Final 2015 Goal Results

 

 

 

 

2015 Trackchasing Goals

 

My FINAL 2015 results against my 2015 trackchasing goals are now posted. 

Editor’s note:  You will find my latest goal results printed in RED below.  The goals themselves appear in BLUE.

 

 

 

It doesn’t take much effort to set a few goals.  However, there are some aspects of goal setting that ought to be considered.  Why set any goals in the first place?  It’s simple.  By setting goals you can “stretch” to achieve more and/or improve yourself in whatever area you find important.

If you’re going to set goals there are a few things that will make the process better.  First, the goals have to be as specific as possible.  The more specific they are the easier it will be to see if you achieved your goals.  It’s also most important to tell folks who care what your goals are BEFORE you try to achieve them.  If one doesn’t do that it’s easy to “forget” about A goal when it is not achieved.  It’s all too easy to pat yourself on the back for a goal that might only have “materialized” AFTER you achieved it!  I’ve seen a trackchaser or two fall into this category.  Finally, it doesn’t do much good to set “softball” goals.  What’s that?  Goals that can pretty much be achieved just by getting out of bed in the morning.  I see that a lot too.

I think you will find my goals specific.  I publish my goals during January of each year.    So there you go.  My goals are “out there” for all to see.  Now I’ll go about doing the best I can against those goals that are important to me in trackchasing.  At the end of each quarter I’ll post the results.  Stay tuned.  I probably won’t make them all but I will be trying.

 

 

 GOALS/RESULTS

Below you will find my 2015 trackchasing goals and final results for my 2015 trackchasing season.

 

 

 

 

Goal – Maintain my title of the World’s #1 Trackchaser”

I begin the 2015 season with a 458-track advantage over my nearest fellow competitor Guy Smith.  My goal is to simply maintain.  That should be enough to keep my title of the “World’s #1 Trackchaser” for a very long time.  If my advantage ever gets to 500 tracks or more I may have to consider retiring.  At that point I fear I will have so demoralized my competitors that I would be concerned for their self-esteem.  By the way I don’t want anyone to think this is a “softball” goal.  Maintaining with such a big lead against trackchasing’s leading chasers is never an easy thing.

 

 

2015 – Year-end update through December 31, 2015

 

Whenever UCLA beats up on someone 55-6 they get accused of having a “softball” schedule.  The question that really needs to be asked is “Was UCLA really that good or were their hapless opponents really that bad?”  My goal was to simply maintain my lifetime trackchasing lead over my nearest fellow competitor Guy Smith.  Yep.  I was just looking for a tie.

 

 

Mr. Smith had a most respectable year coming in with 63 tracks.  However, I had one of my better years ever (actually my 4th best all-time) to finish with 134 tracks.  Now it looks as if I set up a “softball” goal simply based upon the results.  I hope my nearest fellow competitor or anyone else for that matter won’t give up on the hobby simply because of results like this.  I didn’t think if was a softball goal when I published it all the way back in January 2015.  However, maybe it was.  

 

 

 

 

Third Quarter update through September 30, 2015

The third quarter was another especially strong three months of trackchasing.  I added 51 new tracks to my lifetime list.  This gives me 114 tracks for the year.  I’m well on my way to my 9th trackchasing season annual championship.

 

 

My nearest trackchasing fellow competitor, Guy Smith, had a good third quarter (33 tracks) but continued to fall further and further behind.  My goal was to maintain my lead of 458 tracks that I had coming into the 2015 season.  Through September 30, 2015  my lead has now grown to 522 lifetime tracks.

 

 

What can I conclude from this?  I had hoped my setting a goal like this might encourage my nearest fellow competitors to pick up their game.  In reality it seems to have done the opposite.  I’m strongly thinking about eliminating a goal like this beginning in 2016.  The last thing I want to do is to stifle my nearest fellow competitor’s personal self-esteem. 

 

 

 

Second Quarter update through June 30, 2015

My second trackchasing quarter was strong.  I saw racing at 41 new tracks from April 1 – June 30.  That gives me a six-month total of 63 tracks.

