DAY 1 & 2 – HEART OF THE U.S. EARLY FALL TRACKCHASING TOUR
TODAY’S HEADLINES
The first two days were special during this trip. I spent two days playing golf with Illinois friends. I also met up with one of Pennsylvania’s finest trackchasers.....................more in “The People”.
As my grandmother used to tell me, it takes a lot of items to fill a grocery cart. I try to remember her great words of wisdom as I go through life …………..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/sep592007.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. Here is what an Ontario reader had to say about our recent visit to the Barrie Speedway.
“I went to Barrie 2 years ago with my son and felt the same way. An excellent facility and a very efficient program. As for the double heats, I don't go to a lot of paved tracks as the racing is like watching paint dry, however the ones that I have been to in Ontario seem to run double heats to draw out the program and give the racers some track time for their outrageous back gate fees. This is another reason I try to hit as many dirt tracks as possible. Keep on chasing and sending the reports, they are so indepth I feel like I was there.”
GREETINGS FROM MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS (TWICE).
CAROL AND I WOKE UP IN TORONTO ON MONDAY MORNING. SHE FLEW BACK TO SOCAL AND I WENT ON TO CHICAGO TO CONTINUE THE TRACKCHASING TRIP. I WOKE UP THIS MORNING IN ARLINTON HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS AND WENT TO SLEEP IN MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS.
PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS
The Objective
The first two days of the “Heart of the U.S. Trackchasing Tour” kept me in the same city, Monmouth, Illinois. It’s most unusual to stay in one place for consecutive days in order to get two different tracks.
The occasion was the Warren County Prime Beef Festival. The auto racing at this festival consisted of oval racing on a temporary track on Wednesday night and figure 8 racing in the same arena on Thursday night. Rain was an issue for both nights of racing. Luckily, I was able to see my 92nd and 93rd nights of successful trackchasing with just three rained out days all season.
The Trip
I am in the midst of my 27th trackchasing trip of the season that involves a commercial airplane. The first half of this trip took me from Los Angeles to Toronto with Trackchasing’s First Mother. The second half of the trip has taken me from Toronto to Chicago while Carol returned to San Clemente to tend to the home fires.
Since I did not return home from Toronto before stopping in Chicago, the trackchasing trip to Chicago and the surrounding Midwest will be considered the second half of trackchasing trip #27 with commercial airliners being my primary method of transportation. By the way, I have four trackchasing trips where I used an automobile and not an airplane for the trip. I have seen only five of my 131 new tracks this season without having the support of a commercial airplane.
The People
I’m having a great “people” trackchasing effort on this trip. First, Carol and I met up with Rick Young in Ontario and Quebec. Then when I moved onto Chicago the “people” part of the trip really picked up.
On Tuesday night, just a few hours after I touched down in Chicago from Toronto, four of my college fraternity brothers took time out of their busy schedules to come over and have dinner with me at a local French bistro. Special thanks to Mike S., Phil T., Bob V. and Ron T. for their friendship. I had not seen Ron is more than 30 years. I’m lucky to run into the other guys on our annual golf outings. Great seeing you all.
On Wednesday morning, Mike Skonicki and I played a round of golf at the Makray Golf Club in Barrington, Illinois. This was an upscale golf course with a gorgeous clubhouse. It was hot. The temperature topped out at 95 degrees. Unlike my previous trip to the Midwest where I lost all of my golf matches, today I was able to defeat Mike “2 up” in our match play event. This earned me a free pancake lunch at Billy’s pancakes in Palatine courtesy of Mike!
Following our golf outing, I had time to drive by the home we lived in from 1980-83 in Inverness, Illinois. During my business career we lived in Peoria, Illinois, then Phoenix, Arizona, then Cincinnati, Ohio, then Mission Viejo, California, then Ridgefield, Connecticut, then Inverness, Illinois, then Laguna Niguel, California, then San Clemente, California before moving to our current home in San Clemente, California. Maybe now you understand why I enjoy traveling. I always like to drive by our old homes when I’m in the area. You can see pictures of our Inverness place at www.ranlayracing.com by clicking on “Trackchaser Reports” and then “#1,268”.
On Thursday afternoon, I was able to play golf with “Mr. Illinois Cup” Pryce Boeye. Recall, I could not summon enough skill to best Mr. Boeye in last month’s Illinois Cup played in Amana, Iowa. Today in a practice round at the Hawthorne Ridge Golf Club in Aledo, Illinois, I was able to turn three birdies on the front nine into an easy victory. My reward was a free drink and chips! We both had an enjoyable round on this country golf course where the temperature rarely exceeded 80 degrees.
