Washougal MX Park

 

 

 

THE EVENT

 

Today’s undertaking was just one of more than 2,000 trips that have taken me up, down and around the long and dusty trackchasing trail. If you would like to see where I’ve been and experience those adventures here’s the link:

 

 

Randy’s Complete Track List

 

 

If you’ve got a question, comment or whatever please leave it at the bottom of this report.  It’s very easy to do.  I’ll try my best to respond.  Thanks!

 

 

 

 

ON THE WAY TO THE RACES

 

 

Is this statement true?

A common saying where I grew up is “The early bird gets the worm”. If that statement is true, and I believe it is, then I’m going to get the 2016 trackchasing “worm”. Yes, I was off to an early start for the year.

 

 

 

Family vacation time.

Carol and I had just returned on the morning of December 31 from an 11-day vacation in Hawaii. We had flown the “red-eye” back from Maui to Los Angeles landing at 6 a.m. on the last day of the year.

 

 

We had a wonderful time with our kids, grandkids, son-in-law and their friends. We have a wonderful family of squared away high-achievers. We’re proud of each and every one of them.

 

 

The first day of 2016.

Today, Friday, January 1 my alarm woke me up at 4:10 a.m. Yep, just a little bit more than four hours into the new year and I was already headed down the “long and dusty trackchasing trail”. O.K., the entire trackchasing trail isn’t dusty but some of it is.

 

 

This weekend was going to be a bit unusual. Do you know any other trackchaser who lives in California and would attempt this two-day trackchasing trip? You don’t have to answer it’s a rhetorical question.

 

 

Even by my standards this trip was different.

The trip was a bit unusual even by my standards. I have a huge Excel spreadsheet that lists all of the tracks that I have NOT attended in North America. I do my best to keep this file current. I’ll included notes that might help me get to these tracks sooner or later.

 

 

However, tracks I have never heard of are appearing at a fast and furious pace. The staff at Randy Lewis Racing often doesn’t have time to get a new track listed in this file….before I’ve seen the track in person! That was the case this weekend.

 

 

I would begin with a January 1 race date in a suburb of Portland, Oregon. I would have to cross into the state of Washington to get to the small town of Washougal, Washington.

 

 

The timing was perfect.

With the race being in the afternoon I might as well try for a Trackchasing Tourist Attraction in the Evergreen state. I would have to fly from Portland to Seattle to make it happen though. It was just my good fortune to find out the mighty UCLA Bruins (conquers of the Kentucky Wildcats earlier this year) were playing the Washington Huskies in Seattle. The game was at the Alaska Airlines Arena formerly known at the Hec Edmundson Pavilion. This was not my first visit to the “Hec” but it was the first time I would be going there in the midst of a trackchasing trip.

 

 

If you really want to you can.

Then, after the game, I planned to fly from Seattle to Dallas. However before I could board that airplane I would need to confirm tomorrow’s trackchasing plans with a race promoter in Mississippi. That’s right. My plan called for a race just outside of Portland, Oregon on day one and then a race the very next afternoon in rural Mississippi. Folks, it’s not THAT easy to get from Portland, Oregon to Collins, Mississippi. However, if you really WANT to do it you can.

 

 

Could this be true?; could it be possible?

Let’s think about all of this for a moment. I would sleep on an airplane during the night of December 30. On New Year’s Eve, December 31 I would be up at 4:10 a.m. Then on January 1 I would fly on an airplane over night again. On January 2 I might have to sleep in my car or in the airport. The jury was still out on that idea. No, if this hobby was real convenient everybody would be clamoring to do it.

 

 

Once at LAX this morning I entered the Alaska Airlines Board Room for the first time in 2016. I grabbed a quick piece of wheat bread and peanut butter. That should get me to Portland.

 

 

First class baby.

However, I soon found out I would be flying in first class to Portland. I don’t fly in first nearly as much as I used too. That meant a steak and eggs breakfast would be on the house. Yep. The year 2016 was starting off with a bang.

 

 

Tech. Tech. Ticket.

While waiting for my plane to take off I checked out the “Seat Geek” app on my iPhone. There I quickly (a little too quickly) bought a ticket to the UCLA-Washington basketball game to be played later tonight (or so I thought).

 

 

The first game at the top of the list of Washington Huskie basketball games offered a ticket for just $11 U.S. I couldn’t pass that up. I would have a hard time beating that price outside the stadium even with my “Need 1” sign.

