Part II

 

Friday, December 29, 2006

There was no real time for tourist activity today.  We left our hotel room at 9 a.m. in Tuaranga.  We needed to be at the Upper Hutt Family Speedway at 7 p.m.  That gave us 10 hours and I thought it would take seven of those hours for the 280 or so mile drive.  With stops, it took all of that and more.

 

 

By the way gas was not cheap in New Zealand.  Although priced in New Zealand dollars per liter when I converted it to U.S. dollars and gallons I was shocked.  It came to $4.47 U.S. per gallon.  Oh well, it was what it was and we weren’t turning back now.

 

It took me an hour to get us out of the Tauranga area.  This was the first time we have been seriously lost on this trip.  That is much better than normal!  Fortunately, some guys at a tire shop took time our of their day to get us back in the right direction.

 

The scenery was gorgeous.  The rolling hills, bordering on mountains, were as green as green can get.  We were last in New Zealand in 1987 for a seven-day driving tour.  It doesn’t seem like we are seeing as many sheep now as we did then.  We’re seeing more cows.  Maybe the cows ate the sheep!

 

Following tonight’s races, we approached a traffic circle “roundabout.”  I love roundabouts; they are such an efficient way to get through an intersection.  This roundabout was swarming with state police.  A few weeks ago, in North Carolina, I encountered a similar situation.  Those guys were doing a “driver’s license check.”  Once I showed my Hawaii drivers license I was on my way.

 

Tonight’s stop was a sobriety check.  I rolled down my window and the officer greeted me politely.  He stuck a handheld device up to my mouth and asked me to say my name.  I repeated slowly, “Gordon Killian.”  He looked at a meter on his device and told me I could drive on.

 

I asked him what he was measuring.  He said this was a form of breathalyzer and that if I had been drinking I would have registered on the machine and would be taking a ride down to the “pokie.”  I assured him that I would not want to do that and drove away.

 

Carol and I had a brief discussion on stopping people without “probable cause.”  I support the belief that I don’t mind giving up some of my rights, so that idiots who are breaking the law in one form or another and who can cause me harm (as in drunk driving) can be removed from society.  Carol believes folks should not be stopped without probable cause.  By the way, in New Zealand, there are many signs warning about driving while intoxicated.  They call it “drink” driving rather than drunk driving.

 

LIFETIME TRACKCHASER STANDINGS UPDATE:

 

These worldwide trackchasers are within 100 tracks (plus or minus) of my current trackchaser total.

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,136

2.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 1,075 (-61)*

3.  Rick Schneider – Bay Shore, New York – 1,063 (-73)*

4.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania – 1,044 (-92)*

7.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 963 (-173)**

 

* Warning, you are within 50 tracks of being removed from this list. 

 

** Special exemption.

 

 

 

Other notables

 

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

 

31.  Chris Economaki, Ridgewood, New Jersey – 302 (+10)

32.  Gary Jacob, Turlock, California – 301 (+9)

33.  Ron Rodda, Lincoln, California – 297 (+5)

34.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 292

35.  Johnny Gibson, Grand Island, Nebraska – 290 (+2)

 

 

 

 

 

2006 TRACKCHASER STANDINGS

 

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 145

2.  Mike Knappenberger, Reading, Pennsylvania – 106

3.  Ed Esser, Madison, Wisconsin – 103

4.  Roland Vanden Eynde, Vilvoorde, Belgium – 91

5.  Paul Weisel, Orefield, Pennsylvania – 87

6.  Roger Ferrell, Majenica, Indiana – 70

7.  Guy Smith, Effort, Pennsylvania – 70

8.  Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 64

9.  Carol Lewis, San Clemente, California – 61

10.  Gordon Killian, Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania – 58

 

Tracks have been reported from 42 different worldwide trackchasers this season.

 

 

 

 

LIFETIME NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY STANDINGS

 

2006 (current thru 10/29/06)**

 

1. Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 7.08

2. Gordon Killian, Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania – 7.10

3. Allan Brown, Comstock Park, Michigan – 7.86

 

**Lifetime NGD results could be affected by current track counting proposals

 

 

CUMULATIVE TRAVEL DISTANCES:

 

AIRPLANE

Los Angeles, CA – Sydney, Australia – 7,490 miles

Sydney, Australia – Auckland, New Zealand – 1,340 miles

 

 

RENTAL CAR – AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Auckland International Airport – trip begins

Driving all over New Zealand

 

 

 

TRACK ADMSSION PRICES:

Western Springs Speedway – $20NZ

Blue Chip Speedway at Baypark – Free

Upper Hutt Family Speedway – $20NZ

 
 

UPCOMING TRACKCHASING PLANS

 

G’day, mate.  Yep!  We’re having a great time trackchasing down

under.