As Pryce and I were heading our separate ways after golf, he asked where I might be going if rain altered the original plan. I told him, “Oklahoma”. He looked at me as many of my civilian friends do. I can’t read his mind, but the word “crazy” seemed like it might be part of his thought process. Pryce headed north and I headed south. Within one mile of the golf course, it began to pour rain on my National Rental Car Racing Chevy Impala.
When I entered the Warren County Prime Beef Festival racing grounds on Wednesday night, the first person I ran into was trackchasing’s Paul Weisel. The trackchaser website lists Paul with 562 lifetime tracks and a 16th place world ranking.
This is one of the things I most like about trackchasing. The hobby allows someone like Paul who resides in Pennsylvania to run into someone like me from California at a Podunk track in Illinois. We spent two nights enjoying each other’s company and telling stories.
I’ve run into Paul two other times on the trackchasing trail. The first was in Australia of all places. Paul had been alerted to my presence after hearing the track’s announcer tell the crowd about the trackchasing hobby. The second time was in Missouri. I was lost in my train of thought while walking the pit area without a pit pass. Paul shouted, “Where’s your pit pass?” He got me on that one!
We also broke bread together in a most unusual and authentic Mexican restaurant (La Pequenita Restaurant and Grocery) in a very small (9,000 people) rural Midwestern town. Don’t miss the photos at www.ranlayracing.com.
I’m lucky to have friends located all over the country. I’m also most fortunate to have the means and the hobby that allows me to see so many people who live so far from where I do so often. I am truly blessed.
STATE RANKINGS
These were my 71st and 72nd lifetime tracks in my native state of Illinois. I’m starting to put a little distance between me and third place Illini trackchaser, Jack Erdmann who has 67 tracks. Ed Esser leads the state with a comfortable 87 tracks.
WARREN COUNTY PRIME BEEF FESTIVAL (OVAL & FIGURE 8), MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS – TRACKS #1,268 & #1,269
On Wednesday night, I saw oval racing at the Warren County Prime Beef Festival arena. On Thursday night, I saw figure 8 racing at the same location. Both programs were scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Both programs were delayed by late afternoon/early evening showers.
Following golf on Wednesday, I had a 200+ mile drive from the Chicago area down to Monmouth. Thirty miles before I reached my destination, I encountered a vicious looking thunderstorm area. In this part of the country, this type of weather is frequently seen and can often change from good to bad and back again in a matter of minutes.
When I reached the racetrack, I learned the rain had come down hard at 4:30 p.m. The track was muddy for the Wednesday night oval races. Nevertheless, they were able to get the program started although not until they had missed the original starting time by 40 minutes.
There were about 30 stock cars racing tonight. All but a handful of cars were of the big V-8 four-door Chevy Impala variety. The few front-wheel drive four cylinders cars were quick in these muddy conditions. The 10-row grandstands held a small crowd that was probably affected by the rainy weather conditions.
The oval races were run around the same tire markers that would be used for the figure 8 races on Thursday night. As the track dried out, the cars were able to gain more traction and race faster. Paul and I were sitting in the very top row of the grandstand. Despite our perch, we were still being pelted with mud balls from the spinning rear tires of the powerful eight cylinder engines.
The racing fields were large for each race. They started 8-10 cars in each 12-lap race. They ran several heat races and several last chance races before running the feature event at about 10 p.m.
Thursday’s figure 8 racing encountered a similar weather day. I finished up with golf at about 6 p.m. some 25 miles from the track. We had played under blue skies and clouds all afternoon. While we were having a drink at the 19th hole, the skies began to darken. I had not driven but one mile from the golf club, when the skies opened up.
I continued on to the Warren County race location. It was raining steadily when I arrived. These were definitely conditions that would create a rainout. I noticed Paul Weisel’s rig in the pit area. He had picked up a vintage sprint car from down in St. Louis today so he was easy to spot. I rang him up and invited him to dinner. Tonight’s races were going to be delayed if they ran them at all.
Paul hopped in the shotgun seat of the National Rental Car Racing Chevy Impala and we went supper hunting in downtown Monmouth. We were shocked to come across a combination Mexican grocery and restaurant. The Hispanic culture is expanding rapidly across our country. It is most unusual to see the long time white population of rural farm America changing to a brown one.