 

 

So how am I doing against my goal?  My nearest fellow competitor saw just 17 tracks during the first six months of the year.  My goal was simply to maintain my lead of 458 tracks.  With a 63-17 2015 advantage the difference between first and second place in the worldwide trackchasing count is now 504 tracks.  

 

 

One of the things I have found most interesting about trackchasing is the competition.  I enjoy that aspect of the hobby.  Trackchasing is a VERY competitive hobby.  Don’t think so?  Try messing with the track counts of someone else.  Try adding a track that your fellow competitors don’t think met the rules.  THEN you will see how competitive trackchasing really is.

 

 

With a lead of more than 500 tracks over my nearest fellow competitor, Guy Smith, do you think I will let up.  Do you REALLY think I will let up?

 

 

First Quarter update through March 31, 2015

I had a very productive first quarter seeing 22 new tracks.  How did I do against “maintaining” my 458-track advantage that I started the year with?  My nearest fellow competitor, Guy Smith, saw six tracks.  SIX!  I’m telling you if my current 474-track advantage ever reaches 500 I am probably going to take a few years off just to let my fellow competitors regain some of their self-esteem.

 

 

 

 

Goal – Foreign country trackchasing

Add one or two new countries to my trackchasing list.  I begin the year having seen racing in 70 different countries.  At this point it’s not very easy to find countries that offer “trackchasing countable” racing where I have not already been.  I really don’t have any idea at this point where my next new trackchasing country might come from.

 

 

2015 – Year-end update through December 31, 2015

 

It’s important to note that I don’t meet or exceed every one of the goals I set for myself.  If I did then I probably wouldn’t be setting “stretch” goals.  I missed this goal.  I didn’t visit ANY new trackchasing countries in 2015.  I did see racing in 35 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces but no new countries.  My hobby leading total stands at 70 trackchasing countries.

 

 

All of the “easy” trackchasing countries have been seen.  That’s if you consider countries like India, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Guatemala and Guyana easy countries to go trackchasing.  However, I had some of the brightest minds from all over the world working on my 2016 foreign trackchasing plans.  I don’t expect to be shut out next year.

 

 

 

 

Third Quarter update through September 30, 2015

I was busy during most of the third quarter managing a 66-day trackchasing trip that primarily focused on the Midwest.  I didn’t give foreign travel much thought other than a trip or two into Canada.  The remaining countries to be seen for me are somewhat difficult to get.  There are a lot of political problems slowing down racing in the places I might visit.  I doubt I will add any new countries in 2015 at this stage.  We’ll have to see about next year.

 

 

 

Second Quarter update through June 30, 2015

I didn’t attempt or plan to see any new countries during the second quarter.  Why?  There aren’t any “easy” ones left to see.  I’m not giving up on foreign country trackchasing additions to my list.  It’s just that there are so many tracks to see in the U.S. right now that foreign trackchasing has not been a priority.  

 

 

However, I don’t like being “stuck” at 70 trackchasing countries.  If I tell someone I’ve seen racing in 70 countries it sounds as if I am “rounding” to that number.  I’ll get #71 but I’m not all that sure it will be in 2015.  Carol and I have four one-week non-trackchasing vacations during the last five months of the year.  That will make it hard to add another country.

 

 

First Quarter update through March 31, 2015

I didn’t add any new countries during the first 90 days of the year.  I didn’t expect too.  Frankly, as this is written, I have no plans even in the ‘almost ticketed’ phase.  After seeing racing in 70 countries finding new countries where I can trackchase is difficult.  I’m not giving up I just don’t have any great prospects right now.

 

Goal – Lifetime National Geographic Diversity results

1.  Maintain my leadership position in the NGD lifetime category.  

 

2. Lower my 2014 lifetime NGD score from the hobby’s all-time record score of 4.88.

 

 

NGD results are measured at the end of the calendar year.  I won’t be able to tell you how I’m doing until that time.  You can rest assured when I have a chance during the year to garner additional NGD results I will.

