DAY 3 – ROCKY MOUNTAIN SUMMER TRACKCHASING TOUR

TODAY’S HEADLINES

Tonight the BMP Speedway played “trackchaser trivia” during intermission...................more in “The People”.

 

The Rocky Mountain Summer Trackchasing Tour is heavily laden with Trackchasing Tourist Attractions. ………………..details in “Trackchasing Tourist Attractions”.

 

How does Carol feel about reaching 1,000 tracks in her trackchasing career? ……………….more in “Carol’s Comments”. 

 

Click on this link or paste it in your browser to take you to today’s Trackchaser Report via my website at www.ranlayracing.com

 

http://www.ranlayracing.com/july26302007.htm

 

AND THE READERS RESPOND

From time to time interested readers write me about one thing or another.  Many times, I feel that all my readers would be interested, informed and/or amused by the comments I get.  I also frequently pose questions on my website about places I have visited.  This response is concerning a question I posed about a huge manufacturing plant in Owensboro, Kentucky.

 

FROM NEW ENGLAND: That plant near Owensboro KY is producing electricity.  Always a good thing to see as it means that people like me are well employed.

 

CORRECTION

I don’t get many communiqués from the Trackchaser Commissioner.  When I received this one, I wanted to acknowledge a mistake I wrote about in a previous Trackchaser Report.

Randy,

 

You wrote the following lines in your trackchaser report that covered July 21st:

 

"Would the kart race by itself (not countable by trackchasing rules) or would the champ kart be thrown into another class to race (this would be trackchasing countable)."

 

"I’m sure if I had asked Cecil to run a race where his champ kart was in a countable trackchasing race with some of the other flat karts, he would have done it for me."

 

I wanted to point out that this is not the decision I had made about when a track is countable based on just one countable class car. Here is what I posted to the group on July 3rd of this year that pertains to this situation:

 

*If 1 countable class car starts the race along with 1 or more

countable cars in an uncountable class, the track is countable based on that race.  **If 1 countable class car starts the race along with 1 or more uncountable cars, the track is not countable based on that race.

 

**If 1 car of any class starts the race all alone, the track is not

countable based on that race.

 

Note, if Cecil had the lone champ kart and raced with flat karts, the track would not have been countable. On the other hand, if Cecil was the lone senior and raced with junior champ karts, then the track would be countable.

 

Will

GREETINGS FROM BILLINGS, MONTANA.

 

 

 

 

WE WOKE UP IN BELGRADE, MONTANA THIS MORNING.  WE WENT TO SLEEP IN SHERIDAN, WYOMING.  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

 

 

 

The Objective

 

Today’s objective is rather simple.  After seeing today’s track, I have undisputed trackchasing leadership in Montana.  I’ve worked all my life to reach this station in Montana, the first state I ever flew too.  By the way, I was 21 years old before I ever boarded a plane!

The Trip

 

Today’s trip found us awaking at the La Quinta Inn in Belgrade, Montana.  Hotels in the Far West are very expensive during the summer months.  I guess they need to “make hay while the suns shines” or said another way “soak us tourists for all we’re worth before the snow flies”.

 

When Trackchasing’s First Mother travels with me, I do my best to be a good host.  This includes upgrading our accommodations and restaurant choices and creating a livable driving plan.

 

When I called the La Quinta Inn I was quoted a rate of $131 per night.  Wow!  This was a chain hotel in a small town in Montana with several competitors.  Nevertheless, I had an ace up my short-sleeved golf shirt.

 

I had noticed on the Gallatin International Speedway’s website (http://www.gallatinspeedway.com/), that they had a special rate with the La Quinta of just $89.  Now, mind you, even $89 seemed high for a La Quinta in this part of the country, but it was a lot better than $131 per night.

 

After I completed my power walking aerobics exercise around the Flying J Truck stop, we were off to the Blue Angels air show.  Following the air show, we had a leisurely drive of less than three hours to tonight’s track.

