Bakersfield Speedway Kart Track

 

 

 

More people means less racetracks…………….more in “The Details”.

 

 

 

First time ever…..go behind the scenes….the secret conversations between a trackchaser and a race promoter…………….more in “The Details”.

 

 

There should be no room in trackchasing for “manipulation”……………..more in “Race Review”.

 

 

What really controls the countability of a race class in trackchasing?…………….more in “Race Review”

 

 

Danger was lurking in the most unexpected place…………….more in “Race Review”

 

 

Why not just stay a little closer to home?

This was a most unusual trackchasing trip.  It would all be completed in California.  Why don’t I just stay home and trackchase all over California?  I’ve been there and done that.

 

 

With today’s addition of the inner oval at the Bakersfield Speedway I have now seen 125 tracks race in California.  However, over the past ten years I have added just an average of three California tracks annually.

 

 

Most of those tracks were the “widows and orphans” of trackchasing.  By that I mean kart tracks, stadium off-road facilities (often temporary), airport tracks and indoor facilities.

 

 

More people means less racetracks.

California, because of its fantastic climate and proximity to Mexico among other things, has a growing population.  More people means more houses.  More houses means more racetracks lost to development.  I list no fewer than 40 of the 125 tracks I’ve seen in the Golden state as no longer active.  Most of those tracks now have a house, highway or shopping center resting on top of them!

 

 

However, while nosing around on the internet I discovered they were having “kart races” on a permanent inner oval dirt track at the Bakersfield Speedway.  I have been to the outer oval at Bakersfield some nine times.  My first visit was in 1988 and my last in 1998.  They have some outstanding racing on the big oval at Bakersfield Speedway, which is actually in Oildale, California.  I’m surprised I haven’t had the chance to return in more than 15 years.

 

Just lucky?  Maybe not.

One other stroke of luck was that Chris Kearns was promoting the kart racing at Bakersfield.  Chris and I first met back in 2010 on a Sunday afternoon when he was promoting the kart races at the Santa Maria Speedway.  I was coming off a Saturday night event at the Green Bush Race Park in the northern Minnesota burg of Green Bush just 25 miles or so from the Canadian border.  Chris couldn’t believe I could show up for a Sunday afternoon race in Santa Maria after being so close to Canada the night before.  When I first met Chris he thought Guy Smith was the World’s #1 Trackchaser.  Can you imagine that.  Chris understands his trackchasing rankings now.

 

 

Since our first meeting Chris and I have stayed in contact.  Carol and I have even had Chris and his fiancée Jolene over to the house and out to lunch in San Clemente.  They are a delightful racing couple.  We enjoyed them very much.

 

Want to go behind the scenes?

Most of my trackchasing effort was spent planning the event from the comfort of my home office and at the track.  That’s why most of this “behind the scenes” account will take place behind the “Race Review” tab.  You’ll read about people who have gone about this business in the right way and sadly those who have not.  Remember, if what I write is stated as a fact….then well it’s a fact.  If what I have to say is simply an opinion then it’s just my opinion nothing more and nothing less.  With facts you can judge the situation and decide if you support what someone did or did not do.  With opinions you can share a totally different point of view.  This is America.  We can do that!

 

 

 

Bakersfield Speedway – Oildale, California

 

This needed a bit more investigation.

The information on the Bakersfield website advertised “Go-Karts, Mini-Dwarfs, QRC Outlaw Sprints and .25 Midgets”.  At first blush I was thinking only the QRC Outlaw Sprints would be a countable class.

 

 

“Go-karts” aka “flat karts” have long been considered a major “no-no” by trackchasing’s founding fathers.  Personally, I think go-kart racing should have been a countable class from day one.  I’ve been saying that for years.

 

There should be no room in trackchasing for “manipulation”.

