Final 2019 Goal Results

2019 Trackchasing Goals

 

 

 

Editor’s note:  My 2019 trackchasing goals appear below in BLUE. You will find my latest goal results (posted quarterly) printed in RED.

 

 

Having goals in life is important. 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.  No softball goals!

 

 

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 trackchasing goals for my 2019 trackchasing season.

 

 

 

 

Goal – Less is more!

Last year I traveled 283,000 miles with my trackchasing hobby. I traveled overnight from our modest seaside cottage some 213 times. I slept overnight 43 times on planes, in my car, in an airport or on a ferryboat! That’s too much! This year’s goal is to decrease each of those numbers by 20% or more. Granted much of my overnight travel is not related to trackchasing. However, every ONE of those 283,000 miles had me going to and from a racetrack.

 

 

My goal will be to have my trackchasing mileage come in at 225,000 miles or less. I’m setting a goal of “only” 170 nights of overnight travel. Finally, I hope to sleep overnight on those planes, cars, airports and ferryboats 34 nights or less! That still seems like a lot doesn’t it? Nevertheless, you have to cut back somewhere right!

 

 

 

2019 – 4th Quarter Final Results

 

Goal #1. Decrease annual miles traveled last year (283,000) by 20% to something less than 225,000 miles.

 

 

I knew the fourth quarter was going to be a very light travel quarter. It was SO light that I ended up making my 2019 full-year goal of traveling quite a bit less than I did in 2018.

 

 

My final travel mileage total came in at 179,641 miles. That’s a 36.5% DECREASE from last year. I smashed my goal of traveling 20% less!! The breakout of those 179,641 miles looks like this.

 

 

Air travel – 153,205

Rental cars – 26,008

Personal car – 428

 

 

I was able to travel to such faraway locations as Tunisia, Montenegro, Italy, Antigua and Barbuda, Mexico (three times), Alaska, Japan, multiple trips all over Canada and several visits to the east coast from California. I did all that and still reduced my travel a great deal. I’ve very happy with my results against this goal.

 

  

Goal #2. Decrease annual nights out from last year (213) by 20% to something less than 170 nights out or about 42 nights a quarter.

 

 

For all of 2019, I traveled overnight 166 times. That’s a very low number for me. As you can see I was just able to sneak below my goal of traveling 170 nights. Yes, for me, that is a low number for overnight travel. On the other hand, do you know anyone who traveled overnight 166 times this year?

 

 

Here’s a list of where I stayed during the fourth quarter.

 

 

October (10)

Oct 11 – Maple Leaf Motel & RV Resort – Oliver, British Columbia, Canada

Oct 12 – Maple Leaf Motel & RV Resort – Oliver, British Columbia, Canada

Oct 13 – Sleep Inn SeaTac Airport, Seattle, Washington

Oct 17 – Element Vancouver Metrotown – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Oct 18 – Element Vancouver Metrotown – Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Oct 19 – Slept on plane from San Francisco, California to Mexico City, Mexico

Oct 20 – Courtyard Marriott – Puebla, Mexico

Oct 26 – Sleep overnight in interstate 5 Lebec, California rest area

Oct 27 – Fairfield Inn & Suites – El Paso, Texas

Oct 28 – Slept at Kristy’s – Austin, Texas

 

 

November (3)

Nov 8 – Aguascalientes Marriott Hotel – Aguascalientes, Mexico

Nov 9 – Aguascalientes Marriott Hotel – Aguascalientes, Mexico

Nov 10 – Aguascalientes Marriott Hotel – Aguascalientes, Mexico

 

 

December (1)

Dec 11 – Dockside Boat & Bed – Long Beach, California – a night aboard the Sea Peepers yacht!

 

 

Goal #3. Decrease annual overnights where I slept in an airport or in a car or on an airplane last year (43) by 20%. That makes my annual “no bed” nights goal – 35. That’s a noble goal, right? How many “no bed” nights will YOU have this year?

 

 

I only slept overnight in my car, an airplane or in an airport 24 nights in 2019! My goal was to do that 35 nights or less for the year. This was after I slept in a “non-traditional” location 43 nights in 2018. Well done!

 

 

 

Oct 19 – Overnight flight from San Francisco, California to Mexico City, Mexico

Oct 26 – Slept in Lebec, California highway rest area

 

 

 

2019 – 3rd Quarter Update

 

Goal #1. Decrease annual miles traveled last year (283,000) by 20% to something less than 225,000 miles.

 

October 17, 2019 – Correction! I made a mistake on my cumulative trackchasing travel mileage in my 3rd quarter update. The corrected info follows.

 

During the first three quarters of the year, I flew 144,493 miles. I drove another 24,333 miles in rental cars and nearly 134 miles in my own car for trackchasing. I know what you must be thinking, “You don’t use your own car for trackchasing very much!” You would be correct. I have never used my own car virtually at all with my trackchasing hobby. The last thing I want to do is wear out my own car trackchasing!

 

 

O.K. I’m trying to travel less than 225,000 miles for the year. That’s the goal. During the first nine months of the year, I flew and drove almost 169,000 miles. I know that my travel during the last quarter of 2019 will be light. It looks like I’m going to meet and beat this goal with ease. I’ve hit some pretty exotic international locations in 2019 but have still been able to control my travel well. 

 

 

Those faraway locations included travel to Tunisia, Montenegro, Italy, Antigua and Barbuda, Mexico, Alaska, Japan, multiple trips all over Canada and several visits to the east coast from California. Yep! I did all that?….in nine months….during a time I was trying to cut back?

 

  

 

Goal #2. Decrease annual nights out from last year (213) by 20% to something less than 170 nights out or about 42 nights a quarter.

 

During the first nine months of 2019, I traveled overnight 151 nights. That’s only a 6% decrease compared to the 161 nights I traveled during the same time frame a year ago. In order to be on pace against my goal of 170 overnights for 2019, I would need to have traveled only 126 nights at the end of the third quarter.

 

 

Believe it or not, I actually think I’m going to make this goal….or at least come very very close. Stay tuned.

 

 

Here’s a list of where I stayed during the third quarter.

 

 

July (26)

Jul 1 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around Japan

Jul 2 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around Japan

Jul 3 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around Japan

Jul 4 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around Japan

Jul 5 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around Japan

Jul 6 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around Japan

Jul 7 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around Japan

Jul 8 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around Japan

Jul 9 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around Japan

Jul 10 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around Japan

Jul 11 – Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel – Tokyo, Japan

Jul 12 – Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel – Tokyo, Japan

Jul 13 – Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel – Tokyo, Japan

Jul 14 – Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel – Tokyo, Japan

July 17 – Extended Stay America – Eagan, Minnesota

Jul 18 – Extended Stay America – Eagan, Minnesota

Jul 19 – Extended Stay America – Eagan, Minnesota

Jul 21 – Celebrity Imagination cruise ship (Celebrity Cruises) somewhere all around Southern California/Northern Baja California, Mexico

Jul 22 – Celebrity Imagination cruise ship (Celebrity Cruises) somewhere all around Southern California/Northern Baja California, Mexico

Jul 23 – Celebrity Imagination cruise ship (Celebrity Cruises) somewhere all around Southern California/Northern Baja California, Mexico

Jul 24 – Celebrity Imagination cruise ship (Celebrity Cruises) somewhere all around Southern California/Northern Baja California, Mexico

Jul 27 – Overnight flight from Los Angeles, California to Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jul 28 – Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Grand Forks, North Dakota

July 29 – Extended Stay America – Bloomington, Minnesota

Jul 30 – Magnuson Hotel – Ft. Wayne, Indiana

Jul 31 – Fairfield Inn by Marriott – Battle Creek, Michigan

 

 

August (20)

Aug 1 – Motel 6 – Arlington Heights, Illinois

Aug 2 – Marriott – Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Aug 3 – Comfort Inn and Suites – Hannibal, Missouri

Aug 4 – Slept at Becky’s – Sycamore, Illinois

Aug 5 – Slept at Becky’s – Sycamore, Illinois

Aug 6 – America’s Best Value Inn – East Syracuse, New York

Aug 7 – American’s Best Value Inn – Clear Lake, Iowa

Aug 8 – American’s Best Value Inn – Clear Lake, Iowa

Aug 9 – Sheraton Minneapolis West – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Aug 10 – Sheraton Minneapolis West – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Aug 17 – Woodspring Suites – West Valley City, Utah

Aug 20 – Coast Abbotsford Hotel & Suites – Abbotsford, British Columbia

Aug  21 – Four Points by Sheraton – Prince George, British Columbia

Aug  22 – Four Points by Sheraton – Prince George, British Columbia

Aug 23 – Quality Inn – Quesnel, British Columbia

Aug 24 – Canyon Alpine Motel – Boston Bar, British Columbia

Aug 28 – Red Roof Inn – Erlanger, Kentucky

Aug 29 – Fairfield Inn & Suites – Louisville, Kentucky

Aug 30 – Extended Stay America – Memphis, Tennessee

Aug 31 – Slept in Orange, TX highway rest area

 

 

September (16)

Sep 1 – Slept at Becky’s – Sycamore, Illinois

Sep 4 – Four Points by Sheraton – Salt Lake City, Utah

Sep 5 – SpringHill Suites by Marriott Pittsburgh Southside Works – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Sep 6 – Auburn Hills Marriott – Pontiac, Michigan

Sep 7 – Slept in Canadian highway rest area – West Lorne, Ontario, Canada

Sep 8 – Wyndham Garden Romulus Detroit Metro Airport – Detroit, Michigan

Sep 14 – Slept on plane from Los Angeles to Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Sep 15 – Nights Inn Motel – Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

Sep 20 – Seattle Airport Marriott – Seattle, Washington

Sep 21 – Aston at Papakea Resort, Lahaina, Hawaii

Sep 22 – Aston at Papakea Resort, Lahaina, Hawaii

Sep 23 – Aston at Papakea Resort, Lahaina, Hawaii

Sep 24 – Aston at Papakea Resort, Lahaina, Hawaii

Sep 25 – Aston at Papakea Resort, Lahaina, Hawaii

Sep 26 – Aston at Papakea Resort, Lahaina, Hawaii

Sep 27 – Aston at Papakea Resort, Lahaina, Hawaii

 

 

 

Goal #3. Decrease annual overnights where I slept in an airport or in a car or on an airplane last year (43) by 20%. That makes my annual “no bed” nights goal – 35. That’s a noble goal, right? How many “no bed” nights will YOU have this year?

