DAY 2 – TO WHAT ENDS OF THE EARTH WILL I GO TRACKCHASING TOUR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TODAY’S HEADLINES

 

Tonight I saw a hobby leading fifth ice racing state....................more in “The Objective”.

 

Trackchasing Tourist Attractions are the lifeblood of my trackchasing hobby. …………..details in “Trackchasing Tourist Attractions”.

 

Tonight we experienced another trackchasing first, ice racing at night! …………..details in “Race Review”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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/february15262008.htm

 

 

 

 

GREETINGS FROM GREENVILLE JUNCTION, MAINE.

 

 

 

 

WE WOKE UP IN PORTLAND, MAINE THIS MORNING.  WE WENT TO SLEEP IN DRUMMONDVILLE, QUEBEC, CANADA.  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

 

 

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

 

 

 

The Objective 

 

My primary objective for trackchasing in Maine was a double-barreled one.  First, I had never seen an ice race up here.  When I saw the green flag drop I could add Maine to my list of U.S. locations (Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York and Wisconsin) for ice racing.  The next leading ice track trackchaser has seen racing on the hardwater in three states.  In addition, this was the first time for Carol and me to see ice racing at night.

 

 

     

The Trip

 

A good deal of the trackchasing strategy lies in the physical positioning of your personal being.  Think about it as having to be “in the right place at the right time”.

 

On Friday night (yesterday), we finished our racing action in Central Connecticut at a little past 9 p.m.  We needed to travel 350 miles north into central Maine for an ice race on Saturday night.  That drive would take us about seven hours.  We had a choice to make.

 

We could grab a hotel in Connecticut and drive seven hours to Maine tomorrow.  Alternatively, we could drive some tonight, giving us a shorter drive tomorrow and some time for sightseeing.  We opted for the second choice.

 

With that plan in mind, we headed out into the Connecticut cold on a northbound trajectory.  With Carol at the wheel, (she’s a very good driver), I was free to “hunt and gather”.  The Northeast is one of the more expensive areas of the country for hotels.  With that in mind, my default was Priceline.com.

 

My systems and technology are really coming together.  What does that mean in the real world?  I don’t get lost.  I drive fewer miles getting from point A to B.  I stay in nicer places at lower prices.  No one, not even those dreaded East coast trackchasers could possibly argue with that.

 

One of those “systems” is my “anywhere/anytime” internet capability.  As Carol deftly negotiated the maze of freeways in and around Boston, I fired up my laptop.  In no time, I was contacting Priceline for a great hotel at a rock bottom price in Portland, Maine.

 

It didn’t take long to nab a three star (the highest star rating offered in Portland, Maine) for the more than reasonable price of $55 (walk-up rate - $129).  I find the “walk-up” rate, which is the rate you would get if you simply walked up to the front desk and asked for a room to be outrageous.  The “walk-up” rate is frequently the same as you will find on the hotel’s website.

 

Carol and I will be together on this trip for five days.  We will use Priceline for four of those days.  The cumulative savings for the four nights using Priceline is exactly $544!!!  We’re staying in great places for rock bottom prices.

 

 

The People

 

Tonight we were parked at the edge of Moosehead Lake while we assessed our dining options.  Just at that moment, an older Maine couple drove up in their pickup truck.  Despite the frigid temperatures, we struck up a conversation with them.

 

The man had the strongest Maine accent I had ever heard.  They were simply out for a Saturday night drive.  They seemed amazed at our trackchasing story.  We get that a lot from the locals we meet.

 

The man warned me we wouldn’t be able to see much of the race with all of the ice spray that flies during each event.  Of course, he was correct.  We talked for a few more minutes and bade each other farewell.

 

I would be remiss if I did not mention those Easterners who have helped me plan this weekend’s racing activity.  I’ll tell you more about those brave souls in my next Trackchaser Report.

