently I told you about a driver I met in the U.K. named, Tim Street.  I met Tim at the Somerset Rebels Banger Raceway.  He won the championship of his class last year.  Tim sent along a note regarding my comment that doing actual racing, not just watching, was too much time and effort for my tastes.

 

I’ve just looked at your website very good write up of the UK, you may want an update on my car…. As you said you don’t do racing because of the time and effort… well I had several accidents on Sunday which meant “pulling” the front of the car off the engine and replacing the radiator twice… I didn’t do that well points wise until the last heat (racing the car as seen in the photo)… managed a 2^nd, then Austin (the big fella on the team) won the final with me smoking in second at pace.  We’re rebuilding the car this weekend do you want another rebuilt shot?

I see you’ve been out and about.

Cheers

Tim

 

I’ve added Tim’s photo of his somewhat wrinkled car to my website at www.ranlayracing.com.  Simply click on the “Guest Photos” tab and then “Tim Street.”

 

 

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

The Strategy

 

If you’re ever going to do very well at anything, you need to understand the rules of the game you are playing.  After you understand the rules, you can begin to work on your strategy.  Whether its U.S. tax laws, golf, tidily winks or trackchasing, it’s important to understand the rules.  I like to say, “Exploit” the rules.  Some people are intimidated by the word “Exploit”.  To some that means breaking the rules.  However, that’s not what “Exploit” means to me.  Some are jealous of those who can get the most out of understanding the rules.  That might be because they aren’t savvy enough to have figured out strategies that get the most out of the rules of whatever game is being played.  Others continue to insist that anyone who plays by rules they don’t like, isn’t playing by the rules.

 

Today I visited the Bridgeport Speedway in Bridgeport, New Jersey.  This is my third visit to this location.  As noted below I first saw the 5/8 mile track back on June 18, 1998.

 

On October 5, 2001, I used this trackchaser rule, “Multiple tracks of the same type (types being divided into ovals, road courses and figure eights), located at the same facility, are countable under the following conditions: connected ovals or figure eights are separately countable only if they exist and are active at the same time” to count the track.  At that time the Bridgeport Speedway was racing car on their 5/8 mile oval (seen in 1998) as well as a quarter mile dirt oval that was partially connected to the backstretch of the 5/8 mile oval.

 

At the beginning of the 2002 season, according to Bridgeport’s track announcer, the quarter mile track was moved.  It is now located very near the front stretch of the 5/8 mile oval.  Now this rule applies to the current situation, “Multiple tracks of the same type (types being divided into ovals, road courses and figure eights), located at the same facility, are countable under the following conditions: disconnected, permanent ovals or figure eights (located on separate areas of the facility) are separately countable whether or not they exist at the same time.”  The new quarter mile configuration is countable because it is a permanent oval and is disconnected from the 5/8 mile oval.  Yes, I know understanding our rules is a bit more difficult than understanding your final mortgage papers on the purchase of a new home.

 

When you play your games, you may not like each and every rule.  When you file your income taxes you may not like the idea that the U.S. government will allow you to deduct the interest on your home mortgage but will not allow you to deduct the interest you pay on your plasma TV.  Just because you don’t like the government’s rulings on plasma TV financing, I hope you don’t forego your opportunity to deduct your home mortgage interest. 

 

Of course, if you don’t understand the rules of the games you play, maybe you shouldn’t play them until you do understand the rules.  You can always seek professional help (not THAT kind of professional help!) until you have a better understanding.  Nevertheless, please don’t stop playing the game, because the rules and strategies involved seem difficult to understand.  That’s how we grow, by trying and learning new things.  Soon you’ll be “Exploiting” to your heart’s delight.  You won’t be breaking any rules; you will simply be playing by the rules of whoever started the game.

 

 

 

The trip

 

Every day on this trip was difficult from a logistics point of view.  How do I know they were difficult?  I never had one spare moment from one scheduled activity to another for the entire four days of this trip.

 

My race on Thursday night ended at 8:50 p.m.  After the race, I drove until nearly 1 a.m. until I arrived at my hotel in Wilmington, Delaware.  The motel security guard was enthralled with my Hawaii driver’s license.  He insisted on regaling me with stories of his Hawaiian honeymoon of last year.  I asked him how his one year of marriage was going.  “She ain’t left yet.”  That sounded like a pretty good testimonial to me.

 

I know I’m tired when the alarm clock wakes me up.  That alarm clock woke me up EVERY morning of this four day trip.  If I had had plenty of time on my hands, I would have awakened on my own without need of an alarm. 

