GREETINGS FROM TOPEKA, KANSAS AND THEN MAYETTA, KANSAS

ALL PICTURES HAVE BEEN UPDATED FROM THIS TRACKCHASING TRIP AT WWW.RANLAYRACING.COM

Editor’s note:

From time to time you will receive my Trackchaser Report a day or two after I actually visit the track.  This is why you may see me out on the golf course the same day you receive a report talking about my trip to some faraway place.  You can always check the “Racetrack Stats” section to see the exact date that I visited the track.  Alternatively, you could visit www.ranlayracing.com and click on “Trackchaser Reports” to find each report I write.

 

REALLY IMPORTANT NEWS!!!

Before I get to today’s trackchasing news, it is time for my semi-annual trackchaser review and rest of the year predictions.  Trackchasers from all over the world look forward to this special information.  Some read it to see who has done well in the first six months of the year.  Others read it to see my predictions for the balance of the year.  So here goes!

 

The base data comes from www.trackchaser.com and includes the time period from January 1, 2006 – June 30, 2006.  The study was completed with all data posted by July 8, 2006.  Of course, we can’t wait forever for anybody tardy in reporting his or her tracks.

 

A few interesting tidbits…………

 

This year’s top 10 has seen a combined 352 tracks, last year’s top 10 saw 342 tracks in the first half of the year.  This is a 2.9% increase in tracks seen by the top 10.

 

Only four of the worldwide top 10 career trackchasers rank in the top 10 for the first half of 2006.

 

Of the six career top 10 trackchasers who are not in the current 2006 top 10, three do not report their tracks regularly.  At least two of those people don’t see very many tracks anymore.  The remaining three who do report their tracks have seen a combined total of just 21 tracks.  There is strong evidence that as trackchasers “Mature” their production goes down.

 

Two of this year’s 2006 top 10 were not even “Trackchaser eligible” at this time last year.  Both Mike Knappenberger and Carol Lewis have added their lists to the trackchaser group during the last 12 months.

 

 

THE RESULTS AND THE PREDICTIONS

 

Here is my take on the current top 10 trackchasers and their chance for a podium finish in 2006. 

 

 

10.  Pam Smith, Effort, PA – 19 tracks

 

Pam is the first, and to my knowledge only, Ph.D. we have ever had in trackchasing.  She is having a solid season after getting a 10^th place finish in 2005, her best ever.  The only real question is will Pam become the first woman ever to take a “Qualifying” trackchasing trip by herself.  Again, to my knowledge, no woman has ever taken a trackchasing trip by herself, which includes staying overnight in a hotel, driving herself to the track and seeing a new track on that trip.  It is rumored that other women are about ready to attempt such a trip.  Who will be the first?

 

 

9.    Guy Smith, Effort, PA – 25 tracks

 

Guy is one of the leading “Regional” trackchasers of all time.  Most of his tracks come from the North American Eastern Region.  By they way, I will soon have more information about the regionality of trackchasing.

 

Guy is on pace for an average year and should be able to maintain a lower top 10 2006 ranking.  He is one of the younger trackchasers in the career top 20.  The only question is, “Will he be able to keep the leaders in sight long enough to use the advantage of his youth?”  No chance for a podium finish this season.

 

 

 

 

7.  Roger Ferrell – Majenica, IN – 26 tracks

 

Roger is coming off three consecutive top 10 finishes during 2003-2005.  His best ever finish was fourth.  He won’t get that this year, but could improve his current position.  Roger gets to some of the more unusual tracks, which can only confirm that he and his behind the scenes research crew, spend much more time with this hobby than they are willing to admit.  I am still waiting for my first “Roger sighting” of 2006.

 

 

 

 

7.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs, PA - 26 tracks

 

This is Gordon’s first flirtation with the top 10 since a 10^th place finish in 2004.  The current career National Geographic Diversity leader has had a big year including seeing his 1,000^th career track.

 

Of the top trackchasers, Gordon gets out of his North American region more most do.  Current records show that he spends just over 50% of his trackchasing time in the Eastern Region of North America.  It’s unlikely that Gordon will get much higher than his current 2006 position, although he should easily hold onto a top 10 for the first time in two years.