In a proposal submitted in the past couple of years trackchasing commissioner Guy Smith effectively manipulated go-kart racing administratively out of any near-term countable status.  First, he had knowledge of how the vote over a thirty-day period was going.  When he saw that if he could “convince” his wife to vote against flat kart countability then the proposal would effectively die with a tie vote he did that.  Yes, that is exactly what happened.  Then Guy “advised” the group that it might be best if flat kart proposals should no longer be presented in the foreseeable future.  He even went one step further offering other trackchasers verbatim comments that were against the adding of flat karts to the countable trackchasing agenda.  The vote ended up tied at 6-6.  Were there no verbatim comments supporting karts from the equal number of folks who voted for the proposal?  I can go either way on karts at this stage.  What I find appalling is the dishonest and manipulative behavior exhibited by trackchasing commissioner Guy Smith.  I’ve seen it many times.  When people get a little power and influence it often goes to their head.

 

Was there going to be countable racing today?

However, I was in search of a class of racers that would be racing at the Bakersfield Speedway and WOULD be a countable racing class.  In my mind that would be the 500cc QRC sprint class.

 

 

Some communications with the Bakersfield Speedway kart track promoter confirmed there would be four QRC sprints coming from Santa Maria for this event.  However, two nights before what I expected to be my first track of 2014 I got a message from Chris Hearns.  The following email log ensued between Chris and me over the next 18 hours.

 

 

What was being said behind the scenes?

Friday, 6:46 p.m.

CHRIS: 

Just found out that the 4 QRC karts from Santa Maria are not going now.  I don’t have the phone numbers of the guys in valley, so I have no idea if they will be attending. I did get a call this week from a .25 midget owner who is coming. He just isn’t sure how many are coming with him.

 

Just trying to pass along as much info as I can. hate to see you make the trip and not be satisfied or be able to add it to your list.

 

Don’t know if Mini Dwarfs count or not, but I will have 12-15 of those for sure!

 

Friday, 7:15 p.m.

RANDY:

Thanks for the heads up.  Is there an age limit on the drivers of the mini-dwarfs?  By the way .25 midgets don’t count if they are driven by kids.

 

Thx.  Randy

 

 

Friday, 7:18 p.m.

CHRIS:

Majority of .25 Midgets we see are kids.

 

Mini Dwarfs have 2 divisions. All are kids though. Oldest is 13.

 

Friday, 7:26 p.m.

RANDY:

Is there an age limit on who can drive the .25 midgets?

CHRIS: No age limit

 

If the QRC sprints raced do they race on the regular .25-mile track or the smaller infield track?

CHRIS:  QRC race on the 1/10-mile track. Just about same size track as the infield one you came to at Santa Maria.

 

Friday, 7:30 p.m.

CHRIS:

Just out of curiosity, does there have to be a minimum car count in one of the particular classes you can count, for the track to count?

 

Thanks, Chris

 

Friday, 7:35 p.m.

RANDY:

The minimum car count is two for a track to count but the class cannot be LIMITED to two, i.e. drag racing.  I’m not sure if .25 midgets count because just about everywhere has an age limit for that class.  I kind of surprised you don’t.  Can adults fit into a .25 midget?

 

Maybe, if there was enough time, and you saw that at least two QRC sprints showed up you could text me.  It’s a three-hour drive from my house but if racing started at 11 a.m. and those guys showed up by 9:30 a.m. I could probably be there by 12:30 p.m. in time to see the feature racing.  Does that plan show how “demented” I am as a trackchaser?  :)

 

 

Friday, 7:38 p.m.

CHRIS:

lol. That is demented. Not only will I call you the second I know, but I will make their feature last.

 

I don’t do an age limit in .25 because we (are) not sanctioned and I actually have seen an adult in one believe it or not.

 

I will let you know the second I see QRC’s.

 

Chris

 

 

Friday 7:56 p.m.

