Rush Lake Ice Track

 

 

Trackchasing does not support being a sports fan or eating in the best restaurants……………more in “The Details”.

 

 

Should anyone be limited to buying cheap stuff all their life?………….more in “The Details”.

 

 

Does Carol light our fireplace with twenty dollar bills?………….more in “The Details”.

 

 

What were the people saying about Spirit Airlines?………….more in “The Details”.

 

 

Was I lucky or was this Divine Intervention?…………more in “The Details”.

 

 

What did the Beach Boys have to do with tonight’s TTA?………..details in “Attractions”.

 

 

Why I don’t care for Jimmy Johns……..details in “Attractions”.

 

 

Why is ice racing such a risky proposition for me?…………..more in “Race Review”.

 

 

Have you ever driven on a frozen lake?…………..more in “Race Review”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You haven’t started your trackchasing season until you’ve seen an ice race.

I woke up this morning at home in San Clemente, California.  I would end up spending a night in Plymouth, Minnesota and another in Edina, Minnesota before returning home.

 

 

I guess you could say a trackchasing season hasn’t really begun until you’ve been to an ice race.  I’m heading out to Minnesota for just one track this weekend.  I rarely do that.  Why?  Because the travel is just too much to make seeing only one track worthwhile.  However, the two major Trackchasing Tourist Attractions scheduled for this trip made the single track trip a good idea to me.  You can check out the first TTA behind the  “Attractions” tab of this Trackchaser Report.

 

 

I rarely do what I was about to do.

As you know if you’ve been reading my reports for very long I don’t care much for cheap stuff.  I don’t want to buy “cheap stuff cheap” I want to buy “good stuff cheap”.  I know some folks can only afford to buy cheap stuff.  I’ve got no problem with that.  I’ve been there!  However, if a person is relegated to buying cheap stuff I hope they can buy it cheap or they will be limited to buying cheap things the rest of their lives.  Make sense?

 

 

I know that if you were to listen to those “Dreaded East Coast Trackchasers” they’d try to convince you that I lite our fireplace every night with twenty dollar bills.  That couldn’t be further from the truth.  Anyone who has ever heard such a statement would know that sounds like a chore and I don’t do chores.  Does Carol light our fireplace with twenty dollar bills?  I don’t speak for Carol!

 

 

I did it.  I bought some cheap stuff cheap.

However, for this trip I decided to buy some “cheap stuff cheap” just to see what it felt like.  I would also be buying some good stuff cheap because I KNOW that feels good.  In this report I’ll tell you all about both.

 

 

Our son J.J. has upgraded his commercial flying position to a bigger airline.  We now have a PRIMARY airline sponsorship again.  This will give us a much better priority when it comes down to that last open seat.  We will also have secondary airline sponsorships with most airlines in the world but that doesn’t kick in until later this year.

 

 

Spirit Airlines….it was worth the risk.

That being the case I decided to take a “flyer” on Spirit Airlines.  Spirit is pretty much the definition of cheap.  Their reputation nearly precedes them.  However, I was willing to try buying “cheap stuff cheap” when they offered a one-way non-stop flight from Los Angeles to Minneapolis for $84 U.S.

 

 

 

What were the people saying?

Before I purchased my ticket I went on Yelp! to see what kind of reviews Spirit Airlines had generated.  It was a bleak picture indeed.  Here are a few excerpts from the “one-star” reviews.

 

 

“Yes Spirit is the cheapest way to fly and you can beat the drama of overpaying for luggage by paying online. Still, worst flying experience I have ever had, and not because of little leg room, or lack of luxury. Yes you get what you pay for, but I wouldn’t have paid a penny for the experience I had yesterday. 

I know airlines can’t control the weather, but they can control the sloppiness of their website and staff. Flight times varied from each source (website, toll-free line, operator, etc.). 