 

 

 

TRACKCHASING TOURIST ATTRACTION

 

BLUE ANGELS IN THE BIG SKY

 

Today’s Trackchasing Tourist Attraction (TTA) was special.  We would be seeing the Navy’s Blue Angels perform at the Bozeman International Airport.  This was their 31^st performance of the 2007 season.

 

Have you ever been to an air show?  They’re fun.  We had seen the Blue Angels perform at the El Toro Marine Corps base near our home several years ago.  I only recently learned that one of the fellows that I play golf with, Steve Pettit, was a former member of the Blue Angels.  When I found this out, I was impressed.  Now that I have recently seen the Blue Angels again, I will have a new round of questions for Steve when I see him.

 

It was a warm day for an air show.  The heat of the day was made even worse from the sun’s reflection off the huge asphalt tarmac.  On our way out of the event, the car’s thermometer showed 104 degrees!

 

We were at the air show for more than four hours.  From time to time the flying demonstrations were stopped so that commercial aircraft could take off and land.  The plane J.J. flies, the CRJ, came in from time to time under the Delta Connection banner.  That was fun to see.

 

We were able to walk through a C-130 Air Force plane.  These huge transport planes can transport up to 72 critically injured military personnel.  If they are carrying cargo, they can carry three Humvees.  Many people used the shade of the plane’s wings as shelter from the sun.

 

The Blue Angels came on near the end of today’s show at 3 p.m.  There were six F-18s that the Blue Angels have been using for 20 years now.  They did some incredible stunts.  I think it would be very difficult for a civilian to ride along on one of these rides without blacking out due to the number of Gs the planes pull.

 

One of the many highlights was a maneuver that has one plane fly low across the runway from left to right.  The crowd’s full attention is focused on this plane.  Just when the plane is flying only 50 feet off the ground at more than 500 miles per hour in front of the crowd, another Blue Angel plane comes blazing in low from BEHIND the crowd whose attention is focused on the main runway.  This scared the living S#$% out of most folks!  The maneuver got a great round of applause from a packed tarmac area.  If you get the chance to see the Blue Angels fly, do it.

 

 

 

 

The People

 

I have so many first time experiences when I visit these tracks.  Loyal Trackchaser Report readers know that the RANLAY Racing Promotions Department offers prizes, including free trips to its readers.

 

Tonight something along those lines was promoted by the BMP Speedway.  The announcer mentioned my trackchasing several times throughout the night.  The announcer also had several prize give-a-ways for the crowd today.  During the modified feature, there were some long delays to clean up wrecked racecars.

 

During a fuel spill delay, the announcer came across the most robust P.A. system with this, “I have two free passes to the Splash Watersports Park for the first person who can tell me where the trackchaser that I’ve been talking about is from”.

 

In 5-10 nanoseconds, he came back over the P.A. with, “That was fast.  These girls knew our trackchaser friend was from California.  They even knew how many tracks he has.  Congrats to our winners of these Splash Watersports Park passes”.

 

I have never been a part of a track’s trivia contest in the past.  I trust that readers of the Trackchaser Report would have been Johnny on the spot with a correct answer to tonight’s racetrack trivia question and might now be sunning themselves in a chaise lounge at the Splash Watersports Park in Billings, Montana.

 

 

 

 

 

 CAROL’S COMMENTS

 

The track trivia contest that involved Randy’s trackchasing was pretty cute.

 

Editor’s note:  During intermission, I told Carol that after seeing her 333^rd lifetime track tonight she was one-third of the way toward reaching the 1,000-track milestone.  Did she think she would reach 1,000 tracks someday?  She let out with a huge guffaw.  Is the word “belly laugh”, one word or two?

 

The location of what seemed to be independent food concessionaires was something we don’t see very often.  I don’t like the “buy a ticket” to get a beer idea.  The track was primitive and it was dusty.  It was hot! 

 

Editor’s note:  When I told Carol I would be home for just three days before heading out for the next twelve, her response was,

 

“I don’t know how you do it.  I’d just go soak my head in a bucket of water”.