 

 

6.  Paul Weisel – Orefield, PA – 28 tracks

 

Paul is one of the brightest lights of the trackchasing newcomer crop.  He along with Roger Ferrell and Roland Vanden Eynde are waging quite a battle in and around the top 20 spot in the career standings.  At their current pace, they will all be hovering around positions 10-15 in just a couple of years.

 

Paul’s season has been hampered by a broken foot.  This will prevent Paul from bettering his fourth place finish of last year.  I think there is a very good chance that Paul will improve his current annual ranking before the year is out.

 

 

5.  Carol Lewis – San Clemente, CA – 29 tracks

 

I’ve known this trackchaser longer than anyone else in the worldwide trackchaser group has.  She is coming off a very strong 7^th place finish from last year. 

 

I have some inside knowledge regarding her 2006 trackchasing plans.  I suspect she’ll finish about where she did last year, maybe a spot higher.  Of all the listed trackchasers who reside in the United States, she has one of the highest percentages of tracks seen outside of North America, trailing only National Speed Sport News’ Chris Economacki and sprint car star Steve Kinser.  She may increase that percentage before the year is out.

 

 

4.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, PA – 38 tracks

 

The clear cut “Rookie of the Year” is Mike Knappenberger!  Earlier in the year, he was encouraged to submit his track list and become a full-fledged trackchaser.  I hope that when he garners his “Rookie of the year” awards, he remembers those who supplied that extra nudge which allowed him to earn such well-deserved recognition.

 

Mike is a motivated trackchaser and still has the advantage of grabbing the “Low hanging” fruit.  I think Mike has an excellent chance of hanging onto a top five finish.

 

 

 

3.  Roland Vanden Eynde – Vilvoorde, Belgium – 41 tracks

 

Roland is coming off two consecutive third place finishes. Politics may play a part in Roland’s yearend finish as he is currently boycotting the United States.  Nevertheless, I would expect another third place and podium standing effort from this Belgium resident.

 

Roland is engaged in a voracious battle with Mssrs. Weisel and Ferrell and currently seems to be getting the best of it.  Roland’s efforts should allow him to gain several positions in the worldwide career rankings over the next few years.

 

 

2.  Ed Esser – Madison, WI – 44 tracks

 

Every time I look back, I see Ed Esser.  This guy never seems to stop trackchasing.  He is coming off five straight top four finishes or better, including a 2003 championship.  I expect that Ed will once again top the century mark, which would be his fourth consecutive year, a record.

 

I’m going to say that Ed will remain in second place for the third year in a row, also a record.  It remains to be seen if his geographical driving circle (which is much bigger than anyone else who drives to tracks) will hem him in anytime soon.  It may and it may not.  If anyone can overcome the limitations of the GDC, it’s Ed.

 

 

1.  Randy Lewis – San Clemente, CA – 76 tracks

 

When I started the season, I had a specific amount of tracks I expected to get.  I really have not deviated from that number.  At this point, barring accident, illness or injury the number I have in mind should win the 2006 championship.

 

At this point, I’m more concerned with getting my trackchasing days to equal my golfing days.  So far, trackchasing leads golf 58-35.  I still expect my two hobbies to be roughly equal by year’s end.

 

 

 

All others

 

Allan Brown, Comstock Park, MI – 16 tracks

 

It’s somewhat difficult to keep track of which tracks are being counted and which are not.  This aging superstar could still garner a top 10.

 

 

 

Linda Thomas, Watford, England – 15 tracks

 

Linda is a bright young face in the world of trackchasing.  She may be a bit inexperienced to hang with these tour veterans for the entire year.  Nevertheless, she has had a good year up to this point, especially considering her England location.

 

 

Will White, Quakertown, PA – 15 tracks

 

Continuing to operate on a Richard Childress (as a driver) budget, both time and money should keep the commissioner out of the top 10 for a second consecutive year.

 

 

 

Bing Metz, Titamy, PA – 14 tracks

 

I’ve never met Bing, but I have analyzed his traveling habits.  Based upon where he has trackchased in the past, it looks like he has no geographical inhibitions.  I would not count him out of a 10^th place finish or better.