 

 

The National Geographic Diversity stats measure both numbers of tracks and numbers of states where a chaser has trackchased in the United States.  You can’t be a “regional” trackchaser and do well in the National Geographic Diversity rankings.  You can’t be a foreign trackchaser and do well in the NGD results.  The NGD category rewards American trackchasers who pursue the hobby frequently all over the United States.  Maintaining a #1 position in the lifetime NGD rankings is one of my three most important trackchasing ranking categories.

 

2015 – Year-end update through December 31, 2015

 

Maintaining a lead in the National Geographic Diversity standings is one of my three most important trackchasing goals.  I think a good measure of trackchasing “quality” is how well a trackchaser does in seeing tracks all over the U.S. and seeing lots of tracks in each state.

 

 

Given the fact that I now own a #1 trackchasing ranking in 19 states improving my NGD score isn’t that easy.  I can’t get any more points in those 19 states.  There are another six states where I rank #2 and nine other states where I have either a #3 or #4 rank.  There’s not much room for upward movement there either.  Finally, I have a ranking of worse that tenth in five states (all on the east coast) where I don’t have much chance of ever changing.  That will make improving my NGD score most difficult in the future.

 

 

However, I am pleased to report that in 2015 I improved my lifetime NGD score from 4.88 to 4.47.  That’s the lowest NGD score ever recorded.  Back in 2003, the first year of NGD rankings, the winning score recorded by Allan Brown was 6.89.  I had nice gains in Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina and Tennessee.  It was a very good NGD year.

 

 

 

Third Quarter update through September 30, 2015

National Geographic year-end results will not be published until the completion of the 2015 trackchasing season.  At that time my results can be compared to others.  However, after having seen well over 100 tracks in 2015 I can tell you two things.  In most states where I have achieved a #1 ranking my lead has grown making it more difficult for interlopers to take those leads away from me.  A similar situation exists in the states where I stand in second place or worse.  By seeing LOTS of tracks every year my rankings either improve or are further solidified.  As an example, I might be in fifth place in one state or another.  The fourth place chaser might be several tracks ahead of my totals.  In this example I might not ever catch up to anyone in the first four positions.  However, if I continue to see a few tracks every year in this hypothetical state it makes it that much more difficult for anyone to gain on me.  Make sense?

 

 

Second Quarter update through June 30, 2015

As you know NGD scores are not computed until the end of the calendar year.  The National Geographic Diversity standings have been in existence for more than 10 years.  I still try for NGD points whenever and wherever I can.  More results against this goal after Santa has visited.

 

 

First Quarter update through March 31, 2015

Of course full year NGD results can’t be published until the end of 2015.  However, you can bet I’ve always got my eye on getting an extra NGD point here and there.

 

 

 

 

Goal – Far Western states lifetime rankings

1.  Maintain leadership position in 12 of the 13 Far Western states (x California).  

 

2.  Grow my lead in at least half (6) of the Far Western states where I do currently hold the #1 ranking.  

 

3.  Gain on current California trackchasing leader Gary Jacob (deceased).  I currently trail Gary’s total by 15 tracks.

 

 

I have an advantage with this goal.  I live in the Far West.  Virtually all other leading trackchasers live in the east.  They won’t come out to the Far West to trackchase very often because the pickings are so slim.  My leads in each state might not seem like much but since there are so few tracks to see the advantage in most cases is substantial.  Sometimes the second place chaser in some Far West states is none other than “Trackchasing’s First Mother” aka wife Carol.  I know where she lives and can put a stop to any competitive pressures she might offer if need be.

 

 

Current Results – Through 12/31/14 (my totals)

Alaska – (10) – lead by two

Arizona – (36) – lead by five

California – (134) – trail Gary Jacob’s total of 149

Colorado – (20) – lead by four

Hawaii – (6) – lead by two

Idaho – (14) – lead by eight

Montana – (13) – lead by six

Nevada – (31) – lead by eleven

New Mexico – (14) – lead by eight

Oregon – (20) – lead by seven

Utah – (11) – lead by seven

Washington – (27) – lead by eight

Wyoming – (13) – lead by five

 

 

2015 – Year-end update through December 31, 2015

 

 

The year 2015 was a very good year for my Far West trackchasing.  With UTV/SXS racing becoming more popular and more prevalent seeing Far West tracks became somewhat easier.  I was mostly successful with this goal.