RANDY:

Chris,

 

First of all, thanks for the help!  I’ve been doing some research on the countability of quarter midget races.  Most quarter midget races I’ve heard about happen in Pennsylvania.  Virtually every quarter midget track has an age limit for that class of less than 18 usually much younger.  However, at the end of the season several quarter midget tracks have “handlers” races.  This allows parents to get in their kid’s quarter midget for a special race.  On an occasion like that there is NO age limit and quarter midgets, when driven by adult “handlers”, count!  I’ve never been to a  handler’s race but lots of trackchasers have (see info below).  Therefore, if you have no age limit on quarter midgets then people of any age can race them.  It doesn’t matter if this Sunday all of your quarter midgets are driven by kids.  The point is, with your group, an adult COULD race a quarter midget if they wanted too.  That being the case, if you’re sure you’re going to have at least two quarter-midgets show up, regardless of what age the people are who drive them then that makes your little track countable.  If you can tell me you have no age limit for quarter midgets and at least two will show up….I’m coming to Oildale!

 

Below is a note from a trackchaser who saw a quarter midget handlers race in Pennsylvania back in October.

 

Friday, 8:01 p.m.

CHRIS:

Maybe we should do the same thing. I call you the second I see two .25 midgets? I only spoke to one person and he wasn’t sure who was coming with him. Sometimes racers just come even if they think they will be alone because I give them 46 laps of track time no matter how many show up. There will be no .25 age limit either way.

What do you think?

 

 

Friday, 8:08 p.m.

RANDY:

If you’re pretty sure you will get either two quarter midgets or 2 QRC sprints maybe I could lurk around Los Angeles waiting for your call. That would get me up to the track an hour sooner. I have to leave no later than 2:30 pm to meet grandkids at Knotts Berry farm at 5:30 PM. Phone number is XXX-XXX-XXXX.

 

Friday, 8:11 p.m.

CHRIS:

That’s a good idea. Lurk around LA. I can adjust schedule to make sure you see main before 2:30 p.m. in case we run longer than that. Jolene and I will pay close attention to trailers coming thru gate.

Thank you for Christmas card by the way.

Chris

 

Friday, 8:13 p.m.

RANDY:

We have a plan! Look forward to hearing from you on Sunday.

 

 

The next day!

Saturday, 8:26 a.m.

CHRIS:

I know late models are your favorite , so I thought you might appreciate these. These are a few of the awards from my late model and super stock banquet that I am having tonight. I’m not a fan of wood and plastic trophies, so I always try and do something different. For 2013 every one of my sprint car, and late model main event winners throughout the year , got a pretty awesome billet aluminum trophy. I am thinking about making these for all of my main event with this year. They’re just quite a bit of work.

 

Just got an inquiry from another QRC, so hope to see you tomorrow.

On my way to airport, to pick up Jolene.

Chris

 

 

Saturday, 9:13 a.m.

CHRIS:

That QRC that I said was inquiring about tomorrow, is definitely coming, so hopefully we will be good.

 

 

What you have just read is quite unusual.

Folks, it’s not often you get to tune in to the internal communications between a trackchaser and promoter.  In fact, I can never recall it happening before.  I share this with you for one reason.

 

 

I do not attempt to “sway” promoters to make decisions on my behalf.  I abide by the rules of trackchasing.  If I were a pitcher in baseball and had some influence over the balls and strikes umpire would it be fair to wink and say, “That was REALLY a strike wasn’t it ump?”.  I play by the rules and never try to influence anyone to interpret the rules in my favor.

 

 

This can’t be right can it?

Not all trackchasers behave this way.  Again, we have the wayward trackchaser commissioner Guy Smith who once bragged in a racing publication that he paid a promoter $100 to stage an unplanned race to add to his totals.  On another occasion Guy collected twenty dollar bills from a group of trackchasers to help “encourage” a promoter to run a race on a track that was not part of the original plan.  In the end the promoter didn’t run that race and Guy had to “refund” all of the other trackchaser’s bribe money.  If that fair and on the up and up?  Of course it isn’t.  Tracks added to any trackchaser’s lists in this manner should be immediately be struck from their list.  Then a penalty of 25 MORE tracks should be removed from the offending trackchaser’s overall list for each offense.

