Randy Lewis
World's #1 Ranked Trackchaser
RING DJURSLAND, TIRSTRUP, DENMARK
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RANLAY Racing Trackchaser Report
PART 3 OF 3. DAY 7-11 – HOW EXPENSIVE COULD EUROPE POSSIBLY BE TRACKCHASING TOUR
EDITOR’S NOTE
You are about to read about our European trackchasing adventures. As with all RANLAY Racing Trackchaser Reports everything presented as fact is, well, a fact. On the other hand, everything presented as an opinion is in fact MY opinion. As you know opinions are like elbows, almost everyone has one.
If you feel that the graphic and straight talk presented below might be so realistic as to take the luster off of a future European visit for yourself…….do not read any further. If my description of European pricing might make you so sick to your stomach that you can’t take it…..do not read any further.
However, if you feel comfortable regarding the warnings issued above, sit back and come along on a journey through the “old country”. You may pick up an idea or two for a future journey of your own. At the very least, you will see how one couple runs all over the world and you won’t have to spend a dime of your own money “experiencing” Europe.
If, on the other hand, you don’t have time to read some 6,000 words right now, you can see the photos taken during Part 1 of the 2008 “How Expensive Could Europe Possibly Be Trackchasing Tour”. Simply click on or paste the following link into your web browser:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Ranlay8/080512EuropeDenmarkPart3Of302
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Carol and I have met our share of celebrities while trackchasing all over the world. Today we met our first member of the Royal Family….the Prince of Denmark....................more in “Race Review – Ring Djursland”.
When I entered the sport of trackchasing, I never thought I would get to the level where I could sell my autograph …………..details in “Race Review – Ring Djursland”.
I filled our gas tank in Denmark and the bill came to $117! What could be worse than that? I only have five dollars to my name and couldn’t pay the bill. ………..details in “Day 8 – Sunday, May 11, 2008 (continued)”.
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’s what a Pennsylvania reader had to say about my part 2 (of 3) European Trackchaser Report.
“I took the day off from work today so that I could look at all the photos from your recent European trip
and read the first 2 reports. Well, not really, but that third photo gallery seemed to go on forever.
Very nice pictures as always.”
GREETINGS FROM TIRSTRUP, DENMARK AND THEN NAESTVED, DENMARK.
WE WOKE UP THIS MORNING IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK. WE WENT TO SLEEP OVER THE NEXT THREE NIGHTS IN VARIOUS PLACES WITHIN DENMARK. THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED DURING DAYS 7-11 OF OUR 11-DAY EUROPEAN TRIP.
Day 7 – Saturday, May 10, 2008
Following our new track visit to the Sturup Raceway near Malmo, Sweden, we exited that country and returned to Denmark. It was late afternoon and we had a four-hour drive from Malmo to Tirstrup, Denmark, the home of our next new planned track, Ring Djursland. Sunday’s race there did not begin until late morning so we had plenty of time to enjoy the Danish scenery this afternoon.
We had to return to Denmark the same way we left it via the Oresund Bridge. There went another 55 bucks from the Lewis’ children inheritance fund! Then we had to cross yet another bridge that charged forty dollars in toll fees. That made the total toll charges for crossing three bridges today come to just over $150.
The Danish scenery is just as beautiful and quaint as your junior high geography books told you it was. Wind turbines dotted the bright yellow Canola Oil crop fields under near perfect weather conditions. The meticulously maintained, mostly brick Danish homes were right out of an old Scandinavian novel.
I was using Google Earth latitude/longitude coordinates in my GPS to direct us to the track. It doesn’t get dark in Denmark these days until past 9 p.m. The Ring Djursland track is out in the boondocks amid acres and acres of Danish farmland.
The GPS directed us over small two-lane (and sometimes less than that) farm roads right to the front door of what will be my 1,336th lifetime track and Carol’s 360th. It was nearly 8 p.m. All of today’s racing at Ring Djursland had already been completed. Nevertheless, we thought we would pull in to see what we could see in preparation for our appearance tomorrow. We ended up being very glad we did.
