GREETINGS FROM RICE LAKE, WISCONSIN

 

 

It may take me a few days to get photos up for these tracks.  Don’t worry, soon you can click on www.ranlayracing.com to see photos of this week’s trip.

 

 

SPONSORSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

 

It follows the achievement of my 1,100^th lifetime track that I am proud to announce a very special partnership agreement that will support my trackchasing lifestyle for a very long time into the future.

 

The trackchasing game is not for the financially weak at heart.  I have seven different trackchasing expense categories that cover the lion’s share of my trackchasing hobby.  These include airfare, car rental, gasoline, hotels, airport parking, food and race tickets.  Airfare is the largest expense category of the bunch.  In fact, airfare expense accounts for nearly 25% of my entire budget.

 

Effective immediately, I will become a member of the SkyWest Airlines family.  SkyWest is the largest independently owned regional airline in the United States.  Last year the airline carried 16.6 million passengers.  They average more than 1,600 daily flights in the United States and Canada.  Often SkyWest flies under the banner of both United Airlines and Delta Airlines.

 

With ever increasing trackchasing expenses for not only airfare, but rental cars, hotels and the like, sponsorship and support from an airline like SkyWest is essential to my world class trackchasing effort.  Sponsorship of this kind is unprecedented in the world of trackchasing.  SkyWest and its partner’s United Airlines and Delta Airlines will fly me all over North America and the world in search of that next new track to add to my totals.  This partnership even includes Trackchasing’s First Mother so that she can continue her trackchasing pursuits.

 

Now that I won’t be paying to fly anymore, I guess I can pick up the trackchasing pace just a tad more.  I’m sure my fellow trackchasing competitors are happy to hear about my new sponsorship ties.

 

SkyWest has its largest hub in Salt Lake City followed by Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles.  As a matter of fact, SkyWest has more departures from Los Angeles than any other airline.  The airline has nearly 10,000 employees and 242 jet aircraft.

 

As part and parcel of this historic trackchasing partnership agreement, I am also pleased to announce that our son, J.J. will become a First Officer for SkyWest Airlines.  J.J. first earned his private pilot’s license more than 10 years ago.  He has both his undergraduate and M.B.A. degrees from UCLA. 

 

He has worked for several major companies during his business career including a two-year stint in London where he worked extensively across Europe.  J.J. will be located in Colorado Springs, Colorado while flying for SkyWest.  He will be piloting Canadian Regional Jets (CRJ) that have passenger loads of 50 and 70 passengers.  This is a lifelong dream of his and we are really proud of him.  Way to go, J.J.!!!!!

 

Now I fully understand the more than skeptical nature of some of our trackchasing brethren.  Right now, their tongues are wagging with “I bet J.J. got his piloting job after Randy locked up the sponsorship.”  Of course, nothing could be further from the truth (literally.)  J.J. and I always negotiate our own deals, but share our common knowledge that creates Lewis family synergies.  This is one of those synergies.

 

I will begin to phase in SkyWest as my airline of choice immediately.  Do not be alarmed.  You may see some rather unusual combinations of tracks and locales.  I may go banger racing in the U.K. on a Friday, autocross racing in Belgium on a Saturday and catch a figure 8 show in Vermont on a Sunday.

 

I WOKE UP IN SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA THIS MORNING.  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

 

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

The Strategy

                                                                                        

I received several congratulations from readers of this distribution group on the occasion of my 1,100^th track.  I am grateful to receive each one of them and always try to acknowledge the receipt of these to each sender.  If I haven’t gotten back to you yet, I will.

 

I did receive one congratulatory note from Wisconsin trackchaser, Ed Esser.  In the last part of the note, he mentioned he would be bypassing Iowa trackchasing this weekend because of the questionable weather forecast.  Is he keeping a trackchaser behavioral profile on me?  Has he predetermined that I am going to be trackchasing in Iowa this weekend? 

 

Could this be a competitive ruse to try to get me to go somewhere else rather than Iowa, even though my weather forecast for the area says everything should be O.K.  I have to keep an eye on my fellow trackchasers.  If you listen to what some trackchasers say and then divide by two, add three and then multiply by 3.66 you will be close to understanding what they really mean.

 

I will be trackchasing in the Midwest this weekend.  Today’s track normally runs on Saturdays.  It’s a strategic advantage to see Saturday tracks on some other day than Saturday.  There are always plenty of Saturday racetracks to see.  Tonight’s visit is to Rice Lake Speedway.  It’s Thursday.  They are having a special event on a Thursday.  This is nearly perfect trackchasing strategy.