STATE RANKINGS

 

The BMP Speedway is my eighth lifetime track to see in Big Sky country.  This track is located 16 miles north of Billings.  My first ever airplane trip took me out to visit a youngish Trackchasing’s First Mother to be in Dayton, Wyoming.  During the trip, I visited the Belaro Speedway in Billings.  The Belaro Speedway is long gone.  I do remember on that night that they featured four classes of racing and each class had four cars.  Montana is now my seventh Far West state where I hold the #1 ranking.

RACE REVIEW – BMP SPEEDWAY (AKA BILLINGS MOTORSPORTS PARK) – TRACK #1,239 (CAROL’S TRACK #333)

I would have to label our experience at the BMP Speedway as mediocre at best.  When we entered the grandstand we joined a large crowd.  It was 96 degrees at 7 p.m. in the shade and there was no shade.  We chose a seat location a few rows up in the grandstand right behind the flagman.  This turned out to be a bad location.

 

When the powerful sprint cars came out for the first of their three heat races, the dust and grit came our way immediately.  I can tolerate the lung clogging debris after years of practice.  Carol cannot.  I learned long ago that it’s best to remove Carol from this type of environment immediately or pay the price later.

 

The wind was blowing toward the west, or from left to right across your computer screen.  We immediately relocated to the fourth turn seating area.  The dust and dirt were better down there although Carol still sported her clear racing goggles for the remainder of the evening.

 

The program of super stocks (23), sprint cars (20?) and modifieds (15) rolled along well until intermission.  At this point they took a 30-45 minute interlude.  It was much too long, even though with the temperature now about 80 degrees, it was getting comfortable.

 

During intermission, they watered the track.  They didn’t put as much water on the track as I would have liked.  Nevertheless, it must have taken the 15 modifieds nearly 50 laps (no exaggeration) to run it in.  I have never seen it take longer to run in a track, especially in an area that was so hot and dry.

 

The modified feature was the first to hit the track.  Like every track I visit, I saw something I have never seen before.  On the first lap, the leader spun off of turns three and four bringing out a yellow restart flag.  Every one got their spot back, even the offending spinner, and the race restarted again.  A few laps later, the leader, who had spun on the first lap, came in contact with an inside tire barrier forcing him to spin and cause his second yellow.  The rules called for “two spins and you’re out”.  The leader of the race was given the black flag and he drove to the pit area.  I have never in my life seen the leader of the race black flagged and sent to the pits following a spin.

 

The race continued with several more yellows.  One crash was so mighty that one of the fuel tanks ruptured sending racing fuel onto the dirt track.  It took them forever to get this mess cleaned up.  They sprayed water on the track to dilute the fuel.  Then they lit a match to the fuel and it burned for about a minute.  Then they had the cars run through the area they had just watered to dilute the fuel.  This took another 10-15 yellow caution laps.  After more than one hour of “racing” for a 15-car, 20-lap feature, the checkered flag was finally displayed.  Where was the time limit for a fiasco like this?

 

We had sat through a 45-minute intermission.  Then we sat through a one hour plus 20-lap modified feature event.  The sprint cars were up next with what promised to be a real dust bath.  Discretion is the better part of valor.  I recommended to Carol that we head for the exits.  She said “Yes” quicker than when I asked her to marry me.  We were off into the night.  We had a nearly three-hour drive before we would find shelter.

RENTAL CAR UPDATE

 

Salt Lake City – Thursday-Tuesday (5-day rental)

 

The National Rental Car Racing Chevy Malibu is doing just fine except for the small rock chip we picked up in the windshield.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

 

Randy Lewis

Alberta’s #1 Trackchaser

I live in my own world.  People know me here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIRPLANE

 

Orange County, CA – Salt Lake City, UT – 588 miles

 

 

RENTAL CAR – SALT LAKE

 

Salt Lake International Airport – trip begins

Jackson, Wyoming – 306 miles

Belgrade, Montana – 552 miles

Billings, Montana – 722 miles

 

 

 

 

 

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

 

Teton County Fairgrounds - $12

Gallatin International Speedway -$9 ($1 senior discount savings)

BMP Speedway - $12

 

 

 

 

 

RANKINGS

 

 

LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:

 

There are no trackchasers currently within 100 tracks of my lifetime total. 

