MINNESOTA
The North Star state
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From the travels and adventures of the “World’s #1 Trackchaser”
All-Time Favorite Minnesota Track: Bass Lake Ice Track Current lifetime trackchasing state rank: 1 Best Memories: I’ve seen a lot of ice racing up in Minnesota. It gets cold up there in the winter! I rode in an ice race with Rick Hansen #81 at the 11thCrow Wing Lake Ice Track. I had one of the most fun and wildest rides with Cesca Silva (above) at the Bass Lake Ice Track. She’s a huge Vikings fan. On the way home from Bass Lake, we learned that Dale Earnhardt Sr. had been killed at Daytona. At the Brainerd International Raceway Ice Track, I gave my ice race ride invite to Ed Esser. He had never done such a thing and had a blast. At the Cameron Lake Ice Track, they don’t race with helmets! Carol rode in the “B” main with those crazy folks. At the Crosslake Ice Track, they use a blue flag instead of a white flag so the flag can be seen better on the ice. I got stuck in the snow-filled parking lot at the KIR – Kimball Ice Racing track but a couple of friendly Minnesotans (aren’t they all?) came to the rescue. I flew straight from Doha, Qatar to the ice racing at Lake Washington in Mankato. Really good ice racing at the Peterson Lake Ice Oval with 60 cars in three classes. I’ve seen ice racing at more than 20 locations in the North Star state. The folks at the Aitken County Fairgrounds gave me a nice personalized trackchasing souvenir t-shirt. We also did a newspaper interview and an at the track interview in Aitken. The Bemidji Speedway reminded me of my all-time favorite track the Peoria Speedway. Saw a fun county fair enduro at the Big Stone County Fairgrounds with Rob and Emily Palmer. I waved the green flag over the road hog feature event at the Buffalo River Speedway. Really good vintage racing (above) at the Carlton County Fairgrounds. Met up with trackchasing fellow competitor Andy Sivi at the Elko Speedway, one of the best race facilities in the state. Andy was one of the all-time best trackchasers in his prime. I’ve seen four countable tracks there. I saw Terracross racing at the HayDays Dirt Course in North Branch. Not many people ever got to see Terracross racing before their demise. Saw some great stunt shows during the race program at the Isanti County Fairgrounds. Wanted to see racing at the Jackson Speedway for years but when I did I felt the track was much too big. I won a Quaker State duffle bag at the K.R.A. Speedway. More no helmet racing (above) at the Garfield Lake Ice Track. Watched the racing at the Greenbush Race Park up near the Canadian border with Rob and Jacob Palmer and was in the Santa Maria Speedway (California) parking lot the next morning for their kart racing and my first meeting with track promoter Chris Kearns. Saw some fantastic vintage racing (above) with daughter Kristy at the Little Log House Speedway. A racer crashed into a parked farm tractor outside the track at the Mahnomen County Speedway. The race at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds started with 30 laps run under caution due to a wet track and then got rained out. Had to count the track because the race had already “started”. At the Murray County Speedway the fans stand and applaud BEFORE the start of each feature race. Folks….only in Minnesota home of the “NIMS” people. Did an outstanding radio interview at the Norman County Raceway with DJ Jim at KRJB 106.3 FM radio. Saw one of the best autocross novelty shows we’ve ever seen at the Olmstead County Fairgrounds. Eighty-two cars showed up for the Baja racing (above) at the Polk County Fairgrounds. In the midst of the racing the program was canceled by a tornado at the Princeton Speedway. Gotta get back