 

 

Of course one trackchaser even had the gall to accuse another trackchaser of cheating by knowingly adding a track to his list that was not countable.  Who was accused of cheating?  P.J. Hollebrand.  Who did the accusing?  Guy Smith!  Is it any wonder that I can no longer support the “leadership” of this group?  I’m kind of amazed that other trackchasers have been bullied and/or bribed with free or less than market priced trips as well as truly less than sincere praise to keep quite on these and other issues.  Please don’t kill the messenger on this one.  You, the reader, deserve to know the facts.

 

 

On with the show.

I left the house on Sunday morning not knowing for sure if I was going to see any countable racing in Bakersfield or not.  I did know one thing.  I was going to be having chicken dinner at the very best chicken dinner restaurant in America.  I’m talking about Knott’s Berry Farm Chicken Dinner Restaurant in Buena Park, California.  I would be meeting up with Carol, our children Kristy and J.J., our son-in-law James and the two brightest and most attractive grandchildren I’ve ever had, Astrid and Mitch.  Regardless of how the trackchasing day went I would finish the day with a flourish.

 

Good news….sort of.

While I was driving up toward Bakersfield I received a call from track promoter Chris Kearns.  He had good news sort of.  He asked if “Junior outlaw aka Jr. QRC sprints” were a countable trackchasing class.  If so, he had two of them at his track.  I had one simple question, “Is there an age limit that restricts who can race in this class?”  His answer was equally simple.  “We have no age limit.  This is not a sanctioned event.  Anyone can race in this class”.

 

So what do the rules say?

So what do the current trackchasing rules have to say about “countable classes”?  Here’s the complete explanation when it comes to “cars” from the latest trackchasing rules that I have.

 

 

CARS

Any car or truck type class that allows adult drivers is countable. There needn’t necessarily be adults racing in each particular race in order to count the track. Motorcycles, boats, tractors, lawn mowers, snowmobiles, concession rides, bicycles, radio controlled or slot cars, etc. are not countable.

Little cars such as micro stocks, mini cup cars, champ karts and half midgets count but in general all other go-karts do not count.

 

 

I am amazed at how many trackchasers don’t really understand the trackchasing rules.  However, that is somewhat understandable.  To my knowledge there is NO PLACE from any public source where the current rules are published.  Will White used to include the rules on his site when he was the trackchasing commissioner.  However, now that Guy Smith is commissioner he does not publish, again to my knowledge, the rules on his site, www.roamingtheraceways.com.  I am not an expert on his site but in the limited time I have explored his work there are no rules listed.  I am sure when he reads this post they will “miraculously” appear.

 

 

What really controls the countability of a racing class in trackchasing?

As the above rules explain virtually every type of four-wheel racing vehicle COULD count except for go-karts aka flat karts.  What really controls the countability of any racing class is whether or not the rules allow “adults” to race.  So….What is an “adult”?

 

 

I tried for years and years to get former trackchasing commissioner Will White to “rule” on this question.  How old do you have to be in trackchasing lingo to be considered an adult?  Finally, after hearing this question from me many many times he said that anyone 18 years of age or older was an “adult”.  I know that answer could be debated back and forth in several different directions.  I was just happy to finally get an answer to my question.

 

What do you think?

Frankly, I think countable racing should be open to driver’s of any age.  Guy Smith once said….before I go any further please don’t think I am bashing Mr. Smith.  I have not and never would call him any names or defame him personally in any way.  I only discuss his behavior.  Everything mentioned about Guy Smith in this Trackchaser Report is simply a regurgitation of fact.  It’s all available in public record or from first hand fellow trackchaser accounts.  Anyway….Guy Smith said we didn’t want to be counting kids races because we would end up counting tracks of five kids racing around a set of hay bales in a Target store parking lot.  Folks, having five kids racing around a set of hay bales in a Target store parking lot would be an UPGRADE compared to some of the classes and venues that have been counted in the hobby of trackchasing in recent years.

