GREETINGS FROM MILTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE

ALL PICTURES HAVE BEEN UPDATED AT WWW.RANLAYRACING.COM  FOR THIS TRACKCHASING TRIP.  MY WEBSITE HAS MORE THAN 5,000 PHOTOS OF THE TRACKCHASING SIGHTS I’VE SEEN DURING MY TRAVELS.

I WOKE UP IN SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA THEN WENT TO SLEEP IN ROCHESTER, NEW HAMSHIRE.  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

 

 

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

The Strategy                                                                                    

 

One of my stated trackchasing goals is to put more time and effort into the hobby than anyone else does.  Of course, the uninitiated might think that simply means putting more muscle behind the plow.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

 

The key to putting more time and effort into trackchasing is not the EFFORT but the EFFICIENCY.  We’re talking about putting time and effort in the SMART way.  Thinking smart will allow me to get more done in less time with less effort.  Yes, I intend to be the thinking woman’s trackchaser.

 

People are always approaching me with their idea of new and better ways to trackchase.  I thoughtfully consider each new idea.  You never know when some brilliant idea will come across the desk.

 

Recently, I had two such efficiency ideas presented for my consideration.  I had to reject one of these ideas without even a test market.  It just didn’t seem like the reward was worth the residual outcome, if you know what I mean.  The second idea was perfect.  I’m using it on this very trip to my advantage.

 

You might wonder which idea was rejected.  O.K., since you’re curious I’ll let you in on the secret.  Loyal readers know that in the course of a year, I drive long distances with the trackchasing hobby.  In 2006, I drove more than 42,000 miles in a rental car.  You can imagine the time I lose just stopping to go to the bathroom with all of those miles.

 

You may have heard in the news recently, about the lady astronaut who drove some 1,000 miles in the hopes of harming one of her female competitor’s in an effort to win the affection of her boss.  Yes, there are all kinds of ways to advance up that organization ladder.

 

This astronaut came up with the idea of wearing an adult diaper so she wouldn’t have to stop on her long drive.  Of course, a well-meaning reader recommended I consider such an “aid” on my long distance trackchasing trips.  Thanks, but no thanks!

 

The second efficiency idea I received was much more applicable to the trackchasing situation.  I’m talking about a Garmin portable GPS unit.  I received one of these from Trackchasing’s First Mother for Christmas.  She was aided in her gift choice by James and Kristy (www.jamesandkristy.com) who have had one of these GPS units for some time.

 

This thing is going to revolutionize my trackchasing travel.  I have a GPS navigation system in the Carol Lewis owned and Life of Virginia sponsored Lexus LS 430, but that car rarely transports me to the tracks.  I also have worked with a GPS unit that attaches to my laptop.  However, that isn’t very convenient when I’m on the road.

 

I’ve been testing the Garmin GPS unit during the past couple of weeks.  I only have software for the U.S., so during my recent travels to New Zealand and Canada I couldn’t use it.

 

The unit is about the size of my digital camera.  I store it in my camera bag.  It’s powered by the car’s battery.  I can affix the unit to the inside of the car’s front windshield, lay it on the front seat or hold it in my hand.  The Garmin GPS unit is actually easier to use and has more functionality that the Lexus’ GPS system.  That system cost $2,000.

 

I flew into Boston this afternoon.  The area around the Boston airport is very confusing.  The Garmin easily got me out of the airport and on my way to New Hampshire.  Both my restaurant choice for dinner and the gorgeous old New Hampshire country inn that I’m staying in tonight were found by the Garmin GPS unit.

 

As long as I don’t lose it or break it, I can see this being the second most valuable piece of technology, behind my laptop, that I have ever had for trackchasing.  As I go along, I’ll keep you posted on how I use this GPS unit.  It definitely supports my strategy of working hard and more importantly, working smart.