Although the track gates were being closed right at the moment we arrived, we were able to sneak in. Several race teams were camping overnight on the track grounds. This is exactly how it is done in the U.S. when a track holds a multi-day weekend event.
We were looking for someone. The man was Danish. His name was Morten Alstrup. My friend and fellow trackchasing competitor, Roland Vanden Eynde had recommended I contact Mr. Alstrup to get advice regarding Denmark racing tracks. I had done just that.
I had exchanged several emails with Mr. Alstrup. He had provided right on information up to and including where to find these tracks on Google Earth. I liked this man, he thinks as I do. Beyond the race data, he had not shared any personal data. I didn’t know much else about Morten Alstrup.
From the tone of his emails, I thought he might be older than me. In his emails, he seemed all business. I suspected he might be a strict disciplinarian. I tried to stay on my toes and not waste his time on the internet. Soon, Carol and I would meet Morten Alstrup. He was nothing like I had imagined from our email contacts.
When we entered the track, I asked if Mr. Alstrup might still be at the track even though it was approaching darkness. One group told me he had already left for the day. Then I met the track manager. He told me that Morten was still at the track. He pointed over in the direction of a man standing just 30 meters away.
The track manager yelled out for Mr. Alstrup. He turned and seemed to recognize us the moment we made eye contact. The man was younger than Carol and me by more than ten years. He greeted us with a big smile and a warm handshake. In a matter of just seconds, it seemed like we had known each other a very long time.
We conversed for a few moments. Then Morten laid all of his gear down on the ground and said, “Follow me, I want to show you something”. From there he directed us to his car, a Renault Laguna automobile. He told us to jump in and we did. Morten was going to take us on several laps around the 1.1-mile track that is known as Ring Djursland.
During our laps, Morten began to tell us of the history of the track. It had opened in 1965. The course had undergone several layout changes. At one point, the road course was just one-half mile long.
One of the most important and sad moments in the track’s history had occurred back in 1967 shortly after the track opened. The track’s owner-developer as well as Doug Revson (heir to the Revlon fortune and brother to Peter Revson, Formula 1 winner) were killed while spectating at the track.
Following our track tour, we stopped at the finish line of the track for some photographs. At this point, Morten surprised both Carol and me with two beautiful gifts. First, he gave us a copy of the Ring Djursland track program for the weekend. On page four was a beautifully written story (printed in Danish) about two American trackchasers who would be visiting Ring Djursland this weekend. The story was accompanied by two color photographs. One was of Carol and me at a Minnesota ice race earlier this season. The second was of my visit last month to the Evergreen Speedway. What a nice touch and welcome for our first ever track visit to Denmark.
The second gift from Morten to me was even more of a surprise. Morten is the “speaker” at Ring Djursland. At other tracks in Europe, he would be called the “commentator”. In the U.S. he would be titled the “announcer”. Morten works full-time in the motorsports industry, primarily in the marketing and public relations end of it. He is also the historian, if you will, and author of a coffee table type hardbound book titled “Ring Djursland”.
The book was published last year and describes in Danish words and pictures the entire history of the track. At the finish line of Ring Djursland’s track Morten presented me with my own copy. He even signed the book with this caption, “You have come one year late! Otherwise you would have been included. Morten”. What a beautiful and wonderful gift! Morten, Carol and I both thank you for everything you did to make our weekend at Ring Djursland, a wonderful time.
We left Morten with a promise that we would see him tomorrow. Then we were off to search for a hotel and a late supper. It was dark now. We used our GPS to help find a hotel in Grenaa, a small town about 12 miles from the track. It took us a while to find a place that was open and had space.