 

At 8 a.m., I was out the door.  I had to be in Doylestown, Pennsylvania to meet my fraternity brother Mike S. by 10 a.m.  Our golf tee time was set for 11:21 a.m.  Following golf, Mike and I had to keep moving for dinner and a 7 p.m. start at the Bridgeport Speedway.  We got back to Doylestown at 11 p.m. and I was beat.  Every day would be like this.  I’m not complaining.  I’m retired.  If I don’t like what I’m doing every day, I don’t have some boss or company to blame.  I would only have me to point the finger at.  Of course, I enjoy every minute of this or I wouldn’t do it.

 

 

 

The People

 

Today would be a fun day.  The first order of business would be to re-unite with long-time friend and fraternity brother Mike S. who now lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.  Mike and I have known each other for nearly 40 years. 

 

Mike was with me back on June 18, 1998 when we visited the Bridgeport Speedway for my first time ever.  We saw racing on the 5/8 mile oval then.  We had intended to go to the New Egypt Speedway that night.  I was wearing shorts, like I always do, and the state of New Jersey does not allow folks into the pit area without long pants.  Since we couldn’t get into the pits and the line to get into the spectator side of New Egypt was so long, we gave up and went to Bridgeport!

 

Whenever we get the chance, Mike and I like to tee it up.  Mike was part of our fraternity golfing group in Palm Desert, California just two weeks ago.  He selected Golf Digest’s four star rated Warminster’s Five Ponds Golf Club (http://www.warminstertownship.org) for our outing today. 

 

They say that most golf bets are won before the first shot is played.  The person who came up with that theory was talking about golf handicaps as they relate to golf bets.  I think that theory definitely applied today.

 

After a very brief discussion, Mike accepted my very generous wager offer.  Mike and I settled on a certain number of strokes to be given to make the match fair.  In order to maintain a certain level of decorum I am not permitted to say how many strokes were given or too whom they were given. 

 

I didn’t play very well and soon found myself three holes behind in our match play event.  By the way, for anyone who doesn’t play golf, a match play event counts each hole on its own.  If one player gets a ten on the first hole and the other player gets a four, the player with the low score “Wins the hole.”  It doesn’t matter if he/she beats the other person by one stroke or ten on an individual hole.  Each hole stands on it own.  This makes the game a series of 18 separate matches. 

 

Anyway after nine holes, I found myself three holes behind.  That’s a large deficit with just nine holes remaining.  I was surprised to see that one person or the other actually won 17 of the 18 holes, with only the 16^th hole ending in a tie.  I’m proud to say that I struggled back to tie the match on the par 3 17^th hole. 

 

Mike and I now faced the daunting 338 yard par 4, 18^th hole with the match all square.  We both struck our tee shots long and far down the center of the fairway.  I would like to say that my approach landed within two feet and I tapped in for birdie.  However, Mike would know that was not true.  He actually made par, while I was hacking it around for a double bogie.  Mike won the match “One up.”  Congratulations to Mike!

 

We were partnered with “Chris”, a building contractor from nearby Willow Grove.  He was a nice guy and played a good round of golf.  As we played on, the topics of financial planning and trackchasing came up.  Chris showed a strong interest in the hobbies.  The topic of paying for trackchasing came up.  He asked what my daily budget was for trackchasing.  I simply said, “A lot” and a big smile came across Chris’ face.  Mike, Chris and I all enjoyed some drinks at the club’s 19^th hole before departing.

 

By the way, you may remember that I have a goal of playing golf for the same number of days that I trackchase in 2006.  Last year, trackchasing beat golf something like 120-55.  So far this year, its trackchasing 29, golf 21.

 

As mentioned, I stayed overnight with Mike in Doylestown.  When we got back from the track at 11 p.m., Mike’s wife Mary was waiting up for us.  We sat around eating some delicious birthday cake until past 1 a.m.

 

The next morning the three of us went out for breakfast at the Cross Keys Diner.  This diner is housed in a large old house and served a great breakfast.  Trackchasing is very special to me when I get to visit old friends like Mike and Mary.  Great seeing you guys.

 

 

 

RACE TRACK STATS:

 

BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY – INNER OVAL (FRONT) BRIDGEPORT, NEW JERSEY - TRACK #1,031 – 5/5/06

 

This was my 10th track to see countable racing at in New Jersey.  I have now seen ten or more tracks in 28 states.  I am tied for 20^th position in “Joysey.”  You will come to find out that some of my state track totals in the east are respectable, but I have a very low state rank.  This is because nearly every leading trackchaser is from the east, mainly Pennsylvania and New York.  Roscoe “Pappy” Hough, now deceased, leads the state with 35 tracks.