 

 

 

 

The Trip

 

Just when I was getting used to the “load factor” system of one of my airline partners, they changed the system.  I used to be able to phone up and find out exactly how many seats were available on any flight I wanted to take in both first class and coach.  I could then make a decision on whether that flight would fit into my plans.

 

The new system change eliminates the seat availability information.  The replacement information simply uses phrases like “risky,” “fair” or “good” to describe a flight’s availability.  This makes using an educated guess much more difficult when deciding which flight to try for.  In all aspects of life, “information is key.”  That phrase could not be any more true than in this application.

 

Based upon the information I was receiving, my best bet looked like a combination of flights that stopped in Chicago with a chance of planes to Manchester, New Hampshire.  I even had my rental car booked in Manchester.

 

I really wanted to take the LAX non-stop to Boston.  This would be the most time efficient option.  However, this flight was described as “risky.”  When I talked to an agent, I was told it was oversold by 5-10 seats.  Nevertheless, it was worth a try.  If I didn’t get on the non-stop I could always use the fall back option to Manchester.

 

I don’t have much seniority with the airlines.  I am rarely ahead of anyone on the standby list.  Nevertheless, in about 60 flight segments I have only missed my destination one time.  That’s a pretty good record.  I made it again today on the non-stop to Boston.  I didn’t have a very good seat but I was on the plane.

 

The weather is cold.  It was 18 degrees when I reached my hotel.  That’s good!  I’m going ice racing tomorrow and I don’t want any warm weather until I return to San Clemente on Sunday night.

 

 

 

 

 

The People

 

I am told that everyone “names” their Garmin GPS unit.  I’ve never gone in for such things as naming your car, your dog or your GPS unit.  Nevertheless, Carol told me we were going to name the GPS unit, “Dusty,” since it would be directing me to so many dusty racetracks.  Whenever I can, I try to do what Trackchasing’s First Mother tells me to do.  It’s just more peaceful that way.

 

So……..with the help of “Dusty,” I found my hotel tonight.  I stayed in room 318 of the Governor’s Inn (www.governorsinn.com)  in Rochester, New Hampshire.  This is a huge old converted house that now offers 20 different rooms in an upscale bed and breakfast environment.  Some rooms even have fireplaces.

 

“Dusty” gives me the address and phone number of nearby lodging alternatives.  I called the hotel from the road to confirm they had rooms, wireless internet and a reasonable price.

 

I had to reject the first price offered as being “more than I could spend.”  When a new room at a lower price was offered, I then had to ask for the AAA rate.  After this minor haggling was finished, the initial rate had been lowered by 33%.  That seemed fair and a just reward for all of the time I spent in corporate negotiating training.

 

I arrived at the hotel at about 9 p.m. on Friday night.  There was a good deal of activity going on inside the hotel.  What could all of this racket be?  They were holding one of their winter “murder mystery” evenings.  You’ve probably been part of that scene at one time or another.  It’s kind of combination dinner and theatre activity. 

 

The only problem was there were ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY PEOPLE, participating tonight.  They were broken down into smaller groups.  Each small group moved from room to room getting more clues, I guess.  Anyway, it was nearly 11 p.m. before they must have found out “who dunnit.”  This was definitely the kind of place I should have been at with Trackchasing’s First Mother, but I wasn’t.

 

On Saturday afternoon, I had a more pleasant “people” encounter with New Hampshire’s Bruce Spencer.  Recall that Carol and I met up with Bruce last summer for some Granite state racing.

 

Today was a new track for Bruce, even though they’ve been racing at the Northeast Pond for years and the ice oval is only an hour from his house.  It’s always good to talk to Bruce.  I seem to gravitate toward the various trackchasers who have a good head on their shoulders, are rational and enjoy some good conversation.  Bruce fits the bill in each of these categories.

 

I did pry it out of him that he’s a Tony Stewart supporter.  I’m not going to hold that against him.  Bruce is a very knowledgeable racing fan.  Anyone going to the New England area for trackchasing should get in contact with him for advice.  I did and we struck up a nice friendship.