 

Wow! I’ve got to be happy with my “no bed” results! It does seem kind of weird to be celebrating the fact that I actually slept in a bed on most nights during the third quarter. However, I have learned to take victories wherever I can get them.

 

 

During this quarter I only slept on an airplane or in my car or in an airport for three nights. That’s one of my best quarterly results in years! My goal is to sleep no more than 35 nights without a bed for the year. During the first nine months of 2019, my “no bed nights” total is just 22. I AM going to make this goal for the year! Here’s a list of when and where I didn’t sleep in a bed during the third quarter.

 

 

Jul 27 – Overnight flight from Los Angeles, California to Minneapolis, Minnesota

Aug 31 – Slept in Orange, TX highway rest area

Sep 7 – Slept in Canadian highway rest area – West Lorne, Ontario, Canada

 

 

 

 

2019 – 2nd Quarter Update

 

Goal #1. Decrease annual miles traveled last year (283,000) by 20% to something less than 225,000 miles.

 

During the first two quarters of the year, I flew 141,797 miles. I drove 18,057 miles in rental cars and another nearly 134 miles in my own car for trackchasing. I know what you must be thinking, “You don’t use your own car for trackchasing very much!” You would be correct. The last thing I want to do is wear out my own car trackchasing!

 

 

O.K. I’m trying to travel less than 225,000 miles for the year. During the first six months of the year, I flew and drove a bit more than 160,000 miles. Hmmm. That doesn’t look good for meeting this goal, does it? Granted the first half of this year included travel to such faraway places as Tunisia, Montenegro, Italy, Antigua and Barbuda, Mexico, Alaska, Japan, multiple trips all over Canada and several visits to the east coast from California. Whew! I did all that?….in six months….during a time I was trying to cut back?

 

 

I won’t travel as much during the last six months of the year as I did in the first. However, I can see now that I ain’t going to make this goal unless…..some more family trips that don’t involve trackchasing and a potential foot operation that might slow me down for 3-4 weeks come into play. We’ll just have to wait and see. Nevertheless, it’s been a fun first six months of travel so far.

 

 

Goal #2. Decrease annual nights out from last year (213) by 20% to something less than 170 nights out or about 42 nights a quarter.

 

During the first six months, I traveled overnight 89 nights. That’s only a 9% decrease compared to the 98 nights I traveled during the same time frame a year ago. In order to be on pace against my goal of 170 overnights for 2019, I would need to have traveled only 85 nights. I am behind the goal pace but not TOO far behind. There is still a good possibility I can achieve this goal. You might be interested to read about where I did all of this traveling.

 

 

April (17)

Apr 5 – Extended Stay America – Tewksbury, Massachusetts

Apr 6 – Slept in car – Connecticut racetrack

April 12 – Bay City Motor Inn – Bellingham, Washington

April 17 – Slept overnight on plane – Los Angeles to Rome, Italy

April 18 – Sheraton Tunis Hotel – Tunis, Tunisia

April 19 – Sheraton Tunis Hotel – Tunis, Tunisia

April 20 – Sheraton Tunis Hotel – Tunis, Tunisia

April 21 – Sheraton Tunis Hotel – Tunis, Tunisia

April 22 – Sheraton Tunis Hotel – Tunis, Tunisia

April 23 – Pentahotel – Paris, France

April 24 – Pentahotel – Paris, France

April 25 – Royal Airport Hotel – Zagreb, Croatia

April 26 – Hotel Pinija – Zader, Croatia

April 27 – Hotel Ziya – Podgorica, Montenegro

April 28 – Boutique Hotel Casa Del Mare – Blanche, Bijela, Montenegro

April 29 – SL Panorama – Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina

April 30 – Bosnian National Monument Muslibegovic House, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

 

May (18)

May 1 – Residence Inn by Marriott – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

May 2 – Zepter Hotel – Dubica, Bosnia and Herzegovina

May 3 – Four Points by Sheraton – Venice Mestre, Italy

May 4 – Four Points by Sheraton – Venice Mestre, Italy

May 5 – Royal Airport Hotel – Zagreb, Croatia

May 11 – Slept in car near Bow, Washington

May 17 – Fairfield Inn & Suites, Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico

May 18 – Slept in car near Casa Grande, Arizona

May 22 – Sheraton Hotel – Miami Beach, Florida

May 23 – Holiday Inn – Miami Beach, Florida

May 24 – Buccaneer Beach Club, Dickinson Bay, Antigua and Barbuda

May 25 – Buccaneer Beach Club, Dickinson Bay, Antigua and Barbuda

May 26 – Buccaneer Beach Club, Dickinson Bay, Antigua and Barbuda

May 27 – Aloft, Miami Beach, Florida

May 28 – Slept at Kristy’s, Austin, Texas

May 29 – Slept at Kristy’s, Austin, Texas

May 30 – Courtyard by Marriott – Columbus, Ohio

May 31 – Overnight drive from Nashville, Tennessee to Atlanta, Georgia

 

 

 

June (18)

Jun 1 – Hotel Motel Bonaparte – Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Jun 7 – Overnight drive from Bakersfield, California to San Francisco, California

Jun 8 – Overnight flight from Anchorage, Alaska to Seattle, Washington

Jun 9 – Residence Inn by Marriott – Englewood, Colorado

Jun 10 – Residence Inn by Marriott – Englewood, Colorado

Jun 11 – Overnight flight from Denver, Colorado to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jun 12 – TownePlace Suites by Marriott – Laurel, New Jersey

Jun 13 – Four Points by Sheraton – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jun 14 – Extended Stay America – Louisville, Kentucky

Jun 15 – Slept overnight in St. Louis Walmart parking lot

Jun 20 – Courtyard by Marriott – Dulles, Virginia

Jun 21 – Microtel – Greenville, North Carolina

Jun 22 – Slept overnight in Philadelphia airport

Jun 26 – Overnight flight from Honolulu, Hawaii to Osaka, Japan

Jun 27 – Crown Plaza Ana – Kobe, Japan

Jun 28 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around Japan

Jun 29 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around South Korea

Jun 30 – Diamond Princess cruise ship (Princess Cruises) – Sailing somewhere all around Japan

 

 

Goal #3. Decrease annual overnights where I slept in an airport or in a car or on an airplane last year (43) by 20%. That makes my annual “no bed” nights goal – 35. That’s a noble goal, right? How many “no bed” nights will YOU have this year?

 

Why do I sleep in those places to begin with? It’s simple! Getting from point A to point B doesn’t allow enough time to get a hotel. My goal is to sleep overnight an average of 8-9 nights or less in something other than a bed each quarter.

 

 

This quarter my no bed nights totaled eleven….that makes it 19 “no bed” nights for the first six months. Again, I’m close but just a little behind goal pace so far. Here’s how the “no bed” situation looked like during the second quarter.

 

 

Apr 6 – Slept in car – Connecticut racetrack

April 17 – Slept overnight on plane – Los Angeles to

May 11 – Slept in car near Bow, Washington

May 18 – Slept in car near Casa Grande, Arizona

May 31 – Overnight drive from Nashville, Tennessee to Atlanta, Georgia

Jun 7 – Overnight drive from Bakersfield, California to San Francisco, California

Jun 8 – Overnight flight from Anchorage, Alaska to Seattle, Washington

Jun 11 – Overnight flight from Denver, Colorado to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jun 15 – Slept overnight in St. Louis Walmart parking lot

Jun 22 – Slept overnight in Philadelphia airport

Jun 26 – Overnight flight from Honolulu, Hawaii to Osaka, Japan

 

 

 

 

2019 – 1st Quarter Update

 

Goal #1. Decrease annual miles traveled last year (283,000) by 20% to something less than 225,000 miles.

 

During the first quarter, I flew and drove nearly 66,000 miles. Traveling that much in three months, mainly for ice racing, does not portend a successful result against this goal. The first and fourth quarters should be my lightest travel months of the year. I have a LOT of travel miles planned for quarters two and three. I don’t think I will meet this goal!

 

 

 

Goal #2. Decrease annual nights out from last year (213) by 20% to something less than 170 nights out or about 42 nights a quarter.

 

During the first quarter, I traveled 36 nights. All right! Doing well, so far, against this goal. Here’s where I did stay during the first quarter.

 

 

January (10)

Jan 1 – Westin – Melbourne, Australia

Jan 2 – Westin – Melbourne, Australia

Jan 11 – Slept overnight in Minneapolis airport

Jan 16 – Holiday Inn – McAlester, Oklahoma

Jan 17 – Kristy’s – Austin, Texas

Jan 18 – Kristy’s – Austin, Texas

Jan 19 – Best Western Plus – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Jan 20 – Best Western Plus – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Jan 25 – Minneapolis Marriott Northwest – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jan 26 – Sheraton – Madison, Wisconsin

 

February (14)

Feb 1 – Four Points by Sheraton – Richfield, Minnesota

Feb 2 – Sheraton – Framingham, Massachusetts

Feb 3 – Sheraton – Framingham, Massachusetts

Feb 4 – Howard Johnson’s – Tampa, Florida

Feb 8 – Minneapolis Marriott Northwest – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Feb 9 – Four Points by Sheraton – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Feb 10 – Four Points by Sheraton – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Feb 14 – Slept overnight in Minneapolis airport

Feb 15 – Best Western Plus – Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Feb 16 – Country Inn & Suites – Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Feb 17 – Country Inn & Suites – Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Feb 22 – Four Points by Sheraton – Richfield, Minnesota

Feb 23 – Four Points by Sheraton – Richfield, Minnesota

Feb 28 – Slept overnight on plane from LAX to Orlando, Florida

 

March (12)

Mar 1 – Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort – Orlando, Florida

Mar 2 – Magnuson Pioneer Inn & Suites – Escanaba, Michigan

Mar 3 – Four Points by Sheraton – Richfield, Minnesota

Mar 8 – Quality Inn – Albany, New York

Mar 9 – Quality Inn – Albany, New York

Mar 15 – Slept in car – Texas rest area

Mar 16 – Slept in car – Louisiana rest area

Mar 22 – Slept in car – Iowa rest area

Mar 23 – Sleep Inn – Greensboro, North Carolina

Mar 24 – Knight’s Inn – Mount Airy, North Carolina

Mar 29 – Slept overnight in Kentucky rest area

Mar 30 – Slept overnight in Nashville airport

 

 

 

Goal #3. Decrease annual overnights where I slept in an airport or in a car or on an airplane last year (43) by 20%. That makes my annual “no bed” nights goal – 35. That’s a noble goal, right? How many “no bed” nights will YOU have this year?