 

 

 

RACE TRACK NEWS:

 

BRIDGEPORT SPEEDWAY – INNER OVAL (FRONTSTRETCH)

 

Tonight’s racing on the quarter mile oval of the Bridgeport Speedway was featuring three classes.  These included the 270cc mini-sprints, 600cc mini-sprints and the four-cylinder stock cars.  This Friday night show is sort of a warm-up for their bigger more well attended racing shows on the 5/8 mile oval on Saturday nights.

 

The track has good LP&A (as in lights, public address system and announcer).  Actually the announcer was one of the best I have heard in a very long time.  I’m not just saying that because he invited up into the booth for a 13-minute interview (filmed by brother Mike and available on DVD soon!)  Mike’s last press box appearance was at Arlington Park for the horse racing calls of legendary Phil Georgeff. 

 

The interior of the quarter mile oval is marked by concrete “Jersey” barriers.  What else would you expect for a racetrack located in New Jersey?  There were no exterior walls.  If the cars drove too wide they had nothing to crash into which is good for the drivers, owners and spectators.

 

The mini-sprints spun out too much.  There racing wasn’t that good.  I liked the four-cylinders best.  All of the cars but one were rear wheel drives.  The lone front-wheel drive car came from the middle of the pack to finish a strong second.

 

Three of my ten countable tracks in New Jersey have now been on the property of the Bridgeport Speedway.  I guess if they ever run a figure 8 or road course race, I’ll be back.

 

Following my trackchaser interviews, I am frequently approached by fans who want to say hello and learn a little more about trackchasing.  That was the case tonight.  I was approached by a man identifying himself as “Jalopy Jack.”

 

It seems that “Jalopy Jack” lives in New York City.  He doesn’t own a car, but takes public transportation to many of the events he sees.  Mr. Jack runs a unique racing medium.  You have all seen racing TV and radio programs, racing newspapers and racing websites.  His is unique because he does interviews with racing personalities of all sorts and shares it via a telephone recording.

 

His card says, “Join Jalopy Jack at the jalopy track for this new racing opinion and discussion forum.  Good memories and great guests, racing heaven 24/7.”  You simply call 1-718-707-1052 and get to hear a 10-minute interview with his weekly guest.

 

The message changes every Thursday.  I called the number and there are no tricks whatsoever.  You simply listen and hang-up.  This week’s guest was the #3 ranked worldwide trackchaser, Allan Brown.  Mr. Jack has invited me to be a guest on his program and we’re working out the contractual details as this is written.  If I have the opportunity to be on “Jalopy Jack’s” program, I will try to let you know in advance.

 

 

WEATHER CONDITIONS

 

The weather conditions were very nice today for golf and then for our evening at the Bridgeport Speedway.  The temperatures were in the low 70s for golf and 60s for racing.  That’s just about perfect.

 

I was most concerned about tomorrow’s (Saturday) weather.  I had two tracks scheduled and the rain forecast was for 30%.  A late night internet check (stealthily using the Skonicki internet connection) showed the weather had changed and it had changed for the better.  Rain forecasts for both Saturday and Sunday were 0%.

 

 

RENTAL CAR UPDATE:

 

The National Rental Car Racing Chevy Impala LT’s trunk was big enough to house two sets of golf clubs and a very large rolling bag.  The car gets nearly 450 miles per tank of gas.  I liked that.

 

 

 

LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:

 

These worldwide trackchasers are within 100 tracks (plus or minus) of my current trackchaser total.

 

1.  Rick Schneider – Bay Shore, New York - 1,039 (+8)

2.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,031

3.  Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 1,021 (-10)

4.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 1,014 (-17)

5.  Andy Sivi, Clairton, Pennsylvania – 1,007 (-24)

6.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania – 997 (-34)

 

 

 

Other notables

 

These worldwide trackchasers are within 10 tracks (plus or minus) of Carol’s current trackchaser total.

 

37.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania - 252 (+9)

37.  Spike Rixon, Watford, England - 252 (+9)

39.  Virginia Schuler, Allentown, Pennsylvania - 248 (+5)

40.  Steve Kinser, Bloomington, Indiana – 246 (+3)

41.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California - 243

42.  Don McAuley, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - 235 (- 8)

43.  Andy Ritter, Mansfield, Pennsylvania - 235 (- 8)

 

 

 

 

2006 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California - 40

2.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 28

3.  Roland Vanden Eynde, Vilvoorde, Belgium – 25

3.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania - 18

5.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 13

5.  Paul Weisel, Orefield, Pennsylvania – 13

5.  Linda Thomas, Watford, England - 13

8.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania – 12

9.  Roger Ferrell, Majenica, Indiana – 11

10.  Rick Young, Maxville, Ontario, Canada - 9

10.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 9

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

Randy Lewis

The World’s #2 Ranked Trackchaser

 

That’s all the news that’s fit to print from San Clemente where the women are strong, the men are good-looking, all of the children are above average and the real estate prices are way above average.