Beyond inaccurate information, what really prevents me from flying this airline, is the way they handle flight delays. Spirit’s organization is nonexistent. In addition to changing departure times, our gates kept changing. Finally they pushed departure time back an hour, then boarded us 5 minutes later. We waited an hour for “paperwork” and once we got it, THEN they decided to fuel (of course they couldn’t do that as we were waiting for the paperwork). After fueling for 20 minutes, we drove and de-iced the plane. An hour and a half later from the time we boarded, we took off. The flight was smooth and we landed in Chicago. The landing was false hope: we ended up having to wait 2 hours for our gate to open (and I mean physically open and expand out onto the runway). Needless to say we didn’t get off the plane until 1:30 AM (even though we landed at 11:30 PM). The pilot did give us free snacks and water, but that just didn’t make up for the 7 hour flight. I WILL NEVER book with Spirit again… ever.

 

 

This is the airline equivalent to a hostel with wings. Seats are old, cracking leather. Very little leg room. I’m 5’2″ and still had to stick my feet out to the isle every now and then! Amenities are bare if not non existent.
***if you think you found a good deal because you’re tickets are cheap, it’s not! You’ll have to pay for baggage, even if you carry on. In fact, it’s more expensive to carry your own bag then to check it in! You’ll have to pay for water, soda and everything else that usually comes with your flight. $40 per bag, per trip, plus God forbid you get thirsty in flight, that’s another $100 to your ticket.

 

You have to be especially shitty to have an entire buzzfeed “article” about just how shitty you are… Enjoy!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/…

 

Hell on earth.

Disgusting. Ends up costing more. 

My worst nightmare come true.

 

I suppose this is the cheapest airline around, in terms of cost and customer service.  With that said, I would suggest you avoid this airline to the best of your ability.  If you have no other choice but to fly Spirit, then here are some things you need to know:

 

– Travel light!  Baggage fees are pretty ridiculous, and make sure you CHECK IN ONLINE!!  Checking yourself and your carry-on bag online will save you 70% compared to checking in at the airport!

 

-Reserve your seat online as well!  Their planes are equipped with the bare-minimum 28inch pitch seats, which mean your knees will touch the seat in front of you.  I would definitely suggest paying about $20 extra to reserve a seat by the emergency exits, as they offer you much more leg room (enough to extend your feet).  If you don’t reserve your seat online, you will get random seat assignments when you check in at the airport.

 

-NOTHING is “free”.  Make sure you bring your packaged snacks or whatever else you were able to sneak in your backpack with you on the plane.  Peanuts are like $5.  They’re not even candied..

 

-Be prepared for multiple delays!  I got delayed for 3 hours because “a bird hit the plane at high speed” (quoted verbatim from a Spirit employee).  Also, in light of all the government spending cuts, there have been a shortage of air traffic controllers due to added furloughs, etc.  This means that airlines that have first and business classes with the same flight time as yours will queue up before Spirit does, resulting in you “getting your money’s worth” of flying priority.

 

-Their terminals really suck too.  There are little to no charging stations for your electronic accessories, so in the event of a delay, just take note of the estimated boarding time before heading over to a different airline’s terminal to take advantage of multiple charging stations and cable television.

 

If you die and go to hell, Satan will bring you there on a Spirit Airlines flight.

I had two flight delays and then a cancelation of said flight. Called company to pay for the taxi that I needed to get me to a hotel for next-day flight. Guess what? They wouldn’t reimburse. 

They lost our bags…on a flight that NEVER TOOK OFF. How does that happen? No one knew where they disappeared to. I imagine that the bags were scared to get packed into a Spirit airplane and ran away.

 

Worst airline in America. The employees have to attend rude school before being hired. Don’t let low price fool u. First flight from Myrtle Beach to Buffalo, direct flight and they lost my luggage. Did not see my bags for one week until we checked in for our return trip. Very little compensation for my inconvenience. Swore I would never fly again. 
Flight #2 Ft Lauderdale to Atlanta checked and paid for three bags. Check in attendant dropped my golf bag on my leg, which sliced a 3″ gash in my leg. Nobody gave a shit. Promised to report same to HQ. Gave them my number and as usual no response. Shipped my golf bag home via FedEx (half price of Spirit) and they refused to credit the 3rd bag on my return.  Never, Never again. $9 club is bullshit as is their credit card. SPIRIT AIRLINES MEANS MEAN SPIRIT.