 

On Friday, I’ll visit the Rapid Speedway in Rock Rapids, Iowa.  They normally race on Fridays.  However, they are in a somewhat geographically remote area.  It would be a challenge to fly into any airport at the start of a normal trackchasing weekend and get there on time for their races.  Therefore, seeing a geographically remote Friday venue is perfect for a trackchasing trip that begins on Thursday.

 

On Saturday, I will see an afternoon show at a county fairgrounds that races just one time per year.  They tell me they will race “Rain or shine.”  In the evening, I’ll visit another small Iowa track that runs on their oval track just one time per year.  A plan couldn’t be any better that allows for a Saturday day/night trackchasing double at two venues that race just once a year.

 

Yes, I still have more than 1,250 tracks to see in the U.S. and Canada.  However, if I just went after the easiest tracks that all race on a weekly basis, I would soon be left with 600 or 800 tracks that race just one time per year.  At that point, it would be nearly impossible to put together three and four track weekends, which are the lifeblood of the flying trackchaser.

 

I’ll wrap up the trip with two very unique and interesting Trackchasing Tourist Attractions (TTAs).  You’ll hear more about those at the end of the trip.

 

 

 

The Trip

 

Today’s trip called for a leisurely 5:30 a.m. wake-up call.  That’s still earlier than when I normally get up by 60-90 minutes but much more friendly than some of my recent morning adventures.  Since arriving back in San Clemente from Montreal at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, I have had right at 50 hours to clear my head and get going on the next trip.  That’s about all I need.

 

This is my 23^rd trackchasing airline trip of the year.  To date, I’ve traveled a little over 92,000 miles in the air so far this season.  When the remaining trips I have planned in ’06, I will top the 100,000-mile flying mark very easily before the year ends.

 

Of course, with my newfound airline sponsorship package, I won’t feel as much like a “Stay at home” retiree.  Now, I’m going to really be able to get up and go!

 

The People

 

I was in Menomonee, Wisconsin when I decided I needed a hotel room.  I pulled into the parking lot of a Super 8 Motel.  I brought out my laptop and searched for the Super 8’s rates.  The best I could do was $61.  There was a Motel 6 across the street.  The internet told me I could get that room for just $45.  I chose the Motel 6.  By the way, did you know the Motel 6 is the official lodging partner of the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)?

 

When I was a boy, I spent a lot of time with my grandfather.  I remember him doubling back over four lanes of traffic so he could pick up a screwdriver he had seen lying in the middle of the highway.  His garage probably already had twenty other screwdrivers so he really didn’t need another one.  He just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get another screwdriver if it was there for the taking.

 

I guess I picked up some of my grandfather’s habits.  Even though I don’t need to stay in a Motel 6, I don’t see the need when I’m by myself to spend a lot of money on a hotel.  I’m in life to spend money, not waste it.  There is a difference.  I saved $16 in this hotel transaction.  I don’t plan to hold on to that $16.  As soon as I can, I will spend the 16 bucks on something that seems more worthwhile than a Super 8 Motel compared to a Motel 6.

 

 

RACE TRACK STATS:

RICE LAKE SPEEDWAY #1,104 – 9/14/06

This track was my 46th lifetime Wisconsin track.  This track moved me from eighth place in the state to a sixth place tie with Gordon Killian and Allan Brown.  Ed Esser continues to lead the state totals with 97 tracks.

RACE TRACK NEWS:

 

RICE LAKE SPEEDWAY

Historically, dirt ovals racing stock cars have been the most popular type of track for most trackchasers.  They have for me.  However, things are changing.  Tonight’s dirt oval racetrack was the first dirt oval with competitive stock cars I’ve seen in my last 12 countable tracks.  During that period, I saw 10 figure 8 tracks, a poor enduro and an asphalt track.

 

Tonight’s program was night #2 in a four-night program.  The original schedule called for qualifying heat races only for the late models and modifieds.  Although I thought the car counts were good with about 35 in each class, I think management might have been expecting more.  Each of the two classes ran four heat races.  During the program, the track announcer told everyone they would be adding a 20-car, 20-lap feature event for both classes.  I’m glad they did that.  Both feature events ran non-stop.  That is very unusual.  Even with the two added feature events, the program still finished at an uncharacteristically early 9:15 p.m.

 

The Rice Lake Speedway is a well-kept venue for a dirt track.  There is plenty of parking but it wasn’t needed for tonight’s smallish crowd.  The crowd was decidedly male.  This was similar to an event that Carol and I went too up in Proctor, Minnesota, a track not far from here.  I think Wisconsin has a good deal of older male fans that seem to dominate the crowds at the better run tracks.  I was surprised at how many people resembled NASCAR crew chief Robbie Reiser, also from Wisconsin.

