











DAY 3 – CAROL’S CANADIAN CAR RACING ADVENTURE
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Tonight the blended double was back. Learn the history of the BD....................more in “The Objective”.
When Carol tells me it’s time to “hunt and gather” what does she mean? …………..details in “The Trip”.
Gordon Killian is making an NGD run. Can he regain the lead in the chase for the lifetime National Geographic Diversity title? …………..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/august30september22007.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. This is a response I received in the guest book section at www.ranlayracing.com when I asked about the unusual sighting I observed in
“I live in Garden City, KS. The drill rig you seen on the road is pumping up natural gas. There is a very large gas field under most of
GREETINGS FROM
CAROL AND I WOKE UP IN
PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS
The Objective
Tonight’s two racing locations were perfectly suited for a blended double. I invented the blended double and defined it. Briefly, this is what a trackchasing blended double (BD) is as opposed to a mixed drink blended double. A BD is a trackchasing double where two tracks are seen within one day. The amount of time spent at each track watching countable racing should be about the same. The time spent driving between the two tracks should be less time than the time spent at each track.
A blended double is often used when the trackchaser would like to see two tracks on the same day that are located very near each other geographically. The trackchaser may not feel like staying for the first track’s program from its beginning until its end, if that would mean seeing only a race or two at the second track (called a traditional double) or not being able to make it to the second track at all (called a single!).
A trackchaser should spent one hour or more at each track. The driving time in the classic BD between each track should be one hour or less. The BD is best when the very most time can be spent at each track and the very least amount of time can be spent driving between each track.
As an example, the spirit of the BD would be broken if the trackchaser spent 15 minutes seeing racing at one track, then drove two hours to the next track only to spend 15 minutes watching racing at the second track. Trackchaser rules would accept such a performance but RANLAY Racing does not endorse spending less than one hour at each track unless the track does not provide that much countable racing.
In 2007, I have now been to 127 tracks. I have seen 37 trackchasing doubles this year. Four of those doubles, including tonight, have been blended doubles when a feature was seen at only one of the tracks. I have seen three blended doubles where a feature was seen at both tracks of the BD.
Typically, feature races are more entertaining that heat races. As a racechaser, I would prefer to see feature events more than heat races. As a trackchaser, I want to spend enough time at the track to see all the cars race at least once as well as soak up all the available ambience. Ambience in this case would include being able to walk all over the track grounds, so that no part of the physical plant was missed. I want to be able to sample the concessions if I’m hungry, talk to the local patrons, listen to the announcer, read the program if available and have a complete experience at the track.
My own personal research tells me that a minimum of one hour will allow me to do all of the above in most cases. However, some other trackchasers may need more or less time. That is certainly their prerogative and personal taste. I will never criticize any other trackchaser for staying at a track for 24 hours in the case of the famous Daytona road race or 24 minutes in the case of some tracks that offer no socially redeemable entertainment. My minimum is one hour. I should point out that with most blended doubles I am at each track longer than one hour.
Since tonight was a blended double without features on both ends, I will explain the circumstances of the three BDs without features I have seen this season.
February 4, 2007. I saw two different ice racing tracks in sub-zero weather. The first track raced two classes of several heat races. When they went to intermission, I went to the next track for several feature events. BD timing expectations were met.
March 30, 2007. In this BD, I left a champ kart track in
June 30, 2007. This BD took me to
I provide a complete history of my blended doubles without features on both ends for only one purpose. I want anyone and everyone to be able to have precise data when constructing their point of view. Non data-based arguments are not worth the limited brain matter they are formulated on.
The Trip
Back in the day, this meant that something that was priced at $100 in Canadian currency would equate to $65 in U.S. dollars. I got in the habit of simply multiplying Canadian prices by 2/3 to determine what I would actually be paying.
We have traveled a good deal in
Last night we ended up paying $125 for a hotel room ($139 with all Canadian taxes) that might cost $80-90 in the
Today was another pleasant nearly 600-kilometer drive under beautiful blue-sky weather conditions. The roads in
We Lewis’ crave information. Information gives us the options that our minds demand. With options, we get to decide what the local choices are. It’s no fun to miss all the local area has to offer just because of lack of information. That makes sense doesn’t it?
We were looking for a sit-down restaurant for breakfast. With no billboards, we reverted to “Dusty” our loyal and trusted portable GPS system. Alas, even Dusty could not find us a Perkins or Denny’s like eating establishment.
We randomly pulled off the 401 highway, a major thoroughfare running from
Nevertheless, our best breakfast option turned out to be a casino. My past experience told me they would offer good food and today’s Casino OLG did. I’m guessing that “OLG” meant
Soon we were eating a combination breakfast (Carol) and lunch (Randy) offering. My lunch consisted of a delicious crab dip and 24K carrot cake. Yes, even in good places I don’t eat well.