 

 

Rick Young, Maxville, Ontario, Canada – 14 tracks

 

This Englishman/Canadian started off like a ball of fire.  Somewhere along the way that ball of fire, melted all the ice tracks he was visiting.  No top 10 for the Rickster, but he still shares nice pictures.

 

 

Norm Wagner, Bedford, Ohio – 12 tracks

 

The enigmatic Mr. Wagner acknowledges his tracks in bunches.  Heck, he may have several more than his current dozen right now.  Probably not a top 10 finish, but who knows.

 

 

Long shots

 

Andy Ritter, Mansfield, PA – 9 tracks

 

Andy will probably rest after being the youngest trackchaser ever (age 35) to see tracks in all 50 states after adding Utah last week.  Some day a top 10 is in the cards for this rural Pennsylvania hot shoe. 

 

 

Andy Sivi, Clairton, PA – 5 tracks

 

This guy could easily be in the top 10 if he wanted too.  Andy is the former 2001 and 2002 trackchaser champion.  Like I’m trying to balance trackchasing and golf, Andy is trying to balance the activities in his life and right now trackchasing is not a priority.

 

 

 

It’s very difficult to make accurate predictions about the future.  Actually, it’s nearly impossible.  However, that’s no reason not to make predictions.  This is all done in fun.  I’ll be back with you after the first of the year, to let you know how everyone did.

 

I WOKE UP IN FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS THIS MORNING.  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

The Strategy

 

When we last talked, I was sitting dejectedly in the cockpit of the National Rental Car Racing Chevy Impala after learning there would be no figure 8 racing at the Windy Hollow Raceway in Owensboro, Kentucky.  I needed to put Windy Hollow in my rearview mirror.  However, I didn’t know which direction to drive in order to get that dilapidated excuse for a short track racing facility in my rearview mirror.

 

You see, I had a number of strategic constraints to factor into my decision-making model.  Isn’t that always the case?  First and foremost, I have to be back in San Clemente for the July 4^th fireworks.  The Fourth of July is the biggest day of the year in my hometown.  They shoot the fireworks off the San Clemente pier at 9 p.m. every Fourth of July.  We live only 500 yards from the pier.  Carol, I, and our guests will be enjoying the evening on our roof deck when the first explosion goes off.  You should be able to see the fireworks by going to www.ranlayracing.com and clicking on my webcam.

 

We first moved to San Clemente in 1989 from Laguna Niguel, California.  I have never trackchased anywhere on this special day since we’ve moved to San Clemente.  It’s a family holiday.  The last time I have even seen a race outside of California on the 4^th was in 1985.  That was a visit to the Peoria Speedway and a visit with my family.

 

The dilemma today is that the only flight leaving St. Louis that will get me home in time on Frontier Airlines on the 4^th leaves at 6:15 a.m.  That’s going to be a tough flight to make after I go trackchasing on the evening of July 3.

 

I really only have two choices.  These are the distances from Owensboro (where I am now) to the proposed track and back to the St. Louis Airport.

 

Madisonville, Kentucky – 297 miles

Topeka, Kansas – 876 miles

 

The obvious choice would be Madisonville because the driving distance is nearly 600 miles less.  However, in the world of trackchasing (my world anyway), the obvious choice is not always the best one.  Here are the factors I had to weigh before I could make my decision.

 

Madisonville – pros and cons

 

First, it’s closer.  Secondly, the rain probability is just 20%.  Third, they will be racing my favorite class of cars, dirt late models.  It’s even a UMP Summer Nationals event, which will draw many of the best drivers from all over the Midwest.  Why would I even consider driving to Kansas?

 

Here are a few reasons that I found to be important drawbacks to this choice.  First, getting the Madisonville track would add just one track to my total.  Getting a track in Kentucky would not add any National Geographic Diversity (NGD) points to my annual or career totals.  Finally, even though I love dirt late models, the UMP Summer Nationals event a few days ago in Poplar Bluff was so bad, I don’t think I want to sit through more than 20 races in 95 degree heat to see these guys run a 40-lap feature.