We finally happened upon the Crone Hotel in Grenaa. They had a room for 550 DKK, about $117 U.S. The room did not have its own bathroom. Our room was on the third floor of the hotel and the bathroom was on the second floor. The room was small. It contained two twin beds and a sink. The TV did not have power. The room was clean and quiet. The hotel seemed to have about ten rooms in total. I think we might have been the only guests in the place on this Saturday night.
You might think that $117 U.S. would be a lot to pay for a room that did not have its own bath and had only two twin beds. You would probably be correct. However, at this time of night, we didn’t have much choice so we took it. Don’t miss seeing the hotel and this room at www.ranlayracing.com or by clicking on the link provided above.
Now that our room was taken care of we needed to find a place to eat. There was a good-looking Chinese restaurant a block down the street from the hotel. We drove over there, but got the universal signal (crossed moving hands accompanied by a head shaking “no” signal) that the place was closed.
We drove all over this small town. There was nothing open. But wait, there WAS one restaurant still open. It had a big red and yellow sign. This was a small town and we were surprised to see they had a MCDONALDS!
I am really against eating at McDonalds on trips like this. However, we were starving and there was no place else to eat. We stopped in. Since we did not have a “pin number” for our credit card, they would not accept our Visa. We used up more of our dwindling local currency. My quarter pounder with cheese and mustard and onions only was fantastic. Carol was less thrilled with her Caesar salad.
From there we went back to the Crone Hotel. We lugged our luggage up to the third floor. Only one faint light worked in our room. We made our final bathroom visits on the second floor. It was now time to turn off the lights for the day.
We had seen racing in Sweden, a new country for both of us. We had met a new friend who had treated us like royalty. Little did we know that we would be the first trackchasers in the history of the hobby to meet REAL royalty at the track tomorrow.
Day 8 – Sunday, May 11, 2008
We awoke early with eager anticipation of trackchasing for the first time in Denmark. But first, we had to have breakfast. We drove around the small town of Grenaa for more than 20 minutes. We couldn’t find any place that served breakfast. I don’t think Europeans are big breakfast eaters.
We were wasting time looking for a place to eat. There was only one place where we could get food at 9 o’clock in the morning. Yes, I’m talking about McDonalds. I think anyone who eats in McDonalds for three meals in a row (like we have just done) should have their passport revoked. Americans should never travel abroad and eat in places from America.
Nevertheless, we had to have something to eat. To prove my point, that Europeans are not big breakfast eaters I submit the following. Even though McDonalds WAS open during breakfast hours they did not have a breakfast menu. There were no egg McMuffins or sausage McGriddles. I settled for a quarter-pounder with cheese while Carol had a Caesar salad. We were able to sneak a chocolate chip muffin that somewhat resembled a breakfast item.
From Mickey D’s it was off to the Ring Djursland. Even though we had been there just last evening, I had no idea how to find the rural track again on my own. I didn’t need to know how to find it. We relied exclusively on “Dusty” our trusty Garmin GPS unit. Today was warm. It might have been 80 degrees.
We’ve been spending a lot of our cash money, since many retailers and restaurants won’t accept our credit cards because we don’t use a pin number. Today’s racetrack admission was 150 D.K.K. per person (about $32 U.S.). This was a bit higher than we expected. We were left with 64 D.K.K. in cash or about $14 U.S.
A track program was included with each admission. The program was a first-class 12-page color booklet. It included a full-page story about Carol’s and my visit today to Ring Djursland.
From here I’ll give you a race review of our experience at the road course known as Ring Djursland.
RACE REVIEW
RING DJURSLAND, TIRSTRUP, DENMARK
We had paid our admission fee of 150 D.K.K. leaving us with just 64 D.K.K. left in cash. Of course, credit cards or traveler’s checks were not being accepted at the track. We felt our cash strapped position when we went to take a seat in the grandstand. The guard informed us there was an additional charge of 60 D.K.K. (about $13 U.S.) to sit in the grandstand.
