DAY 4 – WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMER TRACKCHASING TOUR

TODAY’S HEADLINES

 

 

I am now the only trackchaser with the most revolutionary real-time information source that gives me access to the worldwide web from anywhere in North America....................more in “The People”.

 

Do you want to get TIVO?  Do you want to upgrade your TIVO? …………..details in “The People”.

 

 

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/august3142007.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.  This comment comes from a Southeaster based reader who is new to the Trackchaser Report.

 

“Hi Randy - Sounds like you got this "track-chasing" down to a science.  Your last report was interesting.  The only flying I ever did was when I was stationed in Germany.  I flew back to the U.S. twice to go to the races.  One of them was the  modifieds at Langhorne and it got rained out, so I had to go back and missed the rain date.” 

 

 

GREETINGS FROM FREMONT, MICHIGAN.

 

 

 

 

I WOKE UP IN DES MOINES, IOWA AND WENT TO BED IN ROMULUS, MICHIGAN.  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

 

 

 

The Objective 

 

I am a trackchaser.  The objective of any trackchasing trip is to see new tracks.  Sometimes the tracks are not very close together.  That was the case today.  Nevertheless, since I am a trackchaser, no distance is too great.

The Trip

 

I had a good deal of ground to cover today.  I woke up in Des Moines and it was a 526-mile drive up to Fremont, Michigan’s figure 8 track.  I was dreading the thought of driving through Chicago.  In recent years, Chicago has been the very worst city to pass through on one of my trips.

 

You can imagine my shock, relief and then joy to motor through Chicago in the early afternoon with virtually no stoppages whatsoever.  This is unheard of.  I traveled through the city via Interstate 80.  I guess all of the roadwork they’ve done their over the past 10 years has finally paid off.  Hurray!

 

Following tonight’s figure 8 races, it was a quick 221 miles down to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport to pick up my brother Mark who was flying in from Phoenix for a week of golf and trackchasing.  With Mark’s scheduled arrival of 11:55 p.m. being delayed a bit, we did not hit the rack until after 1 a.m.

 

 

 

 

The People

 

I have a large number of people who help me in my quest to be a successful worldwide trackchaser.  One of those folks is our son, J.J.  Some fellow trackchasers have accused me of having unfair advantages.  They are probably correct.  One of those unfair advantages is my family.  Everyone is my immediate family is very supportive of the trackchasing hobby and helps in anyway they can.  They all understand how competitive this hobby can be and are willing to lay it on the line in an effort to keep my trackchasing fellow competitors at bay.

 

All long-time Trackchaser Report readers know how important real-time information is to be able to trackchase at the highest levels.  I am proud to announce that because of J.J., I now have a resource that no other trackchaser has in their informational arsenal.

 

For competitive reasons, I cannot provide all of the specifics.  I will simply say this.  I now have the capability to use the internet via my laptop from virtually anywhere in North America at anytime.  This new capability will allow me to check weather or racetrack websites for the latest updates.  I can manage my travel plans with local hotel and transportation suppliers and get the most preferred service and cost efficiencies offered.

 

For legitimate Trackchaser Report readers who are not trackchasers and who I believe would not put this information into my competitor’s hands, I will entertain emails detailing what J.J. has hooked me up with.  This along with my portable GPS unit is the most revolutionary piece of technology to ever hit trackchasing.

 

Although I cannot tell you much more about the hows and wherefores of my newest technology advance, I did want to give you a feel for the type of support I’m getting from members of the RANLAY Racing Technology support staff.   Here is a memo I received this week regarding my TIVO technology.  Yes, you might be saying, “Randy, you’re lucky to have so many good family resources”.  I can only happily concur.

 

DirecTV launched a new satellite which will offer a lot of new HD channels starting next month--but you need a new receiver and dish in order to get them--UCLA basketball for example will only be beamed off the new satellite.

The old HD Tivo will still function---it just won't receive HD programming maybe as soon as September.

I scheduled an installation for the new receiver on Sunday, August 19 in the morning. I can be around to make sure it gets done right--it will involve swapping out your satellite dish with a new one that can pick up the two new satellites, switching the satellite box in the upstairs living room, and changing the switch in the toiletries closet.

The cost I negotiated down is a net of $39 for both the equipment and the install. (It will show as a $199 charge on your next bill, with an offsetting credit of $100---and then a $10 per month discount off the service for the next 6 months). The cost for programming will remain exactly the same going forward.

I suggest that you take your upstairs Tivo and move it into Dad's office--it has the largest hard drive by far and can record 250 hours of standard definition programming. Then take the Tivo in Dad's office and put it on the TV that is used for your bedroom and the family room by Kristy and Jim's room and get rid of the standard receiver. Then you will have Tivo functionality on every TV in the house.