 

 

 

 

 

RACETRACKS VISITED IN 2006 (** not the first time to visit this track)

 

992.  Watermelon Capital Speedway, Cordele, Georgia – January 14

 

993.  Cross Roads Motorplex (asphalt oval), Jasper, Florida – January 15

 

994.  Norfolk Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia – January 20

 

995.  Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California – January 21

 

996.  Oregon State Fair & Expo Center, Forster Livestock Arena, Salem, Oregon – January 28

 

997.  Morosso Motorsports Park, Jupiter, Florida – February 4

 

998.  Thunderbowl Speedway of Ocala, Ocala, Florida – February 4

 

999.  Cross Roads Motorplex (dirt oval), Jasper, Florida – February 5

 

1,000. Auburndale Kartway, Auburndale, Florida – February 10

 

1,001. Ocala Speedway (asphalt oval), Ocala, Florida – February 12

 

1,002. Speedworld Speedway, Surprise, Arizona – February 19

 

1,003. Lowe’s Motor Speedway (1/5 mile asphalt oval), Concord, North Carolina – February 25

 

1,004. Concord Raceway, Concord, North Carolina – February 25

 

1,005. Antioch Speedway, Antioch, North Carolina – February 25

 

1,006. Green Valley Speedway, Gadsden, Alabama – February 26

 

1,007. East Bay Raceway (inner oval), Gibsonton, Florida – March 17

 

1,008. Volusia Speedway Park West (1/6M oval), Barberville, Florida – March 18

 

1,009. Speedway Park, Fruitland Park, Florida – March 18

 

1,010. Sand Mountain Speedway (road course), Fort Meade, Florida – March 19

 

1,011. Anderson Motor Speedway, Anderson, South Carolina – March 31

 

1,012. Westminster Speedway, Westminster, South Carolina – March 31

 

1,013. East Lincoln Motor Speedway, Stanley, North Carolina – April 1

 

1,014. Margarettsville Speedway, Margarettsville, North Carolina – April 2

 

1,015. Sunny South Raceway, Grand Bay, Alabama – April 7

 

1,016. Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, Alabama – April 8

 

1,017. Coldwater Raceway, Coldwater, Alabama – April 8

 

1,018. Talladega Short Track, Talladega, Alabama – April 8

 

1,019. Ballymena Raceway, Ballymena, Northern Ireland – April 14

 

1,020. Oulton Park, Little Budworth, England – April 15

 

1,021. Somerset Rebels Banger Raceway, Rooks Bridge, England – April 16

 

1,022. Mendips Raceway, Shipham, England – April 16

 

1,023. Oval Raceway, Angmering, England – April 17

 

1,024. Arlington Stadium, Eastbourne, England – April 17

 

1,025. Southside Speedway, Midlothian, Virginia – April 28

 

1,026. Motor Mile Speedway, Radford, Virginia – April 29

 

1,027. Wythe Speedway, Wytheville, Virginia – April 29

 

1,028. Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point Circuit, Summit Point, West Virginia – April 30

 

1,029. Old Dominion Speedway – inner inner oval, Manassas, Virginia – April 30

 

1,030. Shenandoah Speedway, Shenandoah, Virginia – May 4

 

1,031. Bridgeport Speedway (inner oval – front), Bridgeport, New Jersey – May 5

 

1,032. Empty Jug, Hawley, Pennsylvania – May 6

 

1,033. Oakland Valley Race Park, Cuddebackville, New York – May 6

 

1,034. Thunder Mountain Speedway, Center Isle, New York – May 6

 

1,035. Motocross 338, Southwick, Massachusetts – May 7

 

1,036. Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, Fultonville, New York – May 7

 

1,037. Calumet County Speedway, Chilton, Wisconsin – May 19

 

1,038. Grant County Speedway, Lancaster, Wisconsin – May 20

 

