DAY 2 (EVENING) – HIGH PLAINS LATE SUMMER TRACKCHASING TOUR

LATE BREAKING NEWS

This press release has just been distributed regarding my upcoming international trackchasing adventure.

 

De la belle visite à l’autodrome Edelweiss ce vendredi 31 août

 

Par Martin Bélanger

 

Cantley, PQ – mercredi 29 août, 2007 – C’est avec plaisir que j’ai appris ce matin que Randy Lewis de San Clemente, Calfornie sera présent à l’autodrome Edelweiss vendredi soir prochain dans le cadre de la soirée S.L.B.L Construction.

 

Pour les gens qui ne connaissent pas M.Lewis, celui-ci est présentement l’amateur de course qui a visité le plus de pistes de courses à travers le monde. Il a visité à son actif, 1261 différentes pistes. Il y a présentement seulement 6 personnes dans le monde entier qui ont visité plus de 1000 pistes.

 

En 2006, Randy Lewis a voyagé pour plus de 334,000 kilomètres afin de voir des pistes dans 37 différents États américains, 2 provinces canadiennes et aussi l’Angleterre et la Nouvelle-Zélande. Cela lui permis de devenir le ‘chasseur de pistes #1’ selon le site web trackchaser.net.

 

Il en sera donc à sa 1262^e piste vendredi soir et c’est avec honneur que nous accueillons M.Lewis à l’Autodrome Edelweiss.

TODAY’S HEADLINES

 

Today was my seventh lifetime “four-peat” trackchasing day.  That means I saw four new tracks in one day.  Check out when and where those other four-peats occurred....................more in “The Objective”.

 

Should your local dirt track enforce a dress code?  You’ll never guess what a young couple wore to the track tonight. …………..details in “The People”.

Is Ed Esser going to be mad at me? …………..details in “State Rankings”.

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/august24262007.htm

 

 

 

AND THE READERS RESPOND

 

 

From time to time interested readers write me about one thing or another.  Many times, I feel that my other readers would be interested, informed and/or amused by the comments I get.  One of my Southeastern readers made this request.

 

 

“How about telling us where the big name racers - like Kinser and Schrader - rank in track chasing?  Are they adding tracks?”

 

 

NASCAR’s Kenny Schrader currently ranks #27 in the worldwide trackchaser rankings with 352 tracks.  Sammy Swindell is 36^th with 279 tracks.  Finally, Steve Kinser is 42^nd with 251 tracks.  It’s surprising to me that these fellows have as many tracks as they do.  They’ve all run with a limited number of sanctioning groups for most of their careers. Since most sanctions, like NASCAR and the World of Outlaws, go back to the same tracks repeatedly, it seems it would be difficult to add tracks.

 

Since the beginning of the 2005 season, Schrader has been to 23 new tracks, Swindell to eight and Kinser had added seven tracks to his career total. 

GREETINGS FROM NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.

 

 

 

 

I WOKE UP IN HASTINGS, NEBRASKA AND WENT TO SLEEP IN MCCOOK, NEBRASKA.  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

 

 

 

The Objective 

 

I’m fighting for my trackchasing life everyday against those who might attempt to unseat me.  In order to maintain the pace, it is necessary to see as many tracks as possible.

 

For the seventh time in my trackchasing career, I was able to see four new tracks in a single trackchasing day.  I don’t believe any trackchaser has ever seen this many “four-peats”.  The last Trackchaser Report you read told about my morning and afternoon visits to the Motorsport Park Hastings road course and the Boneyard Park figure 8 track on Saturday, August 25, 2007.

 

My evening pursuit took me to the Lincoln County Raceway’s inner and outer oval tracks.  This allowed me to see four new tracks in a single day.  Let’s look at my other “four peat” trackchasing days.

August 14, 1999

Lime Rock Park, Lime Rock, CT – Infield road course

Lime Rock Park, Lime Rock, CT – road course

Whip City Speedway, Westfield, MA – 1/8 mile oval

Whip City Speedway, Westfield, MA – 1/4 mile oval

July 20, 2002

 

National Grand Prix, Washington, D.C.