 

 

 

 

TRACKCHASING TOURIST ATTRACTION

 

Becky’s Diner – Portland, Maine

L.L. Bean – Freeport, Maine

 

Trackchasing Tourist Attractions (TTAs) are critical to the enjoyment of our trackchasing hobby for Carol and me.  When we travel, we want to eat where the locals eat and shop where the locals shop and see things the locals take for granted.  Because we were willing to drive three hours last night, we had some of time to explore Southern Maine.

 

Our first TTA took us to Becky’s Diner (www.beckysdiner.com) in Portland, Maine.  This place was doubly recommended.  First, our Road Food book told us this was the place for breakfast.  Then a Google search backed up the Road Food words.  Although we had to wait on a Saturday morning, the food was fantastic.

 

Our second stop was at the flagship store for L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine.  It seems like I stop here nearly every year.  L.L. Bean’s store is huge.  They have everything known to man for the outdoors person, hunter, skier, boater or whatever.  What I find amazing is that this store is open 24/7, 365 days a year.  I asked a clerk why they needed to be open at 4 a.m.  She told me, “If a fisherman is on the way to the lake and remembers he forgot something, we want to be able to sell it to him!”  Makes sense to me.  The employees are busy restocking the shelves overnight anyway, so they might as well make a few sales at the same time.

 

In a sign that does not bode well for my ice trackchasing competitors, Carol and I stocked up on both toe and hand warmers.  I bought my third neck gaiter of the season.  The first was gifted to J.J. and somehow I lost the second one.  I also went with a new pair of shoes.

 

I’m trying to find shoes that will satisfy three requirements.  First, they need to be “dressy” enough to meet the airlines’ dress code requirements.  This means no athletic shoes for first class.  It also means they have to be brown or black.  That last statement conflicts with my second requirement.  I need to be able to wear these shoes with shorts in the summer, so I don’t have to pack an extra pair of shoes.  Of course, brown shoes, unless managed properly, can look somewhat dorky with shorts.

 

Finally, I was looking for some shoes that would be sturdy enough and warm enough to replace my L.L. Bean boots in less than bone-chilling winter temperatures.  The surprised and amazed rookie reader might say, “But Randy, I had absolutely no idea that so much thought needed to go into each and every decision you make in trackchasing.  Getting one pair of shoes to replace three is pretty good thinking”.  Of course, if someone made that statement, I would appreciate it.

 

Soon for only a crisp one hundred and ten dollar bill, I was walking on air in my size 13 Rockport new shoes.  These dark brown shoes will meet the airlines’ dress code requirements.  They can be worn with shorts thus eliminating the need to bring along athletic shoes.  Finally, they were warm enough tonight (with toe warmers) to handle the five degree temperatures that Maine threw at us although we were outside for only a few minutes.

 

***************************************************************************************

 

Following tonight’s races we headed north onto the two lane highways of Maine.  I will say this.  The Maine highways have nothing over most roads I have driven in Mexico.  I have never driven on worse roads in the U.S. than these.  Carol and I both commented that if an airplane ride bumped us around for three-four hours as these roads did we would be scared to death.  When we crossed in Quebec, Canada, the roads improved noticeably.

 

 

 

 

STATE RANKINGS

 

Maine

 

Tonight I saw my fifth lifetime track in the state of Maine.  This gives me an 11^th place ranking here.  I’m tied with Mike Knappenberger and Allan Brown among others.  I am only one track away from cracking the state’s top 10 and removing those dreaded five NGD penalty points from my lifetime NGD score.  I will be back to Maine again this year to handle that NGD issue.  I also hope to hit another East coast state or two with the same objective in mind.

 

This was Carol’s fourth lifetime track in Maine.  She is now tied with the racing Eckels for 14^th place in the Pine Tree state.  Guy Smith holds a commanding lead here with 22 tracks.

 

To view the complete state ranking click on the link below or paste it in your browser.

 

http://trackchaser.net/statregion.asp?country=USA&region=ME

 

 

 

 

TRACK TYPE

 

In the world of trackchasing, we have three types of tracks that are considered countable.  These include ovals, road courses (circuits) and figure 8 tracks.  Generally, a road course includes both left and right turns.  Figure 8 tracks cross over themselves.

