GREETINGS FROM HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA

 

 

 

 

Don’t miss my interview on WLAR with “Jalopy Jack.”  The interview can be accessed by calling 718-707-1052.  The interview will be on the “hot line” through Wednesday, April 18, 2007.  In this interview I discuss my United Kingdom trackchasing experiences.

 

 

 

IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO READ THIS TRACKCHASER REPORT DIRECTLY FROM WWW.RANLAYRACING.COM AND SEE THE PICTURES FROM THIS TRIP SIMPLY CLICK ON THIS LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IT IN YOUR BROWSER:

http://www.ranlayracing.com/april13152007.htm

I WOKE UP IN SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA.  THEN I WENT TO SLEEP IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

The Strategy                                                                                    

 

My stated trackchasing objective is to put more time and resources into trackchasing that anyone else.  Arguably, I have more and better technology than anyone else in trackchasing.  Therefore, I SHOUD get better results.  Right?

 

However, when I landed in Huntsville today, I feared that all of that effort and all of that technological expertise was going to give me a big fat goose egg for the weekend.  It looked like I might be rained out in Alabama on Friday night.  My Saturday plans in Georgia looked like they would be washed out by the same rainstorm that was affecting Alabama.  Finally, my plans to finish up in Colorado on Sunday were being influenced by a major spring snowstorm.

 

What is a trackchaser to do?  I was already “out here.”  I simply needed to make the best of it.  You, the loyal Trackchaser Report reader, will have to decide for yourselves whether or not I met my stated trackchasing objective of putting more time and resources into this hobby that anyone else could or would have.

 

 

 

 

 

The Trip

 

Carol and Kristy have a wedding planning trip scheduled for this weekend.  I figured I would schedule a simple little trackchasing trip over to Colorado.  My flights would be non-stop each way; I would pick up a couple of new tracks and be home before Carol returned on Sunday.  Of course, that was before the Rocky Mountain spring weather reared its snowy head.

 

This was the word from my super secret weather site:

 

“A blizzard watch is in effect.  A blizzard watch is issued when there is a potential for life threatening winter weather conditions to develop.  Blizzard conditions consist of sustained wind speeds or frequent gusts over 35 MPH and visibility reduced to below ¼ mile by falling or blowing snow.

 

Snow is forecast to develop and spread across much of Southern Colorado late Thursday night and continue through Friday.  The snow may be heavy at times.  Total snowfall could exceed 6 inches for Friday.  Winds are forecast to be from the North at 15 to 30 MPH with gusts up to 45 MPH Friday.  The combination of heavy snow and windy conditions may create blowing and drifting snow…..and near whiteout conditions.  This blizzard watch is in effect for Pueblo County and La Junta County.”

 

Where were the two tracks I was planning to visit?  In Pueblo and La Junta counties!  It probably wouldn’t do much good for me to tell you how disappointed I am in other people’s weather.  I had just completed a round on golf in San Clemente on Thursday afternoon in short sleeve weather with a proper amount of sun block on.

 

My simple trackchasing plan was now out the window.  It was back to the drawing board or shall I say the laptop.  It’s still too early in the year for many tracks to be open.  This limited my options somewhat.

 

Nevertheless, it was only a short time later that I had changed my plans from a trip to Denver, Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama.  I even have some exotic plans following Huntsville, but you’ll have to read the next Trackchaser Report to find out about that.

 

Today’s flight takes me from my hometown Orange County, California airport to Atlanta and then on to Huntsville.  When I fly standby I am normally one of the last people to board the plane.  That was the case today.  Carol and I have now flown more than 80 flight segments with my airline sponsors, United and Delta.  All of this flying has been done in just a bit more than six months.

 

This morning I had a first.  The flight was nearly full.  While I was in the jet way waiting to board the flight, everyone in the jet way was told that all overhead luggage space was full.  We would have to check our luggage.  I don’t like checking luggage.

 

First of all, I use my rolling luggage bag, to also carry my briefcase through the airport.  My briefcase weighs nearly 30 pounds.  If I have to carry it through the long distance airline terminals of today, it absolutely kills my back.  Bad back means bad golf or even worse no golf.