 

I was able to maintain my trackchasing lead in 12 Far West states.  I increased my lead in five states but the lead narrowed in one state, Utah.  Finally, I was able to gain on the California trackchasing leader Gary Jacob.  Gary has seen 149 California tracks.  I am now up to 145 and gaining fast.

 

 

Far West trackchasing results 2014 vs. 2015 – current totals by state in (   )

Alaska – (11) – 2014 lead by 2 – 2015 lead by 3

Arizona – (35) – 2014 lead by 5 – 2015 lead by 5 – no change

California – (145) – trail Gary Jacob’s total of 149 but by only four tracks now

Colorado – (20) – 2014 lead by 4 – 2015 lead by 4 – no change

Hawaii – (6) – 2014 lead by 2 – 2015 lead by 2 – no change

Idaho – (15) – 2014 lead by 8 – 2015 lead by 9

Montana – (13) – 2014 lead by 6 – 2015 lead by 6 – no change

Nevada – (32) – 2014 lead by 11 – 2015 lead by 12

New Mexico – (14) – 2014 lead by 8 – 2015 lead by 8 – no change

Oregon – (23) – 2014 lead by 7 – 2015 lead by 9

Utah – (13) – 2014 lead by 7 – 2015 lead by 5

Washington – (29) – 2014 lead by 8 – 2015 lead by 10

Wyoming – (13) – 2014 lead by 5 – 2015 lead by 5 – no change

 

 

 

Third Quarter update through September 30, 2015

 

The 13 “Western” region states have far fewer racetracks to see than any other geographical region of the country.  There is almost no mid-week racing in the west.  Most Western tracks race on Saturday nights and are located far from one another.  There is nearly no county fair racing in the west.  All of this is what makes seeing any racing in the western region all the more fun.

 

 

My “Long and Arduous Mega-Trackchasing Summer Tour of 2015” had me in the Midwest for most of the third quarter.  Yep, that 66-day trip was mega!  Nevertheless, I did add a couple of California tracks during the quarter and even made a trip up to Kodiak, Alaska to add a new track.  I was surprised to note that I have seen some 366 tracks in the west to date.  I doubt any trackchaser living outside the western region has seen as many as a hundred.  I’ve also seen 837 tracks in the midwest, 362 in the south, 290 in the east and some 311 outside of the United States.

 

 

Second Quarter update through June 30, 2015

I had a very productive trackchasing quarter in the Far West.  I haven’t checked but I might have seen more Far Western tracks from April through June than ALL trackchasers who report their tracks.  That would tell you a couple of things.  Most trackchasers are eastern or midwestern based.  Those trackchasers rarely set foot in the Far West!

 

 

In late April I had a nice trackchasing weekend in Utah and Idaho.  Then in early May I had an Oregon/British Columbia weekend.  The very next weekend I was back for two more tracks in Washington.  In mid-June I had an incredible three tracks in one day (at one place!) visit in Southern California.  The next weekend found me trackchasing in Oregon and Utah.  It was a very productive Far West trackchasing quarter. 

 

 

First Quarter update through March 31, 2015

I had just a little bit of trackchasing action in the Far West.  I added three new tracks in the Golden state, California.  Now I trail the California trackchasing leader, Gary Jacob, by just a down tracks.  I can see the lead from here but it won’t happen for a couple more years or more.  I have my eyes on several Far West tracks during the next quarter.

 

 

 

 

 

Goal – Begin the “March into the Midwest” by achieving #1 rankings in at least three more states.

 

I currently have a #1 ranking in three states outside the Far West.  Those states are Iowa, Rhode Island and Texas.

 

My goal for 2015 is to gain a #1 ranking in at least three MORE Midwestern states.

 

 

 

2015 – Year-end update through December 31, 2015

 

I would consider my results against this goal to be a major success.  During the year I moved into a first place ranking in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Illinois.  This gives me a total of nineteen first place rankings as this year ends.  In most cases I passed trackchaser Ed Esser who passed away a few years ago.  I would gladly give up these results if Ed were still out on the trackchasing trail.