We finished with dinner at about 7:30 p.m. I was pleased to see it had stopped raining and the races were going to run. The track’s management was not able to start the figure 8 races until 8 p.m., an hour after the original scheduled time. We were lucky to see any racing tonight at all.
There were more than 30 figure 8 cars. About half of them had raced last night on the oval track. The first few races were slow because the track was so muddy. However, as the track began to come around the speeds picked up. The cars were still pelting us with mud in the top row of the grandstands at feature time.
There were some mighty licks put on unlucky drivers at the “X” of the figure 8. All in all, the racing was very good at the end of the program. The feature did not take the checkered flag until past 10 p.m. We were also treated to a pickup truck figure 8 race. This was only the second that I could ever recall seeing them.
At the conclusion of the evening, Paul and I walked over to the pit area. We had unexpectedly spent two nights of trackchasing together. Paul has a lot of stories to tell about the good old days of trackchasing. I enjoyed spending the time with him.
I frequently tell you about the contentious nature of some East coast trackchasers. On the other hand, I have had some great times with most East coast trackchasers I have encountered. There seem to be two types of trackchasers from this locale. The largest group is a bunch of nice guys and gals who enjoy seeing someone else enjoy the hobby they’ve had fun with.
On the other hand, some seem to feel threatened by my involvement in trackchasing. As my grandmother used to tell me, it takes a lot of items to fill a grocery cart. I try to remember her great words of wisdom as I go through life.
RENTAL CAR UPDATE
Chicago – Tuesday - Monday (6-day rental)
I’ve picked up a nearly brand new National Rental Car Racing Chevy Impala SS. This is a beautiful car with XM radio and silver mag wheels. I’ll have a nice ride for the next several days.
Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,
Randy Lewis
Alberta’s #1 Trackchaser
If you take your dog out for a walk and you both pee at the same tree, you might be a redneck.
AIRPLANE
Los Angeles, CA – Dallas, TX – 1,237 miles
Dallas, TX – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – 1,199 miles
RENTAL CAR – TORONTO
(1 mile = 0.625 kilometers)
Lester B. Pearson International Airport – trip begins
Paris, Ontario – 112 kilometers
Cantley, Quebec – 707 kilometers
Barrie, Ontario – 1,290 kilometers
Stroud, Ontario – 1,333 kilometers
Kinmount, Ontario – 1,469 kilometers
Orangeville, Ontario – 1,655 kilometers
Lester B. Pearson International Airport – 1,780 kilometers - trip ends
AIRPLANE
Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Chicago, IL – 437 miles
RENTAL CAR – CHICAGO
Chicago O’Hare International Airport – trip begins
Monmouth, IL (Wednesday) – 251 miles
Monmouth, IL (Thursday) – 302 miles
TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:
Paris Fairgrounds - $10 Canadian
Autodrome Edelweiss - $12 Canadian
Barrie Speedway - $14 Canadian
Sunset Speedway - $7 Canadian (half price for late arrival)
Kinmount Fairgrounds - $10 Canadian
Orangeville Fairgrounds - $8 Canadian
Warren County Prime Beef Festival (oval) - $7 U.S.
Warren County Prime Beef Festival (figure 8) - $6 U.S.
RANKINGS
LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:
There are no trackchasers currently within 100 tracks of my lifetime total.
1. Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,269
Other notables
These worldwide trackchasers are within 10 tracks (plus or minus) of Carol’s current trackchaser total.
29. Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 339
30. Tom Schmeh, Knoxville, Iowa – 330
2007 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS
1. Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California - 131
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
5. Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 45
8. Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 43
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
I’ll spend the upcoming weekend in Wisconsin trying to get as many new tracks as I can without regard to lifetime NGD points.
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
1,261. Dirtona Raceway, Hugoton, Kansas – August 26
1,262. Paris Fairgrounds (figure 8), Paris, Ontario, Canada – August 30
1,263. Autodrome Edelweiss, Cantley, Quebec, Canada – August 31
1,264. Barrie Speedway, Barrie, Ontario, Canada – September 1
1,265. Sunset Speedway, Stroud, Ontario, Canada – September 1
1,266. Kinmount Fairgrounds (figure 8), Kinmount, Ontario, Canada – September 2
1,267. Orangeville Fairgrounds (figure 8), Orangeville, Ontario, Canada – September 2
1,268. Warren County Prime Beef Festival (oval), Monmouth, Illinois – September 5
1,269. Warren County Prime Beef Festival (figure 8), Monmouth, Illinois – September 6