 

Tonight we saw an ice-racing track.  In trackchasing, we have a special category of rankings for ice tracks.  This was my 11th ice track (Carol’s 5th) of 2008.  On a lifetime basis, this was my 19th ice track (Carol’s 5th), giving me a fifth place ice track ranking (Carol’s rank – 16^th).  Surprisingly, Carol who just began her ice racing experience in late January, leads notables such as Allan Brown, Bruce Eckel and Andy Ritter. 

 

Click on the link below or paste it in your browser to see the complete indoor and dirt oval rankings at www.trackchaser.net.  Please note my totals are always the most accurate as posted in this Trackchaser Report.

 

http://trackchaser.net/statsurface.asp?surface=Ice

 

 

 

 

 

RACE REVIEW

 

MOOSEHEAD LAKE ICE TRACK (OVAL), GREENVILLE JUNCTION, MAINE

Tonight was the first time that either Carol or I had seen ice racing at night.  We were watching races organized by the West Cove Ice Racing Association.  They race on Moosehead Lake beginning in January each year.  They go as far into the springtime as the ice will allow.  Tonight they were holding their fourth annual “Indian Hill’s Night on the Ice” race.  This is the only night of the year they race on the ice under the lights.

 

Race time was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.  We arrived into Greenville Junction a couple of hours early.  This gave us time to explore the area.  We watched snowmobilers zooming up and down the lake while seaplanes took off and landed on the frozen surface of Moosehead Lake.

 

We happened across “Kelly’s Landing Restaurant”.  It just so happened that we could see the ice-racing track being set up from our dinner table.  Had we arrived a bit later we could have watched the races from there.

 

That would have been a good idea.  The predicted high temperature for the day was a glistening 2 degrees above zero.  After dinner, we drove out onto the lake.  We had a choice of parking on the track’s front stretch spectating area (for free I think) or going to the pit area for the evening.  We chose to pay $10 each for the privilege of parking in the pit area.  This way I could talk to the drivers and take pictures.

 

By race time, it was dark.  It was also cold.  I met the club’s past president and talked to several drivers.  There was not much light in the pits.  The cold temperatures encouraged us to stay in the cockpit of the National Rental Car Racing Pontiac Grand Prix and its heated leather seats.  If I lived here those seats would be the first option I would buy.

 

Tonight’s racing took place on what I will call a quarter-mile oval track.  I was told the group does try to race on a road course at least one time per year.  There were six light standards powered by portable generators.  There was no announcer.  When we entered the track, we were given a one-page program.

 

This program listed six different classes.  The classes included 1) 4-cylinders, 2) Trucks, 3) six-cylinders, 4) open spike class, 5) open chain class and 6) youth.  Each class listed 4-9 drivers and car numbers.  It was somewhat difficult to figure out which car class was racing.  I tried to compare car numbers on the track with car numbers on the program sheet, but they never fully matched.

 

There was a good deal of yellow flag delays for wild drivers sliding into snow banks.  They also spent too much time, in my opinion, plowing the track between races.  Couple all of this with only being able to see the cars racing in a rather dim twilight and the race viewing was below average.

 

Nevertheless, I was happy to see ice racing in my fifth different state.  I have now seen ice racing in more American states and Canadian provinces than any other trackchaser.

 

 

 

 

 

CAROL’S COMMENTS

 

Overall, I am most impressed with the ice racers.  They spin out so much less than their summertime dirt racing cousins.  However, tonight there were more yellow flags than I’ve seen in any other of my ice racing experiences.  I was very impressed with the track lighting.  This was our first ever nighttime ice racing.  The car counts were better than I expected as well.  The flag man was situated on a flag stand out in the dark on the other side of the track from the pit area where we were parked.  He needed a light on him so the drivers could spot him.  It was nice having heated cars seats in these nearly zero degree temperatures.

 

Editor’s note:  Following tonight’s races we drove for nearly four hours up into Quebec, Canada.  The car thermometer reached a low temperature of -13 degrees Fahrenheit.