 

We spent the afternoon in the cockpit of the National Rental Car Racing Pontiac Grand Prix.  It was warm in there.  Bruce tried to tell me it really wasn’t that cold.  Bruce………it was 10 below zero wind chill!!  Is a pound of hamburger more frozen at 30 below than it is at 10 below?

 

We finished off the late afternoon having drinks and sandwiches at a sports bar in Rochester that somewhat incredibly neglected to put their store name on the MasterCard receipt.  Anyway, the food and company were terrific.  Bruce, look forward to seeing you tomorrow or whenever our paths cross again.

 

 

 

 

 

RACE TRACK STATS:

 

NORTHEAST POND ICE TRACK, MILTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE - TRACK #1,155

 

This was my 10th lifetime track in the Granite state, home of the Purple Finch state bird.  I improved my state ranking from 16^th to 15^th where I am now tied with Pam Smith.  I need fourteen tracks to reach the NH top ten and avoid the five point NGD penalty for lack of performance.  Paul Weidman leads the state with an incredible, for New Hampshire, 27 tracks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RACE TRACK NEWS:

 

NORTHEAST POND ICE TRACK

 

Today, I was in for some more ice racing on what is called the “Northeast Pond.”  It looked like a big lake to me.  The sky was blue and the air was crystal clear.  The temperature came in at about 20 degrees.  The real problem was the wind.  It blew constantly at around 20 M.P.H.

 

The combination of cold temperatures and wind create a “wind chill index.”  Here’s what a leading expert in the field has to say about how to calculate wind chill temperatures and its effects,

 

“The wind-chill temperature is a measure of relative discomfort due to combined cold and wind. It was developed by Siple and Passel (1941)and is based on physiological studies of the rate of heat loss for various combinations of ambient temperature and wind speed. The wind-chill temperature equals the actual air temperature when the wind speed is 4 mph or less. At higher wind speeds, the wind-chill temperature is lower than the air temperature and measures the increased cold stress and discomfort associated with wind.

The formula the U.S. National Weather Service uses to compute wind chill is:

T(wc) = 0.0817(3.71V**0.5 + 5.81 -0.25V)(T - 91.4) + 91.4

T(wc) is the wind chill, V is in the wind speed in statute miles per hour and T is the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.

The formula to calculate a Celsius wind chill using V as the wind speed in kilometers per hour and T in degrees Celsius is:

T(wc) = 0.045(5.27V**0.5 + 10.45 - 0.28V) (T - 33) + 33

The effects of wind-chill depend strongly on the amount of clothing and other protection worn as well as on age, health, and body characteristics. Wind-chill temperatures near or below 0 F indicate that there is a risk of frostbite or other injury to exposed flesh. The risk of hypothermia from being inadequately clothed also depends on the wind-chill temperature.

 

The combination of a 20 degree temperature and a 20 M.P.H. wind created a wind chill of -10 degrees.  No wonder I felt I was at risk of frostbite or other injury to any of my exposed flesh!  By the way, you can access a good wind chill calculator at (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/tables/index.php.)

 

So now we know it was a beautiful day and it was really cold, but what about the ice racing?  The ice racing was excellent.  I spend several minutes in the paddock area getting photos for your enjoyment at www.ranlayracing.com.

 

I had received some excellent information from Alan Darrah who is Vice President of the Jaffrey Ice Racing Association.  Alan is also a long-time ice racer himself.  Actually, this is his 42^nd year of continuous ice racing.  He drives a 1930 Model A Ford with a 289 cubic inch engine in it.  The car is absolutely beautiful and he gets around the track fast as well.  Don’t miss looking at this car on my website.  It’s probably the most beautiful ice-racing car I’ve ever seen race.