 

 

According to trackchasing rules full-sized late model stock cars or 410 sprint cars would NOT be countable if drivers were required to be 17 years old or younger.  On the other hand, virtually any class except flat karts that have no upper age limit ARE countable.

 

What did my pit survey tell me?

When I entered the Bakersfield pit area after paying my $5 U.S. pit admission I surveyed what kind of racing machines were in attendance.  There was a large field of “mini-dwarfs”.  I knew these racers were not countable because each of the two MD classes had age limits of 13 or younger.  There were also a few flat karts.  Nix on them as noted above.  Surprisingly, there were no .25 midgets (also known as quarter midgets).  This made the entire .25 midget discussion moot.

 

Here was a bright spot.

However, there were two classes of racers that were countable since there were no age limits required of the drivers.  There were three Jr. QRC sprints and two QRC sprints.

 

 

When the first heat of two Jr. QRC sprints (the third couldn’t get her racer running) began their heat race the Bakersfield Speedway inner oval was in the books officially as track #1,923.  Later in the day all three JR. QRC sprints raced in a second heat and feature event.

 

 

However, there were no countable races for the “full-sized” QRC sprints.  One of the competitors, who had come all the way from Idaho, couldn’t ever get his car to run and keep running.  He tried like crazy.  His fellow competitor from the local area tried to help so they could have a race between the two of them.  However, the Gem state representative (that’s the Idaho racer) could not get his mount to fire and stay fired.

 

What a glorious day for trackchasing.

While the weather in the Midwest and East was featuring HIGH temperatures below zero it was 75 degrees and sunny at the track today.  Can you beat that in early January?

 

 

The Bakersfield kart track sits inside the quarter-mile outer oval.  Chris Hearns describes it as 1/10-mile in length.  The track seemed to have just a little bit of banking.  The black dirt oval surface remained tacky all day without a hint of dust.  Competitors parked their rigs just on the inside of the bigger oval.  Several people, including me, parked their personal cars on the racing surface itself of the bigger oval.  I parked in the high lane of turns one and two.  That was pretty cool!  I imagined the Carol Lewis owned and MFunds sponsored 2013 RX 350 SUV to be taking the high groove on the way to a feature win.

 

 

From what I could see there was no one selling refreshments.  I also saw just one porta-potty on the premises.  It was located right behind the starter in the infield of the inner oval.  The P.A. system consisted of a portable loud speaker that Chris used to call the next race to the starting line.

 

A nice touch.

I did not get to the track in time for the original driver’s meeting.  However, after hot laps were completed Chris called the driver’s together again for a few last minute instructions.  At that point he also introduced me to the assembled masses.  Chris had some very kind words to say about my trackchasing.  This allowed me to converse with several drivers and race teams since they knew “what I was up too”.  I enjoyed that very much.

 

A second opinion?

I was a bit concerned regarding the countability of Jr. QRC class.  I like to fully understand the rules of trackchasing and then abide by those rules 100%.  In the past “Randy Rules” have been added to the trackchasing rule books.  These were rules to prevent me from doing whatever I had done in the past that WEREN’T covered by any rules when I did them at the time.  Once “Randy Rules” were implemented any such loopholes were closed.  I can think of three specific instances, there may be more, where this occurred.

 

 

I knew that I had done nothing to influence promoter Chris Kearns is his pre-existing decision to have no age limits on several of his racing classes.  The above email dialog supports that premise.  Chris was the final word on this subject at the Bakersfield Speedway.  Nevertheless, Chris is a good friend of mine.  I’ve had experiences with other trackchasers who have never “let facts get in the way” of their rather irrational thinking.  I would try to get some more information just for the heck of it.