Let’s think about this. We had paid $32 U.S. to gain admission to the track grounds. This fee did not allow us into the paddock area, nor did it allow us into the grandstands. Where did it allow us to go? There was a grassy hillside seating area on the far side of the track. We could watch the races from there. I would later learn that admission to the backside general grounds was only 100 D.K.K. about $11 U.S. less than we paid to get into the paddock side of the track.
Nevertheless, we wanted to take a seat in the grandstands. Lee Trevino, the famous golfer, once said that real pressure is “playing for five dollars a hole when you don’t have five dollars”. I began to understand what he meant. I struck up a conversation with the guard who was selling tickets to the grandstand. We talked for a while and I pointed out the trackchaser story on page 4. He seemed more impressed with my notoriety than most Eastern based trackchasers. I traded him an autograph across our photos in the program for admission to the grandstands. I am probably the first ever trackchaser to actually sell an autograph!
Today’s feature attraction was an enduro race for Peugeot Spiders. These may very well be the most beautiful racing cars I have ever seen. I would love to have one of these racing machines for a streetcar.
The preliminary events called for sprint races. The Syverrace class was a spec built motorcycle engine powered open wheel class. They were sort of a European equivalent to the U.S. legends class. I very much enjoyed this class. Another sprint race was for the 1600 challenge series. This was a race for 1,600 cc-sized engines of makes like Peugeots, Hondas and Citroens.
We were able to get good pictures from all over the track. There were some very unusual cars racing today, from an American’s perspective. Please take a look at the photos on www.ranlayracing.com to better understand what I’m talking about.
The real highlight of the day was meeting one of the co-drivers of the Gold City (Turkey) sponsored BMW powered sports car being entered in the four-hour featured enduro. This would be the car’s first ever race appearance.
Carol and I met the car’s driver. He was none other than the Prince of Denmark, Prince Joachim. Yes, Denmark has a monarchy. Prince Joachim is fourth in line to become the King of Denmark!
Our friend Morten, introduced Carol and me to Prince Joachim. We spent about five minutes talking about the Prince’s new racecar and the hobby of trackchasing. The Prince was surprised to learn that anyone went all over the world chasing tracks. All the while TV crews and photographers were taking our photos from every angle. I suspect that when Danish households saw the Prince talking with us on the Denmark nightly news, they wondered who we might be.
The Prince was a very down to earth guy of about 40 years of age. Since our meeting, I’ve done some research on the Prince. I gave him my trackchasing business card, so I hope he’s been on www.ranlayracing.com since our meeting. Morten was kind enough to send along some links that provide some background on the Prince. He was married just two weeks after we met him on May 24. Here are some web links if you would like to learn more about Prince, Joachim, Prince of Denmark.
http://www.dr.dk/NETTV/Update/2008/05/24/185313.htm - after the weeding when Prince Joachim and his new wife departed the church in a Bugatti T41 Royale borrowed from the Donington collection.
http://www.dr.dk/NETTV/Update/2008/05/24/180816.htm - the wedding ceremony itself.
http://kongehuset.dk/publish.php?dogtag=k_en_fam_joa - that is the official webpage of the Danish royal family with a portrait of Prince Joachim.
I was most pleased to introduce the Prince to the hobby of trackchasing. I intend to send him an autographed photo of our meeting. Carol was just happy to meet the Prince!
We enjoyed our afternoon of race watching. We spent several minutes talking with several members of the Ring Djursland staff. They are big Formula 1 fans. They were also very hospitable to us as American travelers.
Before we left, we spent most of our remaining Danish currency on…..ice cream treats. We left the track with less than 30 D.K.K. (about $6 U.S.) in our pockets. Maybe the Prince could float us a loan.
I will remain in the debt of Mr. Morten Alstrup. He did a great job of entertaining and recognizing us during our two-day visit to the track. Morten, thank you very much and I will return the favor if you can make a trip to the United States.