Trail-Way Speedway, Hanover, PA - oval

Trail-Way Speedway, Hanover, PA – figure 8

Trail-Way Speedway, Hanover, PA – road course

 

 

August 9, 2003

 

Lancaster Speedway, Lancaster, NY – inner oval

Lancaster Speedway, Lancaster, NY – outer oval

Lake Erie Speedway, Erie, PA - oval

Lake Erie Speedway, Erie, PA – figure 8

 

 

 

April 12, 2004

 

York Autograss Club, York, United Kingdom – Autograss oval

Buxton Raceway, Buxton, United Kingdom - oval

Brampton, Brampton, United Kingdom - oval

Belle Vue Greyhound Park, Bellevue, United Kingdom - oval

 

 

 

September 25, 2004

 

Illiana Speedway, Schererville, IN – small oval

Illiana Speedway, Schererville, IN – figure 8

Illiana Speedway, Schererville, IN – road course

Crown Point Speedway, Crown Point, IN – oval

 

 

 

May 28, 2005**

 

Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, CO – road course

Colorado National Speedway, Erie, CO – figure 8

Colorado National Speedway, Erie, CO – asphalt oval

Rocky Mountain National Speedway, Commerce City, CO – figure 8

** I actually saw the Rocky Mountain National Speedway oval track on this day, which would have been a fifth new track seen in one day, except I had visited the track previously!

 

The Trip

 

When I left the Boneyard Park figure 8 track on Saturday at about 3 p.m., I faced a 237-mile drive out to western Nebraska.  I arrived in time to have a Chinese buffet supper before entering the Lincoln County Raceway just as the national anthem was playing.

 

Following the Lincoln County races, it was a pleasant midnight drive of 172-miles down a two-lane highway until I reached my overnight accommodations in McCook, Nebraska.  I thought about driving through the night.  However, I knew the forecast called for a 98-degree day on Sunday.  The prospect of little sleep and no shower didn’t sound too appealing when faced with 6-8 hours out in the hot summer sun of Kansas.

 

Hey, I thought I was supposed to be the “flying” trackchaser.  What’s up with that? 

 

 

 

 

The People

 

I love people who have passion.  I don’t care what they are passionate about, just that they have the passion.  I respect that.

 

Today had been a long and pleasant day of trackchasing.  I most enjoyed my encounters with the American Legion boys at the Boneyard Park figure 8 track.  They are passionate about what they do.

 

It was past 10 p.m. and the last feature of the night was pulling onto the track.  I wanted to see the modifieds race, but I knew I had nearly a 200-mile drive on a rural two-lane highway before I would hit the rack.  A few people were starting to leave, but not many. 

 

I was seated on an aisle.  Just before the modifieds were about to start their race, a young couple walked up the aisle and sat down behind me.  Normally, this would not be too unusual.  There were many young couples enjoying the races tonight.

 

However, this couple was unusual.  The young gentleman was wearing a tuxedo.  I looked around.  No one else was wearing a tuxedo.  I looked down at my UCLA volleyball national championship t-shirt and somewhat mangy deck shoes.  Now, I felt underdressed!

 

What was this young man’s female companion wearing?  A wedding dress!  Make that a bright white wedding dress!!  Yes, these folks had come directly from their wedding reception to the Lincoln County Raceway dirt races.  That’s passion, my friend!

 

I couldn’t help but strike up a conversation with them.  They consented to let me take their photo.  You can see it at www.ranlrayracing.com.  Click on the “Trackchaser Reports” tab and then “#1,259-60”.  They were a beautiful couple and I wished them all the best.

 

 

STATE RANKINGS

These were my 26^th and 27th lifetime tracks to see in the Cornhusker state.  This gives me a second place ranking here just one track behind Ed Esser’s state leading 28 tracks.  Forty-two trackchasers have seen at least one track in Nebraska.

 

I had seen five Nebraska tracks in the past 23 hours.  There was a Nebraska track running tomorrow afternoon.  If I saw it then I would be tied with Wisconsin’s Ed Esser for the Nebraska state lead.  Then I thought, is Ed going to be mad?  I mean he went to sleep on Friday night thinking he had a comfortable six-track lead here in Cornhusker country and now that lead had all but been erased.  I wouldn’t disappoint Ed by taking away his sole possession of the Nebraska lead……or would I?

 

Don’t forget to check out the 2007 trackchasing rankings shown below.  Roland Vanden Eynde and Ed Esser are having a terrific battle for second place.  Mike Knappenberger has also come on of late and cannot be counted out of a podium finish.

 

Special congratulations are in order for Gordon Killian.  He moved past political dissident, Rick Schneider for fourth place in the worldwide trackchaser rankings.  There are not many position changes in the worldwide top 10, so Gordon has earned his stripes.