 

 

 

The initial low prices that you see are just a ruse, because as you continue along the process of booking your flight, you’ll find that there an additional cost for EVERYTHING.  There’s your price for the privilege of booking a ticket.  There’s a price for fuel.  There’s the price for taxes.  There’s the price for bringing on a carry-on bag.  There’s a price for selecting a seat–even if you select a middle seat in the last row right by the bathroom that doesn’t recline.  And then, when you’re on board, hope you don’t get thirsty, because there’s even a charge for WATER.

In addition to draining your bank account, it seems that Spirit’s second mission is to hobble you.  I’ve never had so little leg room ever.  After about an hour, my legs were insanely cramped.  There was barely enough room to cross them.  By the time my 4 hour flight ended, I worried gangrene might be setting in…’

 

 

It was too late to turn back now.

This is Randy again.  OMG.  Did I really want to “buy things cheap” today?  Well, it was too late to turn back now.

 

 

I did find several of the experiences less disturbing than the quotes listed above.  I’m going to guess that the majority of Spirit customers are on the lower end of the economic scale.  Do those folks complain just a little bit more?  Maybe.  So many people seem to feel  that it’s never THEIR fault; someone else always causes their heartburn.

 

 

As several folks who wrote halfway positive reviews said, if you read the flight agreement that is clearly explained on Spirit’s website then you know what you will be getting and what you will not be getting.  Come on America, stop blaming the other guy all the time.

 

 

 

Here was the deal.  I paid $84 U.S. including all taxes etc. for my one-way flight from Los Angeles to Minneapolis.  I knew I needed to print my boarding pass at home before I left.  If I didn’t I would be charged $10.  I didn’t pay to reserve a seat but still was randomly awarded an aisle seat toward the back of the plane.  I read what the dimensions were for a free carry-on bag.  Actually, the Spirit website said the bag must be a maximum of 16”x14”x8”.  When I got to the airport the “bag sizer” said my free item could have these dimensions:  16”x14”x12”.  That was actually bigger than I was expecting.

 

 

My carryon bag and jacket carried two pairs of underwear, socks and t-shirts.  I also had a reduced size toiletries kit, laptop computer, magazines, etc.  I really had everything I needed for my three day/two night stay.

 

 

I knew that both food and beverage were available for a charge on board.  Therefore, I brought a Subway sandwich on the plane with me.  Cans of soda were $3 each.  Other snacks were also available for purchase.  They even had “combo” plans where a soda and package of Pringles were sold at a discount compared to alacart.

 

 

I had heard about the lack of legroom with Spirit Airlines.  That was hearsay.  What did the data say? I checked out Seatguru.com.  There I learned that the seat “pitch” (legroom) was 31” in United Airlines economy class.  It was 35” in United’s economy plus cabin on an A319 airplane.  What was Spirit’s pitch on the same plane?  Just 28”.  Tight but doable.

 

 

Except for one small detail I was generally satisfied with Spirit.

I boarded the plane with no hassles at all.  I am 6’ 3” tall.  I’m glad I wasn’t 6’4” tall.  I just barely fit in the seat with the legroom offered.  The plane’s interior was brand new.  No complaints there.  The flight attendants and captain’s communication seemed about like it would be on any other airplane.  All was going well as we taxied down the runway and flew off toward Minneapolis.

 

 

This flight didn’t get very far before turning back.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get far.  A few minutes after takeoff the captain came over the P.A. system.  “Folks, you might have noticed we’ve been circling around Catalina a few times (Catalina Island is about 25 miles from LAX).  We seem to have a cargo door light that won’t cooperate.  We’ll be returning to LAX to check things out.

 

 

When everything was sorted out we ended up “re-departing” from LAX three hours past our scheduled time.  Was I disappointed?  Not really.  I didn’t have any plans in Minneapolis until 7 p.m.  We would land in time to meet that commitment.