there! The Raceway Park in Shakopee was a “top 10%” track. Really good junk car racing with 60 cars at a small town just eight miles from the Canadian border at the Roseau County Fairgrounds. Outstanding hospitality from those folks. A fan took my camera bag, thinking I had left it behind when I hadn’t, at the Steele County Fairgrounds. I had to backtrack a distance of 200 miles to get it back. No good deed goes unpunished! Got a color photo (above) and excellent trackchasing story in the Morris Sun Tribune for my visit to the Stevens County Fairgrounds. There were 350 laps of big and small car enduro racing at the Waseca Fairgrounds. I’ve eaten my share of cheese curds in Minnesota and enjoyed the ice racing locations provided by the Central Minnesota Ice Racing group. I continue to be very impressed with the people of the great state of Minnesota. If you see a track link in the above list simply click on it to be transferred to my Trackchaser Report. Here you will be able to read about my adventure at this particular track. Not only will you learn about my time at the track but you’ll hear about all of the interesting people, places and things I encountered during the entire trip, coming and going, to that speedway. Most of my Trackchaser Reports will also include a photo album and YouTube video. Check it all out. Don’t be afraid to use the “search” box in the upper right corner of my website’s home page. Just type in the track name or whatever and you’ll be directed to the place you want to be. Below is a key to surface types and track configurations so you can understand the above list just a little bit easier. Surface types: D-dirt; P-paved; M-mixed Configuration types: O-oval; RC-road course; F8-figure 8 track
TRACK
CITY
STATE
COUNTRY
DATE
TRACK TYPE
1
Minnesota State Fair Speedway
St. Paul
Minnesota
United States
September 2, 1985
PO
2
Murray County Raceway
Slayton
Minnesota
United States
May 29, 1998
DO
3
Worthington Speedway
Worthington
Minnesota
United States
May 31, 1998
DO
4
Chateau Speedway
Lansing
Minnesota
United States
August 14, 1998
DO
5
Winona County Speedway
St. Charles
Minnesota
United States
July 5, 2000
DO
6
K.R.A. Speedway
Willmar
Minnesota
United States
July 6, 2000
DO
7
Fiesta City Speedway
Montevideo
Minnesota
United States
July 7, 2000
DO
8
Grove Creek Raceway
Grove City
Minnesota
United States
July 8, 2000
DO
9
I-94 Speedway
Sauk Centre
Minnesota
United States
July 9, 2000
PO
10
Raceway Park
Shakopee
Minnesota
United States
July 9, 2000
PO
11
Fairmont Raceway
Fairmont
Minnesota
United States
September 8, 2000
DO
12
Steele County Fairgrounds
Owatonna
Minnesota
United States
August 15, 2001
DO
13
Viking Speedway
Alexandria
Minnesota
United States
August 16, 2001
DO
14
Princeton Speedway
Princeton
Minnesota
United States
August 17, 2001
DO
15
North Central Motor Speedway
Brainerd
Minnesota
United States
August 18, 2001
DO
16
Golden Spike Speedway
Sauk Rapids
Minnesota
United States
August 19, 2001
DF8
17
Golden Spike Speedway
Sauk Rapids
Minnesota
United States
August 19, 2001
DO
18
Raceway Park
Shakopee
Minnesota
United States
Retroactive – 2001
PF8
19
Elko Speedway
Elko
Minnesota
United States
May 23, 2003
PF8
20
Elko Speedway
Elko
Minnesota
United States
May 23, 2003
INNER-PO
21
Elko Speedway
Elko
Minnesota
United States
May 23, 2003
OUTER-PO
22
Deer Creek Speedway
Racine
Minnesota
United States
May 24, 2003
DO
23
Dodge County Speedway
Kasson
Minnesota
United States
May 25, 2003
DO
24
Fergus Falls Raceway
Fergus Falls
Minnesota
United States
July 4, 2003
PO
25
Redwood Speedway
Redwood Falls
Minnesota
United States
July 20, 2003
INNER-DO
26
Redwood Speedway
Redwood Falls
Minnesota
United States
July 20, 2003
OUTER-DO
27
Madison Speedway
Madison
Minnesota
United States
May 30, 2005
DO
28
