GREETINGS FROM NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA

 

 

I now have pictures up for the first two tracks of this trip.  It may take me a few days to get photos up for the remaining tracks before I finish this trip.  Don’t worry, soon you can click on www.ranlayracing.com to see photos of this week’s trip.

 

 

 

I WOKE UP IN SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA THIS MORNING (THIRD NIGHT IN A ROW).  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

 

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

The Strategy

                                                                                        

Tonight was the first ever figure 8 racing program at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds.  Some trackchasers operate with a strategy that nearly always puts them at any track running an inaugural program.

 

I am never concerned about being at a track for its first race.  If I went to a number of shows within driving distance of my home, my attitude on first time tracks might change, but that is not the case.  My strategy is to put together a trackchasing trip with at least 3-4 tracks in about that number of days.  Therefore, I rarely attend a track that is racing for the first time.

 

However, that does not mean I never attend such an event.  Tonight, this first time track fit perfectly into my schedule.  It worked out very well.

 

The Trip

 

This was one of my shorter trips of the season to get a new track.  I played golf, saw a new track, and only drove 49 miles in total.  I like that.

The People

TRACKCHASING TOURIST ATTRACTION #1

Today, I had the chance to play golf for the second day in a row.  My new friend, Dale, and I played the Tam O’ Shanter (www.tamoshanterpa.com) Golf Club in Hermitage, Pennsylvania.  The course is only a couple of blocks from my hotel.  I could have walked there.

 

The course is a 4-star rated course by Golf Digest.  It’s a traditional tree lined course that opened in 1931.  Greens fees with kart were a more than reasonable $34.  The course was not crowded at all, even though it was a spectacular weather day.

 

Dale and I were able to play as a twosome and completed our round in just over three hours.  I shot an 81 and very easily could have scored much better.  I played the “Green” tees, which are also the back tees and measure at 6,537 yards.  Somewhat surprisingly, the front nine measures 3,442 and the back nine only 3,095.

 

I am always pleasantly surprised that it’s so easy to meet up with like-minded folks on a golf course.  Normally, I will meet people, we’ll have a fine time playing golf, and I will never see them again.  Today, since I was staying in town, Dale and I were able to play for a second consecutive day.

 

Dale lives in Orlando, Florida but has been up in Ohio for the last two months.  He’s thinking about relocating to the Buckeye state.  I’m not sure that’s a good idea from a climate point of view, but he doesn’t like the heat and humidity down south.

 

Dale leads an exciting life.  Two of his main hobbies are skydiving and something to do with a motor and a parachute where he starts out on the ground and the motor propels him along until his parachute catches some air and he is “Launched” upward.  I asked him how much altitude someone could reach doing this.  “About 14,000 feet” was the highest he had heard of, he told me.  Thanks, but no thanks.  I’ll stick to four-foot knee knocking putts.

 

Over the two days, Bruce and I were able to talk about many things.  He explained to me his philosophies on marriage and how he won’t be looking to do that again.  I tried to impart a tip or two to straighten out his swing path.  After each round, we had some beer and enjoyed ourselves very much.  Dale, good luck in your relocation!

 

Tonight was also a night to see good trackchasing friends.  First up, was Andy Sivi.  I can’t recall the last time I saw the #6 ranked trackchaser.  It was nice talking to Andy and yes, I do agree that the #21 racecar pictured in the Little Log House Speedway website photos is not a ’57 Ford.  Also, thanks for the Armada heads-up.  That tip saved me 150 miles of driving and will allow me to play golf in Canada on Friday.

 

I was also able to spend most of the early part of the evening with Webster, New York’s very own P.J. Hollebrand.  P.J. is the #9 ranked world trackchaser and had driven about four hours one way to catch the show.  It was interesting to compare Dale’s lady strategies with P.J.’s!

 

Several other trackchasers were rumored to be in the audience.  Remember, seeing an inaugural track is an integral trackchasing strategy for many trackchasers.  I was most disappointed in not being able to meet up with Norm Wagner, a top 15 trackchaser whom I have never met.

 

 

 

RACE TRACK STATS:

LAWRENCE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS (FIGURE 8), NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA - TRACK #1,094 – 8/16/06

This is my 59^th lifetime track in the Keystone state.  I still have a lowly ranked of 23^rd in the state.

RACE TRACK NEWS:

 

LAWRENCE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS (FIGURE 8)

I didn’t really know where the fairgrounds was located in New Castle.  I figured I would just cruise into town, find a fairgrounds sign and drive to the track.  Nope!  It took me three people to ask before I found my way.  The first guy in his car at stoplight sent me the wrong way.  The second guy walking in his neighborhood with his daughter got me started in the right direction.  The third group was in their pickup truck at a red light and offered only this to my question about the fairgrounds location.  “Follow us!”  I did and soon I was in a very crowded parking lot.

 

I must make a comment about New Castle, Pennsylvania.  This is a very old town that looks like it has seen better days.  There are old rusting factories and the houses are old and not well kept.  I passed by a number of people who just seemed to be hanging around street corners.  Even though I was lost, I didn’t feel like asking these folks for assistance.

