Randy Lewis
World's #1 Ranked Trackchaser
Our New Year's Day drive from the Meremere Raceway to the Meeanee Speedway took us past last night's venue the Huntly Speedway. Although it rained last night at Huntly, today was a much better day.
We filled up for gas on more days than we didn't. We used the BP stations for our petrol. We soon found the "Wild Bean Cafes" located inside the BP stores to be a great place for a sitdown snack.
I had a hard time finding the Meeanee Speedway. I stopped at an ambulance company for directions. Just at that moment, they got a call to go to the Meeanee Speedway. We followed them!
This is the entrance to the Meeanee Speedway. I felt a bit uncomfortable with all of the yellow vested security personnel. Note all of the warning signs.
We ran into only a couple of tracks that had restrictions on coming and going to the pit area.
This track must have had some liability problems in the past. Their security and warning signs were overwhelming.
We loved New Zealand racing. We were a little disappointed in the lack of track food options. Most tracks were limited to chips and hot dogs.
The Meeanee Speedway is a nearly flat quarter mile (or so) dirt oval. Note the inner oval, it has only recently been added. They only race solos (motorcycles) on it.
We only got to see the sidecars race once during our trip. They were a lot of fun. I don't know which would be more dangerous and/or fun......driving or riding.
Yep! These guys look like they've just escaped from the loonie bin!
Turns three and four (for most of the races anyway) offered hillside seating.
This is the street stock division. They drive right side steer cars. They alternate driving in one direction for one race and the other direction in their next race.
The Meeanee Speedway ran an efficient program in front of a large crowd on a night when the weather threatened.
One thing that we saw at every NZ track we visited was the next race completely lined up and ready to go from the pit area. Most U.S. tracks could learn a lesson from this practice.
While roaming the pit area, after an on-air interview with two very funny commentators, I came across this side car machine. Yes, these guys are crazy.
GREETINGS FROM
HUNTLY, NEW
ALL PICTURES HAVE
BEEN UPDATED AT WWW.RANLAYRACING.COM FOR THIS TRACKCHASING TRIP.
CORRECTION
Below is the correct website address
for NZ saloon driver Steve Williams
http://www.kiwicaddy.com
This is the THIRD
report in a multi-part series that will detail our 17-day trackchasing and
touring adventure to
Our activities will be listed
chronologically by day and divided into “Trackchasing”
and “Tourist” categories. You will get a glimpse into how another
family approaches and takes a long and exotic trip like this. I hope you enjoy reading about our
adventures, until you and your family head out on your next tour of the world.
Warning:
If you do not want to experience the feeling of “being
there” I recommend that you not read the descriptions of what
went on or view the pictures of what was seen.
I would not want any future visits to these faraway parts to be ruined
by the realism you are about ready to experience in words and pictures.
If you are receiving this
Trackchaser Report via email, you can view the pictures at
www.ranlayracing.com.
Part III
Monday, January 1, 2007
TOURIST ACTIVITY
It was New Year’s Day and there was
no time for tourist activity. We had to
visit two racetracks in a day/night trackchasing doubleheader. We would each be getting a new track in 2007,
because of
LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:
These worldwide trackchasers are within 100 tracks (plus or minus) of my current trackchaser total.
1. Randy Lewis,
2. Guy Smith, Effort,
3. Rick Schneider –
4. Gordon Killian, Sinking
Spring,
7. Ed Esser,
* 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.
31. Chris Economaki,
32. Gary Jacob,
33. Ron Rodda,
34. Carol Lewis,
35. Johnny Gibson,
2007 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS
1. Carol Lewis,
1. Randy Lewis,
Tracks have been reported through
January 1 from two different worldwide trackchasers this season.
Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,
Randy Lewis
#1 Trackchaser Living
West of the
That’s all the news that’s fit to
print from
CUMULATIVE TRAVEL DISTANCES:
AIRPLANE
Los Angeles, CA – Sydney,
Sydney, Australia – Auckland,
RENTAL CAR –
Driving all over New Zealand
TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:
Western Springs
Blue Chip
Upper Hutt Family
Huntly
Meremere Raceway – Free
Meeanee Speedway - $15NZ
Past trackchasing reports are available at:
Official trackchaser standings can be viewed at:
www.trackchaser.net
Some of my standings data comes from trackchaser.net
UPCOMING TRACKCHASING PLANS
G’day, mate. Yep! The first day of the 2007 trackchasing season is in the books. We started off with a trackchasing double. We’re in first place…..not can we hold on for just 364 more days?
RACETRACKS
VISITED IN 2007 (** not the first time to visit this track)
1,139. Meremere Dirt Track
Club,
1,140. Meeanee Speedway,