 

 

While we waited to take off for the second time a Spirit Airlines rep came on board with this announcement, “Because of the delay everyone will be getting a $50 discount voucher for a future flight which is good for one year”.  That was more than fair.  Now my flight cost (depending upon how you value these things) would be just $34 for a 1,500-mile flight.

 

 

I was back to buying good stuff cheap.

When I landed in Minneapolis I would be renting a full-sized car for two days.  My corporate rate (Yes, some folks think I run my trackchasing operation like a business) was $99 for two days.  However, my National Car Rental sponsorship lowered that rate on the very same car to just $71.

 

 

 

Let’s buy some more good stuff cheap.

I would need a hotel for two nights, the first of which would be in the Minneapolis area itself.  I wanted to stay somewhere nice.  I used my clout over at Priceline.com to get a Crown Plaza hotel in a Minneapolis suburb for just $45 for the evening.  Their best rate on line was $85.

 

 

With airplanes, rental cars and hotels I was doing pretty well.   Frankly, I consider this entire process to be just a game for adult minds.  If I didn’t get any discounts I would still make these trips.  However, when I do get discounts it makes me feel a little bit better about the economics of trackchasing.  In reality nobody should ever feel good about the economics of trackchasing.

 

 

Even though we arrived three hours late I was still in time for my Trackchasing Tourist Attraction.  That made everything good.  Check out that TTA behind the TTA tab!

 

 

SATURDAY.

 

 

Today was race day.  This would be my first ice racing event of the 2014 season.  Check out what’s behind the “Race Review” tab for how all that went.

 

 

AFTER THE RACES.

 

I hope by now you have discovered that I’m very serious about any trip’s Trackchasing Tourist Attractions.  They are the lifeblood of my trip.  Following today’s racing I would be making a 10-hour round-trip drive just to see a college hockey match.  Have  you ever heard of such a thing?

 

 

 

“But Randy if you were going to see a hockey match why doesn’t your description of the event show up in the TTA area of this Trackchaser Report?” a curious fact checker might legitimately ask.

 

 

You’re going to have to wait on this TTA.

Well you see it’s that old iPhone again.  I DID see that hockey match but I won’t be telling you about it until you get my next Trackchasing Report.  “Hold on just a moment.  You told us you were only seeing ONE track on this trip.  What gives?” that truth in storytelling fan might also ask.

 

 

Don’t blame me.  I didn’t start this trip expecting to see two tracks.

Well you see it all happened like this.  I was in the midst of my five-hour drive one-way up Interstate 29 to Grand Forks, North Dakota.  If you must know when there is no traffic I’ll glance at my cellphone from time to time.  I like to read the USA Today newspaper on line.  I’ll also be checking my email and Apple Maps GPS directions.  I’ve been known to text although I try to be as careful as possible.  Remember, I’m not doing this in city traffic.  I’m out in the country.

 

 

For some reason I checked the website of the Winnipeg Sports Car Club.  They race on ice every other week during the winter.  However, when I last looked they were not scheduled to race this weekend.  Had they had a scheduled race date it would have been a perfect tie in with today’s racing in Minnesota.

 

 

I guess it was just fate.

I don’t know what prompted me to check their site while I was driving up toward North Dakota.  Was I thinking about last weekend’s terrible cold spell that had hit the area full on?  Was I thinking that maybe they had cancelled last weekend and might reschedule for this weekend?  I can’t say for sure.  I check lots of stuff on my iPhone.

 

 

However, I just about drove off the interstate when I saw this group HAD cancelled their entire show last week because of the cold weather.  They were racing THIS weekend!  OMG.  This changed everything.

 

 

Was I lucky or was this Divine Intervention?

I was lucky I was driving five hours north of Minneapolis to the hockey game.  Why?  Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada was just three more hours north of Grand Forks, North Dakota site of the hockey activity.

 

 

Now I needed a new plan and I needed it now.  Have you heard that before from me?  I would need a new hotel for tonight.  The trouble with that thought was that I had already reserved a hotel via Priceline all the way back in Minneapolis five hours SOUTH of the hockey arena.  I would also need to keep my rental car for another day.  Folks, I love changes like this.  They keep my mind sharp.