 

 

Why do I sleep in those places to begin with? It’s simple! Getting from point A to point B doesn’t allow enough time to get a hotel. My goal is to sleep overnight an average of 8-9 nights or less in something other than a bed each quarter.

 

 

This quarter that number was eight….just made it.

 

 

Jan 11 – Slept overnight in Minneapolis airport

Feb 14 – Slept overnight in Minneapolis airport

Feb 28 – Slept overnight on plane from LAX to Orlando, Florida

Mar 15 – Slept in car – Texas rest area

Mar 16 – Slept in car – Louisiana rest area

Mar 22 – Slept in car – Iowa rest area

Mar 29 – Slept overnight in Kentucky rest area

Mar 30 – Slept overnight in Nashville airport

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goal – Foreign country trackchasing

You can’t be the “WORLD’S #1 Trackchaser” if you haven’t seen racing in more countries than all the other trackchasers! Coming into the 2019 trackchasing season I have seen racing in 82 countries. That’s thirty more countries than my nearest fellow competitor.

 

 

This year my goal will be to add one more new country trackchasing visit to my lifetime totals. I might get more than one, but I think after having seen as much racing around the world as I have that one more can be an achievable goal. Below is my current list of trackchasing country visits through 2019.

 

 

 

# 1 – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA– Peoria Speedway – Mt. Hawley (oval) – Track #1, Peoria, Illinois – circa 1955

 

# 2 – CANADA– Cayuga Speedway (oval) – Track #174, Nelles Corner, Ontario – 1988

 

# 3 – AUSTRALIA– Parramatta City Raceway (oval) – Track #180, Granville, New South Wales – 1989

 

# 4 – UNITED KINGDOM– Northhampton International Raceway (oval) – Track #378, Northhampton – 1999

 

# 5 – NETHERLANDS– Driesum Racetrack (oval) – Track #839, Driesum – 2005

 

# 6 – BELGIUM– Bellekouter oval (oval) – Track #841, Affligem – 2005

 

# 7 – FRANCE– Circuit de Croix en Ternois (road course) – Track #843, Saint-Pol sur-Ternoise – 2005

 

# 8 – GERMANY– Nurburgring (road course) – Track #844, Nurburg – 2005

 

# 9 – NEW ZEALAND– Western Springs Speedway (oval) – Track #1,134, Western Springs – 2006

 

# 10 – MEXICO– Triovalo Bernardo Obregon (oval) – Track #1,281, Tiajamulco de Zuniga, Jalisco – 2007

 

# 11 – BARBADOS– Bushy Park Racing Circuit (road course) – Track #1,296, Bushy Park – 2007

 

# 12 – THAILAND– Bira Circuit (road course) – Track #1,300, Pattaya – 2008

 

# 13 – SOUTH AFRICA– Durban Grand Prix (road course) – Track #1,315, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal – 2008

 

# 14 – JAMAICA– Dover Raceway (road course) – Track #1,322, Brown’s Town St. Ann – 2008

 

# 15 – SWEDEN– Sturup Raceway (road course) – Track #1,335, Malmo – 2008

 

# 16 – DENMARK– Ring Djursland (road course) – Track #1,336, Tirstrup – 2008

 

# 17 – CZECH REPUBLIC– Automotodrome BRNO (road course) – Track #1,381, Brno – 2008

 

# 18 – AUSTRIA– Lambrechten Stock Car Track (road course) – Track #1,382, Lambrechten – 2008

 

# 19 – IRELAND– Tipperary International Raceway (oval) – Track #1,388, Rosegreen – 2008

 

# 20 – GUYANA– South Dakota Circuit (road course) – Track #1,390, Timehri – 2008

 

# 21 – CHINA– The Guia Circuit (road course) – Track #1,392, Macau – 2008

 

# 22 – COSTA RICA– Autodromo La Guacima (road course) – Track #1,398, La Guacima – 2008

 

# 23 – ANDORRA– Grandvalira Circuit (road course) – Track #1,404, Port d’Envalira – 2009

 

# 24 – ARGENTINA– Circuito Efren Chemolli (oval) – Track #1,406, Buenos Aires – 2009

 

# 25 – QATAR– Losail International Circuit (road course) – Track #1,408, Doha – 2009

 

# 26 – BAHRAIN– Bahrain International Circuit (road course) – Track #1,410, Sakhir – 2009

 

# 27 – UNITED ARAB EMIRATES– Dubai Autodrome (road course) – Track #1,411, Dubai – 2009

 

# 28 – COLOMBIA– Autodromo de Tocancipa (road course) – Track #1,415, Tocancipa – 2009

 

# 29 – SPAIN– Motorland Aragon (road course) – Track #1,416, Alcaniz – 2009

 

# 30 – PORTUGAL– Circuto de Murca (road course) – Track #1,417, Murca – 2009

 

# 31 – ICELAND– Kapelluhraum (road course) – Track #1,420, Hafnafjorour – 2009

 

# 32 – HUNGARY– Hungaroring (road course) – Track #1,426, Mogyorod – 2009

 

# 33 – SWITZERLAND– Hock Ybrig (road course) – Track #1,427, Hoch Ybrig – 2009

 

# 34 – ITALY– Vighizzolo d’Este Stock Car Track (road course) – Track #1,428, Vighizzolo d’Este – 2009

 

# 35 – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC– Autodromo Mobil 1 (road course) – Track #1,515, Santo Domingo – 2009

 

# 36 – MALTA– Ta’Qali Race Track (road course) – Track #1,521, Ta’Qali – 2010

 

# 37 – FINLAND– Lake Pidisjarvi Ice Track (road course) – Track #1,524, Nivala – 2010

 

# 38 – JAPAN– Suzuka Circuit (road course) – Track #1,530, Suzuka – 2010

 

# 39 – CHILE– Autodromo de Interlomas (road course) – Track #1,531, Temuco – 2010

 

# 40 – MOROCCO– Circuit de Marrakesh (road course) – Track #1,535, Marrakesh – 2010

 

# 41 – BRAZIL– Circuit de Caruaru – Aryten Senna (road course) – Track #1,540, Caruaru – 2010

 

# 42 – ESTONIA– Laitse Rally Park (road course) – Track #1,571, Laitse – 2010

 

# 43 – LATVIA– Bikernieki (road course) – Track #1,572, Riga – 2010

 

# 44 – GUATEMALA– Autodromo Pedro Cofino (road course) – Track #1,580, Alotenango – 2010

 

# 45 – EL SALVADOR– El Jabali (road course) – Track #1,582, Quezaltepeque – 2010

 

# 46 – ROMANIA– Bradu (road course) – Track #1,603, Bradu – 2010

 

# 47 – BULGARIA– Closed Route – Burgas (road course) – Track #1,604, Burgas – 2010

 

# 48 – SOUTH KOREA– Korea International Circuit (road course) – Track #1,605, Yeongam, Jeollanam-Do – 2010

 

# 49 – PHILIPPINES– Batangas Racing Circuit (road course) – Track #1,608, Batangas – 2010

 

# 50 – NORWAY– Lyngas Motorbane (road course) – Track #1,648, Lier – 2011

 

# 51 – MALAYSIA– Sepang International Circuit (road course) – Track #1,656, Sepang – 2011

 

# 52 – INDONESIA– Sentul International Circuit (road course) – Track #1,657, Babakan Madang, Boder – 2011

 

# 53 – LUXEMBOURG– Alzingen (road course) – Track #1,711, Alzingen – 2011

 

# 54 – POLAND– Tor Slomczyn (road course) – Track #1,713, Slomczyn – 2011

 

# 55 – SINGAPORE– Marina Bay (road course) – Track #1,714, Singapore – 2011

 

# 56 – URUGUAY– Piriapolis Grand Prix (road course) – Track #1,724, Piriapolis – 2011

 

# 57 – SRI LANKA– Pannala Race Track (road course) – Track #1,732, Pannala – 2012

 

# 58 – ECUADOR – Autodromo Internacional de Yahuarcocha (road course) – Track #1,736, Ibarra – 2012

 

# 59 – SLOVAKIA– Slovakia Ring (road course) – Track #1,745, Orechova Poten – 2012

 

# 60 – MONACO– Circuit de Monaco (road course) – Track #1,747, Monte Carlo – 2012

 

# 61 – CROATIA– Automotodrom Drobnik (road course) – Track #1,762, Rijeka – 2012

 

# 62 – PERU– Autodromo La Chutana (road course) – Track #1,802, Lima – 2012

 

# 63 – GREECE– Serres Circuit (road course) – Track #1,807, Serres – 2012

 

# 64 – RUSSIA– Moscow Central Hippodrome (oval) – Track #1,824, Moscow – 2013

 

# 65 – LITHUANIA– Marijampole Autocross Track (road course) – Track #1,842, Marijampole – 2013

 

# 66 – INDIA– Buddh International Circuit (road course) – Track #1,915, Noida – 2013

 

# 67 – GEORGIA– Rustavi International Motorpark (road course) – Track #1,916, Rustavi – 2013

 

# 68 – TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO– Larry Gomes Stadium (road course) – Track #1,928, Arima – 2014

 

# 69 – TURKEY– Istanbul Park (road course) – Track #2,035 Akfirat – 2014

 

