GREETINGS FROM KIMBERLY, IDAHO

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

 

My attorneys have advised me to issue this legal disclaimer.  You have all seen where folks have tried to sue individuals or companies for a problem they actually caused themselves.  Drunk drivers suing bars that served them liquor comes to mind.  Or, even the person who trips on the sidewalk and wants to sue the concrete manufacturer.

 

Therefore, I am issuing this legal proclamation to remove myself from any future liability issues that might arise from my fellow trackchasers.

 

“I am not responsible for any trackchaser who spends too much time and/or money trying to keep up with my trackchaser pace.  If any trackchaser spends all of his/her money trackchasing and jeopardizes his family’s future well-being I am not responsible.  This includes but is not limited too depleting an IRA fund, taking out second and third mortgages on personal residences or going to a “We cash checks” store on the way home from work and on the way to a new racetrack.”

 

Some trackchasers have been doing there best to keep up.  For that, I can only offer my most sincere congratulations.  On the other hand, when this gets out of hand for a fellow trackchaser and begins to hurt their family and financial lives, I must issue a proclamation such as this.

 

Thank you.

 

RANLAY Racing

 

 

CAROL AND I WOKE UP HAMILTON, MONTANA.  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

 

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

The Strategy

                                                                                        

I was both pleased and surprised that we could get a trackchasing trip relatively close to home.  In my world, flying “Just” 589 miles one-way is about like walking across the street.  We left early on Friday morning and returned late on Sunday night.  We were out just two nights, although on the ride home from the airport I told Carol that being gone just two nights didn’t feel much different from being gone five nights.  She agreed.

 

Trackchasing is as much about logistics as anything else is.  The more tracks that someone sees, the more challenging the future logistics.  Seeing four tracks over three days in three separate states with just two overnights is maximizing logistics.

 

Here’s an update on my goal of balancing the number of days I go trackchasing with the number on days I play golf.  In 2005, trackchasing dwarfed my golf days 121-55.  I am pleased to report that I’m doing pretty well against my goal of having both hobbies occupy a similar number of days in 2006.  Currently, trackchasing leads golf 69-46.  That’s not as bad as it sounds since after Labor Day, midweek racing will nearly stop and my golf will pick up.

 

I was riding in the golf cart with our 87-year-old member Farr Porter, the other day.  I told him my plan was to play golf Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday when I’m in town.  His only comment was, “How come you’re not playing Saturdays?”  You gotta love it.  Farr plays about 200 rounds per year.

 

By they way, even though I have a plan to play golf four times a week, I have only accomplished that feat one time in the first 32 weeks of the year.  I’ve only played three Sundays in 2006 due to my somewhat hectic travel schedule.  Nevertheless, I maintain that my days of trackchasing and golf will be close to the same by the end of the year.

 

The Trip

 

Our final day of the trip was a long one.  On Sunday morning, we were out the door of the hotel by 7 a.m.  It was a 318-mile drive from the hotel to the racetrack.  Then it was another 265 miles from the racetrack to the airport for a 9 p.m. flight.  After a two-hour flight, it was 45 miles back to our house.

The People

When we were just three blocks from our house on the way home, at nearly midnight, we came across a police barricade.  An area covering several homes was cordoned off.  We would later learn that a man had been stabbed to death inside one of those homes.  The killer was caught a few hours later driving the victim’s car.  It turns out the man who was murdered frequently took people in off the streets.  One of the people he had taken in did him in.  As Carol often says, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

 

Speaking of Carol, I have to give a shout out to her.  I am more than fortunate to have a spouse as good as she is.   I’m just really lucky.  How many people could expect their wife/husband to support them in their hobby (as crazy as it might seem) to the degree that she does.  The short answer is just about nobody.

 

 

 

RACE TRACK STATS:

ROCK CREEK RACE TRACK, KIMBERLY, IDAHO - TRACK #1,086 – 8/6/06

This was my third lifetime track to see in the Potatoe (per Dan Quayle) state.  This was my second lifetime trackchasing trip to Idaho.  My three-track total moves me into a third place tie in the state rankings.  This adds one more NGD point to the coffers.

 

This was Carol’s second lifetime Idaho track.  That’s good enough for a 5^th place tie with four other trackchasers.

 

RACE TRACK NEWS:

 

ROCK CREEK RACE TRACK

I had been told that time trials for today’s racing would begin at 12:30 p.m. with racing to follow.  We arrived at about 1:15 p.m.  There was no one staffing the admission gate at that point, so we were admitted without charge.  This saved us $4 per person.  Yes, every bit helps.

 

The track is built in the middle of a farming area.  Just beyond turns three and four the corn stands five feet tall.  This is a nicely laid out, but simple small car racing facility.

