DAY 1 – JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THE FAR WEST TRACKCHASING TOUR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RANLAY RACING READER LOYALTY PROGRAM

 

 

In my last Trackchaser Report (#1,361 Newcastle Speedway) I wrote:

 

“I had left Wall Drug and was headed for Mount Rushmore.  I had a few minutes so when I saw the sign for “Bear Country U.S.A.” I decided to stop.  This is one of those wild animal parks where you stay in your car and drive through at low speeds while viewing the wild life.  My tour got off to a slow start and I was wondering if I was going to see any bears at all.  Yes, it’s time for one of those famous Wal-Mart gift certificates that rewards those loyal Trackchaser Report Readers.  Of course, this will not be just the normal $5 gift card.  Times are tough.  Gas prices and food prices are going through the roof.  The gift card amount has been increased to SIX DOLLARS!  It goes to the first two respondents in my email box, no exceptions, two only.  We were being directed through areas of the park that had other animals but no bears.”

 

I posted the message at 5:51 p.m.  Just nine minutes later John S. from Maine replied to my contest offer.  He was the first winner.  Then at 3:10 a.m. Pacific time, Jim S. from Florida replied.  He was the second contest winner.  Jim replied with this comment:

 

“Geez, if you want to win these WalMart things, you pretty much need to be online 24 – 7.”

 

For the first time ever, I posted a similar contest offer in the string of photos from the Newcastle Speedway.  Roger D. from Florida picked up that prize within hours of my posting the photos.  Thanks to all who won and all who played.  Gift cards from Wal-Mart are on the way to the winners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TODAY’S HEADLINES

 

Why won’t my “remaining tracks” total go down?...................more in “The Objective”.

 

I get a large number of hits and feedback regarding my website …………..details in “Just Comments”.

 

Something very unusual delayed my flight to Oregon today…………..details in “The Trip”.

 

 

 

 

 

JUST COMMENTS

 

On any given day, my website averages about 100 visitors.  On some days, it’s more.  I have the capability to see where the site visit came from.  It’s interesting to see the “Google” searches people used that led them to my website.  Occasionally, my posts make it to a racing forum in one fashion or another.  I’m not too wild about that as folks on forums normally don’t have a clue about what trackchasing is.  These forum folks are famous for trashing people without identifying themselves.  I don’t mind critical remarks as long as the reader identifies him or herself.  Then I can decide if I want to read anymore.   

 

 

I did find this about my site interesting from one of the leading racing email forums.  Here’s what the writer said.

 

 

“www.ranlayracing.com will get you to Randy Lewis’ site—and it’s pretty darn cool if you would actually want to take a pictorial tour of almost 1400 Speedways around the world: the airport, the iron bird, the countryside, the highways, his rental cars, hotel, and of course, the Raceway – the parking lots, the admission booths, the signs to it, the concession stands and the food fairs, the dilapidated bathrooms, the sound and lighting systems, the grandstands front and back, the entire racing surfaces around, and the classes of cars that are racing for that event.

 

A pictorial history has never been documented so well.

 

Check it out:  www.ranlayracing.com”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on or paste this link in your browser to see the photos from this trip.

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/Ranlay8/080711JacksonCountySportsPark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GREETINGS FROM WHITE CITY, OREGON.

 

 

 

 

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING IN SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA.  I WENT TO SLEEP IN MEDFORD, OREGON.  THIS IS WHAT TRANSPIRED TODAY.

 

 

 

 

PEOPLE/STRATEGY/TRAVEL NEWS

 

 

 

 

The Objective 

 

At the end of my 2004 season, I wrote in my annual recap that I still had 1,054 tracks remaining to be seen in North America (primarily the U.S. and Canada).  I finished that 2004 season with 809 lifetime tracks.  Tonight I saw my 1,362^nd track.  That means since January 1, 2005, I’ve seen 553 different tracks.

 

Let’s do some simple math.  At the end of the 2004 season, I still had 1,054 tracks in NA to see.  Since then I’ve seen 553 tracks.  Doesn’t that mean I should now have 501 tracks remaining?  (1,054 minus 553).

 

Not exactly.  People in the hobby of trackchasing keep finding new countable tracks to add to our database.  We count oval tracks, road courses and figure 8 layouts.  That’s it.  I would estimate that less than 10% (probably a much lower number than that) of the new tracks we have “found” since 2005 are traditional oval or road course tracks.

 

Here’s the problem.  No, I do not have just 501 tracks still to see.  How many new tracks have I identified that remain for me to see in North America?  The answer is 1,097!  That means since the beginning of 2005, I have ADDED 596 tracks to my database that didn’t exist on New Year’s Eve of 2004.  That’s absolutely ridiculous!

 

Almost all of these tracks do NOT offer traditional racing with weekly schedules.  They are “novelty” type racing shows that often occur just one time per year.  I got into trackchasing after being an avid racechaser for years.  However, the trackchasing that I got into years ago is not the trackchasing as it is today.