 

 

 

 

 

CUMULATIVE TRAVEL DISTANCES:

 

AIRPLANE

 

Los Angeles, CA – Detroit, MI – 1,973 miles

Detroit, MI – Washington, D.C. – 409 miles

 

 

RENTAL CAR

 

Washington, D.C. Ronald Reagan National Airport – trip begins

Shenandoah, VA – 130 miles

Bridgeport, NJ – 549 miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

 

Shenandoah Speedway – $35

Bridgeport Speedway - $10

 

 

 

 

Past trackchasing stories are available at:

www.ranlayracing.com

 

Official trackchaser standings can be viewed at:

www.trackchaser.com  

 

Some of my standings data comes from trackchaser.com

 

 

 

 

 

UPCOMING TRACKCHASING PLANS

 

Moving north.

 

 

 

 

 

RACETRACKS VISITED IN 2006 (** not the first time to visit this track)

 

992.  Watermelon Capital Speedway, Cordele, Georgia - January 14

 

993.  Cross Roads Motorplex (asphalt oval), Jasper, Florida - January 15

 

994.  Norfolk Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia - January 20

 

995.  Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California - January 21

 

996.  Oregon State Fair & Expo Center, Forster Livestock Arena, Salem, Oregon - January 28

 

997.  Morosso Motorsports Park, Jupiter, Florida – February 4

 

998.  Thunderbowl Speedway of Ocala, Ocala, Florida - February 4

 

999.  Cross Roads Motorplex (dirt oval), Jasper, Florida - February 5

 

1,000.  Auburndale Kartway, Auburndale, Florida - February 10

 

1,001.  Ocala Speedway (asphalt oval), Ocala, Florida - February 12

 

1,002. Speedworld Speedway, Surprise, Arizona - February 19

 

1,003. Lowe’s Motor Speedway (1/5 mile asphalt oval), Concord, North Carolina - February 25

 

1,004. Concord Raceway, Concord, North Carolina - February 25

 

1,005. Antioch Speedway, Antioch, North Carolina - February 25

 

1,006. Green Valley Speedway, Gadsden, Alabama - February 26

 

1,007. East Bay Raceway (inner oval), Gibsonton, Florida – March 17

 

1,008. Volusia Speedway Park West (1/6M oval), Barberville, Florida – March 18

 

1,009. Speedway Park, Fruitland Park, Florida – March 18

 

1,010. Sand Mountain Speedway (road course), Fort Meade, Florida – March 19

 

1,011. Anderson Motor Speedway, Anderson, South Carolina – March 31

 

1,012. Westminster Speedway, Westminster, South Carolina – March 31

 

1,013. East Lincoln Motor Speedway, Stanley, North Carolina – April 1

 

1,014. Margarettsville Speedway, Margarettsville, North Carolina – April 2

 

1,015. Sunny South Raceway, Grand Bay, Alabama – April 7

 

1,016. Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, Alabama – April 8

 

1,017. Coldwater Raceway, Coldwater, Alabama – April 8

 

1,018. Talladega Short Track, Talladega, Alabama – April 8

 

1,019. Ballymena Raceway, Ballymena, Northern Ireland - April 14

 

1,020. Oulton Park, Little Budworth, England - April 15

 

1,021. Somerset Rebels Banger Raceway, Rooks Bridge, England - April 16

 

1,022. Mendips Raceway, Shipham, England - April 16

 

1,023. Oval Raceway, Angmering, England - April 17

 

1,024. Arlington Stadium, Eastbourne, England - April 17

 

1,025. Southside Speedway, Midlothian, Virginia - April 28

 

1,026. Motor Mile Speedway, Radford, Virginia - April 29

 

1,027. Wythe Speedway, Wytheville, Virginia - April 29

 

1,028. Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point Circuit, Summit Point, West Virginia - April 30

 

1,029. Old Dominion Speedway – inner inner oval, Manassas, Virginia - April 30

 

1,030. Shenandoah Speedway, Shenandoah, Virginia – May 4

 

1,031. Bridgeport Speedway (inner oval – front), Bridgeport, New Jersey - May 5