 

This year’s ice racing season in the U.S. has gotten off to a slow start.  Today’s event was sanctioned by the New England Ice Racing Association (http://www.ne-iceracing.com/.)  Most ice racing organizations race during January, February and the first week or two in March.  The New England group had to cancel all of their races until the weekend of February 11 before they had enough ice to get their show in.  Nearly every other ice-racing group I know of in the U.S. and some in Canada have had the same problem.  Could it be global warming?  By the time you read this, you’ll know if Al Gore won an Oscar or not.

 

Today’s racing was done on a flat quarter-mile ice oval.  Why are all ice racing ovals flat?  The answer is at the bottom of this Trackchaser Report.  The cars pitted on the backstretch of the track.  Spectators could watch from their cars all around the oval.  Given the weather conditions, that was a big plus.

 

There was no public address system at the track.  No problem!  Each group of cars that came onto the track to race was preceded by a pace truck.  The truck had a magnetic sign that told the crowd what race was happening and what class was racing.  Very ingenious!  The truck even came around during intermission with a sign telling us it was intermission time.  I was blown away by the uniqueness of it all when the truck came around with the winning ticket number for the 50/50 drawing!!!  Never seen anything like it.

 

There was something else I had never seen before.  Now remember this was only my 6^th official ice-racing event.  I rank 12^th out of a field of 24 trackchasers who have seen any ice racing at all.  The race drivers were using chains on their tires to get traction.  Every other ice-racing event that I’ve seen had the drivers using various forms of studs mounted in the tires.  Again, don’t miss the pictures of these huge racing tires encased in chains.  It was a sight to see.

 

There were four classes of racing machines today.  There were 4-8 cars in each of these classes:  street stocks (these were 70s Monte Carlo type cars), open competition (this included a real sprint car, three modifieds and the 1930 Model A racecar), as well as front wheel and rear wheel 4-cylinder classes.  Each class ran two heats of 8 laps each and a feature of 12 laps.

 

The racing was good when they raced.  Unfortunately, they had a large number of yellow flags.  Since I was watching the races from the comfort of the National Rental Car Racing Pontiac Grand Prix and chatting with Bruce Spencer, I didn’t mind the delays.  The program started at about noon and the final feature checkered at 3:20 p.m.

 

Today was a special event with all proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  During the driver’s meeting a woman whose child had benefited from the driver’s generosity last year told the group how proud she was of them.  Her comments got a well deserved, but muffled, round of gloved applause from the drivers.

 

In closing, I’d like to wish Alan Darrah a happy 60^th birthday on March 3.  I will also recommend that anyone who wants to visit this track take note of the directions provided on the website before you come.  You’ll be glad you did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEATHER CONDITIONS

 

I guess I would classify the weather this weekend in New Hampshire as seasonal.  During February, the NH temperatures are expected to range from 10 to 33 degrees for their low and high temperature.  Today’s temperatures ranged from 9 to 24.

 

 

 

RENTAL CAR UPDATE:

 

As an “Executive Select” member of the National Rental Car Emerald Club, I get my pick of the best cars they have.  If my goal is to trackchase both hard and smart, isn’t that the way it should be?

 

My Pontiac Grand Prix has an XM satellite radio.  I always try to pick a car that does.  For the first time that I can ever remember, my rental car has heated seats.  That was a plus on a day like today.  My Lexus has heated and cooled seats, but with our weather I never use the heat.  O.K., you caught me.  On some of our warmer days, I will discreetly turn Carol’s seat on full heat just to get a reaction.  Remember, she’s a library girl.  In reality, she enjoys the attention.

 

Friday total driving miles - 93

 

Saturday total driving miles - 72

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 – 1,155

 

2.  Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 1,105 (-50)***

 

3.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 1,087 (-68)*

 

4.  Rick Schneider – Bay Shore, New York - 1,067 (-88)*

 

7.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 972 (-183)**

 

 

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

 

** Special exemption.

 

***  This is an exciting new development.  I will go into much greater detail in a future Trackchaser Report.  Stay tuned.