 

 

 

Third Quarter update through September 30, 2015

 

The third quarter was big as regards the achievement of this goal.  I can say that I have now seen more tracks than any other trackchaser in both Minnesota and my boyhood state of Illinois.  I was MOST enthused about grabbing the top spot in Illinois, the state where I grew up.  It took me a long time to get there.  It wasn’t easy.  The rain and race organization gods (with Ed Esser’s help?) delayed getting the Illinois prize for a few weeks.  Here’s the complete list of states (19) where I have achieved a #1 ranking.

 

 

Alaska

Arizona

Colorado

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Iowa

Minnesota

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Mexico

Oklahoma

Oregon

Rhode Island

Texas

Utah

Washington

Wyoming

 

 

Second Quarter update through June 30, 2015

There were no major changes to my results against this goal during the second quarter.  However I am making progress.  There is a very good chance I could add TWO more #1 rankings during the third quarter.  That would get me up to 19 #1 rankings.  

 

 

I’ve got my eye on another four states where I could, over the next year or two, reach the top rung.  If I ever get a #1 ranking in those states that would be about it.  I’m at 17.  I think I will be at 19 #1 rankings by the end of the next quarter.  Then I could make it all the way up to 23 #1’s in the near-term future.

 

 

First Quarter update through March 31, 2015

I am most pleased with my results against this goal.  During the quarter I moved into the undisputed trackchasing lead in both Nebraska and Oklahoma.  Here’s a complete list of the 17 states where I hold a #1 ranking.

 

Alaska

Arizona

Colorado

Hawaii

Idaho

Iowa

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Mexico

Oklahoma

Oregon

Rhode Island

Texas

Utah

Washington

Wyoming

 

I’ve got a couple of additional state candidates that might allow me to move into the #1 position in 2015 so I can meet my goal of adding three #1 rankings this year.  It won’t be easy.  We’ll see.

 

 

Goal – Exercise

I have NEVER met my exercise goal!  It seems the more I trackchase the less chance I have to exercise.  However, barring injury, I WILL meet my goal this year.  I didn’t lower the goal for 2015.  I will have the same goal that I missed by a lot in 2014 as my 2015 goal.

 

 

Exercise at least 45 minutes per day for two times as many days as I trackchase.  As an example, if I trackchase for 75 days I will need a minimum of 150 days of strong aerobic exercise in order to meet this goal.

 

Although this is a most worthwhile goal it is also one of the most difficult to attain.  Why?  My schedule, when I’m on the road, doesn’t fit well with exercise opportunities.  Often times I am flying and/or driving for virtually every hour of the day.  That doesn’t leave much time for exercising or create a mindset where I WANT to exercise.  However, I know it’s important to do well in this area.  This will have my focus this year.

 

 

2015 – Year-end update through December 31, 2015

 

 

I have never done very well against this goal.  However, I was inspired during the fourth quarter to do my best to meet the goal for the first time ever.  During the first three quarters of 2015 I exercised 107 times.  I would end up trackchasing over 104 days for the year.  That meant the annual goal for exercise periods would be 208.

 

 

Let’s do the math.  My goal was 208 aerobic exercise periods of at least 45 minutes.  Through the first three quarters I exercised 107 times.  That meant that during the fourth quarter I would need to exercise 101 more times in order to meet this goal.  Folks, there are only 92 days in the fourth quarter!  I would have to exercise on average EVERY day and TWICE a day on nine of those days!

 

 

I am more than pleased to tell you I met this goal!!  That’s right.  I exercised EXACTLY 101 times during October, November and December.  There was a saying at Procter & Gamble, “You get what you measure”.  There were definitely a lot of days when I didn’t want to exercise but I did.  By exercising nearly every day of the fourth quarter and twice on many days I now seem to have a “habit” and my exercise for 2016 in beginning well.  Of all of my goals for 2015 I’m probably most proud of meeting this one.