 

Topeka – pros and cons

 

Driving to Topeka would give me another new state for the year.  This would add too my annual NGD totals as well as give me several points toward the coveted NGD career total.  There is also an opportunity to see another track, just 32 miles up the road on Monday night. 

 

Heartland Park races just 10 times per year.  Almost all of their dates are Sundays. Seeing any track that races less than weekly is a better trackchasing strategic choice than seeing a weekly track.

 

The downside to Topeka?  It’s 876 miles of driving over the next 36 hours!!  If I go to Topeka, I will have to drive all night in order to make my 6:15 a.m. plane on Tuesday, July 4.  One more minor kicker, the rain forecast in Topeka is worse than Madisonville at 30%

 

What was my decision?

 

Like any good former corporate employee, I analyzed and evaluated my options.  Then, I decided to try to get more information.  Tonight, I would drive to the greater St. Louis area for the overnight.  This would put me exactly five driving hours from each of my choices.  In the morning, I would look at the rain probabilities for each location and make a final decision.

 

The next morning the weather forecasts had changed.  Madisonville’s rain chances had decreased from 20% to 0%.  On the other hand, Topeka’s had increased from 30% to 40%!  Weather.com called for 20% at 4 p.m. increasing to 30% by 5 p.m., increasing again to 40% by 6 p.m., and staying at that rate for the rest of the evening.  The Topeka races started at 6 p.m.

 

It should be pretty clear to just about everyone now.  Madisonville was 600 miles closer and had a 0% chance of rain.  Topeka was 600 miles further and had a 40% chance of rain.  Pick Madisonville, Randy, pick Madisonville.

 

It was 11 a.m. and I was still showering at my Super 8.  I couldn’t make up my mind.  I thought I would put it in the hands of God.  My prayer request went up the chain of command and soon my question was answered.

 

“Don’t bother me with trivial requests like this.  You can decide if you want to go to Madisonville or Topeka,” a loud voice from above my third flour room boomed.  “By the way, I’m glad to see you’re whipping those other trackchaser’s butts!”

 

That was the word from above.  I felt a little silly asking a higher power for help with my trackchasing dilemma.  On the other hand, I’m glad to see that He/She is on my side.

 

I picked Topeka.  I’ve beaten 40% weather odds before.  I’ll beat them again.  I couldn’t pass up the chance to get two tracks.  I couldn’t pass up those valuable National Geographic Diversity points. 

 

It would be a long drive back to the airport.  I figured that if I got out of the second track by 11 p.m., I would have four hours and forty-five minutes of driving time.  That would put it at 3:45 a.m.  I needed to be returning my rental car by 5 a.m. in order to make airport security and my 6:15 a.m. departure.

 

This would give me one hour and 15 minutes of “Free time.”  I recorded the interstate rest stop locations on the drive out to Topeka.  I have my cell phone alarm and portable alarm clock.  I would stop in these rest areas and use my free time to doze for a few minutes.

 

This is how the World’s #1 Ranked Trackchaser makes decisions out in the field.  It’s not a life for everyone, but it’s a life for me.

 

 

The Trip

 

The return trip from the Thunderhill Speedway to the St. Louis Airport was a tough one.  I wouldn’t want to do this very often.  This was my first night of the year on a trackchasing trip where I did not get a hotel.  There wasn’t time.

 

I left the track at nearly 11 p.m.  My flight from St. Louis departed at 6:15 a.m.  I had 320 miles to cover.  There wasn’t much traffic and the weather was good.  Normally, during the day, when I get sleepy a 12-minute power nap does it for me and keeps the schedule going.  Tonight, I needed two Super Duper 30-minute power sleeps.  Those 30-minute periods seemed like they lasted 30 seconds.

 

I had an encounter with a drunk driver.  He was driving his pick-up from one side of the road to another and nearly ran over me twice.  I called 911 and tried to report him.  I was transferred to two different police agencies and they didn’t seem all that concerned.  I guess they figured that even though I could give an exact location, they would have a hard time finding him.  I think people who do that should be locked up for a very long time.

