DAY 7 – WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMER TRACKCHASING TOUR

TODAY’S HEADLINES

 

Should you pick a track that races just once a year or a track that races once a week to maximize trackchasing results?...................more in “The Objective”.

 

Is 517 miles too far to drive one-way for a county fair figure 8 race? …………..details in “The Trip”.

Mark and I had an enjoyable evening with one of our up and coming trackchasers and his family …………..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

 

SPECIAL NOTICE

Congratulations to trackchaser Guy Smith.  Guy has surged into second place in the worldwide career trackchaser standings besting Michigan’s Allan Brown.  In today’s trackchasing world it is not often that a top 10 position changes.  Now that Guy has reached the second position, I will provide a “Guy Smith special report” that you won’t want to miss.

GREETINGS FROM WELLSBORO, PENNSYLVANIA.

 

 

 

 

MARK AND I WOKE UP IN GRAND BLANC, MICHIGAN AND WENT TO SLEEP IN COUDERSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

 

 

 

The Objective 

 

If you were a trackchaser and had to choose between seeing a track that races just one time per year or a track that races once a week for 4-5 months during the year, which would you pick?  If you said, “Randy, I would pick the track that had the best racing”.  Then I would say, “You are a racechaser, not a trackchaser”.  Racechasers go where the racing is best.  Trackchasers go where they can get a new track regardless of the racing quality.

 

Strategically, it is much better to visit a new track that races just once a year rather than a track that races once a week.  Let’s say I visit Michigan once a year.  This year I choose the track in Michigan that races only one time per year.  That means that next year when I visit Michigan, I have 20-30 different dates I can pick from at the track that races once a week.  Because each reader has been screened for their sterling intellect, I know you understand.

 

However, I know that some of you may be thinking, “But, Randy.  Why do you explain these complex trackchasing strategies in public.  Aren’t you afraid your trackchasing fellow competitors will get hold of this information and use it against you”.  My answer to this thoughtful question would be simply “No”.  If a fellow trackchaser can learn a thing or two from me, I say more power to them.  Maybe the things I have learned can increase both their enjoyment and productivity of the hobby.  I certainly hope so.

The Trip

 

It was a rainy 517-mile drive from our Michigan hotel to the Tioga County Fairgrounds.  Did he say FIVE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN MILES?  Some might think that’s a long way to drive for a county fair, eight-car, figure 8 race.  I never gave it a second thought.

 

Some people say I have an unfair advantage in trackchasing.  I agree with most of that statement.  I would modify the statement to read, “I have an advantage in trackchasing”.  I am willing to go anywhere at anytime for trackchasing.  Only a select few of trackchasers can truthfully make that statement.

 

The interesting thing about this drive was the number of states we drove through.  We started in Michigan and went through Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and then back into Pennsylvania.  Brother Mark was really freaked out when we saw a sign telling us we were just 61 miles from the “Jersey shore”.  I must admit I looked at our Garmin GPS unit, “Dusty” with a suspect eye.  By the way, why do folks on the East coast call being near the ocean the “shore” while West coast people call it the “beach”.

 

The Tioga County Fair race was the ONLY track that I could find anywhere in the continental United States or Canada that I had never been too that was racing on Thursday, August 9, 2007.  There may have been other tracks that I needed that were racing closer to where we were in Michigan, but I didn’t know about them.  My fellow trackchasers were not sharing what, if anything, they knew.  That’s the way it works in trackchasing and that’s the way it should work.

 

During the past 3 ½ seasons or so, I have seen almost 600 new tracks.  There are less than 1,200 tracks still remaining for me to see in North America.  As my Geographical Flying Circle within North America begins to close in on me, one would think my production would begin to decline in the next 2-3 years. 

 

 

 

 

The People

 

Tonight brother Mark and I were joined by race driver/trackchaser Andy Ritter.  You now the name “Andy Ritter” just sounds like a racecar driver.  It has a certain ring to it.

 

Andy is one of only nine people to have seen racing in all 50 of the United States.  He is also the youngest trackchaser to have achieved this feat.  Currently, Andy has not seen any new tracks in 2007.  Nevertheless, he has assured me he will not be skunked for the year.  Look for Andy to report on a new track somewhere soon.