# 70 – AZERBAIJAN– Streets of Baku (road course) – Track #2,037, Baku – 2014

 

# 71 – SERBIA– Usce (road course) – Track #2,224, Belgrade – 2016

 

# 72 – BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVNIA– Zaluzani (road course) – Track #2,235, Banja Luka – 2016

 

# 73 – PANAMA– Circuito Internacional de Panama (road course) – Track #2,290, La Chorrera – 2016

 

# 74 – ZIMBABWE– Bulawayo Motorsports Park (road course) – Track #2,291, Bulawayo – 2016

 

# 75 – NAMIBIA– Desert Raceway (oval) – Track #2,369, Walvis Bay – 2017

 

# 76 – MACEDONIA– Skopje Street Course (road course) – Track #2,386, Skopje – 2017

 

# 77 – UKRAINE– Autodrome Chayka (road course) – Track #2,387, Kiev – 2017

 

# 78 – BELARUS– Stadium Zarya (oval) – Track #2,421, Minsk – 2018

 

# 79 – MALDIVES– Hulhumalé Racing Track (road course) – Track #2,425, Hulhumalé – 2018

 

# 80 – BOLIVIA– Autodromo Santa Cruz (road course) – Track #2,429, Santa Cruz – 2018

 

# 81 – MOLDOVA– Autocross Colonita (road course) – Track #2,503, Colonita – 2018

 

# 82 – SAUDI ARABIA– Ad Diriyah E-Prix (road course) – Track #2,514, Ad Diriyah – 2018

 

# 83 – TUNISIA– Belvedere Race Track (road course) – Track #2,547 Tunis – 2019

 

# 84 – MONTENEGRO– Auto Kros Zlatica (road course) – Track #2,548 Podgorica – 2019

 

# 85 – ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA– Crabbs Raceway (road course) – Track #2,553 Crabbs – 2019

 

 

 

2019 – 4th Quarter Final Results

 

Goal. Add one more new country trackchasing visit to my lifetime totals.

 

 

When I can come into a trackchasing season having seen racing in 82 countries and ADD three more I’ve got to be pretty happy about that. I’ve now see racing in 85 countries all over the world and am looking for more in 2020.

 

 

 

 

2019 – 3rd Quarter Update

 

Goal. Add one more new country trackchasing visit to my lifetime totals.

 

I didn’t visit any new countries during the third quarter for the purpose of trackchasing. I don’t have any more new country trackchasing visits planned for the year. However, 2020 is coming soon!

 

 

Nevertheless, I am thrilled with the three countries I did visit for the first time in 2019. Who wouldn’t want to make tourist visits to such faraway places as Tunisia, Montenegro and Antigua and Barbuda? Not only did I see racing there but I met some of the very best people I could ever expect to meet. They invited me into their homes, served me meals in their homes and restaurants and gave me special awards for just coming to the countries to see their racing. Outstanding!

 

 

 

 

2019 – 2nd Quarter Update

 

Goal. Add one more new country trackchasing visit to my lifetime totals.

 

New country trackchasing in a single quarter can’t really get any better than it did this quarter. Trackchasing countries #83 – Tunisia, #84 – Montenegro and #85 – Antigua and Barbuda have now been added to my career worldwide trackchasing totals.

 

 

I made so many new friends and saw and did so many unusual things. When I first started racechasing and then trackchasing I had ZERO idea this would ever morph into such a great travel hobby. If you haven’t read about these travel adventures yet I suggest you click on the tabs above to see how exciting these places were to visit.

 

 

By the way, Carol came along for the Montenegro and Antigua and Barbuda trips. She has now seen racing in 48 countries. That makes her the “World’s #3 Trackchaser”! In talking to her she plans to add to that total later this year. Stay tuned. I don’t have any more new countries on the immediate horizon for 2019…but that can change with just one phone call or one text message!

 

 

 

 

2019 – 1st Quarter Update

 

Goal. Add one more new country trackchasing visit to my lifetime totals.

 

I didn’t see any racing in new trackchasing countries this quarter. However, I’ve got some things in the hopper. I wouldn’t be surprised if I have a very successful second quarter of international trackchasing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goal – Continue the sharing of my trackchasing hobby via social media.

 

 

Produce a minimum of 50 new YouTube videos for my YouTube channel:  RANLAY.  Current 1/1/19 film total: 1,219.  

 

 

Increase total minutes viewed from 1.8 million (1/1/19) to 2.1 million (12/31/19).  

 

 

Increase total views from 1.04 million (1/1/19) to 1.15 million (increase of 110,000) by 12/31/19.

 

 

Add at least 100 new Trackchaser Reports to my website (1/1/19 total 870).

 

 

Share SmugMug photo albums, YouTube videos and Trackchaser Reports on my Facebook page for each new track attended.

 

 

 

2019 – 4th Quarter Final Results

 

Goal #1. Produce 50 YouTube videos.

 

For the entire year, I created 90 new YouTube videos. My channel now has 1,309 (mostly racing) videos.

 

 

Goal #2. Increase my YouTube channels minutes viewed by 300,000 to more than two million.

 

I just snuck in under the line to beat this goal. By December 31, 2019 my YouTube channel had 2,309,154 minutes of viewing time. More than TWO MILLION minutes! That’s nearly 34,000 HOURS of viewing. I’ll take it. That is a lot of minutes!

 

 

Goal #3. Increase total views for my YouTube channel by 110,000.

 

My channel had 1,115,703 views at the end of 2019. That’s just under my goal of 1.15 million views. Nevertheless, of all the YouTube channels in existence, a very small percentage have more than my totals. There are an estimated 28 million YouTube channels. Some 2.8 million of those have more than one million views. That puts my channel in the top 10% of channels most viewed on YouTube.

 

 

I now have 1,665 YouTube subscribers to my channel.

 

 

Goal #4. Add at least 100 new Trackchaser Reports.

 

I began the year with 870 individual posts on my website at www.randylewis.org. I finished 2019 with 1,030 posts. If you only knew the time it takes to create an entire Trackchaser Report post with a YouTube video and SmugMug photo album. It’s a labor of love. Most posts offer 30-50 printed pages or more of information. SmugMug photo albums are attached to many of these posts as are YouTube videos of the racing action. If you’re a race fan and like reading about and seeing the sights and racing from places you might not have visited I think you will like www.randylewis.org.

 

 

 

Goal #5. Share SmugMug photo albums, YouTube videos and Trackchaser Reports after each new track I visit. 

 

I’ve been doing this for years! I’m the ONLY trackchaser to share my experiences in such great detail!

 

 

There are no “counters” for me to see how many people are viewing my SmugMug photo albums. I love sharing these albums. I take the time to caption the albums to enhance your viewing enjoyment.

 

 

There are two real benefits for me in sharing what I do. For others my sharing allows them to somewhat vicariously “be there” for the racing and travel experiences I have created. For me the Trackchaser Reports, photo albums and YouTube videos create a personal diary of sorts. Although I don’t do it as often as I would like I very much enjoy going back to an “old” track visit and reminiscing about the good times I’ve had on the long and dusty trackchasing trail.

 

 

 

2019 – 3rd Quarter Update

 

Goal #1. Produce 50 YouTube videos.

 

During the first nine months of 2019, I created 56 new YouTube videos. Fans seem to enjoy these short movies. I’ll continue to produce them. I’ve already beaten my 2019 goal on this one.

 

 

 

Goal #2. Increase my YouTube channels minutes viewed by 300,000 to more than two million.

 

The cumulative total “minutes viewed” through the first nine months of 2019 on my YouTube channel (RANLAY) is now 1,992,732. The channel is now easily on pace to meet and exceed my goal of TWO MILLION minutes viewed since inception. Yes. That is a lot of minutes!

 

 

Goal #3. Increase total views for my YouTube channel by 110,000.

 

My channel’s total views for the first nine months of 2019 were 94,000. That’s about 350 views every day. The channel is on a great pace to easily surpass my goal of 110,000 for the year. My YouTube channel has more than ONE MILLION (almost 1.2 million) views. There are an estimated 28 million YouTube channels. Some 2.8 million of those have more than one million views. That puts my channel in the top 10% of channels most viewed on YouTube.

 

 

I now have just over 1,600 YouTube subscribers to my channel. There have been thirty new subscribers in just the past 28 days!

 

 

Goal #4. Add at least 100 new Trackchaser Reports.

 

I published 84 new posts to my website at www.randylewis.org during the first nine months of 2019. In total, my site has 951 individual posts. Most posts offer 30-50 printed pages or more of information. SmugMug photo albums are attached to many of these posts as are YouTube videos of the racing action. If you’re a race fan and like reading about and seeing the sights and racing from places you might not have visited I think you will like www.randylewis.org.

 

 

 

Goal #5. Share SmugMug photo albums, YouTube videos and Trackchaser Reports after each new track I visit. 

 

I’ve been doing this for years! I’m the ONLY trackchaser to share my experiences in such great detail!

 

 

There are no “counters” for me to see how many people are viewing my SmugMug photo albums. I love sharing these albums. I take the time to caption the albums to enhance your viewing enjoyment.

 

 

There are two real benefits for me in sharing what I do. For others my sharing allows them to somewhat vicariously “be there” for the racing and travel experiences I have created. For me the Trackchaser Reports, photo albums and YouTube videos create a personal diary of sorts. Although I don’t do it as often as I would like I very much enjoy going back to an “old” track visit and reminiscing about the good times I’ve had on the long and dusty trackchasing trail.

 

 

 

 

2019 – 2nd Quarter Update

 

Goal #1. Produce 50 YouTube videos.

 

During the first six months of 2019, I produced 42 new YouTube videos. Fans seem to enjoy these short movies. I’ll continue to produce them.

 

 

Goal #2. Increase my YouTube channels minutes viewed by 300,000 to more than two million.

 

The total “minutes viewed” for the first six months of 2019 on my YouTube channel was 141,200. This drops me just a bit behind the pace I need to make my goal. Viewing of racing videos on YouTube is seasonal just like the Vicks cough and cold products I used to sell as a young man. I should have a decent third quarter but the fourth quarter will drop off. I might not make this goal. My cumulative YouTube channel minutes viewed is 1,926,150. That’s a lot of minutes!