 

 

You can’t skate with Priceline.

I knew that Priceline would not let me skate on my prepaid room with them.  However, I could call the Marriott hotel where I had my MSP reservation.  Maybe they could let me pay for tonight (which I had already done) and then let me STAY FREE for tomorrow (Sunday) night.  At first the desk clerk wasn’t too enthused about helping me.  I convinced her to call her manager at home.  That’s why hotel managers make the big bucks isn’t it?  In about an hour Marriott called me back.  They were going to help me out.  Yes, I’ve always loved Marriott.

 

 

Keeping the car was no big deal.  It might effect the price but I would just have to deal with it.  I’d find a hotel somewhere between Grand Forks and Winnipeg as soon as I could.

 

 

TRACKCHASING TOURIST ATTRACTION

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

 

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

 

 

Target Center – Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Charlotte Hornets – NBA Basketball.

 

 

Today’s game would start at 7 p.m.  I was lucky I was going this weekend.  Last weekend the temps were near 30 below zero Fahrenheit.  My IPhone GPS system easily directed me to downtown Minneapolis.  There I found an indoor valet parking garage for just six bucks.  I’m liking Minneapolis more and more all the time.

 

 

I finally made it to a Timberwolves game.

I’ve been wanting to see the “Wolves” play for a few seasons now.  Why?  Their star player in Kevin Love formerly of UCLA.  Kevin is also the nephew of Mike Love one of the founding members of the Beach Boys band.  Kevin’s team took us to the Final Four several years ago.  Virtually every time he touched the ball he scored or was fouled.  Unfortunately, our coach (now fired) refused to give the ball to Kevin Love every time down the court until that strategy might have proved ineffective.  Now Kevin Love, at just age 24 is the NBA’s fourth leading scorer and the league’s leading rebounder!  Not bad for a white guy.

 

 

I needed a ticket and I knew where to get one.

However, before I could see the game I needed a ticket.  As you know I almost never show up at a major sporting event WITH a ticket.  It’s more fun, less expensive and more productive to buy my ticket(s) “on the street”.

 

 

There was something very unusual about tonight’s scalpers outside the Target Center.  They were almost all white people.  Scalpers at just about every venue I visit are almost all black people.  Why mention this at all?  Because my reports are about the unusual about things happening that you just don’t expect.  This dramatic demographic change was most unusual and noteworthy.

 

Scalpers are not my first choice.

I prefer not to buy my tickets from any scalper.  Why?  They are professionals.  They are in this game to make a profit.  I, on the other hand, am also a professional.  I can’t buy stuff cheaply if the other person insists on making a profit.

 

 

This is how things went down.

Here’s how the ticket selling situation looked tonight.  First it was cold outside.  It wasn’t as cold as last weekend but it was still cold.  It was now just ten minutes before game time.  The only people selling tickets were scalpers.  I didn’t see any civilians selling their tickets.

 

 

However, I will tell you this.  True to the “NIMS” reputation these Minnesota scalpers were probably the NICEST scalpers I had ever met.  I challenged one man (I think I bought my Minnesota Twins tickets from him a couple of seasons ago) about my not wanting to buy tickets printed on regular paper.  A single ticket like that can be printed out 100 times.  The first time it is scanned upon entering the stadium the other 99 copies of the ticket are useless.  Nevertheless, the scalper took the time to explain why he thought paper tickets like these were the safest.  I’m not sure I bought his logic but he sounded sincere.  Another scalper, who told me he had lived in San Diego, showed me where I might be able to buy a ticket after he was convinced he didn’t have anything I wanted.  Although I was wary these folks seemed like they were just trying to help me.

 

 

Right at game time I ended up getting a ticket in the lower level about at the base line.  I paid $30 U.S.  In checking the Timberwolves website I found that seats in my section (113) sold for $71-146.  Why the broad range?  The Timberwolves sell their tickets at different prices based upon the quality of the opponent.  The Lakers game goes for the high price of $146.  They’ll probably change that since the Lakers are big losers this year.  A weaker opponent like tonight’s Charlotte team would be at the $71 price point.