 

Following the races, we were able to join up for some visiting time with Andy’s beautiful wife and two young daughters (names omitted for security purposes).  While we were at the figure 8 races, they had spent the time touring the fair and checking out the carnival rides.  I am happy to report the Ritter family is doing well and enjoying their new home in this heavily wooded and rural area.  Nice to see the Ritters!

 

By the way, I think time has proven that Andy’s trackchasing political career has not been harmed by his association with me.  Congratulations, Andy.

 

 

 

 

MARK’S MEMORIES

 

There was an excessive amount of driving for just an hour or so of racing.  The weather was great after the rain cooled things off.  It was fun meeting Andy and his family.  The fair food was exceptional (cheese steak and bloomin’ onion).  The monster trucks were neat.  I don’t think the figure 8 racing compared very well to last night’s show at the Shiawassee County Fair.

STATE RANKINGS

The Tioga County Fairgrounds figure 8 was my 64th lifetime track in the Keystone state.  I am in 21^st place in the state.  In order to get a top 10 ranking in Pennsylvania, I would have to have 96 tracks!  There are nine trackchasers with more than 100 tracks each in Pennsylvania.  Nevertheless, I like a challenge and someday I plan to crack the top 10 here.  Guy Smith leads the state with an incredible 166 tracks.

RACE REVIEW – TIOGA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS (FIGURE 8) – TRACK #1,249

This was another show that was threatened by rain.  I called the Total Destruction Demos office to see what their policy was about bad weather.  Would they race rain or shine?  They said they would.

 

I’ve been to about 130 figure 8 shows.  I’m sure more than 100 of them or more have been at county fairs.  I can never remember any of them facing a heavy rainfall before and during the race.  I guess I’m still wondering what they would do if it started raining steadily at 5 p.m. and kept on raining right through the start time of a 7 p.m. show.  I know the crowd wouldn’t stand for being out in the rain in an uncovered area.  Without a paying crowd, would the promoter still run the race?  I doubt it.

 

There were just eight figure 8 cars on hand to race.  They were of the small car front wheel drive variety.  They ran two heats and a feature.  These guys, compared to their Michigan brethren, were much more willing to mix it up at the “X”.  They had some solid hits.

 

There were also 5-6 pickups that raced a figure 8 race.  I can’t ever recall seeing pickups race figure 8.  However, just because I can’t remember it does not mean it didn’t happen. 

 

The highlight of the racing evening was the monster trucks.  They had two full-fledged monster trucks on hand that ran up and over six disabled passenger cars.  You won’t want to miss the pictorial action with these big trucks at www.ranlayracing.com.

 

There was a huge crowd on hand tonight.  The fairgrounds has a large and steep hillside where the crowd lounged on blankets and in lawn chairs.  There was also a small bleacher area.  Beyond the figure 8 track was a very scenic view of the heavily forested area that makes this place so scenic.

RENTAL CAR UPDATE

 

Omaha – Friday-Wednesday (12-day rental)

 

When the Ritters arrived at the fair last night, they immediately spotted our fire engine red Avis Rental Car Racing Pontiac Grand Prix.  I guess the Nebraska plates tipped them off!

 

 

 

 

 

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

Fremont, Michigan – 2,187 miles

Corunna, Michigan – 2,435 miles

Wellsboro, Pennsylvania – 2,980 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

Newaygo County Fairgrounds - $9

Shiawassee County Fairgrounds - $13 ($3 fair & $10 figure 8)

Tioga County Fairgrounds - $10 ($3 fair & $7 figure 8)

 

 

 

 

 

RANKINGS

 

 

LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:

 

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

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,249

 

 

 

 

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 – 328

 

 

 

 

2007 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California - 111

 

2.  Roland Vanden Eynde, Vilvoorde, Belgium - 69

 

3.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 68

 

4.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania – 53

 

5.  Pam Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 43

 

6.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 41

 

6.  Paul Weisel, Orefield, Pennsylvania – 41

 

8.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 39

 

9.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania – 24

 

9.  Roger Ferrell, Majenica, Indiana – 24

 

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 wanted to stay another night in Pennsylvania to watch Andy Ritter race.  However, the weather forecast was bad.  The weather back in Michigan looks excellent.  Andy, being a trackchaser, fully understood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

1,247. Newaygo County Fairgrounds (road course), Fremont, Michigan – August 7

 

1,248. Shiawassee County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Corunna, Michigan – August 8

 

1,249. Tioga County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Wellsboro, Pennsylvania – August 9