 

 

I spent some time talking to the car owners (fathers) of the two drivers racing in the Jr. QRC division.  I asked them if there was any age limit today on the Jr. QRC class.  I was told that this was an “open” race by the car owner of entrant #75 with driver Reese Brazil.  That’s a pretty cool name for a younger driver isn’t it.  The car owner also offered up that during this past year an adult had raced along with his daughter against this owner’s son in a Jr. QRC event at Santa Maria.  This supported Chris’ contention that the class is open to adults at not only Bakersfield Speedway but also Santa Maria Speedway, which no longer has anything to do with Chris Hearns promotions.

 

Danger was lurking in the most unexpected places.

I had a nice time at the races today.  I was able to get lots of photos and videos to share with you.  I took most of the photos just beyond turns one and two.  This was the best place to take pictures because the sun was coming in over my shoulder.

 

 

When you visit the pit area of a short track racing facility things can get dangerous.  You have to keep your eyes open and be alert at all times.  I’m seen people get hit by race cars on multiple occasions.  I’ve read about people getting killed while standing in the pit area.  In one rare case an elderly couple, both man and wife were killed in the same pit accident.

 

 

I had a wild and little bit scary event in the pits today.  I was standing behind a “Jersey” barrier.  If you don’t know what that is think about all of the three-foot high concrete barriers you see in highway construction zones.  There was also a row of racing tires in from of the Jersey barrier that was protecting me.  I felt pretty safe back there.

 

 

You just never know.

There is one thing about several serious pit area racing accidents.  They happen.  I’ve seen in my time that the most unusual and improbable things can and do happen.

 

 

Today one of the mini-dwarf racers drove high off of turn one.  He just kept heading in my general direction.  If order to get to my location he would have to make nearly a 90-degree left turn.  That’s exactly what the young driver did!  He made that turn and now there was NO Jersey barrier between him and me.  He was only going about 10 M.P.H.  However, at that point it was just him and me and he was belted into a race car with a roll cage and crash helmet.  I was wearing cargo shorts and a pair of Vans tennis shoes!  I dodged out of the way at the last minute and the young driver ran directly into the back of the water truck just missing me.  The young boy was understandably upset but gave me a thumbs up signifying he was O.K.  I passed along the uniform O.K. signal to the race director and everything proceeded forward.  Whew.  When you’re in the pit area you had best look out both the front AND the back of your head.

 

It was time to say good-bye.

I wrapped up day with several conversations with the race teams.  Then I spent some time thanking Chris Kearns for all of his advance information about who and who might not show up for today’s racing.  Then there was a quick good-bye to Jolene and I was heading south to Knott’s Berry Farm.

 

 

If you come to Southern California and need to have a fried chicken dinner I’ve got the place for you.  Check out the attractions tab for the details!

 

 

 

 

STATE COMPARISONS

California

 

The Golden State

This afternoon I saw my 125^th lifetime track in California.  I’m not even close to the lead in my home state.  Gary Jacob, now deceased, has seen more than 140 Golden state venues.  However, during today’s races I did become aware of two more tracks that I didn’t know existed or were about to exist.  That gives me some hope of seeing another track or two in California and nearby.

 

 

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

California sayings:  California:  As seen on TV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUICK FACTS

AIRPLANE

No airplanes!

RENTAL CAR

No rental cars!

PERSONAL CAR

Carol Lewis owned and MFunds sponsored 2013 Lexus sponsored RX 350

 

San Clemente, CA

Oildale, CA 

San Clemente, CA

 

 

Total personal car miles – 352 (1 car)

 

 

Total miles traveled on this trip – 352 miles 

 

 

 

 

TRACK ADMISSION PRICES:

Bakersfield Speedway – $5 (included pit pass)

 

 

 

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 – 1,923

 

 

Total Trackchasing Countries

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

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 67

 

 

Current lifetime National Geographic Diversity results

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 4.96

 

 

 

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