 

 

Third Quarter update through September 30, 2015

 

Will I EVER make this goal?  I think I will but the past results seem to say I won’t.  I finished the quarter with 88 trackchasing days for the year.  That meant I needed to have exercised some 176 times to be on pace of meet my goal.  However, I missed that number.  I missed it by a lot!  After the first two quarters of 2015 I had exercised 71 times.  During the third quarter I added 36 more exercise periods.  That gave me a total of 107.  That’s right.  I ended the third quarter of 2015 some 69 exercise sessions SHORT of my goal!!

 

 

However, I still think I’m going to make it.  Barring injury I fully expect to meet this goal.  How you say?  First, I won’t be trackchasing all that much in the fourth quarter.  It’s usually my least busy trackchasing quarter.  Secondly, I plan to have some days where I exercise first in the morning and then in the evening.  Let’s call that a “day/night” exercise double.  I suspect I will end up with about 100 trackchasing days for the full year of 2015.  That means I’ll need 200 exercise periods to meet my annual goal.  That would also mean I would need about 93 separate periods of 45 minutes of aerobic exercise in the fourth quarter.  During the past seven quarters that I’ve had this goal my quarterly exercise totals were 36, 33, 38, 21, 32, 28 and 18.  I would have to be crazy to think I might exercise about 93 times, more or less in a single quarter right?

 

 

However, if I don’t meet this annual goal YOU could benefit.  If you reply at the bottom of this post with your name, city and state and I DON’T meet this goal you will get a prized $6 Wal-Mart gift card.  If I DO make it there is no cost to you.  You can simply congratulate me on a job well done.  Sorry….gotta get on the elyptical trainer.  Don’t forget to reply to this post with your information.  Employees of Randy Lewis Racing, immediate family and Dreaded East Coast Trackchasers not eligible for prizes.  First FIVE names will be eligible for prizes.

 

By the way if you want to check on me to see if I really AM exercising you’ll find me power walking at the beach on most days.  Check out my 3-5 mile route.  It’s not hard to get a good workout with the views along my route!  Click on the link below to see what I mean.

 

San Clemente – The World’s Best Climate….and great for exercising

 

 

Second Quarter update through June 30, 2015

I finished the first six months of my trackchasing year with 45 trackchasing days.  In order to meet my exercise/trackchasing goal I would need to have exercised 90 times for 45 minutes or more.  That would be reasonable wouldn’t it?  Exercising 90 times in 6 months is only about every other day.  However, I didn’t quite make it.  When I sleep overnight in my car or leave the hotel at 6 a.m. I don’t feel that much like exercising.  These are not excuses but they are facts.  I didn’t make my goal.  How DID I do?

 

 

During the second quarter I exercised 33 times.  That total added to my 38 exercise periods in the first quarter gives me a six-month total of 71.  Yikes.  I missed my goal by a bunch!  I guess I could exercise more or trackchase less…or both.  The third quarter will likely put me even further behind.  I almost always trackchase more in the third quarter than at any other time of the year.  I should gain during the fourth quarter but it’s going to be an uphill battle.

 

 

First Quarter update through March 31, 2015

I did it!  For the first time ever, even if it was just for a single quarter, I met my exercise goal as it relates to the amount of trackchasing I did. I went trackchasing over 18 days in the quarter.  I exercised 38 times.

 

 

In order to meet my goal of trackchasing twice as many days as I trackchased I needed to exercise 36 times.  I worked out for 45 minutes or more (often times for an hour or more) 38 times!  I made it…for one quarter.  Can I keep the lead for a full year?  Stay tuned.

 

 

 

 

Goal – Racechasing

I spend so much time with the hobby of trackchasing that my “racechasing” is nearly nonexistent.  That isn’t going to change a lot.  However, I will plan to go to 3-5 major race shows for the year without regard to existing trackchasing opportunities.  I will also catch at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup show during the year.  Watching NASCAR on TV is so much more convenient than going to the track itself.  That’s why I don’t get to a lot of NASCAR races.  However, I NEVER miss a NASCAR Sprint Cup race on TV.  