 

The Lawrence County Fair is a large fair.  There was a good deal of food choices.  Finally, I went with a steak hoagie for five bucks.  It was outstanding.  After the races, I couldn’t resist a three-dollar canole.

 

Tonight’s races were of the small car figure 8 variety.  Any four-cylinder car, front or rear wheel drive weighing less than 2,600 pounds could compete.  The program was promoted by JM Productions, the same people who promoted last night’s program over in Millersburg, Ohio.  These guys do a nice job of running a program.

 

This was the best figure racing of the three nights of figure 8s I’ve seen this week.  They ran four heats and had about 30 cars in the field.  There was one exciting flip with the car belching out smoke or steam at a rate only surpassed by a Hollywood movie.

 

The real treat of the night was a “First ever” for me.  The last event of the night was a “Farm Combine Demolition Derby.”  Yes, they had eight of these combines.  They looked like grasshoppers to me.  They didn’t go very fast but since this was a first I enjoyed it very much.

 

There was a large crowd on hand of between 1,500 and 2,000 people.  The racing started on time at 7:30 p.m. and the final checker on the combine DD waved at 10:01 p.m.  It was a nice night for racing.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

 

The weather today was gorgeous just like yesterday.  There were clear skies, low humidity and temperatures in the high 70s.  It was “California” weather.

 

 

RENTAL CAR UPDATE:

 

I will have two rental cars on this trip.  One was picked up and returned in Minneapolis.  The second was picked up in Pittsburgh.

 

 

Minneapolis Rental Car

 

Wednesday total driving miles – 288 miles (corrected)

Thursday total driving miles – 119 miles

Friday total driving miles – 512 miles

Saturday total driving miles – 559 miles (that’s a lot of miles to get zero racetracks!)

Sunday total driving miles – 663 miles

Monday total driving miles – 7 miles

 

 

The driving portion of this trip covered 2,148 miles.  We stopped for gas five times.  I paid an average price of $3.03 per gallon.  The Chevy Impala gave us 28.0 M.P.G. in fuel mileage at an average cost of 10.8 cents per mile.  The car cost 1.5 cents per mile to rent, all taxes included.

 

 

Pittsburgh Rental Car

 

Monday total driving miles – 175 miles

Tuesday total driving miles – 248 miles

Wednesday total driving miles – 49 miles

 

 

 

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 – 1,094

2.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 1,052 (-42)

3.  Rick Schneider – Bay Shore, New York - 1,050 (-44)

4.  Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 1,021 (-73)*

5.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania – 1,019 (-75)*

6.  Andy Sivi, Clairton, Pennsylvania – 1,018 (-76)*

7.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 926 (-168)**

 

* 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.  Sammy Swindell, Bartlett, Tennessee – 279 (+2)

36.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California - 277

37.  Dale Danielski, Onalaska, Wisconsin – 269 (-8)

38.  Bob Schafer, Oshkosh, Wisconsin - 267 (-10)

 

 

 

2006 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California - 103

2.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 66

3.  Paul Weisel, Orefield, Pennsylvania – 59

4.  Roland Vanden Eynde, Vilvoorde, Belgium – 55

5.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania - 54

6.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 47

7.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 46

8.  Roger Ferrell, Majenica, Indiana – 45

9.  Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan - 41

10. Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania – 33

10. Pam Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 33

 

 

 

 

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

 

Los Angeles, CA -  Minneapolis, MN – 1,530 miles

RENTAL CAR - MINNEAPOLIS

 

Lindbergh International Airport – trip begins

Morris, MN – 177 miles

Ada, MN – 351 miles

Miller, SD – 812 miles

Gimli, Manitoba, Canada – 1,495 miles

Bemidji, MN – 1,825 miles

Lindbergh International Airport – trip ends – 2,148 miles

 

 

AIRPLANE

 

Minneapolis, MN – Chicago, IL – 287 miles

Chicago, IL – Pittsburgh, PA – 416 miles

 

RENTAL CAR - PITTSBURGH

 

Pittsburgh International Airport – trip begins

Dayton, PA – 80 miles

Millersburg, OH – 323 miles

New Castle, PA – 479 miles

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

 

Stevens County Fairgrounds - $8

Norman County Fair Raceway - $10

Miller Speedway - $5 with senior discount (Regular admission $10)

Gimli Motorsports Park – Free

Bemidji Speedway - $8

Dayton Fair - $7

Holmes County Fairgrounds - $4

Lawrence County Fairgrounds - $9

 

 

 

 

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

 

Still more county fair figure 8 action on tap.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

1,087. Stevens County Fairgrounds, Morris, Minnesota - August 9

 

1,088. Norman County Raceway, Ada, Minnesota - August 10

 

1,089. Miller Speedway, Miller, South Dakota - August 11

 

1,090. Gimli Motorsports Park, Gimli, Manitoba, Ontario, Canada - August 13

 

1,091. Bemidji Speedway, Bemidji, Minnesota - August 13

 

1,092. Dayton Fair (figure 8), Dayton, Pennsylvania - August 14

 

1,093. Holmes County Fairgrounds, Millersburg, Ohio - August 15

 

1,094. Lawrence County Fairgrounds, New Castle, Pennsylvania - August 16