RENTAL CAR UPDATE

 

New York – Thursday/Sunday

 

We are driving the National Rental Car Racing Pontiac Grand Prix.  If I were interested in a domestic car, I would certainly consider this model.  On a cold weekend like this, the heated seats are great.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

 

Randy Lewis

Alberta’s #1 Trackchaser

Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.  As a result, a genius is often a talented person who has done his homework.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRAVEL DETAILS

 

 

AIRPLANE

 

Los Angeles, CA – New York, NY – 2,430 miles

 

 

RENTAL CAR – MINNEAPOLIS, MN

 

John F. Kennedy International Airport – trip begins

Windsor, CT – 133 miles

Greenville Junction, ME – 543 miles

 

 

 

 

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

 

Mototown – $15

Moosehead Lake Ice Track - $10

 

 

 

 

 

 

RANKINGS

 

 

LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:

 

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

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,313

 

 

 

 

Other notables

 

These worldwide trackchasers are within 10 tracks (plus or minus or more) of Carol’s current trackchaser total.

 

26.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania – 439

 

27.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 355

 

28.  Ken Schrader, Concord, North Carolina – 353

 

29.  Max Allender, Des Moines, Iowa – 349

 

 

 

 

 

2008 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 15

 

2.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 6

 

3.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania – 4

 

3.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 4

 

5.  Bruce Eckel, Easton, Pennsylvania - 2

 

5.  Pat Eckel, Easton, Pennsylvania - 2

 

5.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 2

 

5.  Paul Weisel, Orefield, Pennsylvania – 2

 

Several trackchasers with one track.

 

Tracks have been reported by 16 different worldwide trackchasers this season.

 

 

 

 

 

LIFETIME COUPLES TRACKCHASING STANDINGS

 

1.  Allan & Nancy Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 1,671

 

2.  Randy & Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,668

 

3.  Guy & Pam Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 1,658

 

 

 

 

 

LIFETIME NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY STANDINGS

 

2007 NGD results are posted at www.ranlayracing.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

The ice racing season in North America is short.  It runs pretty much during January and February only.  This means there are only 3-4 more weekends for ice racing.  Most of the ice racing in the Northeast has been canceled due to lack of ice in the Northeast.  That situation has forced me to search for hardwater in the upper Midwest and Canada to this point.  Since ice tracks run so infrequently, it’s important to get them when I can.  Fellow competitors should look for me to add to my ice racing totals before that season ends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RACETRACKS VISITED IN 2008 (** not the first time to visit this track)

 

 

1,299. Barnes Lake Ice Track, Ashcroft (road course), British Columbia, Canada - January 13

 

1,300. Bira Circuit, Pattaya (road course), Thailand - January 19

 

1,301. Cameron Lake Ice Track (oval), Erskine, Minnesota - January 26

 

1,302. Birch Lake Ice Track (oval), Hackensack, Minnesota - January 27

 

1,303. Mille Lacs Lake Ice Track (road course), Garrison, Minnesota - January 27

 

1,304. Mille Lacs Lake Ice Track (oval), Garrison, Minnesota - January 27

 

1,305. Ozark Empire Fairgrounds (oval), Springfield, Missouri – February 1

 

1,306. Atlanta Motor Speedway (road course), Hampton, Georgia – February 2

 

1,307. Brainerd International Raceway Ice Track (road course), Brainerd, Minnesota – February 3

 

1,308. Bay of Green Bay (road course), Marinette, Wisconsin – February 9

 

1,309. Lake Speed Ice Track (oval), Tilleda, Wisconsin – February 9

 

1,310. Shawano Lake – North Shore (oval), Shawano, Wisconsin – February 10

 

1,311. Cecil Bay Iceway (oval) – Cecil, Wisconsin – February 10

 

1,312. Mototown USA (oval) – Windsor, Connecticut – February 15

 

1,313. Moosehead Lake Ice Track (oval) – Greenville Junction, Maine – February 16