Day 8 – Sunday, May 11, 2008 (continued)
Following the races we hopped in our Toyota five-speed and headed south toward Naestved, Denmark, sight of tomorrow’s racing activity. It wasn’t long before we needed fuel. Our fill-up ended up costing 117 D.K.K. (about $117 U.S.). When I was a kid, I never put more than one dollar of gas in my tank at a time. I could drive for 4-5 days on a dollars worth of gas in 1965. However, times have changed.
This was the first time I have ever paid more than $100 to fill the tank. Actually, I didn’t pay for it. When we went to pay by credit card the “pin number” problem bit us in the butt. The station would not accept our credit card. We had no cash. The station attendant, a young girl, had no choice. She told us to find an ATM, get some cash and come back and pay.
So, off we went in search of an ATM. I suggested to Carol that we simply blow off the gas station and go on our way (kidding!). Soon we found an ATM, got the cash and returned to pay. I wonder how an American gas station would have handled this situation?
When it was time to eat dinner, we took an exit off the motorway and ended up in Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark. Carol wanted a steak dinner and so did I. However, we had pulled into town at just past 4 p.m. The steak restaurant that Dusty had recommended didn’t open until 5:30 p.m. While Carol napped in the city centre parking lot, I went roving about the city.
There was a lot going on for a Sunday afternoon. A large contingent of British soccer fans were celebrating Manchester United’s Premier League victory. It was difficult just walking down the street past these guys. Others were having a relaxing drink or bite to eat at outside tables overlooking the river that flows through the middle of town.
When the restaurant did open up we had one of the most delicious steaks I’ve ever eaten. Yes, the sirloin steak was small (a pat of garlic butter nearly obscured it), and yes it was expensive but it tasted great.
Following dinner we just kept driving. I had the Nisseringen track, site of tomorrow’s racing plugged into our GPS. I figured if we could find the track in the daylight that would put us one leg up on getting there for tomorrow’s race on Monday. Once, I found the track, we would try to find some place to stay that was nearby.
Carol was not fully supportive of driving all the way to the track. She feared it would get dark, and that would make finding someplace to stay more difficult. She did have a point. Just the night before we had stumbled along in the dark trying to find a place to lay our heads. However, that is the basic difference between us. I see stumbling in the dark as a royal adventure. She sees it as, well….., stumbling in the dark.
At about 15 minutes past sunset, we found the track. It was exactly where both Google Earth and Dusty had said it would be. However, I was beginning to feel pressure from Trackchasing’s First Mother to find a place to stay for the night.
It was now dark. We were out in the country. I checked with Dusty. “She” told us of a little hotel that was within just five miles of our location. I assured Carol that this would be the solution to her request. The GPS led us quickly and quietly to the hotel. Perfect, right? Not exactly. The note on the door told us the hotel was under renovation and would not re-open until 2009. We couldn’t wait that long.
With both her eyes and her words telling me “I told you so”, I went with Dusty’s second hotel selection, some ten miles down the road. While we were drying to that hotel, we came across the Hotel Kirstine (http://www.hotelkirstine.dk/) in Naestved. I was saved. This was a beautiful old hotel. We would learn later that the building had been here for more than 200 years.
While Carol waited in the car, I went in to get us a room. The clerk, an older woman, was new on the job. She had plenty of rooms. I asked for three room keys so I could inspect the rooms. I wanted to see if one room was better than the other. The rental rate was 975 D.K.K. (about $207 U.S.). Remember, the rate includes breakfast, which in this part of the world is a $50 value or more.
It turned out that one of the rooms I visited wasn’t even clean. That wouldn’t work. The second room was as plain as you’re ever going to see with just two twin beds. That wouldn’t work either. Luckily, the third room was gorgeous. I would later learn this was the bridal suite. That room worked for us. Now, I could surprise Carol with something she would really like. Yes, I am the “hunter, gatherer” in our family.