 

 

Goal #3. Increase total views for my YouTube channel by 110,000.

 

My channel’s total views for the first six months of 2019 were 65,100. That keeps me on pace to meet the year’s goal. I now have more than 1,500 YouTube subscribers to my channel. To be honest with you I don’t know what the real benefit of subscribing to a YouTube channel really is. I am subscribed to a handful of channels but never get any notification when that channel adds a new video.

 

 

Goal #4. Add at least 100 new Trackchaser Reports.

 

I have published 56 new posts to my website at www.randylewis.org during the first six months of 2019. In total, my site has 926 individual posts. Most posts offer 30-50 pages or more of information. SmugMug photo albums are attached to many of these posts as are YouTube videos of the racing action. If you’re a race fan and like reading about and seeing the sights and racing from places you might not have visited I think you will like www.randylewis.org.

 

 

Goal #5. Share SmugMug photo albums, YouTube videos and Trackchaser Reports after each new track I visit. 

 

I’ve been doing that for years! I’m the ONLY trackchaser to share my experiences in such great detail!

 

 

There are no “counters” for me to see how many people are viewing my SmugMug photo albums. I love sharing these albums. I take the time to caption the albums to enhance your viewing enjoyment.

 

 

There are two real benefits for me in sharing what I do. For others my sharing allows them to somewhat vicariously “be there” for the racing and travel experiences I have created. For me, the Trackchaser Reports, photo albums and YouTube videos create a personal diary of sorts. Although I don’t do it as often as I would like I very much enjoy going back to an “old” track visit and reminiscing about the good times I’ve had on the long and dusty trackchasing trail.

 

 

 

 

2019 – 1st Quarter Update

 

Goal #1. Produce 50 YouTube videos.

 

During the quarter I developed 23 new YouTube videos. I’m well on my way to beating my goal of fifty for the year.

 

 

Goal #2. Increase my YouTube channels minutes viewed by 300,000 to more than two million.

 

The “minutes viewed” during January, February and March were 76,800. That pace keeps me on goal. Believe it or not the view time and total views for my channel is seasonal. Just like the racing season where interest is greater during the summer months that is the case with my YouTube channel as well.

 

 

Goal #3. Increase total views for my YouTube channel by 110,000.

 

The quarter’s total views were 33,700. I’ll know more about whether that’s on goal over the next couple of quarters. It’s looking good. The quarter did produce 91 new subscribers to my YouTube channel.

 

 

Goal #4. Add at least 100 new Trackchaser Reports.

 

During 2019’s first quarter I developed thirty new Trackchaser Reports. I thought it was more! Should make my goal here at this rate.

 

 

Goal #5. Share SmugMug photo album, YouTube video and Trackchaser Report after each new track I visit. 

 

I’ve been doing that for years!

 

 

 

Overall first quarter update. I am happy to take the time to share the trackchasing hobby with so many people all over the world. On a typical day when I wake up I have messages from several people from all over the world. They’re reading my Trackchaser Reports and seeing my videos and photo albums. Often times they are inviting me to come to their country to trackchase and even stay with them in their homes. I never imagined “trackchasing” morphing into something like this…but I’m glad that it did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goal. Trackchasing/Exercise

I very much enjoy exercising. It’s one of the things that keeps me young. When I’m traveling out on the long and dusty trackchasing trail it is difficult to take time to exercise.  The more I trackchase the less time there is for taking care of one’s good health.

 

 

Each year I begin my trackchasing travel with ice racing. When spring comes I head to the southern part of the U.S. The summer, call that May-September, has me roaming all over the U.S. with a focus on the Midwest. For the last three months of the year I’ll get whatever I can get whenever and wherever I can get it.

 

 

Last year I traveled more than 283,000 miles traveling to and from the racetracks I visited for the first time. That’s 775 miles a day! It’s not easy to travel that much AND exercise an hour a day.

 

 

This year’s aerobic exercise goal will be to power walk a minimum of four miles per day or get 45 minutes of elliptical training in for the day. To meet my goal I’ll need to do that a minimum of 250 days (about 5 days/week) for the year. This is my most difficult trackchasing goal of all.

 

 

 

2019 – 4th Quarter Final Results

 

 

Goal. Power walk a minimum of four miles per day or get 45 minutes of elliptical training in for the day. Do that a minimum of 250 days (about 5 days/week) for the year. 

 

 

This is my most difficult trackchasing goal to achieve. Why? With the amount of travel, I do there often just isn’t much time to exercise. However, for me, aerobic exercise is a priority.

 

 

I had foot surgery on November 15. At the time I had exercised 249 times for the year….just one short of my goal. My surgery recovery period came along right on schedule according to my doctor. However, I still wasn’t in a position to go full speed with my power walking. Nevertheless, I was able to squeeze in one more four-miler in late December (actually December 31^st to be exact!). I may have to delay the beginning of my 2020 power walking goal until I am fully recovered.

 

 

12 MONTH RESULTS

 

 

MONTH       CUMULATIVE

Jan – 28       +7

Feb – 19       +5

Mar – 21       +5

Apr – 15        -1

May – 22       even

Jun – 27        +6

Jul – 32         +17

Aug – 26       +22

Sep – 27       +28

Oct – 23        +30

Nov – 9         +18

Dec – 1          +0

 

 

 

 

2019 – 3rd Quarter Update

 

Goal. Power walk a minimum of four miles per day or get 45 minutes of elliptical training in for the day. Do that a minimum of 250 days (about 5 days/week) for the year. 

 

Setting goals almost always works for me. We used to say at Procter & Gamble, “You get what you measure”. That’s a quick way of saying that if you focus on something you are likely to get results around what you focus on.

 

 

Meeting my exercise goals while traveling 175-200 nights a year has always been my most difficult trackchasing goal to achieve. In order to meet my goal, I have to carve out, just for the exercise part, an hour or more five days a week. That doesn’t count getting to and from wherever I will be exercising, clean-up and the like.

 

 

If for whatever reason I begin to fall behind the five days a week pace it is very difficult to catch up. Yes, this has always been my toughest trackchasing goal to achieve.

 

 

Making my 2019 trackchasing/exercise goal got a lot tougher when I decided to have a foot operation in November. That will take me off the power walking ocean front path for 2-4 weeks or longer. This is elective surgery. I guess my foot can’t be too bad since I’ve been able to establish an all-time power waling personal best during this quarter. However, I want that foot to be great!

 

 

Once I knew that I would need to build up a cushion of 10-20 exercise sessions or more I pretty much made a routine of exercising EVERY day not just five days a week. Remember, “You get what you measure”.

 

 

During the third quarter, I had 85 exercise outings in 92 days. Folks that’s about 350 miles of walking! Now I have that “cushion” I need to counter-balance the lack of physical activity I will have following my foot surgery.

 

 

 

 

9 MONTH RESULTS

 

 

MONTH       CUMULATIVE

Jan – 28       +7

Feb – 19       +5

Mar – 21       +5

Apr – 15        -1

May – 22       even

Jun – 27        +6

Jul – 32         +17

Aug – 26       +22

Sep – 27       +28

 

 

 

 

 

2019 – 2nd Quarter Update

 

Goal. Power walk a minimum of four miles per day or get 45 minutes of elliptical training in for the day. Do that a minimum of 250 days (about 5 days/week) for the year. 

 

This goal just got a little bit tougher. I expect to have a foot operation in October or November. I won’t be able to exercise for 2-4 weeks as I recuperate from surgery. During a normal four-week period I would need to exercise twenty times to stay on pace against my goal.

 

 

What does that mean? I will have to build up a 20-day exercise “cushion” to offset my expected no exercise recuperation period. Normally I have a hard enough time just keeping up with the pace of my goal (that would be 21 exercise periods each month) let alone building an advantage. However, when you have to do you just do right?

 

 

During June I’ve started to build up that needed “bank” of exercise. If by the end of the third quarter (JL/AG/SP) I have a cumulative advantage of twenty or more I will be in good shape. If not?….. I don’t even want to think about it.

 

 

Right now I’ll take my +6 six-month result and plan for the future. Wish me luck!

 

 

To keep pace with my goal I need to exercise a minimum of 21 times a month with at least four miles of walking and/or 45 minutes of elliptical training. That’s more than 200 miles of walking each month. Remember, these are minimums.

 

 

MONTH       CUMULATIVE

Jan – 28       +7

Feb – 19       +5

Mar – 21       +5

Apr – 15       -1

May – 22       even

Jun – 27       +6

 

 

 

2019 – 1st Quarter Update

 

Goal. Power walk a minimum of four miles per day or get 45 minutes of elliptical training in for the day. Do that a minimum of 250 days (about 5 days/week) for the year. 

 

This is my toughest trackchasing goal to meet and beat. Why? My trackchasing travel would be daunting for most folks. In order to meet my goal, I need to power walk more than four miles a day, five days a week. That task was made a little more difficult when I stayed overnight on the road some 36 nights and traveled by air and car more than 65,000 miles in the first three months of 2019. That’s about 700 miles of travel each and every day!

 

 

Nevertheless, during the quarter I hit the power walking trail and/or the elliptical trainer 68 times (Jan:28, Feb:19, Mar: 21) to beat my goal for the quarter by five. I can never let up. The “pace” just keeps moving along every day. Injuries can throw me off pace on a second’s notice. Yes, this is my most difficult goal to beat and one of the most gratifying of them all to beat!

 

 

 

 

 

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, with the exception of the Fourth of July when the beach is just too danged crowded.  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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goal – Achieve and maintain a #1 trackchasing ranking in 26 states.

First, I’ll try to defend my current lead in the 24 states where I already hold a #1 state ranking. Those 24 states are listed below.

 

 

Secondly, I will try to move into the #1 spot in two additional states for a #1 ranking in 26 overall states. This actually isn’t the most difficult of goals but will require some extra planning.

 

 

 

 

Going into 2019 #1 rankings.