Dad you should watch all of the HD recordings on the old Tivo by August 19 and write down your HD season passes that you want transferred. You will still be able to view the standard def stuff--it will just be in your office or in the Ranlay Events Center.

Here are some of the new channels that will be rolling out:

 

A&E	National Geographic
Bravo	NFL Network
Cartoon Nothing	SciFi Channel
CNN	Speed
Food Network	TBS
Big Ten Network	The History Channel
HGTV	The Weather Channel
MTV	USA Network
Disney Channel	Versus HD
Toon Disney	TLC
ABC Family	Animal Planet
ESPNNEWS HD	The Science Channel
Starz E/W/ feeds	Discovery Channel
Starz Edge	The Tennis Channel
Starz Comedy	Showtime West
Starz Kids & Family	The Movie Channel
CNBC	Chiller

 

 

STATE RANKINGS

Tonight’s figure 8 track in Fremont was my 58^th lifetime track in the Wolverine state.  This moves me into a tie for 8^th place with Andy Sivi and gives me one more National Geographic Diversity position.  Every one of these positions is valuable because I lead my nearest National Geographic Diversity fellow competitor by just nine positions spread over 50 states.

 

 

 

 

RACE REVIEW – NEWAYGO COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS (FIGURE 8) – TRACK #1,245

 

Tonight the grandstands were full for the Unique Motorsports Figure 8 promotion at the fairgrounds.  I had arrived at 6:30 p.m. for what the Unique website said was a 7 p.m. start.  However, the fairgrounds info told me the program would start at 8 p.m. and it did.

 

The track surface was not good.  It was very sandy and dusty.  The car’s spinning tires, be they front-wheel or rear-wheel really tore up the track.  The local fire department had to water the track several times.  Check out photos of the dust and dirt at www.ranlayracing.com.

 

Since the program started an hour later than the promoter had promised and since I had to drive 221 miles down to the Detroit airport to pick up my brother I was only able to stay for one hour of figure 8 racing.  Nevertheless, as veteran trackchasers around the world can testify this is enough time to get an adequate lay of the land.

 

Big car figure 8 racing dominated the program.  There were also a few small cars racing in their class.  I would estimate there were about 20-25 big cars and about 10 small cars.  They ran 5-6 car heat races.  The crowd seemed to have a good time on another hot and humid evening.

 

The Unique Motorsports group likes to throw small prizes into the stands between races.  This includes Frisbees, small teddy bears and the like.  The small town crowds go wild over these freebies.

 

There is not much going on at this fair.  I didn’t see any rides and only a few small food booths.  In an adjacent lot, they did have a horse show going on.  Overall, not a great fair or great figure 8 racing.

RENTAL CAR UPDATE

 

Omaha – Friday-Wednesday (12-day rental)

 

My Avis Rental Car Racing Pontiac Grand Prix no longer has the smell of cleaner that it did when I picked it up.  The car, as most do now, does have two power sources for my electronic equipment and that is appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

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 – Denver, CO – 845 miles

Denver, CO – Omaha, NE - 472 miles

 

 

RENTAL CAR – OMAHA

 

Eppley Field – trip begins

Washington, Kansas – 154 miles

Maxville, Iowa – 475 miles

Coon Rapids, Iowa – 546 miles

Newton, Iowa – 817 miles

Springfield, Nebraska – 993 miles

Fremont, Michigan – 1,777 miles

 

 

 

 

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

 

Washington County Fairgrounds - $8

Maxville Fire Department Figure 8 - $8

Carroll County Fairgrounds - $5

Iowa Speedway - $10 (pit pass)

Sarpy County Fair & Rodeo Arena - $10

Newaygo County Fairgrounds - $9

 

 

 

 

 

RANKINGS

 

 

LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:

 

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

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,246

 

 

 

 

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 - 108

 

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

 

I have three different Michigan tracks I could attend tomorrow.  My final destination will depend upon local weather conditions and where brother Mark and I decide to play golf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

1,240. Sweetwater County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Rock Springs, Wyoming – July 31

 

1,241. Washington County Fairgrounds (oval), Washington, Kansas – August 3

 

1,242. Maxville Fire Department Figure 8 Course, Maxville, Iowa– August 4

 

1,243. Carroll County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Coon Rapids, Iowa– August 4

 

1,244. Iowa Speedway (temporary inner oval), Newton, Iowa– August 5

 

1,245. Sarpy County Fair & Rodeo Arena (figure 8), Springfield, Nebraska – August 5

 

1,246. Newaygo County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Fremont, Michigan – August 6