Day 9 – Monday, May 12, 2008
We had a lovely breakfast at the Hotel Kirstine. Please check out the pictures of everything I’m telling you about. If you do, you will get a much better understanding of the beautiful country and surroundings that we encountered.
Today was race day. We would be seeing the third and final new track of our trip. I hope this shows anyone who might think that all I do with my free time is go see racetracks. Carol and I would spend 11 days in Europe. Just three afternoons were spent at racetracks. It’s very easy to go trackchasing and see all the local area has to offer as well.
RACE REVIEW
NISSERINGEN, NAESTVED, DENMARK
I had really enjoyed watching the races on the two asphalt road courses that we had already seen. For the most part they were better than 75% of the American road courses I had visited. Today’s track was different. It was held on a mixed surface of asphalt and soil. The track had several elevation changes.
What made the racing most entertaining were the classes other than automobiles that raced today. When we entered the track they were having motorcycle sidecar races. Some of my very best photos of the trip were of the “balance” man doing his thing to keep the racing unit going in the right direction.
We also very much enjoyed the motorcycle motocross racing. These guys are crazy with their jumps and their speed. Denmark is known for producing some of the best motocross riders in the world.
This was a very rural track in a rural location. Nevertheless, the largest crowd that we had witnessed was in attendance today. There were more than 3,000 people spread over some very large grassy hillsides. We walked all over the track and took photos from every angle.
The race cars that ran today were very basic four-cylinder European models. Most were painted in just one basic color ala Earl Scheib. If you remember Earl Scheib, then you’re my kind of person. Each racing class, cars, motorcycles, quads and motorcycle side cars raced three heats. The drivers/riders with the most points earned over the three races was the winner of that class for the day.
Our admission ticket allowed us to roam the grounds. We spent some time talking with locals and learning about the track’s history. This track has been racing a long time. I might have found this track the most entertaining of the three we visited. There was a good deal of side by side racing and a few mishaps to entertain every one of us.
Day 9 – Monday, May 12, 2008 (continued)
Following the race we returned to the Hotel Kirstine. Yes, I was ruining my trackchaser hotel budget for the entire year. However, we had the bridal suite. That must count for something in my quest to entertain and reward “Trackchasing’s First Mother”. We found a nice Chinese restaurant and had a delicious dinner in a place simply called “Hong Kong Restaurant”.
Day 10 – Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Today would be our last full day in Europe or Denmark to be precise. I had pre-booked the Copenhagen Airport Hotel. We had an early morning flight home on Wednesday and I did want to have a long drive from the hotel to the airport.
This hotel proved to be in a perfect location. The hotel is located in the beautiful seaside town of Dragor. Dragor is a quaint little village within five miles of the Copenhagen Airport. Our room was simple as some of them had been on this trip. Once again, we were stuck with just two twin beds. I can’t ever recall getting this type of accommodation in the states.
We took a walk over to the sea. Today it was only about 55 degrees and windy. This was our coldest day of the trip. Carol suggested we make a “dry run” drive over to the airport. That made a lot of sense, so we did. On the way out of the airport on the way back to the hotel, I made a wrong turn.
There was no turning back from my bad judgment. We were headed to Sweden over the Oresund Bridge. There were no exits to take. We were going to Sweden…..again. Yes, this was the bridge that charges $55 for a one-way crossing. Carol and I had nearly 15-miles to rehearse our story of being ignorant Americans. We certainly did not want to pay $55 to cross their bridge and possibly another $55 to come back into Denmark.
Apparently, we were convincing. They believed our story that we were ignorant of the ways of the world, or at a bare minimum ignorant about how to get out of the Copenhagen Airport in broad daylight. They gave us 15 minutes to go up to the next exit and, a u-turn and get our butts back to Denmark. At least we can say we went to Sweden twice during the trip.