 

 

2015 – Year-end update through December 31, 2015

 

I think I had a decent year of racechasing.  Because I spend so much time trackchasing I don’t have much of an appetite for racechasing in SoCal.  However, I did make it to several good racechasing events nationwide as you can see from my results reported during the first three quarters.  My racing “roots” come from racechasing.  I don’t want to totally leave that behind.  However, I also don’t want to put much more time into auto racing.

 

 

 

Third Quarter update through September 30, 2015

It’s hard to do it all.  I added 51 new tracks during the quarter.  I’ve never heard of anyone doing that.  That being the case I didn’t add ANY racechasing efforts of consequence during the third quarter.

 

 

Second Quarter update through June 30, 2015

I had a good “racechasing” second quarter.  I was part of a 10-hour rain delay for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol, Tennessee in April.  Nevertheless that was a whole lot of fun.  Carol and I stopped by the Belle-Clair Speedway in Illinois for some dirt in your eyes racing fun on the way to a family outing.  Then, somewhat incredibly, I stopped back at Belle-Clair for a UMP Summer Nationals event in late June.  The highlight of the night was when the lights went completely dark in the middle of the feature event…bang, bang, bang!

 

 

First Quarter update through March 31, 2015

I returned to tracks in Yuma, Arizona (Cocopah Speedway) and Marysville, California (Marysville Raceway Park) for winged sprint car racing.  I didn’t care for the Arizona racing.  The sprints up in NorCal weren’t bad.  I have more plans to return to high profile tracks this year.

 

 

 

 

Goal – Have Fun

I plan to see as many new tracks in 2015 as I want too.  If I don’t go trackchasing, it won’t be because of bad weather, a lack of tracks to see or any other form of restraint on my part.  It will be because I found something more fun and interesting to do not because I couldn’t find a place to go trackchasing.  

 

 

I get the biggest kick out of listening to other trackchasers trying to persuade folks that they had some form of restraint and decided to do something else other than go trackchasing.  In reality, they couldn’t find any place to go trackchasing so they “settled” for something else to do.  Why don’t they just tell people that?  If you’re going to brag about doing something else at least be honest enough to say the reason you went somewhere else is that there were no workable trackchasing opportunities!

 

 

If I do go trackchasing it will be for one simple reason…..I just wanted too.  I do this for fun.  I go trackchasing simply to have fun.

 

 

 

2015 – Year-end update through December 31, 2015

 

This is a totally subjective goal.  I was taught to make my goals objective.  How can I “prove” to anyone I had fun?  I like to think about it like this.  I worked hard for many years.  I saved my money.  I can do just about anything I want.  Luckily I don’t have an appetite for owning my own jet!  What does it all mean?  Trackchasing is voluntary.  I go because I want to go.  This isn’t like business where someone else told me I had to be somewhere on some specific date.  I go trackchasing because I WANT too.  Remember trackchasing isn’t just about the racing.  It’s about the planning and the getting there and the seeing of things.  By that measure I had fun.  I always have fun.  I can’t think of a single trip I have ever taken where I didn’t have fun.

 

 

 

Third Quarter update through September 30, 2015

I’m retired.  I have good health.  I have enough money to keep feeding Carol.  Luckily, she doesn’t eat much.  I’m at a stage in life where I can explore and participate in so many different hobbies.  I choose trackchasing, which is really a “travel and logistics” hobby as much or more than it is a “racing” hobby.  I do it because I like it.  I do it because it’s fun.  I subscribe 100% to the adage, “The only true wealth is to be able to spend your time as you wish”.

 

 

Second Quarter update through June 30, 2015

My mantra is “The only true wealth is to be able to spend your time as you wish”.  I do this because I want too.  I am truly a wealthy person by the above definition.

 

 

First Quarter update through March 31, 2015

I had fun!

 

Living the dream. 

If you get time check out the guestbook tab of my website at this link Randy’s past guestbook.  I get lots of comments like this one from race fans and travelers, “You are living my dream”.  Heck, I’m living my dream as well.  Trackchasing is OPTIONAL for me.  If I didn’t want to do it I wouldn’t do it.  On the other hand, despite my “love for the road” it’s never a good idea to do anything too much.  Right now I’m very happy with the frequency of my trackchasing.  My current pace is one I would be comfortable with for many years to come.