Proctor Speedway
Proctor
Minnesota
United States
September 1, 2005
DO
29
Brainerd International Raceway
Brainerd
Minnesota
United States
May 27, 2006
PRC
30
Canby Speedway
Canby
Minnesota
United States
May 27, 2006
DO
31
Hibbing Raceway
Hibbing
Minnesota
United States
June 6, 2006
DO
32
Little Log House Speedway
Hastings
Minnesota
United States
July 28, 2006
DO
33
Buffalo River Speedway
Glyndon
Minnesota
United States
July 30, 2006
DO
34
Stevens County Fairgrounds
Morris
Minnesota
United States
August 9, 2006
DO
35
Norman County Raceway
Ada
Minnesota
United States
August 10, 2006
DO
36
Bemidji Speedway
Bemidji
Minnesota
United States
August 13, 2006
DO
37
Cameron Lake Ice Track
Erskine
Minnesota
United States
January 26, 2008
ICE-O
38
Birch Lake Ice Track
Hackensack
Minnesota
United States
January 27, 2008
ICE-O
39
Mille Lacs Lake Ice Track
Garrison
Minnesota
United States
January 27, 2008
ICE-RC
40
Mille Lacs Lake Ice Track
Garrison
Minnesota
United States
January 27, 2008
ICE-O
41
Brainerd International Raceway Ice Track
Brainerd
Minnesota
United States
February 3, 2008
ICE-RC
42
Lake Washington Ice Track
Mankato
Minnesota
United States
February 15, 2009
ICE-RC
43
Elko Speedway
Elko
Minnesota
United States
July 23, 2009
DO
44
Button Buck Speedway
Spring Valley
Minnesota
United States
July 25, 2009
DO
45
Grand Rapids Speedway
Grand Rapids
Minnesota
United States
September 8, 2009
DO
46
Greenbush Race Park
Greenbush
Minnesota
United States
May 22, 2010
DO
47
I-94 Speedway
Fergus Falls
Minnesota
United States
June 18, 2010
DO
48
ERX Motor Park
Elk River
Minnesota
United States
August 12, 2010
DRC
49
Ogilvie Raceway
Ogilvie
Minnesota
United States
September 12, 2010
DO
50
Crosslake Ice Track
Crosslake
Minnesota
United States
February 19, 2011
ICE-O
51
Garfield Lake Ice Track
Laporte
Minnesota
United States
February 19, 2011
ICE-O
52
Bass Lake Ice Track
Underwood
Minnesota
United States
February 20, 2011
ICE-O
53
Waseca Fairgrounds
Waseca
Minnesota
United States
June 19, 2011
DO
54
Watonwan County Fairgrounds
St. James
Minnesota
United States
July 24, 2011
DRC
55
Scott County Fairgrounds
Jordan
Minnesota
United States
July 29, 2011
DRC
56
Nicollet County Fairgrounds
St. Peter
Minnesota
United States
August 14, 2011
DO
57
Crystal Lake Ice Track
Merrifield
Minnesota
United States
February 5, 2012
ICE-O
58
Polk County Fairgrounds
Fertile
Minnesota
United States
July 15, 2012
DRC
59
Big Stone County Fairgrounds
Clinton
Minnesota
United States
July 19, 2012
DO
60
Arlington Raceway
Arlington
Minnesota
United States
July 28, 2012
DO
61
Arlington Raceway
Arlington
Minnesota
United States
July 28, 2012
DRC
62
Blue Earth County Fairgrounds
Garden City
Minnesota
United States
July 29, 2012
DO
63
Carlton County Fairgrounds
Barnum
Minnesota
United States
August 17, 2012
DO
64
South Lindstrom Lake Ice Track
Lindstrom
Minnesota
United States
January 27, 2013
ICE-RC
65
Grant County Speedway
Herman
Minnesota
United States
July 22, 2013
DO
66
Rock County Speedway
Luverne
Minnesota
United States
July 27, 2013
DO
67
Mahnomen County Speedway
Mahnomen
Minnesota
United States
August 3, 2013
DO
68
Jackson Speedway
Jackson
Minnesota
United States
August 30, 2013
DO
69
The Bullring at Jackson Speedway
Jackson
Minnesota
United States
August 30, 2013
INNER-DO
70
Rush Lake Ice Track
Rush City
Minnesota
United States
January 11, 2014
ICE-RC
71
HayDays Dirt Course
North Branch
Minnesota
United States
September 7, 2014
TEMPORARY-DRC
72
Big Lake Ice Track
Cloquet
Minnesota
United States
January 3, 2015
ICE-RC
73
11th Crow Wing Lake Ice Oval
Akeley
Minnesota
United States
February 14, 2015
ICE-OVAL
74
56 Speedway
Brownsdale
Minnesota
United States
June 26, 2015
DO
75
Browns Valley Fairgrounds
Browns Valley
Minnesota
United States
June 28, 2015
DO
76
