North Iowa Events Center

Strategy and production are most important in trackchasing…………….more in “The Plan”.

Oh, no!  Not another night of sleeping in my car……………..more in “The Trip”

Meeting and talking to ‘local’ people makes these trips worthwhile…………..details in “The Experience”.

S&P.

Strategy and Production.  Those two items play a key role in my trackchasing hobby.  Trackchasing is all about counting.  Finding the tracks and organizing a trip is the strategy component.  Counting equates to production.  Of course, there are many side benefits to trackchasing but at the end of the day…..it’s all about counting.  How productive will your strategy be?

Don’t believe me?  Then take a look at trackchaser Guy Smith’s website at www.roamingtheraceways.com.  Guy is one of the very few trackchasers (Rick Young is the only other trackchaser that comes to mind with a website somewhat related to trackchasing) that maintains a website.  Think trackchasing is not all about counting?  Some 99.9% of Guy Smith’s website is devoted to one thing….the counting of tracks.  There are virtually no photos; there are no videos, no mention of Trackchasing Tourist Attractions, racetracks, racecars or any of those things you have come to expect from a worldwide trackchaser.  The website is almost all just lists of racetracks that have to be counted one way or the other.  That may get it for some people but not me.  What can I say about it all?  Oh, my!

There’s a lot more to trackchasing than just counting in my opinion.

Counting is important but there is so much more to trackchasing in my opinion.  Take a look at this Trackchaser Report to see what I mean.  The day’s trip included a visit to an interesting Trackchasing Tourist Attraction and TWO places where you ought to stop and eat the next time you’re in the area.

Strategy is what my game is all about.

For me “strategy” is an important ingredient to my hobby.  I want to see and do as much as I can while spending as little time and money as I can doing it.  Please do not misunderstand.  While trying to save time and money I do not want to jeopardize the “seeing and doing” aspect.  That’s really what is most important to me in trackchasing.

As you know by now trackchasing rules allow trackchasers to count wheel to wheel racing on ovals, road courses and figure 8 tracks.  If you don’t remember anything else about the trackchasing rules the previous sentence will at least get you through some cocktail party conversation.

Trackchasing doubles rock.

There are times where I can score a “trackchasing double”.  That simply means I get to see two tracks in one day.  Sometimes that means seeing one track race in the afternoon and another at night.  Sometimes it’s seeing two tracks during the same evening.  Finally, there are some facilities that race on two different tracks in the same general location on the same day.  That’s called a “same location” trackchasing double.

That’s where strategy comes in.  Let’s say a facility races on an oval track every weekend from May through September.  However, once a month they also have races on a figure 8 track on their property.  I COULD go see the oval track by itself one weekend and then come back another time when they are using the figure 8 track.  However, that would require TWO visits to the same track property.

Wouldn’t it be better to hold off visiting a facility until they were racing on both of their tracks, in this example, on the same day?  Yes, that would be a good idea.  I’ve been using this type of trackchasing strategy for years.

Whenever there is an opportunity to see two tracks at one location on the same day I grab it.  You would think that after all these years every trackchasing double would have been gobbled up by now.  Not exactly.

Tonight I was seeing my 43rd and 44^th tracks of the season in just 35 nights of trackchasing.  That means I’ve had nine (44-35) trackchasing doubles so far this year.  I think that’s a very good use of “strategy and production”.

Oh no, not another night of sleeping in the car.

I woke up this morning in Omaha, Nebraska.  I went to bed in the back of my rental SUV in the Wal-Mart parking lot in Bloomington, Minnesota.  This is what today looked like.

It was a decent drive of 259 miles from Omaha to tonight’s racing location in Mascon City, Iowa.  Along Interstate 80 I noticed a Trackchasing Tourist Attraction opportunity that I had seen many times as I have crisscrossed the Midwest.

There’s just so many places to see.

Van Meter, Iowa is home to the Bob Feller Museum.  Bob was a great young pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.  His story is an interesting one.  I’ll tell you more about it in the “Attractions” section.

There’s just so many places to eat.

I’m always on the lookout for fun, interesting and good-tasting restaurants.  Normally these have to be sought out using apps like Yelp! or my Roadfood.com directory.  However the first of two places literally jumped out at me as I traversed along the aforementioned I-80.  Yep!  I’m talking about Maid-Rite.  More on THAT in the “Attractions” section.

Following some baseball legend touring and lunch at Maid-Rite it was time to head to Mason City, Iowa.  Before I could go to the races I had a very special place in mind for dinner.  I had been there once before.  I’m talking about the Northwestern Steakhouse.  If you don’t get there by 5 p.m. you don’t eat in the “first wave”.  I planned to be there by 5 p.m.!  Check out my experience in the “Attractions” section.

After the races……….

I don’t have to do it this way but I do.

I had a ANOTHER decent-sized drive of 134 miles from Mason City up to Minneapolis, Minnesota after tonight’s racing.  Tomorrow morning I had an early flight out of MSP toward IND, which is Indianapolis.  A trend seems to be occurring with my lodging needs along the trackchasing trail.  As my remaining tracks are located further and further apart, I sometimes don’t have enough time to stay in a hotel.