 

You’re going to hear more from me on this topic.  Things have gotten entirely out of hand with “trackchaser countable” proliferation.

 

 

 

The Trip

 

Today’s trip had my flight from San Francisco to Medford being delayed.  What caused the delay?  Poor visibility.  This wasn’t a visibility problem due to fog as we often see when flying along the West coast.  The poor sight conditions were caused by the wild fires the west has been experiencing.

 

 

If you check out the photos that support this Trackchaser Report at www.ranlayracing.com, you’ll see what I’m talking about.  Californians are being assessed a “surcharge” to pay for the fire fighting expenses connected to our wildfires.

 

 

The People

 

Oregon has an unusual law that, I believe, is only duplicated by New Jersey.  In Oregon, you are not allowed to pump your own gas.  In today’s world, that seems strange.  I don’t think my “gas pumper” liked it very much when I returned the fuel nozzle to its original position when my gas tank was full.  I guess this is what they call “job security”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RACE REVIEW

JACKSON COUNTY SPORTS PARK, WHITE CITY, OREGON

 

Tonight’s track is a 1/6 mile banked dirt oval.  It is used for winged open wheel racing exclusively.  The cars are variously called “winged modified midgets” or “mini-sprints” or “outlaw karts” at different tracks across the country.

 

The track is located just beyond turn 2 of the Southern Oregon Speedway.  SOS is a full-sized track where I saw the World of Outlaws race back on August 25, 1999 with Steve Kinser winning.  There is also an asphalt road course and drag strip on the property.  I don’t believe either of these has ever hosted countable racing.

 

The racing tonight was good, but they had too many yellow flag stoppages.  There were seven racing classes.  Of those just the 250cc mini-sprints, sportsman and 500cc mini-sprints featured countable classes with adult drivers.  Each of the seven classes had countable cars, but four of them had age limits of less than 18 years of age.

 

The seven classes ran about 20 heat races.  These races were followed by seven trophy dashes and then seven main events.  Considering each race that I saw averaged 2-3 yellow flags, as well as a few flips, it was a long night.  I didn’t stay until the final checkered flag waved.  I had to get back to the motel to shave.

 

I really like these “on the gas” small open wheeled cars.  However, not much racing is fun when the maximum number of consecutive laps run without a yellow flag is only two or three.  Maybe I caught these guys on a bad night.  I’m more likely to think this is the way their normal program runs.  The track is too small and it looks like there is no sanction against drivers who go into each turn full blast with the attitude that “eight wheels are better than four.”

 

 

 

 

STATE RANKINGS

 

Oregon

 

Tonight I saw my 14th lifetime track in Oregon.  This breaks a tie for the state lead with the late Gary Jacob.  Some 32 worldwide trackchasers have come to this state to support their trackchasing hobby.  Just four of them have seen 10 or more tracks here and only seven have seen more than five.

 

 

Now you can see the entire up to date trackchaser rankings for the state.  Just click on this link or paste it in your browser:

 

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

 

RENTAL CAR UPDATE

Medford, OR – Friday/Saturday

I was somewhat surprised when I walked up to the National Rental Car booth in the small and way outdated Rogue Valley International Airport and was given a Cadillac SUV as my rental car.  Normally, I shy away from SUVs because I don’t want to take the gasoline hit.  However, I would be driving less than 50 miles for the entire rental so the SUV worked.  I still don’t like them much because of the gas situation and I like to store things out of sight in the trunk with a traditional vehicle.   

 

 

 

I drove the National Rental Car Racing Caddie 42 miles in the day I had it.  I paid an average price of $4.32 per gallon.  The big gas-guzzler gave me a somewhat adjusted 26.4 miles per gallon in fuel mileage at a cost of 17.8 cents (U.S.) per mile.  The car cost 71.9 cents per mile to rent, all taxes included.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

 

Randy Lewis

Alberta’s #1 Trackchaser

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRAVEL DETAILS

 

 

AIRPLANE

 

Orange County, – San Francisco, CA – 372 miles

San Francisco, CA - Medford, OR – 329 miles

 

 

RENTAL CAR

 

Rogue Valley International Airport – trip begins

White City, OR – 31 miles

Rogue Valley International Airport – 44 miles

 

 

 

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

 

Jackson County Sports Park - $5

 

 

 

 

 

RANKINGS

 

 

LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:

 

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

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,362

 

 

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 – 368

 

28.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 366

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS

 

1.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania – 80

 

2.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 64

 

3.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 39

 

4.  Roland Vanden Eynde, Vilvoorde, Belgium - 29

 

5.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania - 26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tracks have been reported by 35 different worldwide trackchasers this season.