 

There is no formal P.A. system and no track lights.  There are two sets of seven row high wooden bleachers.  The pit area is located beyond the backstretch.  The flagman stands on the inside of the track in what looks like a very dangerous position.

 

The 1/8 mile dirt oval is slightly banked with hay bales being the primary outer safety barrier.  By the way, it looks like the main cash crop in both Idaho and Montana is hay.  Nearly every farm had their hay stacked tall and in neat bundles.  The hay looked like Rice Krispie treats!

 

There were 5-6 classes racing today.  Each class ran one heat race, a trophy dash and a main event.  Without a P.A. system it was difficult to understand exactly which class was racing.  We did get some information from the 15 or so people sitting in the grandstands.

 

One of the drivers told us there was a 125cc class, two 500cc classes and “Midgets” as well as a couple of smaller classes.  The midgets were what most people would call mini-sprints.  There wasn’t much room to pass, so once the cars were strung out they pretty much stayed in line.  With the hot sun, they watered the track frequently, which kept the dust down to nearly nothing.

 

Overall, it was a pleasant afternoon.  On the way out we sampled the outhouse type plumbing and gave a look-see to the motocross track that is located just beyond turn one.  I wouldn’t normally drive 563 miles for the day to see this track, but hey, we were in the area!

 

 

WEATHER CONDITIONS

 

It was a warm and sunny day with a temperature of 90 degrees.  There were huge white puffy clouds in the sky.  Some of them were a little dark.  There was a strong sprinkle during intermission.  Otherwise, with low humidity, it didn’t really seem that hot.

 

 

RENTAL CAR UPDATE:

 

There are not many radio stations that can be heard in these rural mountainous parts.  The GM cars I rent don’t seem to have strong radio reception.  We went with XM radio and Carol was nice enough to let me listen to the Buick Open, where Tiger Woods finished the third round with a two shot lead.

 

Friday total driving miles – 309 miles

Saturday total driving miles – 506 miles

Sunday total driving miles – 583 miles

 

The driving portion of this trip covered 1,398 miles.  We stopped for gas three times.  I paid an average price of $3.00 per gallon.  The Chevy Impala gave us 29.2 M.P.G. in fuel mileage at an average cost of 10.3 cents per mile.  The car cost 8.0 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 – 1,086

2.  Rick Schneider – Bay Shore, New York - 1,048 (-38)

3.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 1,045 (-41)

4.  Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 1,021 (-65)*

5.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania – 1,018 (-68)*

6.  Andy Sivi, Clairton, Pennsylvania – 1,015 (-71)*

7.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 920 (-166)**

 

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

 

** Special exemption.

 

 

 

 

Other notables

 

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

 

34.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania – 279 (+7)

34.  Sammy Swindell, Bartlett, Tennessee – 278 (+6)

36.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California - 272

37.  Dale Danielski, Onalaska, Wisconsin – 269 (-3)

38.  Bob Schafer, Oshkosh, Wisconsin - 267 (-5)

 

 

 

2006 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California - 95

2.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 60

3.  Roland Vanden Eynde, Vilvoorde, Belgium – 50

4.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania - 45

5.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 42

6.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 40

7.  Paul Weisel, Orefield, Pennsylvania – 36

8.  Roger Ferrell, Majenica, Indiana – 35

9.  Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan - 34

10.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania – 32

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

Randy Lewis

#1 Trackchaser Living West of the Mississippi

 

I’m very good with figures and wish people asked me to multiply things more often.

 

CUMULATIVE TRAVEL DISTANCES:

 

AIRPLANE

 

Long Beach, CA -  Salt Lake City, UT – 589 miles

RENTAL CAR

 

Salt Lake City International Airport – trip begins

Tooele, UT – 29 miles

Atomic City, ID – 276 miles

Polson, MT – 702 miles

Kimberly, ID – 1,125 miles

Salt Lake City International Airport – trip ends – 1,398 miles

AIRPLANE

 

Salt Lake City, UT – Long Beach, CA - 589 miles

 

 

 

Total air miles – 1,178 miles

 

Total auto and air miles traveled on this trip – 2,576 miles

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

 

Miller Motorsports Park - $20

Atomic Motor Raceway - $15

Mission Valley Speedway - $7 ($1.50 senior discount)

Rock Creek Racetrack – Free!

 

Total race admissions for the trip – about $42

 

 

 

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

 

You would think that after driving 1,398 miles in just 55 hours (25.4 M.P.H. for ALL of the hours of the trip!), we would just stay home and rest.  Nope!  My trackchasing summer season is about ready to end (Labor Day).  After that there will be very few mid-week races.  I must strike while my credit card is hot.  Carol and I will hit the road again very soon.