Once we got back to our hotel, we had a late lunch at a seaside café. I am sad to say, that I actually selected the cheeseburger and fries at a cost of $24 U.S. Hey, it’s only money. When you’re paying by credit card, it doesn’t seem like real money.
We spent the early evening at the local movie theatre. We go to the movies a lot at home. I always like to experience the things I enjoy at home when I’m in a foreign country. Then I can compare those experiences. We saw the movie “Juno” that we had already seen in the U.S. Our movie was shown at 6 p.m. The audio was in English with Danish sub-titles. There was a second movie being shown in this one screen theatre at 8 p.m. However this was a Danish film without sub-titles. That wouldn’t work for us.
We ended the evening at our third pizza restaurant of the trip. I’m a big fan of pizza. Each of the three pizza establishments we visited on this trip were well above average. Although the pizzas were dreadfully expensive, the thin crust, less tomato sauce than in America, were exactly how I like my pizza. We walked several blocks back to the hotel amidst very old homes with thatched roofs. It was the perfect setting for the last night of our trip.
Day 11 – Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Today was getaway day. We were headed home. We dropped $26 in the Copenhagen Airport for a bowl of cereal, a Danish and some juice. Yep! This place is expensive.
Our flight plan first took us from Copenhagen to London’s Heathrow Airport. We spent an hour in the American Airlines Admirals Lounge before boarding an 11-12 hour flight back to Los Angeles to London.
Our trip was outstanding. It was expensive. Our GPS made the trip relatively easy to navigate. All of the people who had either a big part or a small part in our enjoyment have the fullest thanks from the bottom of our heart. Thank you everyone.
RENTAL CAR UPDATE
Copenhagen, Denmark – Thursday-Wednesday
I’ll be driving the Hertz Rental Car Racing Toyota for our six days in Denmark/Sweden. The car is brand new. We are the first customers to use it. The car had a five-speed transmission. I’ll be honest. Sometimes I simple went from second gear directly into fifth gear. Nobody seemed to mind.
I drove the Hertz Rental Car Racing Toyota 718 miles in the six days that we had it. We paid an average price of $8.99 per gallon. The Toyota gave me 32.8 miles per gallon in fuel mileage at an astronomical cost of 27.4 cents (U.S.) per mile. The car cost an equally astronomical 53.5 cents per mile to rent, all taxes included.
Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,
Randy Lewis
Alberta’s #1 Trackchaser
I live in my own world. People know me here.
TRAVEL DETAILS
AIRPLANE
Los Angeles, CA – Dublin, Ireland – 10,340 miles
RENTAL CAR
Dublin International Airport – trip begins
Drove all over Ireland
Dublin International Airport – 594 miles
AIRPLANE
Dublin, Ireland – Copenhagen, Denmark – 1,540 miles
RENTAL CAR
Copenhagen International Airport – trip begins
Malmo, Sweden – 81 miles
Tirstrup, Denmark – 388 miles
Naestved, Denmark – 628 miles
Copenhagen International Airport – 718 miles
AIRPLANE
Copenhagen, Denmark – London, England – 1,216 miles
London, England – Los Angeles, CA – 10,880 miles
Total Air miles – 23,976 miles (4 flights)
Total auto and air miles traveled on this trip – 24,694 miles
TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:
Sturup Raceway - Free
Ring Djursland – 150 DKK ($31.92 U.S.)
Nisseringen – 100 DKK ($21.27 U.S.)
Total racetrack admissions for the trip – 250 DKK ($53.19 U.S.)
RANKINGS
LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:
There are no trackchasers currently within 100 tracks of my lifetime total. I’m telling you, it’s not my fault!
1. Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,337
Full Lifetime World Rankings
http://trackchaser.net/trackchasers.asp
Other notables
These worldwide trackchasers are within 10 tracks (plus or minus or more) of Carol’s current trackchaser total.