 

Secondly, checking my bag limits my flexibility to head in a different direction on a second’s notice.  My bag is checked to Huntsville.  If I get to Atlanta and find out the flight to Huntsville is full or cancelled or delayed, I always have the option of flying somewhere else.  I still have that option today, but if I have to make a last minute change, I’ll do it only with the “clothes on my back.”

 

I don’t mind telling you that Carol has a totally opposite feeling regarding checked bags.  She wants to check her bag, so she can carry a bigger bag that holds more stuff.  I tell her to simply travel with the “clothes on her back.”  That strategy has never thrilled her.  This is not the only subject we don’t agree on, but we have agreed on enough of them to be married for 35 years.

 

Checking my bag today offered one other troubling potential problem.  My laptop’s AC adapter is in that checked bag.  No adapter means no power after a relatively short time.  No power means no updated airplane/weather/track information.  Without the latest and best information, I am relegated to a “middle of the pack” trackchasing mentality.  I hope that I will get to Huntsville on time and my bag will show up.  No, I do not like other people’s weather and I don’t like to check a bag.

 

 

The People

 

I like southern people.  They seem nice, although a little skeptical of Northerners.  They also seem to never have “an agenda.”  I like that about them.

 

I did have some trouble with my service while I traveled in the south this weekend.  I’m still trying to decide if it’s the south or the lower economic mentality of service workers.  I think it’s probably the latter (no not ladder as I often like to call it), but I was in the south this weekend so this poor service might be a “guilt by association” mentality of my part.

 

I stopped at a McDonalds and ordered a double cheeseburger with mustard and onions, a chocolate sundae and medium Diet Coke.  When I reached the food window I was given only a Diet Coke.

 

At one of my tracks I ordered a Bologna Burger and Diet Coke.  The Bologna Burger was $2.00 and the Diet Coke was $1.50.  I was served a cheeseburger and Diet Coke.  I corrected the server and was then served a Bologna Burger and Diet Coke and charged $4.50.  I corrected the server and was charged the correct amount of $3.50.

 

Finally, I stopped at a Waffle House and ordered a waffle, sausage, egg and cheese sandwich and cherry Diet Coke.  During the order, I asked about bacon on the sandwich, although I did not order any bacon.  I was served a Diet Coke without any cheery flavoring.  My sausage, egg and cheese sandwich came with bacon.  I was charged an additional $2.05 for three skinny slices of bacon.

 

What conclusion would you come too after reading the above?  No, the conclusion you are supposed to reach is not that I do not have a very good diet, although I could see how you might feel that way!  My conclusion, even though none of this food ever gives me a stomachache, is that the service was not very good, although the food tasted quite yummy.

 

 

 

 

 

RACE TRACK STATS:

 

HUNTSVILLE SPEEDWAY, HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA - TRACK #1,173

 

 

This was my 18th lifetime track to see in the Yellowhammer state.  Betcha didn’t know that Alabama was the Yellowhammer state.  My state rank is third behind Ed Esser’s 20 tracks and John Moore’s twenty-six.

 

 

 

RACE TRACK NEWS:

 

HUNTSVILLE SPEEDWAY

I landed into Huntsville from Atlanta at 4:30 p.m.  It was dry, although the forecast called for a 40% chance of rain by 10 p.m.  The race was scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., so I figured I would be safe.  By the time I retrieved my luggage it was heavily overcast and raining lightly.  Oh, #$%$^&!  This did not look good.

 

I was only 151 flying miles from Atlanta.  I looked into the idea of flying back to Atlanta in the hopes of driving to a drier South Carolina track.  At this time of day, there were no more flights back to Atlanta from Huntsville.  I looked into renting a car in Huntsville and driving back to Atlanta.  That method of transport would be too slow and would cost me $145 for a two-day rental with an Atlanta drop-off.  I was staying in Huntsville rain our shine.

 

I went to pick up my National Rental Car.  They don’t have Emerald Aisle service at smaller locations and Huntsville was a smaller location.  I looked at the five people deep line at the National counter.  I didn’t want to wait in that line, so I walked over to the Budget Rental Car counter.  I told the clerk that if she could beat my National rate that I thought was about “$20.99 per day” this I would rent from her.  Miraculously or not, she came up with a $19.99 rate!  Check the “Rental car update” section for some new, less than consumer friendly, policies that Budget Rental Car is now instituting.