 

I pulled into the National Rental Car Parking lot at 4:50 a.m., ten minutes ahead of schedule.  There wasn’t much activity (Duh!) going on at the rental car lot or the airport.  I was one worn out trackchasing puppy!

 

I garnered exit rows seats on both airplane rides, which allowed for a little bit of rest and relaxation.  I ended up getting home at about 11 a.m., hitting the sack for some more sleep time.  By the afternoon, we were grilling up a storm and getting ready for the fireworks display from the pier.  It was nice to be home.

 

The People

 

Not much happening on the trackchasing people front.  I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July and didn’t eat too much pumpkin pie.

 

 

 

RACE TRACK STATS:

HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA (DIRT OVAL) - TRACK #1,071 – 7/3/06 & THUNDERHILL SPEEDWAY, MAYETTA, KANSAS – TRACK #1,072 – 7/3/06

 

These tracks were my 13^th and 14^th in the Jayhawk state.  It was also my first visit for trackchasing this year in Kansas.  This was my 26^th trackchasing state of the year. 

 

I started the day tied for 11^th place in Kansas.  You may recall that anyone with a rank outside the top 10 gets 15 NGD points for that state.  Trackchasers in a state’s top 10, get the same number of points at their rank, i.e., 5^th place = 5 points.  NGD points are like strokes in golf, the lowest score wins. 

 

With the addition of two tracks, I moved from 11^th place (15 NGD points) to 8^th place (8 NGD points).  This was a huge NGD point day, a gain of seven points.  I started the season only 29 overall NGD points out of the career lead.  Ed Esser leads Allan Brown for the Kansas state lead 25-23.

 

 

 

 

RACE TRACK NEWS:

 

HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA (DIRT OVAL)

 

I was somewhat disappointed in the Heartland Park Topeka Oval.  This was the third time I’ve been to this facility.  The other times found me watching the SCCA race on the asphalt road course as well as seeing dirt off-road machines racing on the dirt road course, which included a major portion of today’s oval.

 

The heat was stifling.  It was 96 degrees at race time.  I had called the track and looked at their website, but there was no exact starting time to be found.  I had read Ed Esser’s trackchaser report regarding his visit to the track a few weeks ago.  At that time, the racing on Sunday started at 6 p.m.  Tonight, being a holiday Monday night, the show would not end up starting until 7 p.m. even though I was in the parking lot at 5 p.m.

 

The admission price was an astoundingly low five bucks.  Where can you see four classes of stocks cars (including nearly 50 modifieds) for that price?  They even allow use of credit cards.  I wish more tracks did that.  Then I wouldn’t have to carry so much cash.

 

Many things didn’t seem to work just right at tonight’s track.  First, it was a long walk from the parking lot to the grandstand.  With the weather threatening, I imagined that walk back to the car in a driving rainstorm.

 

I picked out a nice spot high in the grandstand for tonight’s viewing.  I got my Sabo sponsored stadium seat all settled and sat down.  I noticed something I have never seen before.  There was a huge canopy, ten feet in length on all sides positioned directly behind the flag stand and occupying rows 5-10.  I would later learn that the track scorers would sit here.  The canopy blocked the view of spectators sitting above row five for several yards to both its left and right.

 

The track’s radio communication was weak.  That’s a rarity, I don’t know why.  The announcer was young and read several pieces of information at length.   That wasn’t very professional.  The P.A. system could be heard much better back in the parking lot than in the grandstands.

 

The concessions were overpriced with my cheeseburger costing $4.50 (normally about $3 elsewhere).  A 16 oz. draft beer was four dollars.  I guess these prices offset the low admission price and again I could use my credit card.  Later in the evening, I went with one of the largest shaved ices, I’ve ever had at a cost of $4.

 

Even though the western skies looked bad, they didn’t seem to want to rush the program along.  They started hot lapping at 6 p.m.  and ran about 15 sets of practice laps.  Finally, at 7 p.m., they started their racing program.