Aitken County Fairgrounds
Aitken
Minnesota
United States
July 10, 2015
DO
77
Aitken County Fairgrounds
Aitken
Minnesota
United States
July 11, 2015
DRC
78
Isanti County Fairgrounds
Cambridge
Minnesota
United States
July 23, 2015
TEMPORARY-DO
79
Kanabec County Fairgrounds
Mora
Minnesota
United States
July 23, 2015
TEMPORARY-DO
80
Carlton County Fairgrounds
Barnum
Minnesota
United States
August 16, 2015
DF8
81
Brainerd International Raceway – Competition Course
Brainerd
Minnesota
United States
September 6, 2015
PRC
82
Olmsted County Fairgrounds
Rochester
Minnesota
United States
July 26, 2016
TEMPORARY-DO
83
Crow Wing County Fairgrounds
Brainerd
Minnesota
United States
August 4, 2016
TEMPORARY-DO
84
KIR Ice Racing
Kimball
Minnesota
United States
January 28, 2017
ICE-RC
85
Roseau County Fairgrounds
Roseau
Minnesota
United States
July 20, 2017
DRC
86
Trace Lake Ice Track
Grey Eagle
Minnesota
United States
January 7, 2018
ICE-RC
87
Borden Lake Ice Oval
Garrison
Minnesota
United States
January 21, 2018
ICE-OVAL
88
Peterson Lake Ice Oval
Swede Grove
Minnesota
United States
February 3, 2018
ICE-OVAL
89
Sibley County Fairgrounds
Arlington
Minnesota
United States
August 3, 2018
DF8
90
Mcleod County Fairgrounds
Hutchinson
Minnesota
United States
August 17, 2018
DRC
91
Mille Lacs Lake – Isle Ice Track
Isle
Minnesota
United States
January 12, 2019
ICE-RC
92
Lake Allie Ice Track
Buffalo Lake
Minnesota
United States
January 19, 2019
ICE-RC
93
Mille Lacs Lake – Onamia Ice Track
Onamia
Minnesota
United States
February 2, 2019
ICE-RC
94
Lake Ripley Ice Track
Litchfield
Minnesota
United States
February 9, 2019
ICE-RC
95
Grand Lake Ice Oval
Rockwell
Minnesota
United States
March 2, 2019
ICE-OVAL
96
Twin Valley Junk Yard
Twin Valley
Minnesota
United States
July 19, 2019
DRC
97
Hubbard County Fairgrounds
Park Rapids
Minnesota
United States
July 19, 2019
DRC
98
Marshall County Fairgrounds
Warren
Minnesota
United States
July 28, 2019
DRC
99
Mower County Fairgrounds
Austin
Minnesota
United States
August 7, 2019
DRC
100
Goodue County Fairgrounds
Zumbrota
Minnesota
United States
August 9, 2019
DO
101
St. Hilarie Community Park
St. Hilarie
Minnesota
United States
August 10, 2019
DRC
102
Nicollet County Fairgrounds
St. Peter
Minnesota
United States
August 11, 2019
DRC
103
Clearwater Lake Ice Course
South Haven
Minnesota
United States
February 15, 2020
ICE-RC
104
Viking Speedway
Alexandria
Minnesota
United States
August 21, 2020
INNER-DO
105
Madison Lake Ice Course
Madison Lake
Minnesota
United States
February 27, 2021
ICE-RC
106
Red Lake County Fair Speedway
Oklee
Minnesota
United States
June 6, 2021
DO
107
Cass County Fairgrounds
Pine River
Minnesota
United States
June 6, 2021
DRC
108
Legacy Center
Middle River
Minnesota
United States
July 10, 2021
DRC
109
Kittson County Fairgrounds
Hallock
Minnesota
United States
July 10, 2021
DRC
110
Wabasha County Fairgrounds
Wabasha
Minnesota
United States
July 16, 2021
DO
111
Pennington County Fairgrounds
Thief River Falls
Minnesota
United States
July 17, 2021
DO
112
Wadena County Fairgrounds
Wadena
Minnesota
United States
July 25, 2021
DO
113
Todd County Fairgrounds
Long Prairie
Minnesota
United States
January 22, 2022
ICE-OVAL
114
K.R.A. Speedway
Willmar
Minnesota
United States
August 13, 2022
INNER-DO
115
Beltrami County Fairgrounds
Bemidji
Minnesota
United States
August 14, 2022
DRC
116
Yellow Medicine County Fairgrounds
Canby
Minnesota
United States
July 22, 2023
DRC
117
Lake of the Woods County Fairgrounds
Baudette
Minnesota
United States
June 14, 2024
DRC
118
Wagon Wheel Ridge Events Center
Karlstad
Minnesota
United States
June 15, 2024
DRC
119
Morrison County Fairgrounds
Motley
Minnesota
United States
June 15, 2024
DO
120
Chippewa County Fairgrounds
Montevideo
Minnesota
United States
August 1, 2024
DRC