RACE REVIEW – LINCOLN COUNTY RACEWAY (OUTER AND INNER OVALS), NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA – TRACKS #1,259 & #1,260

I was most impressed with the Lincoln County Raceway.  They have both a 1/5-mile inner oval and a ½-mile outer oval.  Both tracks have that black and tacky dirt surface that most Iowa tracks and many Nebraska tracks have.

 

Wonder of all wonders, they started on time!  Nobody does that anymore.  Only the mini-sprints (6) race on the inner oval.  By 7:01 p.m. I had the inner oval (track #1,259) in the books.  At about 7:10 p.m. I had the outer oval (track #1,260) etched in the record book as well.

 

LCR only races every other weekend or so.  The mini-sprints are not always part of the program, meaning that sometimes there is no racing on the inner oval.  I’ve had a few opportunities to come out here in the past when only the outer oval was going to be used.  If I was going to come all the way out to western Nebraska, I could certainly wait until both tracks were racing as they were tonight.

 

I would have to put the Lincoln County Raceway program in my top 10 for 2007.  During the heat races, they rarely threw a yellow flag.  Cars spun frequently, but they simply put the car back in gear and rejoined the field with no race stoppage.  I suspect they might have had a “one spin and you’re out” rule for the heat races.  If they did, I’m glad.

 

The three classes racing on the big oval included the hobby stocks, stock cars and modifieds.  Each class had 15-25 cars.  They even had to run “B” features for the stock cars and modifieds.  The track allowed for two and three wide racing.  This was the last racing night of the 2007 racing season.  That might give you some indication that the climate will be changing around here soon.

 

The features had more stoppages, but overall, I was more than satisfied with the program.  I am always impressed with good cars counts, multi-groove racing and limited yellow flags.  That’s the recipe for a good program.

RENTAL CAR UPDATE

 

Kansas City – Friday-Monday (3-day rental)

 

My moon-roofed National Rental Car Racing Chevy Impala is doing the job.  I am happy to have a rental car with XM satellite radio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

 

Randy Lewis

Alberta’s #1 Trackchaser

That’s all the news that’s fit to print from San Clemente where the women are strong, the men are good-looking, and all of the children are above average.

 

 

 

 

 

AIRPLANE

 

Los Angeles, CA – Kansas City, KS – 1,361 miles

 

 

RENTAL CAR – KANSAS CITY, KS

 

Kansas City International Airport – trip begins

Hastings, Nebraska (Friday) – 283 miles

Hastings, Nebraska (Saturday) – 295 miles

Edgar, Nebraska – 332 miles

North Platte, Nebraska – 569 miles

 

 

 

 

 

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

 

KAM Raceway - $5

Motorsports Park Hastings - Free

American Legion Figure 8 Course - Free

Lincoln County Raceway - $8

 

 

 

 

RANKINGS

 

 

LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:

 

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

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,260

 

 

 

 

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 - 122

 

2.  Roland Vanden Eynde, Vilvoorde, Belgium - 78

 

3.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 75

 

4.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania – 66

 

5.  Pam Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 45

 

5.  Paul Weisel, Orefield, Pennsylvania – 45

 

7.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 43

 

8.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 39

 

9.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania – 36

 

10.  Roger Ferrell, Majenica, Indiana – 27

 

Tracks have been reported by 40 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

 

What should I do?  Should I go to a track in Nebraska tomorrow (Sunday) so I can tie Ed Esser for the Nebraska state lead?  On the other hand, should I head down to Kansas for a big $5,000 to win show.  You’ll have to read about which decision I made in the next Trackchaser Report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

1,250. Coopersville Festival Grounds (road course), Coopersville, Michigan – August 10

 

1,251. Winston Motor Speedway, Rothbury , Michigan – August 10

 

1,252. Jackson Speedway (dirt oval), Jackson, Michigan – August 11

 

1,253. Springport Motor Speedway, Springport, Michigan – August 11

 

1,254. Double X Speedway, California, Michigan – August 12

 

** Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kansas – August 13

 

1,255. RPM Speedway, Hays, Kansas – August 14

 

1,256. KAM Raceway, Hastings, Nebraska – August 24

 

1,257. Motorsport Park Hastings, Hastings, Nebraska – August 25

 

1,258. Boneyard Park (figure 8), Edgar, Nebraska – August 25

 

1,259. Lincoln County Raceway (inner oval), North Platte, Nebraska – August 25

 

1,260. Lincoln County Raceway (outer oval), North Platte, Nebraska – August 25