 

The Huntsville Speedway has been in and out of business a few times over the recent years.  It must have been the result of poor management because the facility is very nice.  The track runs a “features only” program.  I love that.

 

They started on time.  I love that!  They ran time trials before the regular racing events.  I love that!  There seems to be a major difference between southern asphalt track and their dirt tracks.  I believe the south, I’m talking about the Carolinas, Alabama, Georgia and Virginia has the best asphalt tracks anywhere in the country.  On the other hand, their dirt tracks trail their asphalt tracks in quality on just about every racing aspect by a large margin.  Southern dirt tracks are not the worst dirt tracks in the country by any means.  Dirt tracks in general all over our country can offer a sub-standard spectator experience.  England, New Zealand and Australia kick our butts at the normal dirt track from a spectator point of view.

 

The Huntsville facility is above average.  They have a flat, smooth grass and gravel parking lot.  The admission price of $12 is reasonable.  The grandstand is modern with aluminum seating and seat backs.  The cars pit in the infield but spectators can still see the backstretch without an obstruction.  This is the best combo, I believe.  The track is well lit, the P.A. works well and the track is high-banked and smooth.  They don’t mess around.  They run their races efficiently.  That’s why I say southern asphalt tracks are way above average.

 

This is the bible belt of America.  I see more religious slogans painted on racecars and references to God in driver interviews, by far, than anywhere else does in the country.  This is also home to very conservative thought.  Here’s what the announcer had to say before the National Anthem was played.

 

“I believe in the right to free speech.  But, if you’re one who wants to burn our flag, then come up here right now and I’ll give you your money back.”  I don’t disagree with his statement; I just thought it was somewhat unusual to say it when and where he did.

 

The weather was not friendly.  It was about 55 degrees with a very strong wind.  Although I wore long pants, mainly because of Delta’s dress code policy, I was shivering.  The track rewarded my lack of planning by running their best classes first.  I love that!

 

They opened with a seven car pro buzz class (I thought he called them mini-mods) that ran for 20 laps with six cautions flags.  This was followed by the two main classes.  The eight-car truck class ran 40 laps with lightning flashing just beyond turns three and four.  My final race of the night was for the modifieds.  This was a 50 lapper for 18 cars.  The race was marred by multiple yellow flags. 

 

It was 9:30 p.m. when these three feature events were completed.  I was cold.  It had been a long day.  The remaining classes didn’t interest me in staying any longer.  I bolted for the exits.  At exactly 9:36 p.m. on my way back to the motel, it began to rain lightly.  I stopped at the Waffle House for a warming hot chocolate located right next door to my Motel 6. 

 

In checking the results for the races I missed I noticed the there were 7 super stocks, 6 hot shots and 15 buzz fifteen racers.  I am pleased they ran the trucks and modifieds (the only classes they time trialed) first.

 

At 5 a.m. Friday morning (3 a.m. San Clemente time) I was out the door of room 216 at the Motel 6.  It was my second consecutive night of only five hours of sleep.  There were four Huntsville police cars parked on the first level interviewing a young man who looked like he was going to be in for a rough day.  It is a rather frequent occurrence to have police activity at Motel 6 locations.  I have seen this multiple times.

 

 

 

 

WEATHER CONDITIONS

 

It was a damp, windy and chilly evening.

RENTAL CAR UPDATE:

 

I went with the Budget Rental Car Company today.  For the first time ever I rented a Chevrolet HHR 4-door automobile (pictured at www.ranlayracing.com under the Huntsville report.)  This is a knockoff of the Chrysler PT Cruiser.  The car seemed to have a good deal of interior space.  I drove it just 66 miles.

 

Budget has started two not very consumer friendly policies.  Most major rental car companies have always allowed a one-hour grace period.  That means if you pick up the car at 2 p.m., you can return it as late as 3 p.m. the next day and not be charged for an extra day.  Budget’s new policy allows for only a 30-minute grace period.  If the car is returned from 30-90 minutes late, an extra hour is charged.  If the car is returned more than 90 minutes beyond a 24-hour period, then an extra day is charged.