That’s good for the budget but not so much for my comfort.  Tonight I would sleep in the back of my rental SUV.  These accommodations would not provide a very soft surface.  A couple of days after sleeping this way I discovered small scabs on my knees.  Where could those have come from?  They came from tossing and turning during the night while wearing my ever-famous cargo shorts.  Each time I tossed and turned my knees scraped the rough carpeting in the back of the SUV.  No trackchasing is not easy.

Meeting and talking to ‘local’ people is the best.

I love talking to “local” people.  Tonight while standing in line at the Northwestern Steak House (for about 25 minutes) I chatted with the man just behind me in line.

If I were to generalize I would say folks living in small Midwestern towns are simple, direct and honest.  There “world” is sometimes narrower than some others based upon family, economics and general background.  I am not making a criticism here but an observation based upon my experience of meeting a lot of people in a lot of places.  Don’t forget I spent the first 22 years of my life living in the heart of the Midwest.

The man I was talking to tonight was as casually dressed as I was.  He was in line by himself as I was.  However, he was holding a place in line for someone else.  His wife would be joining him as soon as she got off work.  What was the occasion?  It was there wedding anniversary.  They always visit the Northwestern Steak House to celebrate their anniversary.  Because of the expense and the wait to get a table they come here just once a year.  I didn’t want to tell the gentleman that if he lived in New York he (or even his wife) could be shot or assaulted for holding a place in line like he was doing.  In the Midwest that type of behaviour is normal.  In the East that is fightin’ behaviour.

TRACKCHASING TOURIST ATTRACTION

I very much enjoy the racing when I go on trackchasing trips.  However, I am not the type of person who would feel the trip was complete if I simply left home, went to the race and came back home.

I do a good deal of traveling.  I want to do my best to see the local area when I come for a visit.  There are usually unusual attractions that one area is noted for more than any other locale.  I want to see those places.  I want to touch them and feel them.  When I leave an area, I want to have memories of these special places that I call Trackchasing Tourist Attractions.  I will remember those experiences long after the checkered flag has fallen on whatever race I have seen that day.

The “Heater from Van Meter”.

Bob Feller Museum – Van Meter, Iowa

The Heater from Van Meter.

I’ve driven past this museum seemingly a million times as I’ve crossed interstate 80 in the middle of Iowa.  Today I had time to stop.  I’m glad I did.  What’s so special about Van Meter, Iowa?  Van Meter was home to Bob Feller one of the best baseball pitchers ever.

Bob was known as the “heater from Van Meter”.  As a 17-year old he struck out eight St. Louis Cardinals in three innings during a July 1936 exhibition.  Later that year he struck out 17 Philadelphia Athletics in a single game.

Despite his fantastic athletic ability Bob Feller was the very first major leaguer to enlist in the armed forces following the Pearl Harbor attack on the United States in December 1941.  By the time he retired in 1956 Bob Feller had won 266 games, pitched three no-hitters and was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame.

If you’re cruising along I-80 somewhat near Des Moines I highly recommend a stop at the Bob Feller Museum.  Don’t miss the photos of my visit.  The museum itself is somewhat small, very modern and has lots of photos and videos that will entertain any baseball fan for a good hour.  I loved the place.

ONE CANNOT LIVE WELL OR SLEEP WELL IF ONE HAS NOT DINED WELL

Maid-Rite’s famous “loose meat” sandwich.

Maid-Rite – Walcott, Iowa

If you like good tasting unique fast food restaurants (which I do!) then you will love Maid-Rite.  Maid-Rite is headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa.  Maid-Rite started selling their famous seasoned loose meat 100% USDA Midwestern ground beef all the way back in 1926.  I’ve been eating these sandwiches since I was a kid.  They’ve got about 60 locations most of which are in Iowa.

Really what they are serving is “loose meat” sandwiches.  Of course, loose meat sandwiches were frequently mentioned on the TV show “Rosanne” starring Rosanna Barr, a native Iowan.  If you haven’t tried one you should.  My favorite location is in Piqua, Ohio.  I stop there on my way to the famous Eldora Speedway.

Don’t miss this place!

Northwestern Steak House – Mason City Iowa

Don’t miss this one.

This was my second chance to eat here.  I believe I got this tip from RoadFood.com.  These folks have been in business since 1920 but not all of those years were at the same location.

The founder, a Greek named Tony Paphouchis, opened the restaurant with a friend in 1920.  They were serving steaks to the local cement plant workers for 25 cents each and operating a bootleg operation on the side.

In 1954 they moved to the current location.  Tony worked at the restaurant until he died at the age of 98.  Now his kids run the place.

They are only open for dinner.  They open at 5 p.m. and service is first come first served.  The place isn’t that big.  It only seats 40 people or so.  Both times I have arrived at 4:30 p.m. or before.  I’ve sat in my car with a weary eye on my “fellow competitors”.  As soon as one party can’t take it any longer and leaves their car to get in line EVERYBODY leaves their car to get in line.

I’m not above elbowing an elderly lady or two….with canes….if necessary.  I figure I have to be at the fairgrounds by 7 p.m.  Where do they really need to be?  Make sense.