 

The track was a little damp.  It became much damper after the sixth heat race, when the lightest of sprinkles came our way from the huge dark cloud overhead.  That amount of rain was 1/50 the amount we had in Wheatland, Missouri two weeks ago.  They stopped the races, put a few trucks on the surface, and were back racing within about five minutes. 

 

Tonight they ran 14 heats amongst four classes of cars including Super Stocks, Factory Stocks, Modifieds and Bombers.  I liked the one spin and you’re out rule.  In those 14 heats, there were only 4-5 yellow flags.  With the exception of the modifieds, the racing wasn’t very good.  It was fast and there were few battles for position.  I watched most of the races from the turn three and four grandstand after the “Canopy fiasco.”

 

Since I had now been to Heartland Park three times now, I opted for my 23^rd trackchasing double of the 2006 season.  This would be a Blended Double without a feature on the front-end.  This is my fourth double of this type this year and first for something other than champ kart or Autograss type racing.

 

 

THUNDERHILL SPEEDWAY

 

The Thunderhill Speedway is a “Country” track.  The fans looked a lot more rural than those at Heartland Park did.  I saw a number of men wearing cowboy hats and cowboy boots.  I left Heartland Park at 8:40 p.m. and pulled into the Thunderhill lot just 35 minutes later.

 

Before I left Heartland Park, I phoned Thunderhill to confirm they were racing.  There was rain in the air and I didn’t want to make the 32 mile drive for nothing.  On the way out to the track, I drove through areas that had received a good amount of rain.

 

When I arrived at Thunderhill, they were just starting their feature races.  I paid my $8 senior admission price (Regular $10) and stood down in turn one for the start of the 15-car factory stock race.  While they were restarting, I visited the concessions area.  I picked up a bag of popcorn and bottled water for just two dollars.  I told you it was a country track.

 

This track charges if you bring a cooler into the stands.  It’s three dollars if the cooler has one handle and five dollars if the cooler has multiple handles!  The grandstands were huge and dark.  The wooden stands were probably 25 rows high and ran the length of the front stretch.  The washboard clay parking lot was enough to jar your fillings loose.  I felt several creepy crawly bugs during my stay at the track.

 

The track itself is a very high banked, self-cleaning half-mile dirt oval.  The pit area sits beyond the backstretch.  The parking lot is behind the main grandstand and the concession area sits off turn one.  The entrance to the track runs along a 2-mile long gravel road.  As you near the track on that gravel road, you drive within a few yards to turns three and four.

 

Car counts weren’t great.  This was a good track to see “Features only” like I was doing tonight.  Following the 15-car Factory Stock feature was the Vintage car feature with just four cars.  Those features were followed by the Pony Stocks with four cars as well and the Super Stocks with five cars.  The final two races were for Hobby Stocks (11) and Modifieds (22).  The small cars counts allowed them to run off the six features in just under 90 minutes.  This was a perfect Blended Double with about 90 minutes spend at each track, seeing every car race and driving just 35 minutes in between.

 

There were a few unusual happenings at Thunderhill tonight.  There was no thunder but there was a good deal of lightning.  The nighttime skies would turn white from lightning.  The announcer had to comfort the crowd by telling us the lightning show was 15-20 miles away and we would get the full show in.  We did.

 

The concession stand reduced all sandwiches by 50% but I was too stuffed to take advantage.  There were several fire works displays off in the distance that entertained the crowd.  One feature-winning driver was named Travis Tenpenny.  What was his car number?  Ten cents.

 

It was a great night to get a double.  After driving nearly 700 miles for the day into threatening weather, I felt lucky to get what I did.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

 

When I arrived at the Heartland Park Topeka racing facility it was  balmy 96 degrees with corresponding humidity at 4:45 p.m.  There was a partly cloudy sky that looked like it might bring rain, as predicted, in the not too distant future.  This is pretty much the weather one would expect in this area at this time of year.

RENTAL CAR UPDATE:

 

The National Rental Car Racing Chevy Impala LT gathered a good deal of what looked like cement dust all the way back at the Poplar Bluff Speedway last Friday night.  It never rained hard enough to clean that four-day-old dust off.  I guess the boys and girls at National will have to take a little extra time with this one to get it back into rentable shape.