 

 

I was a little disappointed in the Target Center.

I was somewhat disappointed in the Target Center.  It didn’t have the quality or ambience of several major league stadia that I have visited.  The souvenir selection was limited.  However, concessions were fairly priced.  I went with a ice milk waffle cone for five bucks.  Entertainment during the breaks was limited.

 

 

Minnesota romps.

The game was a blowout with Minnesota winning by about 20 points.  Kevin Love in just 31 minutes scored 19 points (on only ten shots) and grabbed 14 rebounds.

 

 

Overall, it was a fun experience.  I’m most glad I did it.  Would I go again?  No, probably not unless the Timberwolves were playing a quality opponent.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Jimmy Johns – Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

Why I visit subway shops.

I will tell you this.  When it comes to this type of eatery I am a fan of Subway.  For the most part I patronize Subway for calorie control.  I choose their sandwiches based upon calorie count.  When I’m not trying to limit calories you’re not likely to find me visiting Subway.

 

 

I don’t care much for Jimmy Johns although I know lots of people that do.

Although I have only been to J.J.’s about five times in my life I don’t care much for them.  I know that lots of family and friends love them.  I feel “restricted” in a Jimmy Johns.  I don’t like being locked into what I feel are there “pre-arranged” sandwiches.  I want options in life and the ability to mix and match.  I’m the customer and expect folks selling to me to meet my expectations not theirs.  I also don’t like the fact that you can’t see the veggies that you will be ordering like you can at Subway.

 

 

Sorry.  We’re going to have to do this my way, I’m the customer.

When I approached the counter I told the server I was looking for a turkey sandwich.  She immediately said, That’s the #4 it comes with…..  I raised my hand to politely ask her to stop speaking.  “I’m not looking for a #4.  Here’s what I want in my sandwich” I told her in a pleasant but firm manner.  It was all she could do to keep from rolling her eyes.  I could tell what she was thinking, “Here’s another one of THOSE people”.  Truth be told I AM one of those people.  I had only stopped into J.J.’s because it was the only healthy fast food option anywhere near the Target Center.

 

 

Once my server understood how our game was going to be played my sandwich order was placed.  I will tell you I like the wheat bread and the ability to order “double turkey” at this place.  Nevertheless, I am still not a fan of Jimmy Johns.  Give me a Subway where I can have six choices of bread, more than ten meat selections and more than ten veggie selections.  Both J.J.s and Subway prepare the sandwich in about the same time with similar pricing.  I vote for Subway.

 

 

 

 

Lake Rush Ice Track – Rush City, Minnesota

 

 

Confusion rained although I didn’t know it at the time.

I purchased my airline ticket several days ago for this ice racing action.  In the ice racing game that’s very risky.  Why?  Often times ice racing events are canceled at the last minute.  Why?  If a warm front comes through that melts the ice.  If it snows that creates an insulation effect on the ice, which melts the ice.  If it rains at the last minute that screws up the ice racing surface.  Until I got into the standby airline game I didn’t go to many ice races because I couldn’t risk their last minute cancellations after I had purchased non-refundable airline tickets.

 

 

As it was the International Ice Racing Association (IIRA) CHANGED their racing venue on just a few days notice.  Luckily for me they changed from a lake where I had never seen racing to another lake where I had never seen racing.  I was even luckier when the newly scheduled lake was an hour closer to Minneapolis than the originally scheduled one!

 

 

 

Flicabird….no not THAT kind of flicabird.

I had an hours drive to get me to “Flicabird’s Resort” located in Rush City, Minnesota.  That’s quite a catchy name huh?  When I arrived I was hungry.  I walked into Flicabird’s to see if they were serving breakfast.  They were.  I joined a good number of snowmobilers who were inside warming up and having their own breakfasts on this Saturday morning.  I can definitely recommend this place for a morning meal.  I was surprised to see several folks saddled up to the bar drinking beer at 9:45 a.m.  I guess Minnesota isn’t far from Wisconsin in a number of ways.