Alaska

Arizona

California

Colorado

Florida

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Iowa 

Kansas

Kentucky

Minnesota

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada 

New Mexico

Oklahoma

Oregon

Rhode Island

South Dakota

Texas

Utah 

Washington

Wyoming

 

 

2019 – 4th Quarter Final Results

 

 

Goal. Move into the #1 spot in two additional states for a #1 ranking in 26 overall states.

 

 

Mission accomplished! During the year I moved into a #1 trackchasing ranking in both Missouri and Louisiana. That achievement allows me to hold a #1 ranking in 26 states. I’ll take that!  

 

 

 

Final 2019 state #1 rankings.

Alaska

Arizona

California

Colorado

Florida

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Iowa 

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada 

New Mexico

Oklahoma

Oregon

Rhode Island

South Dakota

Texas

Utah 

Washington

Wyoming

 

 

 

 

2019 – 3rd Quarter Update

 

Goal. Move into the #1 spot in two additional states for a #1 ranking in 26 overall states.

 

Success! The third quarter in trackchasing is for “moving”. I can’t do much during the first quarter of any year I trackchase. That’s normally reserved for ice racing. The second quarter helps me make some progress against my goals. When the fourth quarter rolls around the season is winding down rapidly. It’s nearly time for Christmas. However, it is the THIRD QUARTER where I often can meet and/or beat whatever goal I am shooting for.

 

 

Missouri was going to be the first new state where I was able to achieve a #1 trackchasing rank in 2019. On August 3, 2019, I went down to Jefferson City, Missouri to see the J&B Promotions’ figure 8 race at the Jefferson City Jaycees Fairgrounds. That visit marked the 68^th track I had seen in the “Show Me” state. Seeing 68 tracks in Missouri tied me for a #1 ranking with Wisconsin’s Ed Esser. I knew Ed well before he unexpectedly passed away in 2014. I’m pretty sure if anyone was going to match up with Ed’s totals in Missouri he would be happy it was me.

 

 

Later in the month, I headed down to Louisiana. On August 31, 2019, I saw racing in the afternoon at the NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans. Then that evening I drove up to Glenmora, Louisiana to see racing at the Thunder Valley Speedway. Those visits provided my 15^th and 16th-lifetime tracks where I’ve seen racing in the Bayou state. Once again I moved into a tie for the #1 trackchasing ranking. Who did I tie? You guessed it, Ed Esser. Of course, I never lose sight of the fact that I wouldn’t have these two top rankings if Mr. Esser was still trackchasing.

 

 

I have now met my goal of being ranked #1 in 26 trackchasing states. That’s actually kind of hard to believe. Here’s the funny part for future trackchasers to consider.

 

 

If someone were to begin trackchasing right now there are not enough currently active tracks to match the totals I have in virtually every state. This is certainly true in the 26 states where I have a #1 ranking. I hope that doesn’t discourage any new trackchasers!

 

 

 

 

2019 – 2nd Quarter Update

 

Goal. Move into the #1 spot in two additional states for a #1 ranking in 26 overall states.

 

Yes, the states of Missouri and Louisiana are the most likely candidates to give me my next #1 state trackchasing ranking. Have I made any progress here? Yes! A little. I made it down to the Hillbilly Speedway in Fair Grove, Missouri. That was a fun time. Click on this Hillbilly Speedway link to find out how fun and unusual that trip was. I still trail Wisconsin’s Ed Esser 68-67 in Missouri.

 

 

In Louisiana, I still have a ways to go. Ed Esser leads with 16 Louisiana tracks. John Moore from Tennessee has seen racing at 15 tracks in the Bayou State. My state total is 14 tracks in Louisiana.

 

 

I’m close with both of these states. I need to have a solid third quarter if I intend to reach this goal.

 

 

 

2019 – 1st Quarter Update

 

Goal. Move into the #1 spot in two additional states for a #1 ranking in 26 overall states.

 

Right now it looks like the states of Missouri and Louisiana are the most likely candidates to give me my next #1 state trackchasing ranking. I didn’t see any new tracks in Missouri this quarter. I still trail Wisconsin’s Ed Esser 68-66.

 

 

I did have some success in Louisiana. I saw racing at two new Cajun state locations. Ed Esser still leads here with 16 Louisiana tracks. John Moore from Tennessee has seen racing at 15 tracks in the Bayou state. My state total is now 14 here.

 

 

I’m close with both Missouri and Louisiana. I need to close the deal during the second and third quarters of 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goal – Maintain a 675-lifetime track lead over my nearest fellow competitor at the end of the year.

During first 2016, then 2017 and then last year, 2018 my goals in this area were 500, 550 and 625 respectively.  I begin this season with more than 2,500 tracks.  My nearest fellow competitor, currently Guy Smith, has totals somewhere in the low 1800s. Unless someone provides some more challenging competition I may be forced to discontinue this goal for overall lack of competitiveness. 

 

 

Trackchasing frequency has been at all-time lows since the passing of Ed Esser. Checkout the trackchasers listed in the National Geographic Diversity rankings (below). These trackchasers have been the leaders in the hobby since the day it began in the last century. In 2018 their trackchasing totals COMBINED don’t exceed by all that much what I did as only ONE trackchaser in 2018.

 

 

 

2019 – 4th Quarter Final Results

 

 

Goal. Maintain a 675-lifetime track lead over my nearest fellow competitor at the end of the year.

 

 

I wrapped up the 2019 trackchasing season with 80 new track visits. My nearest fellow competitor, Guy Smith, came in with just 37 new tracks. We are both experiencing the effects of our past trackchasing success. He, on a regional basis, and me on a worldwide basis. When you’ve seen a lot of tracks it becomes difficult to add more new tracks. My lead is now 730 tracks over my nearest fellow competitor. 

 

 

 

 

2019 – 3rd Quarter Update

 

Goal. Maintain a 675-lifetime track lead over my nearest fellow competitor at the end of the year.

 

I’m having a workmanlike 2019 trackchasing season. When you enter any season having already seen more than 2,500 tracks the remaining tracks are fewer and farther between. Nevertheless, through the first nine months of this year, I’ve added 71 tracks to my lifetime total.

 

 

I’ve put a major focus on seeing tracks this year located all over the world. I’ve seen racing in Japan, Italy, Montenegro, Tunisia and Antiqua and Barbuda. I’ve made TEN separate trips to Canada to trackchase. Remember, I live in California! I’ve also gone down to Mexico in search of new tracks. I’ve traveled nearly 235,000 miles during the first nine months of the year. Folks, that’s more than 6,000 miles each and every week. That kind of travel is nearly 900 miles every day. That’s every day of every month of every week for nine months!

 

 

Here’s the significance of foreign country trackchasing. These trips really affect my overall track counts domestically. If I were to stay in the U.S. I might see three or four or even more tracks in a single weekend or weeklong trip. When I am traveling the world I am more likely than not to be limited to one track per week.

 

 

I don’t have any problem with what traveling the world does to my annual track totals. At this point in my trackchasing career, I would sign for a foreign trip EVERY week that I go trackchasing. Those foreign country visits are almost all about touring and meeting people from different cultures with a new track visit thrown in like a cheery on top of a sundae.

 

 

My goal in this category calls for me to maintain a 675-track lead over my nearest fellow competitor. Currently, that NFC is a fellow in Pennsylvania named Guy Smith. Even though my results are far short of how I’ve done over the past 5-10 years Mr. Smiths are even worse. During the first nine months of the year, he’s seen only 35 tracks. I’m thinking maybe he’s lost the passion for trackchasing. I can’t speak for any other trackchaser. I can only summarize the results. They seem to speak for themselves.

 

 

I am going to have to seriously consider eliminating a goal like this. Currently, the next leading trackchaser, Mr. Smith is 723 tracks behind my lifetime totals. In effect, there really isn’t any “nearest fellow competitor”. Please don’t blame me for this large variance. I can only effect my own trackchasing numbers.

 

 

 

I mentioned this at the end of the second quarter.

 

 

“I will say this about trackchasing numbers. I talk to people nearly every day who are not racing fans about my trackchasing hobby. They are amazed by one thing during these conversations. I am amazed about one thing with these conversations as well.

 

 

First, almost all of the people I talk too about the idea of trackchasing have never HEARD about a hobby like trackchasing. They are amazed that I do it. That is the overriding reaction from the people I talk too. They can’t believe anyone does this.

 

 

What amazes me even more about these conversations? The non-racing folks NEVER ask me if anybody else trackchases. It never crosses their mind. They are blown away that I do it. They can’t seem to wrap their minds around the concept that there might be other trackchasers out there. That reaction truly does surprise me.

 

 

 

As I stated at the end of the second quarter it continues to amaze me that trackchasers who retire see less racing than when they were working. I would think it would be the other way around. I theorize that new retirees are aging and don’t have the energy to see more racing. I’m thinking the distance required to see new tracks just isn’t worth the effort. Finally, most trackchasers are single. Often times they don’t have anyone else to help with the travel expenses and the long distance drives.

 

 

I guess my experiences since retirement are exactly the opposite of my fellow trackchasing competitors. During my work years,

 

 

I had a very responsible job. Getting time off and/or leaving my wife and three children as the kids were growing up was not something I either could do or wanted to do. However, once I retired I didn’t have to worry about work and the kids were grown! It was time to go trackchasing.

 

 

On June 30, 2002, I retired. I was only 53 years old. I didn’t have to rely on my wife’s income to retire. I had saved enough and hoped it would last a lifetime. Here are my trackchasing numbers for the 16-year period before I retired and the 16 years after I retired. As you can see when I left work my trackchasing numbers picked up….a lot.

 

 

Before retirement – 16 years

8-7-6-3-2-16-17-19-11-22-29-27-35-47-61-80

 

 

After retirement – 16 years

60-127-182-147-160-102-117-95-113-88-109-130-134-106-115-112

 

 

Very few retired trackchasers are married. My nearest fellow competitor commonly mentioned how much he was going to be trackchasing when he finally retired. Then when he did retire his tune changed. After five years of retirement, his annual totals are less than before he retired. Yes, the tune has changed now. The new “story” is “when my wife retires” I’ll really pick up the trackchasing pace.