When it came time for the bill, we noticed we had eaten nearly $30 of Canadian food. Carol looked at me with that little twinkle in her eye. It’s the twinkle that means, “Randy, it’s time for you to hunt and gather”. In a casino atmosphere, this means it’s time for me to go out and get our thirty bucks back.
I did as I was told. While Carol circled the slot machines, I went to my lifetime cash machine, the blackjack table. In less than ten minutes, I had $33 of the casino’s money. This more than paid for our breakfast. Soon we were motoring down the highway, with a smile on our faces.
The People
Gordon Killian. The name brings forth different images to different people. Gordon and I are locked in a fierce battle for the career National Geographic Diversity (NGD) title. We each have until December 31, 2007 to make our case for this championship.
Essentially, a trackchaser’s NGD results is his or her average state ranking in all 50 states and the
To begin the 2007 season, Mr. Killian’s NGD average was 7.08. My NGD average was 7.16. Of course, a lower score is better. In the NGD scoring system, each individual state position equates to .02 NGD lifetime points. This meant that coming into this season Gordon’s advantage had been narrowed to just FOUR individual state positions. With 51 individual contests (50 states and the
Early in the 2007 season, I passed up Mr. Killian and led by as many as 25 state positions. As this is written, the difference in our results is slight. The UNOFFICIAL results at this point show my score at 6.57 and Gordon’s at 6.61. The difference is only two state positions. I’ve been busy trackchasing in
STATE RANKINGS
These were my 24th and 25th lifetime
The
I was undecided tonight about which track to make the first half of our blended double. I knew the Sunset
We entered the parking lot of the
Nevertheless, we continued to watch time trials until 8:05 p.m. Then the track went directly into their heat races. We did notice one thing that was unusual to us. None of the Canadian tracks we have visited has played their national anthem before the start of the racing program.
There were four classes racing tonight. These included late models, thunder cars, pure stock A and pure stock chargers. Each class had between 13-18 cars and ran two heats in each class.
This facility is what I call a “top 40” track. I’m not certain how many tracks I have placed in this category, maybe about forty! That means that just about everything offered is above average. We started with some refreshments that included a “pea meal” sandwich. This is similar to the “back” bacon sandwich we had a couple of nights ago. The track’s poutine was only average at best.
The P.A. system was excellent as was the track’s announcer. This track was super efficient. Each race was followed by the next without delay. There were a minimum of caution flags while the cars raced side by side on this tight quarter mile asphalt oval. Spectator seating circled nearly the entire track. We sat in the front straight covered grandstand.
We watched the eight heat races, two from each class. It was now 9:05 p.m. We had been at the track for more than two hours. We hoped they might run a feature event or two before intermission and before we had to leave.
We were surprised they held time trials tonight for next week’s program. We were also surprised that they went into a SECOND ROUND of heat races for their four divisions. Virtually, no one runs two sets of heat races. Although the heat race action had been good, it was not good enough to watch a second time. After watching two additional heat races (10 in total) it was time to exit the track.
Our GPS unit was indispensable in getting us out of the
SUNSET
We had initially arrived at the Sunset
With the Sunset
Nevertheless, I saw an opening here. I began to explain that we were from
One of the track’s employees had told me when we first arrived in the late afternoon that she expected the program to run until “10:30 p.m. give or take”. Of course, track employee guesstimates are always on the optimistic side. Tonight’s racing did not end until almost 11:30 p.m.
The Sunset
During our one hour and 45 minutes of non-stop racing action here, we saw all of the feature races as well as a consolation event for the roadrunners. The fields were large. The roadrunners started 29 cars.
Tonight they ran late models, thunder cars, 4-cylinder roadrunners, four fun cars and the hurricane midgets. Spectator and school bus races were on the schedule but we didn’t see those.
The roadrunners feature was outstanding. The point leaders started in the 10th row of the 29-car event. It was great fun seeing them work their way to the front of the field. A front row “underdog” as described by the announcer led the entire race until the last lap when he was stuffed into the fourth turn wall.
The crowd went wild proving some of the parents in the crowd apparently suffered from adult onset A.D.D. as well. The guy who put our underdog into the wall was also the winner. He went directly to the pit area bypassing the traditional winner’s interview and photo op.
The hurricane midgets were fun. I don’t believe I have ever seen this class before. In some ways, they looked like slightly larger than normal champ karts. However, they were powerful and fast and started 18 cars.
We enjoyed our evening at this 3/8-mile asphalt oval. The announcer was above average, even though he declined to mention anything about the trackchasing hobby. I found it somewhat unusual that two asphalt tracks would run against each other on the same night when they were located less than 30 miles from each other.