26. Kevin Eckert, Indianapolis, Indiana – 450
27. Ken Schrader, Concord, North Carolina – 365
28. Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 361
2008 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS
1. Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 37
2. Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania – 32
3. Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 23
4. Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 11
5. Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 10
Tracks have been reported by 28 different worldwide trackchasers this season.
Complete 2008 Trackchasing Standings
http://trackchaser.net/statyear.asp?year=2008
LIFETIME COUPLES TRACKCHASING STANDINGS
1. Randy & Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,698
2. Allan & Nancy Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 1,675
3. Guy & Pam Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 1,669
LIFETIME NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY STANDINGS
2007 NGD results are posted at www.ranlayracing.com
COMPLETE TRACK TYPE CATEGORY RANKINGS OF NOTE:
Dirt Track Standings
http://trackchaser.net/statsurface.asp?surface=Dirt
Paved Track Standings
http://trackchaser.net/statsurface.asp?surface=Paved
Ice Track Standings
http://trackchaser.net/statsurface.asp?surface=Ice
Mixed Track Standings
http://trackchaser.net/statsurface.asp?surface=Mixed
Oval Track Standings
http://trackchaser.net/statoval.asp
Circuit (road course) Track Standings
http://trackchaser.net/statcircuit.asp
Figure 8 Track Standings
http://trackchaser.net/statf8.asp
Indoor Track Standings
http://trackchaser.net/statindoor.asp
Official Trackchaser Rules
http://trackchaser.net/rules.asp
Past trackchasing reports are available at:
Official trackchaser standings can be viewed at:
Some of the data in this report comes from www.trackchaser.net and my Garmin GPS aka “Dusty”
UPCOMING TRACKCHASING PLANS
Our European trip was a smashing trackchasing success. It was a trip we will remember forever. Now it is time to return to the U.S. and work on one of my 2008 trackchasing priorities.
RACETRACKS VISITED IN 2008 (** not the first time to visit this track)
1,299.
1,300. Bira Circuit, Pattaya (road course),
1,301.
1,302.
1,303.
1,304.
1,305. Ozark Empire Fairgrounds (oval),
1,306.
1,307. Brainerd International Raceway Ice Track (road course),
1,308.
1,309.
1,310. Shawano Lake Ice Track –
1,311.
1,312. Mototown USA (oval) –
1,313. Moosehead Lake Ice Track (oval) –
1,314.
1,315.
1,316.
1,317.
1,318.
1,319. Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez (road course), Mexico City, Mexico – March 16
1,320. Hartwell Motor Speedway (oval), Hartwell, Georgia – March 22
1,321. Lavonia Speedway, Lavonia (oval), Georgia – March 22
1,322. Dover Raceway (road course), Brown’s Town, St. Ann, Jamaica – March 24
1,323. Lake Country Speedway (oval), Ardmore, Oklahoma – March 29
1,324. Swainsboro Raceway (oval), Swainsboro, Georgia – April 3
1,325. Screven Motor (oval), Sylvania, Georgia – April 4
1,326. Centerville Super Speedway (oval), Centerville, Arkansas – April 5
1,327. Central Arkansas Speedway (oval), Plumerville, Arkansas – April 5
1,328. Clinton Country Speedway (oval), Alpha, Kentucky – April 6
1,329. Pleasant Valley Raceway (oval), Boise, Idaho – April 20
1,330. Bremerton Raceway (road course), Bremerton, Washington – April 26
1,331. Port Angeles Speedway (oval), Port Angeles, Washington – April 26
1,332. Evergreen Speedway (1/5-mile oval), Monroe, Washington – April 27
1,333. Virginia Motor Speedway (oval), Jamaica, Virginia – May 1
1,334. Natural Bridge Speedway (oval), Natural Bridge, Virginia – May 2
1,335. Sturup Raceway (road course), Malmo, Sweden– May 10
1,336. Ring Djursland (road course), Tirstrup, Denmark – May 11
1,337. Nisseringen, Naestved (road course), Denmark – May 12