 

 

What people seem to forget when they share their stories about future plans is that time is passing them by. One probably has more energy and trackchasing devotion when they are fifty than sixty and when they are sixty more so than when they are seventy. Every five years that passes makes it a little bit more difficult to travel the distances required to be a world-class trackchaser. This observation is fact-driven by simply looking at the trackchasing production of the top 25 or so trackchasers as they have aged.

 

 

I recommend that anyone who continues to say, “When I retire, when my kid gets out of college, when I pay off the mortgage. when, when, when…..read a short essay called, “The Station”. You can find it easily on line. The Station will remind you there is no final stop when bands will be playing and you will have reached nirvana. Today is for the taking!”

 

 

 

 

2019 – 2nd Quarter Update

 

Goal. Maintain a 675-lifetime track lead over my nearest fellow competitor at the end of the year.

 

I’m having a solid but not record-breaking 2019 trackchasing season in terms of tracks seen. During the first six months of this year, I found my way to 44 new race facilities. It seemed like more considering I traveled more than 160,000 miles to do it. That’s more than 3,000 miles per track!

 

 

My current nearest fellow competitor Guy Smith had a poor first six months of the year seeing only 18 new tracks. I would have thought that nearly five years into retirement he would have been doing much better. Now he says that in ANOTHER five years when his WIFE retires he will pick up the pace. Oh my! If that happens it will be TEN years after HE retired that he gets going with trackchasing. I now hold a 713 track lead in the worldwide trackchasing rankings.

 

 

I will say this about trackchasing numbers. I talk to people nearly every day who are not racing fans about my trackchasing hobby. They are amazed at one thing during these conversations. I am amazed about one thing with these conversations as well.

 

 

First, the people I talk too about the idea of trackchasing have never HEARD about such a thing. They are amazed that I do it. That is the overriding reaction from the people I talk too. They can’t believe anyone does this.

 

 

What amazes me about these conversations? The non-racing folks NEVER ask me if anybody else trackchases. It never crosses their mind. They are blown away that I do it. They can’t seem to wrap their minds around the concept that there might be other trackchasers out there. That reaction truly does surprise me.

 

 

 

As I stated at the end of the first quarter it continues to amaze me that trackchasers who retire see less racing than when they were working. I would think it would be the other way around. I theorize that new retirees are aging and don’t have the energy to see more racing. I’m thinking the distance required to see new tracks just isn’t worth the effort. Finally, most trackchasers are single. Often times they don’t have anyone else to help with the travel expenses and the long-distance drives.

 

 

I guess my experiences since retirement are exactly the opposite of my fellow trackchasing competitors. During my work years, I had a very responsible job. Getting time off and/or leaving my wife and three children as the kids were growing up was not something I either could do or wanted to do. However, once I retired I didn’t have to worry about work and the kids were grown! It was time to go trackchasing.

 

 

On June 30, 2002, I retired. I was only 53 years old. I didn’t have to rely on my wife’s income to retire. I had saved enough and hoped it would last a lifetime. Here are my trackchasing numbers for the 16 year period before I retired and the 16 years after I retired. As you can see when I left work my trackchasing numbers picked up….a lot.

 

 

Before retirement – 16 years

8-7-6-3-2-16-17-19-11-22-29-27-35-47-61-80

 

 

After retirement – 16 years

60-127-182-147-160-102-117-95-113-88-109-130-134-106-115-112

 

 

Very few retired trackchasers are married. My nearest fellow competitor commonly mentioned how much he was going to be trackchasing when he finally retired. Then when he did retire his tune changed. After five years of retirement, his totals are less than before he retired. Yes, the tune has changed now. The new “story” is “when my wife retires” I’ll really pick up the trackchasing pace.

 

 

What people seem to forget when they share their stories about future plans is that time is passing them by. One probably has more energy and trackchasing devotion when they are fifty than sixty and when they are sixty more so than when they are seventy. Every five years that passes makes it a little bit more difficult to travel the distances required to be a world-class trackchaser. This observation is fact driven by simply looking at the trackchasing production of the top 25 or so trackchasers as they have aged.

 

 

I recommend that anyone who continues to say, “When I retire, when my kid gets out of college, when I pay off the mortgage. when, when, when…..read a short essay called, “The Station”. You can find it easily online. The Station will remind you there is no final stop when bands will be playing and you will have reached nirvana. Today is for the taking!

 

 

 

 

2019 – 1st Quarter Update

 

Goal. Maintain a 675-lifetime track lead over my nearest fellow competitor at the end of the year.

 

I’ve gotten off to a flying start against this goal. During the first three months of this year I showed up at 24 new tracks. My nearest fellow competitor Guy Smith had a slow first quarter seeing only five new tracks. I now hold a 706 track lead in the worldwide trackchasing rankings.

 

 

It continues to amaze me that trackchasers who retire see less racing than when they were working. I would think it would be the opposite. I theorize that new retirees are aging and don’t have the energy to see more racing. I’m thinking the distance required to see new tracks just isn’t worth the effort. Finally, most trackchasers are single. Often times they don’t have anyone else to help with the travel expenses and the long-distance drives.

 

 

Very few retired trackchasers are married. My nearest fellow competitor commonly mentioned how much he was going to be trackchasing when he finally retired. Then when he did retire his tune changed. After four years of retirement, his totals are equal to or less than before he retired. Yes, the tune has changed now. The new “story” is when my wife retires I’ll really pick up the trackchasing.

 

 

What people seem to forget when they share this story is that time is passing them by. One probably has more energy and trackchasing devotion when they are fifty than sixty. Every five years that passes makes it a little bit more difficult to travel the distances required to be a world class trackchaser. This observation is fact-driven by simply looking at the trackchasing production of the top 25 or so trackchasers as they have aged.

 

 

I recommend that anyone who continues to say, “when I retire, when my kid gets out of college, when I pay off the mortgage. when, when, when…..read a short essay called, “The Station”. You can find it easily online. The Station will remind you there is no final stop when bands will be playing and you will have reached nirvana. Today is for the taking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goal – Racechasing

I would like to see racing at four “big” races, at a minimum, in 2019. These would be at tracks I have already visited. For me, a “big” race could be getting back to my boyhood track of Peoria Speedway. Or, it could be what the general population thinks is a “big” race.

 

 

I would hope that part of this plan includes seeing at least one NASCAR Cup race. Taking in these major events will be a small step in maintaining my ties to “racechasing”. This goal is meant to bring me back “home”.

 

 

 

2019 – 4th Quarter Final Results

 

 

Goal. See racing at four “big” races, at a minimum, in 2019.

 

 

I’m pretty happy with my 2019 “racechasing” as opposed to “trackchasing” results. Most racechasers would be thrilled to see the “big” races I was able to see this year in their lifetime! Few, if any, (O.K. none?) trackchasers have ever seen all of these races. Here’s my list of 2019 big races I was able to attend. Yep. I made my goal in this category.

 

 

 

Knoxville Nationals – Knoxville, Iowa

Midgets – Chili Bowl – Tulsa, Oklahoma

Lucas Oil Late Models – East Bay Raceway – Gibsonton, Florida

NASCAR Cup racing – California Speedway – Fontana, California

NASCAR Cup racing – Martinsville Speedway – Martinsville, Virginia

Modifieds – Kern County Raceway – Bakersfield, California

Sprints – Twin City Raceway – Kenai, Alaska

The Masters – Cedar Lake Speedway – New Richmond, Wisconsin

 

 

 

 

2019 – 3rd Quarter Update

 

Goal. See racing at four “big” races, at a minimum, in 2019.

 

Going into the third quarter I had seen racing at these tracks on a “returning/racechasing” basis.

 

 

Midgets – Chili Bowl – Tulsa, Oklahoma

Lucas Oil Late Models – East Bay Raceway – Gibsonton, Florida

NASCAR Cup racing – California Speedway – Fontana, California

NASCAR Cup racing – Martinsville Speedway – Martinsville, Virginia

Modifieds – Kern County Raceway – Bakersfield, California

Sprints – Twin City Raceway – Kenai, Alaska

The Masters – Cedar Lake Speedway – New Richmond, Wisconsin

 

 

I think if any racechaser had seen these major events in a lifetime they would have seen some pretty big races.

 

 

I didn’t stop seeing major events during the third quarter. Just for fun, I added a trip to the Knoxville Nationals at the Knoxville Raceway to my schedule. It was a perfect night for racing. Seeing winged sprint cars in Knoxville, Iowa, especially during the nationals is just about the best place to see them.

 

 

I’ve already met and exceeded my goal in this category. These events have contributed to one of my best “racechasing” years in a very long time.

 

 

 

 

2019 – 2nd Quarter Update

 

Goal. See racing at four “big” races, at a minimum, in 2019.

 

I sometimes go back to race facilities that I have already visited when they add a second configuration. I did that this quarter at the Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, California and then at the Twin City Raceway in Kenai, Alaska. Both of those locations added “inner oval” tracks. This isn’t “true” racechasing but when I do go back it gives me a chance to see racing on their “big” tracks once again.

 

 

My only true racechasing effort for the quarter was at the Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisconsin for their long-running Masters event. This is definitely a “top 40” track in the country. The facility, race fields and racing at top-notch. Well done Cedar Lake!

 

 

 

 

2019 – 1st Quarter Update

 

Goal. See racing at four “big” races, at a minimum, in 2019.

 

I think I had an excellent quarter of racechasing during the first quarter of 2019. First, I saw a night of racing at the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma. That racing has grown to be one of the most popular short track events of the year.

 

 

I also took a night to catch the Lucas Oil Late Models at the East Bay Raceway. I’ve been to East Bay nearly 25 times, all during Florida speedweeks. It wouldn’t seem like I could do much better with racechasing than trips to the Chili Bowl and East Bay, two of my old-time favorite tracks.

 

 

However, I then made a stop at the Auto Club Speedway for their once a year NASCAR Cup event. This was the fourth time I’ve seen racing on the big oval at what began as the California Speedway. I was anxious to try out my brand new RE 300 radio scanner. It was fantastic.