 

Thursday total driving miles – 155 miles

Friday total driving miles – 381 miles

Saturday total driving miles – 439 miles

Sunday total driving miles – 537 miles

Monday total driving miles – 451 miles

Tuesday (after midnight on the way back to the airport) – 236 miles

The driving portion of this trip covered 2,199 miles.  I filled up five times.  I paid an average price of $2.84 per gallon.  The Chevy Impala gave me just 22.5 M.P.G. in fuel mileage at an average cost of 12.6 cents per mile.  This less than normal fuel mileage was probably caused by my leaving the engine on with the air running when I arrived early to several tracks.  It was worth it!  The car cost only 7.1 cents per mile to rent, all taxes included.

 

 

LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:

 

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

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,072

2.  Rick Schneider – Bay Shore, New York - 1,046 (-26)

3.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 1,031 (-41)

4.  Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 1,021 (-51)*

5.  Andy Sivi, Clairton, Pennsylvania – 1,012 (-60)*

6.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania – 1,012 (-60)*

 

 

* Warning, you are within 50 tracks of being removed from this list.

 

 

 

Other notables

 

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

 

37.  Bob Schafer, Oshkosh, Wisconsin - 267 (+8)

38.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California - 259

39.  Spike Rixon, Watford, England - 252 (+7)

 

Steve Kinser’s name has been removed from this list due to non-performance.

 

 

 

2006 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California - 81

2.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 42

2.  Roland Vanden Eynde, Vilvoorde, Belgium – 41

4.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania - 38

5.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 29

6.  Paul Weisel, Orefield, Pennsylvania – 28

7.  Roger Ferrell, Majenica, Indiana – 26

8.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 26

9.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania – 26

10. Pam Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 20

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

Randy Lewis

#1 Trackchaser Living West of the Mississippi

 

What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for sure that just ain't so.

 

 

 

 

CUMULATIVE TRAVEL DISTANCES:

 

AIRPLANE

 

Orange County, CA -  Denver, CO – 780 miles

Denver, CO – St. Louis, MO – 832 miles

RENTAL CAR

 

St. Louis International Airport – trip begins

Eldon, MO – 155 miles

Poplar Bluff, MO – 412 miles

Indianapolis, IN – 790 miles

Rushville, IN – 846 miles

Mount Vernon, KY – 1,077 miles

Owensboro, KY – 1,307 miles

Topeka, KS – 1,848 miles

St. Louis International Airport – trip ends – 2,199 miles

 

AIRPLANE

 

St. Louis, MO – Denver, CO – 832 miles

Denver, CO – Orange County, CA - 780 miles

 

 

Total air miles – 3,034 miles

 

Total auto and air miles traveled on this trip – 5,233 miles

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

Lake Ozark Speedway – $12.50

Poplar Bluff Speedway - $20

Indianapolis Motor Speedway - $20  ($10 to park)

Rush County Fairgrounds - $8

Rock Castle Speedway - $10

Windy Hollow Speedway - $8

Heartland Park Topeka - $5

Thunderhill Speedway - $8

 

Total race admissions for the trip – about $91.50

 

 

 

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

 

Following this trip, I must return to San Clemente and help Carol prepare for her most exotic trackchasing trip of the 2006 season to date.  She’s not going to pass Mike Knappenberger just sitting at the beach.

 

Our next trackchasing trip will take us to the East.  For security reasons, my trackchasing locations can be revealed to only the most loyal of trackchaser supporters. 

 

The East has been getting a lot of rain.  I will pit my weather forecasting abilities (only one rainout day in the last 159 days of trackchasing with 241 tracks seen during this period) against the vaunted East coast.  I will be traveling without a backup plan on several of the dates, so it will be a tough challenge.

 

I know I’ve been saying this for a while now, but my good luck with the weather has to change.  I’m going to more places where I don’t have much of a backup plan than I ever have before.  Tonight was a real gamble driving almost 700 miles round-trip into a 40% chance of rain.

 

I’m also in the midst of planning a trackchasing trip for our daughter Kristy and me.  I’m looking forward to that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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