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,239

 

 

 

 

Other notables

 

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

 

 

29.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 333

 

30.  Tom Schmeh, Knoxville, Iowa – 330

 

31.  Dwight Bucks, Topton, Pennsylvania – 325

 

 

 

 

2007 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California - 101

 

2.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 66

 

3.  Roland Vanden Eynde, Vilvoorde, Belgium - 64

 

4.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania – 44

 

5.  Paul Weisel, Orefield, Pennsylvania – 41

 

6.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 39

 

7.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 35

 

8.  Pam Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 31

 

9.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania – 24

 

10.  Roger Ferrell, Majenica, Indiana – 23

 

Tracks have been reported by 39 different worldwide trackchasers this season.

 

 

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 from www.trackchaser.net

and my Garmin GPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPCOMING TRACKCHASING PLANS

 

It’s time to take a day off from trackchasing.  O.K., let’s be honest with each other.  When a trackchaser tells you he’s “taking a day off” that is trackchaser speak for “I’ll really don’t have anywhere I can find a countable track, so I’m going to take the day off”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

1,174. Low Country Kartway, Aynor, South Carolina – April 14

 

1,175. Dillon Motor Speedway, Dillon, South Carolina – April 14

 

1,176. Valley Dirt Riders, Berthoud, Colorado – April 15

 

1,177. Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, Lancaster, California – April 22

 

1,178. Sertoma Speedway, Tularosa, New Mexico – April 27

 

1,179. Sandia Motorsports Park (outer oval), Albuquerque, New Mexico – April 28

 

1,180. Sandia Motorsports Park (inner oval), Albuquerque, New Mexico – April 28

 

1,181. Hollywood Hills Speedway, San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico – April 29

 

1,182. Meridian Speedway, Meridian, Idaho – May 11

 

1,183. Diamond Mountain Speedway, Vernal, Utah, Idaho – May 12

 

1,184. Rocky Mountain Raceways (oval), Salt Lake City, Utah – May 12 

 

1,185. Rocky Mountain Raceways (figure 8), Salt Lake City, Utah – May 12

 

1,186. Modoc Speedway, Modoc, South Carolina – May 18

 

1,187. Possum Kingdom Super Speedway, Belton, South Carolina – May 19

 

1,188. Laurens County Speedway, Laurens, South Carolina – May 19

 

1,189. Fairplex at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, Pomona, California – May 20

 

1,190. Lowes Motor Speedway (inner oval), Concord, North Carolina – May 24

 

1,191. Lowes Motor Speedway (road course), Concord, North Carolina – May 24

 

1,192. Madison International Speedway (inner oval), Oregon, Wisconsin – May 25

 

** Madison International Speedway (outer oval), Oregon, Wisconsin – May 25

 

1,193. Thunderbird Stadium (figure 8), Bremerton, Washington – May 26

 

1,194. Thunderbird Stadium (oval), Bremerton, Washington – May 26

 

1,195. Whispering Pines Motorsports Park, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada – May 27

 

1,196. Magic Valley Speedway, Twin Falls, Idaho – May 28

 

1,197. Owyhee Motorcycle Raceway Park, Boise, Idaho – June 1

 

1,198. Race City Motorsports Park, Calgary, Alberta, Canada – June 2

 

1,199. Edmonton International Raceway, Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada – June 2

 

1,200. Castrol Raceway, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – June 2

 

1,201. Hidden Valley Motorsports Park, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada – June 2

 

1,202. Boyd’s Speedway, Ringgold, Georgia - June 8

 

1,203. Fayette County Fairgrounds, Washington Courthouse, Ohio - June 9

 

1,204. Brush Creek Motorsports Park, Pebbles, Ohio - June 9

 

1,205. Brown County Speedway, Russellville, Ohio - June 9

 

1,206. Vinton Speedway, Vinton, Ohio - June 10

 

1,207. Hilltop Speedway, Millersburg, Ohio - June 10

 

1,208. I-70 Speedway – dirt (outer oval), Odessa, Missouri - June 13

 

1,209. L A Raceway, La Monte, Missouri - June 14

 