1,039. Blackhawk Farms Raceway, Rockton, Illinois – May 21

 

1,040. The Milwaukee Mile (Road course), West Allis, Wisconsin – May 21

 

** Angell Park Speedway, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin – May 21 (new track Carol only)

 

1,041. Park Jefferson Speedway, Jefferson, South Dakota – May 25

 

1,042. Superior Speedway, Superior, Wisconsin – May 26

 

1,043. Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minnesota – May 27

 

1,044. Canby Speedway, Canby, Minnesota – May 27

 

1,045. Crawford County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Denison, Iowa – May 28

 

1,046. Tri-State Speedway, Sisseton, South Dakota – May 29

 

1,047. Sheyenne River Speedway, Lisbon, North Dakota – May 29

 

1,048. Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, Pahrump, Nevada – June 3

 

1,049. The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada – June 3

 

1,050. Hibbing Raceway, Hibbing, Minnesota – June 6

 

1,051. Buena Vista Raceway, Alta, Iowa – June 7

 

1,052. Lebanon Midway Speedway, Lebanon, Missouri – June 8

 

1,053. Rocky Top Raceway, Coal Grove, Ohio – June 9

 

1,054. Midvale Speedway (oval), Midvale, Ohio – June 10

 

1,055. Midvale Speedway (figure 8), Midvale, Ohio – June 10

 

1,056. Spring Valley Raceway, Millport, Ohio – June 11

 

1,057. Rialto Airport Speedway, Rialto, California – June 17

 

1,058. Lawrenceburg Speedway (figure 8), Lawrenceburg, Indiana – June 20

 

1,059. Lawrenceburg Speedway (temporary oval), Lawrenceburg, Indiana – June 20

 

1,060. Thunder Mountain Speedway, Knox Dale, Pennsylvania – June 21

 

1,061. State Park Speedway, Wausau, Wisconsin – June 22

 

1,062. Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin – June 23

 

1,063. Lucas Oil Speedway (oval), Wheatland, Missouri – June 24

 

1,064. Lucas Oil Speedway (figure 8), Wheatland, Missouri – June 24

 

1,065. Tri-City Speedway, Pontoon Beach, Illinois – June 25

 

1,066. Lake Ozark Speedway, Eldon, Missouri – June 29

 

1,067. Poplar Bluff Speedway, Poplar Bluff, Missouri – June 30

 

1,068. Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course), Indianapolis, Indiana – July 1

 

1,069. Rush County Fairgrounds, Rushville, Indiana – July 1

 

1,070. Rock Castle Speedway, Mount Vernon, Kentucky – July 2

 

** Windy Hollow Speedway (oval), Owensboro, Kentucky – July 2

 

1,071. Heartland Park Topeka (dirt oval), Topeka, Kansas – July 3

 

1,072. Thunderhill Speedway, Mayetta, Kansas – July 3

 

1,073. Little Valley Speedway, Little Valley, New York – July 13

 

** Twin State Speedway (oval), Claremont, New Hampshire – July 14

 

1,074. Twin State Speedway (figure 8), Claremont, New Hampshire – July 14

 

1,075. Canaan Speedway (asphalt oval), Canaan, New Hampshire – July 14

 

** New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire – July 15

 

1,076. White Mountain Motorsports Park, North Woodstock, New Hampshire – July 15

 

1,077. Legion Speedway, Wentworth, New Hampshire – July 15

 

1,078. Devil’s Bowl Speedway, Fair Haven, Vermont – July 16

 

 

1,079. Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, Connecticut – July 17

 

1,080. Little Log House Speedway, Hastings, Minnesota – July 28

 

** Elko Speedway (outer oval), Elko, Minnesota – July 28

 

** Elko Speedway (inner oval), Elko, Minnesota – July 28

 

** Elko Speedway (figure 8), Elko, Minnesota – July 28

 

1,081. Chickasaw Big Four County Fairgrounds, Nashua, Iowa – July 29

 

 

1,082. Buffalo River Speedway, Glyndon, Minnesota – July 30

 

1,083. Miller Motorsports Park, Tooele, Utah, – August 4

 

1,084. Atomic Motor Raceway, Atomic City, Idaho – August 4

 

1,085. Mission Valley Speedway, Polson, Montana – August 5

 

1,086. Rock Creek Race Track, Kimberly, Idaho – August 6

 