 

Complete 2008 Trackchasing Standings

http://trackchaser.net/statyear.asp?year=2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIFETIME NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY STANDINGS

 

After the most recent updates (July 1, 2008), I have a comfortable 19 state position lead.  As long as I can keep a 10 state position lead, things will be under control.

 

 

 

 

 

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:

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 aka “Tonto”

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPCOMING TRACKCHASING PLANS

 

I’m out in the middle of nowhere.  I have no idea when I’ll get back in these parts.  I might as well see a couple more of these Far West rural outposts while I’m here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Ice Track (road course), Marinette, Wisconsin – February 9

 

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

 

1,310. Shawano Lake Ice Track – 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

 

1,314. Clarence Creek Ice Track (oval) – Clarence Creek, Ontario, Canada – February 17

 

1,315. Durban Grand Prix (road course), KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – February 24

 

1,316. Lake La Biche Ice Track (road course), Lake La Biche, Alberta, Canada – March 1

 

1,317. Rice Lake Ice Track (oval), Rice Lake, Wisconsin – March 8

 

1,318. Ashland Ice Track (oval), Ashland, Wisconsin – March 9

 

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, Malmo (road course), Sweden – May 10

 

1,336. Ring Djursland, Tirstrup (road course), Denmark – May 11

 

1,337. Nisseringen, Naestved (road course), Denmark – May 12

 

1,338. Valentine Speedway (oval), Glenrock, Wyoming – May 17

 

1,339. Gillette Thunder Speedway (oval), Gillette, Wyoming – May 17

 

1,340. Phillips County Speedway (oval), Holyoke, Colorado – May 18

 

1,341. North Pole Speedway (oval), North Pole, Alaska, – May 22

 

1,342. Tanacross Airport (road course), Tok, Alaska, – May 24

 

1,343. Mitchell Raceway (oval), Fairbanks, Alaska, – May 24

 

1,344. North Star Speedway (oval), Wasilla, Alaska, – May 25

 

1,345. Capitol Speedway (oval), Willow, Alaska, – May 25

 

1,346. Elk City Speedway (inner oval), Elk City, Oklahoma, – May 30

 

1,347. Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex (oval), Sweet Springs, Missouri – May 31

 

1,348. Central Missouri Speedway (oval), Warrensburg, Missouri – May 31

 

1,349. Lucas Oil Speedway (road course), Wheatland, Missouri – June 1

 

1,350. Ark-La-Tex Speedway (oval), Vivian, Louisiana – June 5

 

1,351. Monticello Speedway (oval), Monticello, Arkansas – June 6

 

1,352. Paris Motor Speedway (oval), Paris, Texas – June 7

 

1,353. Grayson County Speedway (oval), Bells, Texas – June 7

 

1,354. Prowers County Motorsports Park (oval), Lamar, Colorado – June 13

 

1,355. Moler Raceway Park (oval), Williamsburg, Ohio – June 20

 

1,356. La Junta Raceway (road course), La Junta, Colorado – June 21

 

1,357. El Paso County Speedway (oval), Calhan, Colorado – June 21

 

1,358. York County Fairgrounds (figure 8), York, Nebraska – June 22

 

1,359. Black Hills Speedway (oval), Rapid City, South Dakota – June 27

 

1,360. Heartland Speedway (oval), Rapid City, South Dakota – June 27

 

1,361. Newcastle Speedway (oval), Newcastle, Wyoming – June 28

 

1,362. Jackson County Sports Park, White City, Oregon – July 11

 

 

 

 

 

 

Far West “Chase to be #1”

 

In the business world, the U.S. is often divided up into geographic areas that are referred to as East, Central and the “eleven Western states plus Alaska and Hawaii.”  No, I don’t know why they don’t just say the “thirteen western states.”  Those states include  Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming and, of course, Alaska and Hawaii.

 

The far west probably has the most beautiful scenery per square mile anywhere in the United States.  This got me to thinking.  Over the next 1-2 years, I’d like to put a “full-court” press on these far west states for trackchasing purposes.  I want to establish a goal of becoming the number one trackchaser in each of these states except California by the end of 2009.  Becoming #1 in California is not a realistic goal at this time. 

 

Below is a listing of these thirteen Far Western states.  The state’s name is followed by my current rank and how many tracks I need to see to gain at least a tie for 1^st place.  As an example, I’m currently in third place in Hawaii and trail first place by one track.  I’m looking forward to spending more time than usual in the Far West, a great part of our country.

 

Alaska – 1^st by 2

 

Arizona – 1^st by 8

 

California – 2^nd - trail by 46

 

Colorado – 1^st by 3

 

Hawaii – 3^rd – trail by 1

 

Idaho – 1^st by 3

 

Montana – 1^st by 1

 

Nevada – 1^st - tie

 

New Mexico – 1^st by 4

 

Oregon – 1^st by 1

 

Utah – 1^st by 2

 

Washington – 1^st by 3

 

Wyoming – 1^st by 3