RENTAL CAR UPDATE
I wouldn’t buy a Ford Crown
Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,
Randy Lewis
That’s all the news that’s fit to print from
AIRPLANE
Los Angeles, CA – Dallas, TX – 1,237 miles
Dallas, TX – Toronto, Ontario,
RENTAL CAR –
(1 mile = 0.625 kilometers)
Cantley,
Stroud,
TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:
Autodrome Edelweiss - $12 Canadian
Sunset
RANKINGS
LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:
There are no trackchasers currently within 100 tracks of my lifetime total.
1. Randy Lewis,
Other notables
These worldwide trackchasers are within 10 tracks (plus or minus) of Carol’s current trackchaser total.
29. Carol Lewis,
30. Tom Schmeh,
31. Dwight Bucks,
2007 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS
1. Randy Lewis,
2. Roland Vanden Eynde,
3. Ed Esser,
4. Mike Knappenberger,
5. Pam Smith, Effort,
5. Paul Weisel,
7. Guy Smith, Effort,
7. Carol Lewis,
9. Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs,
10. Roger Ferrell,
Tracks have been reported by 40 different worldwide trackchasers this season.
LIFETIME NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY STANDINGS
2007 (current thru 9/1/07)**
1. Randy Lewis,
2. Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs,
3. Allan Brown,
**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.
Some of the data in this report comes from www.trackchaser.net
and my Garmin GPS
So far, we’ve seen four new tracks in three trackchasing days. Tomorrow we will have a day/night double. This will bring the Canadian portion of this trip to a close with six new tracks seen in just four days.
1,139. Meremere Dirt Track Club,
1,140. Meeanee Speedway,
1,141. Top of the South Speedway,
1,142. Woodford Glen Speedway,
1,143. Robertson Holden International
1,144.
1,145.
1,146. Angels Stadium of
1,147. Angels Stadium of
1,148.
1,149.
1,150. Grand Prix De Lanaudiere,
1,151. Ste-Eulalie Ice Track,
1,152. St Guillaume, St
1,153.
1,154.
1,155. Northeast Pond Ice Track,
1,156. Lee Pond Ice Track,
1,157. New Hendry Country
1,158.
1,159. Honeoye Lake Ice Track – Road Course,
1,160.
1,161.
1,162. Dawgwood Speedway,
1,163. Toccoa Speedway,
1,164. Tazewell Speedway,
1,165.
1,166. Dacosa Speedway,
1,167. Swinging Bridge Raceway,
1,168.
1,169. Foothills Raceway,
1,170. Mileback Speedway,
1,171. Grand Prix of
1,172. Vegas Grand Prix,
1,173.
1,174. Low Country Kartway,
1,175. Dillon Motor
1,176. Valley Dirt Riders,
1,177.
1,178. Sertoma Speedway,
1,179.
1,180.
1,181. Hollywood Hills
1,182. Meridian
1,183.
1,184. Rocky Mountain Raceways (oval),
1,185. Rocky Mountain Raceways (figure 8),
1,186. Modoc
1,187.
1,188.
1,189. Fairplex at the
1,190. Lowes Motor
1,191. Lowes Motor
1,192.
**
1,193. Thunderbird Stadium (figure 8),
1,194. Thunderbird Stadium (oval),
1,195. Whispering
1,196.
1,197.
1,198.
1,199.
1,200. Castrol Raceway,
1,201. Hidden
1,202. Boyd’s
1,203. Fayette County Fairgrounds,
1,204.
1,205.
1,206. Vinton Speedway,
1,207. Hilltop
1,208. I-70
1,209. L A Raceway, La Monte,
1,210. Valley
1,211.
1,212.
**
** Iowa
1,213.
**
1,214. Kart Kanyon Raceway, Aztec,
1,215. Aztec
1,216. Sunvalley Speedway,
1,217.
1,218.
1,219. Hunterstown Speedway,
1,220. Shippensburg Speedway,
**
1,221. Blanket Hill
1,222.
1,223.
1,224. Iowa
1,225.
1,226.
1,227.
1,228. Lycoming County Fairgrounds (figure 8),
1,229.
1,230.
1,231. Van Buren County Youth Fairgrounds (road course),
1,232. High Banks
1,233. High Banks
1,234. SOIL MX, Bone Gap,
1,235. Western
** Windy Hollow
1,236. Windy Hollow
1,237.
1,238.
1,239. BMP
1,240. Sweetwater County Fairgrounds (figure 8),
1,241.
1,242. Maxville Fire Department Figure 8 Course,
1,243.
1,244. Iowa
1,245. Sarpy County Fair & Rodeo Arena (figure 8),
1,246. Newaygo County Fairgrounds (figure 8),
1,247. Newaygo County Fairgrounds (road course),
1,248. Shiawassee County Fairgrounds (figure 8),
1,249. Tioga County Fairgrounds (figure 8),
1,250. Coopersville Festival Grounds (road course),
1,251. Winston Motor