 

 

With a few taps of the iPhone keyboard I had my ticket to the game. I figured I would print the ticket out at the Portland airport Alaska Airlines Board Room. Yep. The year 2016 was going very well.

 

 

People cause their own mistakes.

However, I had found that most mistakes (nearly almost all mistakes?) are caused by people. Often the people who cause the most mistakes are unprepared, don’t have the proper knowledge or are just plain stupid.

 

 

 

I got a ticket….to the wrong game.

When I looked a bit closer at the ticket I bought I discovered I had purchased a ticket to the January 28 game (that’s in four weeks!) when the Washington Huskies come to Los Angeles not Seattle to play UCLA. Oh heck. I guess I will have to buy another ticket to THAT game and bring Carol along.

 

 

Carol controls her own destiny.

By the way Carol is not coming on this trackchasing trip. She had a choice as she always does. She chose eleven days in Hawaii with family over a 35-degree windy afternoon near Portland followed by a red-eye flight to Dallas and then a seven-hour drive to Mississippi. Yep. That Carol is a smart and attractive cookie.

 

 

When I checked on tickets for TONIGHT’S game there weren’t all that many for sale. The least expensive was $43 U.S. I should be able to beat that by buying a ticket outside the stadium. I would give it a shot.

 

 

An entertaining movie.

Soon it was time to feast on steak and eggs in the first class section of a big jet airplane. I attached my Bose noise-cancelling headset to my Apple MacBook Pro. Then I leaned my seat back and watched an iTunes movie until I landed in Oregon. I have eleven movies in the queue. I would go with something that might expire (I have 30 days to watch these movies after I rent them) sooner rather than later. I chose the movie, “Boulevard” starring Robin Williams. It was a dark film but still entertaining. This was the last film done by Robin before his death.  A very long time ago Carol and I would frequently see Robin perform at the Comedy Store on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.  He always parked his silver BMW right out front.

 

 

 

 

 

THE RACING

 

 

Washougal MX Park – Washougal, Washington

 

 

 

First time in cold weather on January 1.

This was the fourth time I have ever trackchased on New Year’s Day, January 1. The other three times were in warm weather climates including Arizona, New Zealand and Australia. Today that would change. I was going to a cold weather climate for today’s racing action.

 

 

Washougal, Washington is just across the Oregon/Washington border. The small town of 14,095 residents is only 23 miles from the Portland International Airport. That made getting to the track easy from PDX.

 

 

Brrr!

The weather conditions were less than favorable. There was a cloudless blue sky with a temperature of only 34 degrees. However, it was the wind, it is always the wind, that made the day uncomfortable. The wind blew east right down the nearby Columbia River.

 

 

A weather service “wind advisory” called for sustained winds of 20-25 MPH with gusts from 45-55 MPH! At 34 degrees those winds made it a chilly afternoon.

 

 

 

A special SXS race.

The Jones Creek Trail Riders Association was promoting the show today. The event was called the “Hangover Scrambles”. Get it? January 1. Hangover?

 

 

This group primarily races motorcycles and quads. However, they were trying the Side by Sides (SXS) for the first time in nearly ten years today.

 

 

Here’s some information I gathered about the club from their website:

 

 

 

“We are an off-road motorcycle and ATV club which rides at the Jones Creek ORV Area. The Jones Creek ORV Area is located within the Yacolt Burn State Forest, north of the city of Camas, WA and adjacent to the Camas watershed. The Jones Creek ORV Area includes a recently improved trailhead and a honeycomb of trails, including a sanctioned, 12 mile, one-way, ORV loop trail. The sanctioned trail system varies in elevation and physical setting characteristics. Most sections are heavily forested and very rocky. However, there are approximately six bridges crossing various streams and water bodies.

 

 

The Yacolt Burn State Forest is located in near the growing urban centers of Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR. The Yacolt Burn is primarily school and county trust land managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Its trees are mostly 50 to 70 years old with some scattered old growth. There are a number of motorized and non-motorized trail systems within the Yacolt Burn. If you would like a map or additional information about the Yacolt Burn State Forest, contact the Southwest Region of the DNR at 1-800-527-3305.

 

 

 

The JCTRA is a relatively small club (less than 150 members) who have joined together to preserve the Jones Creek area for future generations of off-road enthusiasts. For more on this and for a wealth of additional information, please read the following letter written by our co-founder, Bill Buckman.”