 

 

By the way Carol and I used to live in a cold weather climate when we were in a Chicago suburb from 1980-83.  With the long cold winters we took up both tobogganing and cross-country skiing.  We figured if we were going to live in an icebox for several months each year we would try to enjoy it.

 

 

I could have watched this race from indoors.

I could see the racetrack from my breakfast table.  Had I wanted too I would never have had to leave the restaurant.  However, that is not what ice racing is all about.  You have to be outside to get the full experience.

 

 

How did this happen?

I was surprised to see large banners advertising the ice races around the resort.  Considering they had only changed the track’s location in the last few days.

 

 

 

I noticed a woman working on a laptop with stacks of papers spread over her table.  It looked like she might be with the IIRA racing group.  She was.  I struck up a conversation.  “Why had they changed lakes in midstream,” I asked.  Pretty clever questioning huh?

 

 

She explained that the lakes in Northern Minnesota had received more snow than the southern part of the state.  That snow was insulating the ice and making any possible racing surfaces less than ideal.  She also showed me the day’s schedule and layout of the ice racing road course.

 

 

Have you ever driven out on a frozen lake?

With that I took the National Rental Car Racing Chevrolet Impala out onto the ice.  Have you ever driven a car on a frozen lake?  Have you ever driven a car about a mile out onto a frozen lake?  The first time I did it I was a bit apprehensive.  However, now that I’m a pro at ice racing I don’t give it much thought.

 

 

The IIRA racing folks were sharing the lake with two other major groups.  First, the aforementioned snowmobilers were all over the lake.  So were the ice fisher people with their augers and tents.  If I lived in this type of climate I would be an ice racer and have a snowmobile.  I doubt I would do much ice fishing.  That sounds like work.

 

 

On Saturdays the IIRA group runs heat races (5 laps each) and sprint races (8 laps each).  Then on Sunday they have an endurance race scheduled for two hours and five minutes.  Of course, all of this is subject to modification if the weather changes.

 

 

As an example last Saturday the group had their first race of the 2014 season.  Then the next day that major cold front came through and they canceled the second weekend day of racing.  Can you imagine how cold it had to be to get Minnesotans to cancel their ice racing?

 

 

Few and far between.

There were just eight cars in attendance for the road course racing.  The course was constructed quite a ways from the paddock area.  The course was probably a mile or so long.  These two factors made seeing the actually racing a bit more difficult and less entertaining.

 

 

However, I was able to get up close and personal with the race cars in the paddock area.  Don’t miss the photos.  I headed out at the lunch break.  There’s not a lot you can do with eight cars on a large racetrack when that track is so far from the spectating area.  I was just happy to get my first ice track in the books for the year.

 

 

 

STATE COMPARISONS

Minnesota

 

The Gopher State

This afternoon I saw my 70^th lifetime track in the Gopher state, yes the Gopher state.  I’ll be back after discovering a new “vein” of racing in Minnesota.  Who will I share that information with?  Rob Palmer.

 

 

Thanks for reading about my trackchasing,

 

Randy Lewis

World’s #1 Trackchaser

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

 

I’m still trackchasing out of a tiny three-car garage in the faraway but sunny seaside village of San Clemente, California.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUICK FACTS

 

AIRPLANE

Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – Minneapolis, MN (MSP) – 1,535 miles

 

 

RENTAL CAR #1

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – trip begins

Rush City, MN

 

 

 

TRACK ADMISSION PRICES:

Rush City Ice Track – No charge

 

 

 

LIFETIME TRACKCHASER COMPARISONS 

The three most important trackchasing comparisons to me are:

 

Total lifetime tracks seen

Total “trackchasing countries” seen

Lifetime National Geographic Diversity results

 

 

Total Lifetime Tracks

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

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 1,924

 

 

 

Total Trackchasing Countries

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

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 67

 

 

 

Current lifetime National Geographic Diversity results

1.  Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 4.96

 

 

 

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