1,087. Stevens County Fairgrounds, Morris, Minnesota – August 9

 

1,088. Norman County Raceway, Ada, Minnesota – August 10

 

1,089. Miller Speedway, Miller, South Dakota – August 11

 

1,090. Gimli Motorsports Park, Gimli, Manitoba, Ontario, Canada – August 13

 

1,091. Bemidji Speedway, Bemidji, Minnesota – August 13

 

1,092. Dayton Fair (figure 8), Dayton, Pennsylvania – August 14

 

1,093. Holmes County Fairgrounds, Millersburg, Ohio – August 15

 

1,094. Lawrence County Fairgrounds, New Castle, Pennsylvania – August 16

 

1,095. Armada County Fairgrounds, Armada, Michigan – August 17

 

1,096. Spencer Speedway, Williamson, New York – August 18

 

1,097. Yates County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Penn Yan, New York, – August 19

 

1,098. Tillsonburg County Fairgrounds, Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada – August 20

 

1,099. Marshfield Fair, Marshfield, Massachusetts – August 21

 

 

1,100. Cambridge Fair, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada – September 9

 

1,101. Georgetown Fair, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada – September 9

 

1,102. Oakwood Fair, Oakwood, Ontario, Canada – September 10

 

1,103. Western Fair, London, Ontario, Canada – September 10

 

1,104. Rice Lake Speedway, Rice Lake, Wisconsin – September 14

 

1,105. Iowa Speedway (oval), Newton, Iowa – September 15

 

1,106. Harrison County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Missouri Valley, Iowa – September 16

 

1,107. Calhoun County Raceway (oval), Rockwell City, Iowa – September 16

 

1,108. Hutchinson Raceway Park, Hutchinson, Kansas – September 22

 

1,109. Dodge City Raceway Park (outer oval), Dodge City, Kansas – September 23

 

1,110. Dodge City Raceway Park (inner oval), Dodge City, Kansas – September 23

 

1,111. Enid Motor Speedway, Enid, Oklahoma – September 24

 

1,112. Desert Thunder Raceway, Price, Utah – September 30

 

1,113. Norfolk County Fairgrounds, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada – October 4

 

1,114. La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway (inner oval), La Crosse, Wisconsin – October 5

 

1,115. Londonderry Raceway, Manchester, New Hampshire – October 8

 

1,116. Hudson Speedway, Hudson, New Hampshire – October 8

 

1,117. Topsfield Fairgrounds Arena, Topsfield, Massachusetts – October 9

 

1,118. Cricket Arena, Charlotte, North Carolina – October 11

 

 

1,119. Gordon Park Speedway, Groveton, Georgia – October 13

 

 

1,120. I-20 Kartway, Batesburg, South Carolina – October 14

 

1,121. Hemi Speedway, Mount Croghan, South Carolina – October 15

 

** Bakersfield Raceway Park, Linton, Indiana – October 20 (new track Carol only)

 

1,122. South Georgia Motorsports Park, Cecil, Georgia – October 25

 

1,123. Altus Speedway, Altus, Oklahoma – October 29

 

1,124. Riverside Raceway Park, Mayodan, North Carolina – November 3

 

1,125. Hickory Motor Speedway, Hickory, North Carolina – November 4

 

1,126. Delaware International Speedway, Delmar, Delaware – November 5

 

** Willow Springs International Raceway, Rosamond, California – November 12 (new track Carol only)

 

1,127. Kansas Coliseum-Arena Building, Valley Center, Kansas – November 18

 

1,128. Mercedes Benz of Sugar Land Road Course, Angleton, Texas – November 19

 

1,129. OCR Action Sport Park, Rougemont, North Carolina – December 3

 

1,130. Boone County Fairgrounds (oval), Columbia, Missouri – December 9

 

** Boone County Fairgrounds (oval), Columbia, Missouri – December 10

 

1,131. Boone County Fairgrounds (figure 8), Columbia, Missouri – December 10

 

1,132. DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, Michigan – December 15

 

1,133. Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina – December 16

 

1,134. Western Springs Speedway, Western Springs, New Zealand – December 26

 

1,135. Blue Chip Speedway at Baypark, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand – December 28

 

1,136. Upper Hutt Family Speedway, Upper Hutt, New Zealand – December 29