 

Their new fuel policy calls for a mandatory $9.50 charge if the car is driven less than 75 miles.  This prevents people from driving a small distance, not putting any gas in the car and then saying the tank is still full.  I drove only 66 miles.  I stopped and put $6.50 of gas in the tank.  I figured that saved me three bucks!  Then, I forgot to put the receipt in the folder when I dropped off the keys at the counter!  Nevertheless, they gave me credit for filling the tank.

 

Friday total driving miles – 62

Saturday morning total driving miles – 4

 

 

 

I traveled just 66 miles with my Chevrolet HHR automobile.  Such limited driving is a result of my pinpoint air strike capability.  I paid an average fuel price of $2.85 giving me a 9.8 cent per mile fuel charge.  The Chevy provided fuel mileage of 28.9 M.P.G.  The car cost a relatively high 45.1 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 – 1,173

 

2.  Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 1,106 (-67)*

 

3.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 1,090 (-83)*

 

7.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 989 (-184)**

 

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

 

** Special exemption.

 

 

 

 

LIFETIME NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY STANDINGS

 

2007 (current thru 3/26/07)**

 

 

1. Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 7.00

2. Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania – 7.08

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 also by other trackchasers impact on the leader’s position in each state. 

  

 

 

Other notables

 

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

 

31.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California - 310

 

32.  Chris Economaki, Ridgewood, New Jersey – 302 (-8)

 

33.  Gary Jacob, Turlock, California – 301 (-9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California - 35

 

2.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 24

 

3.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania - 17

 

4.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 15

 

5.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 13

 

6.  Rick Young, Maxville, Ontario, Canada - 8

 

6.  Roger Ferrell, Majenica, Indiana – 8

 

8.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania – 7

 

9.  Linda Rixon, Watford, England – 6

 

9.  Spike Rixon, Watford, England – 6

 

9.  Paul Weisel, Orefield, Pennsylvania – 6

 

 

Tracks have been reported by 30 different worldwide trackchasers this season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

 

Randy Lewis

#1 Trackchaser Living West of the Mississippi

It’s ain’t trash talkin’ if you can back it up.

 

 

 

CUMULATIVE TRAVEL DISTANCES:

 

AIRPLANE

 

Santa Ana, CA – Atlanta, GA – 1,919 miles

Atlanta, GA – Huntsville, AL – 151 miles

 

RENTAL CAR – HUNTSVILLE

Huntsville International Airport – trip begins

Huntsville Speedway – 31 miles

Huntsville International Airport – 66 miles

 

 

 

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

 

Huntsville Speedway – $10

 

 

 

 

 

 

Past trackchasing reports are available at:

www.ranlayracing.com

 

 

Official trackchaser standings can be viewed at:

www.trackchaser.net

 

 

Some of the data in this report comes: www.trackchaser.net

Garmin GPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPCOMING TRACKCHASING PLANS

 

I am going to go as far East as I can to avoid one of the strongest low-pressure systems of the year as it moves from west to east across the southeast. 

 

 

 

 

 

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 13

 

1,147.  Angels Stadium of Anaheim (outer oval), Anaheim, California - January 13

 

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

 

1,156. Lee Pond Ice Track, Moultonborough, New Hampshire – February 25

 

1,157. New Hendry Country Speedway, Clewiston, Florida – March 3

 

1,158. Florida Sports Park, Naples, Florida – March 4

 

1,159. Honeoye Lake Ice Track – Road Course, Honeoye, New York – March 10

 

1,160. Houston Raceway Park, Baytown, Texas – March 16

 

1,161. Houston Motorsports Park, Houston, Texas – March 16

 

1,162. Dawgwood Speedway, Chatsworth, Georgia – March 17

 

1,163. Toccoa Speedway, Toccoa, Georgia – March 17

 

1,164. Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, Tennessee – March 18

 

1,165. Malden Speedway, Malden, Missouri, Tennessee – March 23

 

1,166. Dacosa Speedway, Byhalia, Mississippi – March 24

 

1,167. Swinging Bridge Raceway, Byram, Mississippi – March 24

 

1,168. Florence Motor Speedway, Florence, South Carolina – March 25

 

1,169. Foothills Raceway, Easley, South Carolina – March 30

 

1,170. Mileback Speedway, Gray Court, South Carolina – March 30

 

1,171. Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Florida – April 1

 

1,172. Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas, Nevada – April 8

 

1,173. Huntsville Speedway, Huntsville, Alabama – April 13