 

When I entered the track, I was given a complimentary copy of the racing paper, “All the Dirt.”  This is one of my favorite trade papers because they always have a large number of ads for upper Midwestern track’s special events.  Alas, none of the upcoming races that were advertised will fit into my schedule.  My “Cold weather” state racing is winding down.  Just a couple more weekends up here and I will begin to head south for the balance of the year.

 

The refreshments were good.  I went with a pizza burger ($3.50) and a 16 oz. Miller Genuine Draft ($2.50.)  If you attend a track in Wisconsin and don’t drink beer, they will think you’re a sissy.  At intermission, I couldn’t resist an order of strawberry shortcake ($3.00.)  It was tasty and a good value.  The pizza burger rivaled those I get at Eldora, heretofore my favorite place for pizza burgers.

 

Fall is definitely in the air.  It was 70 degrees when I pulled into the track at about 6:30 p.m.  I sensed it was going to get colder so I switched to my blue jeans.  If you attend a track in Wisconsin and wear shorts, they will think you’re a sissy. 

 

When the final checker flew, the temperature had dropped to 63 degrees.  A wind blew directly into the grandstand.  The wind carried a dusty gritty type of sand that prompted everyone in the stands to break out their sunglasses to help prevent the sandblasting.  Right now, I have a good pair of unscratched clear goggles that I’ve been using.  Carol would not have liked these conditions.

 

The track’s radio frequency was 464.5000.  When I’m by myself and there is good racing, I like to listen to my race scanner.  Tonight there were about five guys on the radio, who all seemed to yell contradictory information at the same time.  Too many cooks spoil the broth.

 

As intermission dragged a bit, I heard this on the radio, “We ain’t got much of a crowd, but we’re sure gonna piss ‘em off if we don’t get something on the track.”  Well said!

 

The track used “Passing points” from the heats to determine the top 20 qualifiers for the feature.  Now, there’s a novel concept.  They actually required their heat racers to pass somebody to get a starting advantage.  To add a little more uncertainty to the starting lineup, they made the top eight drivers in passing points redraw for positions.  I like that.

 

Overall, it was a good night of racing.  They ran eight heat races and two feature events in less than two hours.  There were very few yellow flag delays and each race was ready when the one before it was finished.  It was nice to get back to some good old dirt stock car racing after so much figure 8 racing of the past few weeks.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

 

The weather was fair today, although cool at night.  Tomorrow’s weather looks good, but Saturday could be touch and go.

 

 

RENTAL CAR UPDATE:

 

I will be going with the National Rental Car Racing Chevy Impala.  This is my fourth time flying into the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport since June 1.  I’m getting used to the drill here.

 

Thursday total driving miles – 177

 

 

 

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 – 1,104

2.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 1,060 (-40)

3.  Rick Schneider – Bay Shore, New York - 1,057 (-44)

4.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania – 1,025 (-76)*

5.  Andy Sivi, Clairton, Pennsylvania – 1,024 (-77)*

6.  Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 1,021 (-80)*

7.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 935 (-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.

 

35.  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 - 113

2.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 77

3.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania - 72

4.  Roland Vanden Eynde, Vilvoorde, Belgium – 60

5.  Paul Weisel, Orefield, Pennsylvania – 59

6.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 55

7.  Roger Ferrell, Majenica, Indiana – 54

8.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 47

9.  Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan - 44

10. Pam Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 43

 

 

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

Randy Lewis

#1 Trackchaser Living West of the Mississippi

 

Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did.  She just did it backwards and in heels!

 

CUMULATIVE TRAVEL DISTANCES:

 

AIRPLANE

 

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

RENTAL CAR - MINNEAPOLIS

 

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – trip begins

Rice Lake, Wisconsin – 124 miles

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

 

Rice Lake Speedway – $15

 

 

 

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

 

I’m in the Midwest.  It’s my favorite place to trackchase.  I’ll stay in the Midwest for the rest of this trip.

 

 

 

 

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

 

1,095. Armada County Fairgrounds, Armada, Michigan - August 17

 

1,096. Spencer Speedway, Williamson, New York - August 18

 

1,097. Yates County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Penn Yan, New York,  - August 19

 

1,098. Tillsonburg County Fairgrounds, Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada - August 20

 

1,099. Marshfield Fair, Marshfield, Massachusetts - August 21

1,100. Cambridge Fair, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada – September 9

 

1,101. Georgetown Fair, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada – September 9

 

1,102. Oakwood Fair, Oakwood, Ontario, Canada – September 10

 

1,103. Western Fair, London, Ontario, Canada – September 10

 

1,104. Rice Lake Speedway, Rice Lake, Wisconsin – September 14