 

 

Then somewhat unbelievably, the very next weekend, I traveled nearly 3,000 miles to Martinsville for their cup race. I can’t ever remember doing that before over two straight weekends.

 

 

I can’t imagine having a better racechasing quarter than this one….especially during January, February and March. If a normal race fan could see the Chili Bowl, racing at East Bay during speed weeks and the NASCAR Cup racing at Fontana and then Martinsville, they might have completed a CAREER of racechasing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goal – 100 tracks in seven states.

Coming into this year I’ve seen more than 100 tracks in six different states. Here’s the list.

 

 

California

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Michigan

Pennsylvania

 

 

Getting my 7^th“100 track state” is going to require some stretching. No other trackchaser has seen 100 tracks in more than four states.

 

 

 

2019 – 4th Quarter Final Results

 

 

Goal. 100 tracks in seven states.

 

 

Minnesota was added to my “100 tracks in a single state” list this year. I began the year having seen 90 tracks in the North Star State. I added twelve more during the year. I’ve now seen more than 100 tracks in seven different states. The next leading trackchaser has done this in just four states. Here’s my list. This grouping might tell you there are a lot of tracks to see in the Midwest!

 

 

California

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Michigan

Minnesota

Pennsylvania

 

 

 

2019 – 3rd Quarter Update

 

Goal. 100 tracks in seven states.

 

Minnesota comes through for me! During the third quarter, I added SEVEN more Minnesota tracks bringing my current North Star state track total to 102.

 

 

My visit to the Goodhue County Fairgrounds in Zumbrota, Minnesota on August 9, 2019, was my 100^th track where I’ve seen racing in Minnesota. That was a special track for another reason as well. Goodhue had more autocross race cars at one venue than I have ever seen….anywhere for this type of racing. They had nearly 200 cars. One junk car division by themselves had 48 cars racing. A mini-van division had a van count of more than forty.

 

 

Later in the quarter, I added a couple more Minnesota tracks. I’ve now seen racing at more than 100 different tracks in seven different states. No other trackchaser comes close to matching that stat.

 

 

 

 

2019 – 2nd Quarter Update

 

Goal. 100 tracks in seven states.

 

Minnesota and Wisconsin are still the most likely candidates to be new “100-track states” for me. Realistically, I don’t think I’ve got a shot in Wisconsin for 2019. I’ve currently seen racing at 91 tracks there. Any Badger tracks I see this year will just better position me for a chance to make Wisconsin a 100-track state in 2020.

 

 

Minnesota is another story. As of now, I have seen 95 Gopher tracks. I have a plan in place that might allow me to finish with 100 or more tracks up north by the end of the year. The weather gods will have to cooperate. We will see. The tale of the third quarter will definitely decide this one.

 

 

  

2019 – 1st Quarter Update

 

Goal. 100 tracks in seven states.

 

I don’t know if any new states will join the “Century Club” in 2019 or not. Minnesota and Wisconsin are the most likely candidates.

 

 

I did add five new Minnesota ice tracks this quarter. That brings my Gopher state track total to 95! I added another four Wisconsin ice tracks during the period. Those tracks move me up to 91 Badger state tracks. I’m moving in the right direction but the sledding from here will be difficult.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goal – Have Fun; control travel

My plan is to see as many new tracks in 2019 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 won’t always bring Carol along although she is invited on every trip. I’m not sure WHAT I would do if she accepted all of my invitations! Nevertheless, we’ll fit in a series of really cool non-racing trips for her. She will be well taken care of and we’ll both have fun at our own pace.  

 

 

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.

 

 

 

2019 – 4th Quarter Final Results

 

 

Goal. Have Fun; control travel.

 

As you can see from the above I was able to control my travel in 2019. That statement might come with an asterisk. My “controlled” level of travel is not what others would think was controlled travel.

 

 

Did I have fun? Yes and a little bit of no. I love taking big trips. Most of those are out of the country. I spent 84 days (see below) outside of the United States this year. I would hazard a guess that 99.99%+ of the people in the world have never spent 84 days outside of their country in a single year.

 

 

Foreign travel days – Year to date – 84 days

 

 

January (6)

Australia – 3

Canada – 3

 

 

February ( 7)

Canada – 3

Canada – 4

 

 

March (0)

None

 

 

April (16 )

Canada – 1

Canada – 1

Italy -1

Tunisia – 5

France – 2

Croatia – 2

Montenegro – 2

Bosnia and Herzegovina – 2

 

 

May (11)

Bosnia and Herzegovina – 2

Italy – 2

Croatia – 1

Canada -1

Mexico – 1

Antigua and Barbuda – 4

 

 

June (7)

Canada – 2

Japan – 5

 

 

July (14)

Japan – 14

 

 

August (7)

Canada – 7

 

 

September (4)

Canada – 4

 

 

October (8)

Canada – 6

Mexico – 2

 

 

November (4)

Mexico – 4

 

 

December (0)

 

 

 

I will tell you that after having seen racing at nearly 2,600 tracks many of the remaining events are not really what I signed up for when I began my hobby of trackchasing. Seeing a woods UTV race or a four-car figure 8 race in a mud pit or two champ karts “dicing” their way through a 10-lap heat race barely make the time and money it takes to watch these events a good time. Thankfully, I have Trackchasing Tourist Attractions to fall back on. It is also somewhat sad that there is no longer any true competition left in the trackchasing hobby. Why? As Roger Ferrell once told me, “You’ve blown all of them away”. This feeling will be reflected in my 2020 trackchasing goals.

 

 

 

2019 – 3rd Quarter Update

 

Goal. Have Fun; control travel.

 

I guess I haven’t controlled my travel all that well in 2019. However, I have had a lot of fun traveling! During the first nine months of the year, I spent 76 days out of the country. That’s almost 11 weeks of international travel in 11 different countries. Below is a summary of that foreign travel.

 

 

There is no doubt about it. The only way to truly justify the travel I do chasing racetracks is this. I have a travel hobby. I have a logistics hobby. Finally, I have a racing hobby.

 

 

Racing by itself couldn’t get me to do what I do. Travel by itself might. I have enjoyed traveling since my college days and then when I began to travel extensively for business a very long time ago. I get the biggest kick out of planning the trips. What I do, for the normal person, would be prohibitively expensive.

 

 

I have some fantastic sponsorships starting with the support I get from the airlines. In addition to that, I get some great deals on every other trackchasing expense category. That’s where my logistical expertise comes in. Honestly, no other trackchaser can match any of this. I am very fortunate and never take any of this support for granted.

 

 

 

Foreign travel days – Year to date – 76

 

 

January (6)

Australia– 3

Canada– 3

 

 

February (7)

Canada – 3

Canada – 4

 

 

March (0)

None

 

 

April (16)

Canada – 1

Canada – 1

Italy-1

Tunisia– 5

France– 2

Croatia– 2

Montenegro– 2

Bosnia and Herzegovina– 2

 

 

May (11)

Bosnia and Herzegovina – 2

Italy – 2

Croatia – 1

Canada -1

Mexico– 1

Antigua and Barbuda– 4

 

 

June (7)

Canada – 2

Japan- 5

 

 

July (17)

Japan – 15

Mexico – 2

 

 

August (7)

Canada – 1

Canada – 6

 

September (5)

Canada – 2

Canada – 3

 

 

 

 

 

2019 – 2nd Quarter Update

 

Goal. Have Fun; control travel.

 

I seem to have more and more fun with my international trackchasing. During the first six months of the year, I spent 47 days out of the country. That’s nearly seven full weeks in 11 different countries. Below is a summary of that foreign travel.

 

 

As the years have rolled on my hobby has definitely changed from almost all racing to nearly all touring and sightseeing. Since I have seen racing at 99.9% of the tracks that have good racing I am left with nearly all novelty shows. Honestly, novelty shows are barely racing compared to what I grew up with. Nevertheless, there will never be a shortage of things to see and do all over the world. If it is racing that takes me to those places then my hobby of trackchasing will continue to thrive.

 

 

Foreign travel days – Year to date – 47

 

 

January (6)

Australia– 3

Canada– 3

 

 

February (7)

Canada – 3

Canada – 4

 

 

March (0)

None

 

 

April (16)

Canada – 1

Canada – 1

Italy-1

Tunisia– 5

France– 2

Croatia– 2

Montenegro– 2

Bosnia and Herzegovina– 2

 

 

May (11)

Bosnia and Herzegovina – 2

Italy – 2

Croatia – 1

Canada -1

Mexico– 1

Antigua and Barbuda– 4

 

 

June (7)

Canada – 2

Japan- 5

 

 

 

 

2019 – 1st Quarter Update

 

Goal. Have Fun; control travel.

 

The first quarter has been my most productive in many ways for several reasons. I ended up seeing racing at 16 new ice tracks. That’s an all-time personal best for me. I had an excellent “racechasing” quarter as noted above. I did very well against my nearest fellow competitor. Frankly, with the exception of seeing races in new countries, I can’t imagine having a better first quarter.

 

 

 

 

 

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. Let me be perfectly clear on one important point. I am NOT living the dream because I am trackchasing in retirement. I am living the dream because I am doing exactly what I want to do in retirement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goal – Lifetime National Geographic Diversity results

Due to the lack of overall competitiveness in the NGD program, results will now be tabulated every two years. Additionally, this far into the NGD game the results just don’t change that much in lifetime totals and rankings.  The next update will be at the conclusion of my 2019 trackchasing season.

 

 

Want to learn more about the National Geographic Diversity (NGD) program? Here’s a link that will explain the program’s entire history:

 

 

National Geographic Diversity history and lifetime results

 

 

 

2017 – Final National Geographic Diversity results. Year 2016 results in (  ).

Randy Lewis – 4.14 (4.37)

Gordon Killian – 6.59 (6.22)

Guy Smith – 8.00 (8.57)

Ed Esser – 8.84 (8.76)

Allan Brown – 9.14 (9.16)

Paul Weisel – 11.33 (11.33)

Mike Knappenberger – 11.41 (11.25)

Jack Erdmann – 11.55 (11.73)

Rick Schneider – 11.75 (11.43)

Pam Smith – 11.75 (11.73)