 

 

 

 

LIFETIME NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY STANDINGS

 

2007 (current thru 2/18/07)**

 

With gains in Idaho, New Mexico and Wisconsin, I have now erased a .08 deficit (four positions) and have a .06 lead (three positions.) 

 

1. Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 7.04

2. Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania – 7.10

3. Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 7.55

 

**Until the end of the year, NGD rankings are unofficial.  Rankings are affected not only by the leader’s activities but by other trackchasers impact on the leader’s position. 

  

 

 

Other notables

 

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

 

31.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California - 304

 

32.  Chris Economaki, Ridgewood, New Jersey – 302 (-2)

 

33.  Gary Jacob, Turlock, California – 301 (-3)

 

34.  Ron Rodda, Lincoln, California – 297 (-7)

 

 

 

 

 

2007 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California - 17

 

2.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania - 12

 

3.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 10

 

3.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 10

 

5.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 7

 

5.  Rick Young, Maxville, Ontario, Canada - 7

 

7.  Will White, Quakertown, Pennsylvania – 5

 

8.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania – 4

 

8.  Roger Ferrell, Majenica, Indiana – 4

 

10.  Rick Schneider, Baytown, New York - 3

 

 

 

Tracks have been reported by 25 different worldwide trackchasers this season.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

 

Randy Lewis

#1 Trackchaser Living West of the Mississippi

 

Sign in New Hampshire restaurant, “We’re Yankees, don’t ask for grits.”

 

Maybe that’s why a southern restaurant I visited recently had this sign, “We don’t care how you do it in New York City!”

 

 

 

 

 

CUMULATIVE TRAVEL DISTANCES:

 

AIRPLANE

 

Los Angeles, CA – Boston, MA – 2,608 miles

RENTAL CAR

 

Logan International Airport – trip begins

Milton, NH – 105 miles*

 

* This is not always the direct mileage from the airport to the first stop as detours along the way may add to the stated mileage.

 

 

 

 

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

 

Northeast Pond - $10

 

 

 

 

 

Past trackchasing reports are available at:

www.ranlayracing.com

 

Official trackchaser standings can be viewed at:

www.trackchaser.net

 

Some of my standings data comes from: www.trackchaser.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPCOMING TRACKCHASING PLANS

 

Heck, since I’ve come all this way to New England, wouldn’t it make sense to go to another ice race while I’m here?

 

 

 

 

 

RACETRACKS VISITED IN 2007 (** not the first time to visit this track)

 

 

1,139.  Meremere Dirt Track Club, Meremere, New Zealand - January 1

 

1,140.  Meeanee Speedway, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand - January 1

 

1,141.  Top of the South Speedway, Richmond, New Zealand - January 2

 

1,142.  Woodford Glen Speedway, Christchurch, New Zealand - January 3

 

1,143.  Robertson Holden International Speedway, Palmerston North, New Zealand - January 5

 

1,144.  Taupo Motorsports Park, Taupo, North, New Zealand - January 6

 

1,145.  Waikaraka Park International Speedway, Auckland, New Zealand - January 6

 

1,146.  Angels Stadium of Anaheim (inner oval), Anaheim, California - January 6

 

1,147.  Angels Stadium of Anaheim (outer oval), Anaheim, California - January 6

 

1,148.  West Valley Speedway, Surprise, Arizona - January 14

 

1,149. Sandia Motorsports Park (road course), Albuquerque, New Mexico - January 28

 

1,150. Grand Prix De Lanaudiere, Lavaltrie, Quebec, Canada – February 3

 

1,151. Ste-Eulalie Ice Track, Eulalie, Quebec, Canada – February 4

 

1,152. St Guillaume, St Guillaume, Quebec, Canada – February 4

 

1,153. Caldwell Rodeo Arena, Caldwell, Idaho – February 10

 

1,154. Balsam Lake Ice Track, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin – February 18

 

1,155. Northeast Pond Ice Track, Milton, New Hampshire – February 24

 

 

 

Why are all ice racing ovals flat?  Because water seeks its own level.