Precisely at 5 p.m. the doors were opened and the “first wave” went into the dark wood-paneled dining room.  I grabbed the same booth I had on my first visit here.  From this position I could keep an eye on the other diners and get good photos for you to enjoy until you make it to Mason City.

My meal began with white bread, butter and a salad with creamy Greek dressing.  I was starving.  I hate to admit it but I ate FIVE large slices of white bread.  My main entrée was the Filet Mignon, my steak of choice.  Uniquely, they offer a side of spaghetti with a Greek dressing and cheese drizzle over it.  When you come here don’t miss that side!

This was a very rich and filling meal.  However, after sleeping in my car two nights ago and tonight I felt like a special treat.  Will I come back to the Northwestern Steak House?  You betcha.

North Iowa Fairgrounds – Mason City, Iowa

Is track counting too liberal?

Probably.  Some people think trackchasers are too “liberal” in their counting of tracks.  They think you should only be able to count one track at one location.  In trackchasing parlance this is called, “One grandstand, one track”.  In point of fact I agree with this line of thinking.  However, when I first became aware of “trackchasers” this is the way they counted tracks so I did too.  Up to that point I had only counted one track at each location I visited.

This was not my first rodeo in Mason City.

I had been to Mason City two times previously to count tracks.  Back in 2002 I came here to watch racing on the Price Motors I-35 Raceway, which is the fairgrounds’ permanent ½-mile dirt oval.  Then in 2012 I made a stop at the Cerro Gordo County Multi-Purpose Center for my one and only dose of “golf cart” racing.  That along with the flat karts that day was a very entertaining event on a flat coke syrup surfaced concrete oval.

Today I was visiting to see the figure 8 racing at the North Iowa Events Center.  They would also be competing on a temporary dirt oval track that mirrored the outside of the figure 8 track.  The course was the same except the cruiser division didn’t make the “cross through the X” like the figure 8 racers did.  Both tracks were temporary tracks and met the current trackchasing rules.

Iowa, along with Nebraska and Michigan has the best “big car” meaning V-8 engined figure 8 racing in the country.  Iowa actually has more permanent dirt figure 8 tracks than any other state.  Good for them!

Tonight’s figure 8 racing was most competitive and entertaining.  There were 3-4 classes racing and the action was fierce.  The announcer did a good job over a very sound P.A. system.  They kept the show moving as well.  Folks who don’t follow figure 8 racing because of it’s “novelty” reputation might think differently if they saw one of these programs.

What can I say?  Just lame.

On the other hand the racing on the temporary oval was at best “lame”.  There were just five “cruiser” class cars.  They ran a heat and a feature.

A cruiser stock car has two people aboard.  Sometimes it’s a man and wife combo!  The driver has control of the steering wheel and the gas pedal.  The passenger controls the brakes.  Cruiser racing seems to be more popular in Iowa than any other place.  In my opinion this is complete “novelty” racing but as they say it counts and we all know trackchasing is all about counting.

STATE COMPARISONS

Iowa

The Hawkeye State

This evening I saw my 87^th and 88th lifetime tracks in the Hawkeye state, yes the Hawkeye state.  I’m just six tracks away from Ed Esser’s total here, the most ever recorded.

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

Randy Lewis

World’s #1 Trackchaser

Peoria Old Timers Racing Club (P.O.R.C.) Hall of Fame Member

Iowa sayings:  Land where the tall corn grows

TRAVEL DETAILS

AIRPLANE

Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – New York, NY (JFK) – 2,475 miles

AIRPORT SHUTTLE

New York, NY (JFK) – New York, NY (LGA) – 12.2 miles

AIRPLANE

New York, NY (LGA) – Cincinnati, OH (CVG) – 585 miles

RENTAL CAR #1

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport – trip begins

Proctorville, OH

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport – 368 miles

AIRPLANE

Cincinnati, OH (CVG) – Chicago, IL (ORD) – 264 miles

Chicago, IL (ORD) – Omaha, NE (OMA) – 431 miles

RENTAL CAR #2

Eppley Airfield (Omaha) – trip begins

Albion, NE

Eppley Airfield (Omaha) – 278 miles – trip ends

RENTAL CAR #3

Eppley Airfield (Omaha) – trip begins

Mason City, IA

Minneapolis-St. Paul International – 398 miles – trip ends

TRACK ADMISSION PRICES:

Lawrence County Fairgrounds – $10

Boone County Fairgrounds – $10

North Iowa Fairgrounds – $10

LIFETIME TRACKCHASER COMPARISONS 

The three most important trackchasing comparisons to me are:

Total lifetime tracks seen

Total “trackchasing countries” seen

Lifetime National Geographic Diversity results

Total Lifetime Tracks

There are no trackchasers currently within 350 tracks of my lifetime total.  Don’t blame me.

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,857

Total Trackchasing Countries

There are no trackchasers currently within 10 countries of my lifetime total.

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 65

Current lifetime National Geographic Diversity results

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 5.10

That’s all folks!  Official end of the RLR – Randy Lewis Racing Trackchaser Report