1,210. Valley Speedway, Grain Valley, Missouri - June 22

 

1,211. Jamaica Raceway, Jamaica, Iowa - June 23

 

1,212. Calhoun County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Rockwell City, Jamaica, Iowa - June 23

 

** Hamilton County Speedway, Webster City, Iowa – June 23 (new for Carol only)

 

** Iowa Speedway (outer oval), Newton, Iowa, Iowa – June 24 (new for Carol only)

 

1,213. Butler Motor Speedway, Butler, Missouri - June 24

 

** Peoria Speedway, Peoria, Illinois – June 25

 

1,214. Kart Kanyon Raceway, Aztec, New Mexico - June 30

 

1,215. Aztec Speedway, Aztec, New Mexico - June 30

 

1,216. Sunvalley Speedway, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada – July 1

 

1,217. Georgetown Speedway, Georgetown, Delaware – July 6

 

1,218. Delmarva Motorsports Park, Middleford, Delaware – July 6

 

1,219. Hunterstown Speedway, Hunterstown, Pennsylvania – July 7

 

1,220. Shippensburg Speedway, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania – July 7 (Randy only)

 

** Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown, Maryland – July 7 (new for Carol only)

 

1,221. Blanket Hill Speedway, Whitesburg, Pennsylvania – July 8

 

1,222. Lincoln County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Troy, Missouri – July 13

 

1,223. Pike County Speedway, Pittsfield, Illinois – July 13

 

1,224. Iowa Speedway (road course), Newton, Iowa – July 14

 

1,225. Mitchell County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Osage, Iowa – July 14

 

1,226. Scott County Fairgrounds (oval), Scottsburg, Indiana – July 15

 

1,227. Barry Expo Center (figure 8), Hastings, Michigan – July 16

 

1,228. Lycoming County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Hughesville, Pennsylvania, Michigan – July 17

 

1,229. Delaware County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Muncie, Indiana – July 18

 

1,230. Delaware County Fairgrounds (oval), Muncie, Indiana – July 18

 

1,231. Van Buren County Youth Fairgrounds (road course), Hartford, Michigan – July 19

 

1,232. High Banks Speedway (oval), Philpot, Kentucky – July 20

 

1,233. High Banks Speedway (figure 8), Philpot, Kentucky – July 20

 

1,234. SOIL MX, Bone Gap, Illinois – July 21

 

1,235. Western Kentucky Speedway, Madisonville, Kentucky – July 21

 

** Windy Hollow Speedway (oval), Owensboro, Kentucky – July 23

 

1,236. Windy Hollow Speedway (small figure 8), Owensboro, Kentucky – July 21

 

1,237. Teton County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Jackson, Wyoming – July 26

 

1,238. Gallatin International Speedway, Belgrade, Montana – July 27

 

1,239. BMP Speedway, Billings, Montana – July 28

 

In the business world, the U.S. is often divided up into geographic areas that are referred to as East, Central and the “eleven Western states plus Alaska and Hawaii.”  No, I don’t know why they don’t just say the “thirteen western states.”  Those states include  Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming and, of course, Alaska and Hawaii.

 

The far west probably has the most beautiful scenery per square mile anywhere in the United States.  This got me to thinking.  Over the next 2-3 years, I’d like to put a “full-court” press on these far west states for trackchasing purposes.  I want to establish a goal of becoming the number one trackchaser in each of these states except California by the end of 2009.  Becoming #1 in California is not a realistic goal at this time. 

 

Below is a listing of these thirteen Far Western states.  The state’s name is followed by my current rank and how many tracks I need to see to gain at least a tie for 1^st place.  As an example, I’m currently in ninth place in Alaska and trail first place by three tracks.  I’m looking forward to spending more time than usual is the Far West, a great part of our country.

 

Alaska – 9^th by 3

 

Arizona – 1^st

 

California – 2^nd by 48

 

Colorado – 2nd by 1

 

Hawaii – 3^rd by 1

 

Idaho – 1st

 

Montana – 1st

 

Nevada – 2^nd by 2

 

New Mexico – 1st

 

Oregon – 1^st