 

 

 

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

 

1,032. Empty Jug, Hawley, Pennsylvania - May 6

 

1,033. Oakland Valley Race Park, Cuddebackville, New York - May 6

 

1,034. Thunder Mountain Speedway, Center Isle, New York - May 6

 

1,035. Motocross 338, Southwick, Massachusetts - May 7

 

1,036. Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, Fultonville, New York - May 7

 

1,037. Calumet County Speedway, Chilton, Wisconsin - May 19

 

1,038. Grant County Speedway, Lancaster, Wisconsin - May 20

 

1,039. Blackhawk Farms Raceway, Rockton, Illinois - May 21

 

1,040. The Milwaukee Mile (Road course), West Allis, Wisconsin - May 21

 

** Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin – May 21 (new track Carol only)

 

1,041. Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, South Dakota - May 25

 

1,042. Superior Speedway, Superior, Wisconsin - May 26

 

1,043. Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minnesota - May 27

 

1,044. Canby Speedway, Canby, Minnesota - May 27

 

1,045. Crawford County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Denison, Iowa - May 28

 

1,046. Tri-State Speedway, Sisseton, South Dakota - May 29

 

1,047. Sheyenne River Speedway, Lisbon, North Dakota - May 29

 

1,048. Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, Pahrump, Nevada – June 3

 

1,049. The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada – June 3

 

1,050. Hibbing Raceway, Hibbing, Minnesota – June 6

 

1,051. Buena Vista Raceway, Alta, Iowa – June 7

 

1,052. Lebanon Midway Speedway, Lebanon, Missouri – June 8

 

1,053. Rocky Top Raceway, Coal Grove, Ohio – June 9

 

1,054. Midvale Speedway (oval), Midvale, Ohio – June 10

 

1,055. Midvale Speedway (figure 8), Midvale, Ohio – June 10

 

1,056. Spring Valley Raceway, Millport, Ohio – June 11

 

1,057. Rialto Airport Speedway, Rialto, California – June 17

 

1,058. Lawrenceburg Speedway (figure 8), Lawrenceburg, Indiana -  June 20

 

1,059. Lawrenceburg Speedway (temporary oval), Lawrenceburg, Indiana -  June 20

 

1,060. Thunder Mountain Speedway, Knox Dale, Pennsylvania -  June 21

 

1,061. State Park Speedway, Wausau, Wisconsin -  June 22

 

1,062. Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin -  June 23

 

1,063. Lucas Oil Speedway (oval), Wheatland, Missouri -  June 24

 

1,064. Lucas Oil Speedway (figure 8), Wheatland, Missouri -  June 24

 

1,065. Tri-City Speedway, Pontoon Beach, Illinois - June 25

 

1,066. Lake Ozark Speedway, Eldon, Missouri - June 29

 

1,067. Poplar Bluff Speedway, Poplar Bluff, Missouri - June 30

 

1,068. Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course), Indianapolis, Indiana – July 1

 

1,069. Rush County Fairgrounds, Rushville, Indiana – July 1

 

1,070. Rock Castle Speedway, Mount Vernon, Kentucky – July 2

 

** Windy Hollow Speedway (oval), Owensboro, Kentucky – July 2

 

1,071. Heartland Park Topeka (dirt oval), Topeka, Kansas – July 3

 

1,072. Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kansas – July 3

 

1,073. Little Valley Speedway, Little Valley, New York – July 13

 

** Twin State Speedway (oval), Claremont, New Hampshire – July 14

 

1,074. Twin State Speedway (figure 8), Claremont, New Hampshire – July 14

 

1,075. Canaan Speedway (asphalt oval), Canaan, New Hampshire – July 14

 

** New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire – July 15

 

1,076. White Mountain Motorsports Park, North Woodstock, New Hampshire – July 15

 

1,077. Legion Speedway, Wentworth, New Hampshire – July 15

 

1,078. Devil’s Bowl Speedway, Fair Haven, Vermont – July 16

1,079. Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, Connecticut – July 17

1,080. Little Log House Speedway, Hastings, Minnesota - July 28

 

** Elko Speedway (outer oval), Elko, Minnesota – July 28

 

** Elko Speedway (inner oval), Elko, Minnesota – July 28

 

** Elko Speedway (figure 8), Elko, Minnesota – July 28

1,081. Chickasaw Big Four County Fairgrounds, Nashua, Iowa - July 29

1,082. Buffalo River Speedway, Glyndon, Minnesota - July 30

1,083. Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah, - August 4

 

1,084. Atomic Motor Raceway, Atomic City, Idaho - August 4

 

1,085. Mission Valley Speedway, Polson, Montana - August 5

 

1,086. Rock Creek Race Track, Kimberly, Idaho - August 6