 

 

I go to the top…the air is clearer up there.

I had corresponded with Mike Ames the president of the club in advance of the race. He told me he had five SXSs registered. He expected more to show on race day. He did say if they didn’t get at least a dozen or so they wouldn’t have them on the program next time. I was happy to see 14 SXS drivers take to the starting line.

 

 

There were patches of snow on the grounds of the Washougal MX Park when I arrived. My $10 admission price allowed me to go anywhere in the park that I wanted too.

 

 

Is this really my “job”?

Mike had asked that I look him up when I arrived. I did. He clued me in on the day’s racing plan. He also asked if he could link my Trackchaser Report to the group’s Facebook page. Of course, he could.

 

 

Mike did greet me in an unusual way. It wasn’t the first time I’ve heard it put this way. Nevertheless, when the thought is put in words it sounds a bit strange. Mike said, “Your ’job’ is to go around seeing racetracks? That’s a pretty good deal!” Mike had it right although it’s not really a job.

 

 

The racing.

I was in time to see the amateur motorcycle racing. They must have had more than 50 competitors in that event. They were all over the place.

 

 

The track itself had a dirt surface and a road course configuration. Mike told me it was “2-3 miles” long. Lap times were in the 10-11 minute range for the SXS racers.

 

 

Often times with these types of events I will walk all over the course getting video and photos. Today, with the cold weather I had a new plan. At this facility I could actually drive my car to several viewing points. That made things a lot better in these brutal winds.

 

 

The race would have every competitor starting the race from a standing start. I had confirmed that in advance. There were some significant elevation changes. I was able to get clips from all over the place.

 

 

The wind.

The only drawback for the day was the biting wind. It would have been worse if I couldn’t watch a good deal of the racing from the warmth of my car. Overall it was an interesting day of SXS racing.

 

 

As is normally my plan I don’t put a lot of words around the racing itself. I’m a big believer that “a picture is worth 950 words” or more. That being the case don’t miss the photos and videos from today’s racing.

 

 

Apology offered.

I’ll apologize to the Jones Creek Trail Riders Association in advance. Their specialty is motorcycles and ATVs. I was here to see the SXSs race. Therefore I was focusing most on the track that counted in my trackchasing hobby. Hope everyone understands!

 

 

 

AFTER THE RACES

 

 

I was just getting warmed up.

I had big plans following today’s racing. However, everything hinged on one thing. I needed to hear from the Mississippi based promoter Johnny Brady. He and I had agreed to talk today. I would need his confirmation that senior champ karts were going to be at his track tomorrow.

 

 

To his credit Johnny told me a few days ago that “champs aren’t very big around here”. That meant there might not be very many of them racing this weekend at the Sunset Karting Speedway in Collins, Mississippi.

 

 

I manage my time and my money.

I try to be an efficient and effective trackchasing traveler. I can’t afford to spend my time or money on long trips that don’t yield new track visits.

 

 

How would the travel plan work?

In order to make it to Mississippi I would first have to fly from Portland to Seattle. Then I would take a red-eye flight from Seattle to Dallas. In Dallas I would rent a car and drive seven hours and twelve minutes (485 miles) one-way to the rebel track. The senior champ race would likely take some 10-20 minutes. Then I would hop back in my car and drive the same 485 miles back to Dallas. I would have to stay overnight in the Big D before flying to Seattle and connecting to a flight back to Los Angeles.

 

 

The benefits just kept coming.

In addition to adding a new track there were going to be two other benefits to this grand adventure. On my way through Seattle on the outbound I would get to see the UCLA Bruins play basketball against the University of Washington Huskies. The final benefit? I would be able to stop at the Waffle House somewhere between Dallas and Collins, Mississippi. I had a full Waffle House sponsorship this weekend.

 

 

Yes, I think I know what you’re thinking.

I know what you might be thinking. “I wish I could come with you!” Alternatively, you might be thinking, That’s a “lot of logistics” to see a 10-20 minute go-kart race even if I were able to see my favorite college basketball team and eat a waffle.

 

 

I don’t stay on the porch.

Folks I didn’t get to be the World’s #1 Trackchaser by staying on the porch. I was up for this. All I needed was a confirmation from Mr. Johnny Brady.

 

 

However, it was 7 p.m. and I still had not heard from Johnny. I had decided after leaving a couple of phone messages for him that I would not make the trip if I didn’t get a call back from Mr. Brady.

 

 

Johnny texting.

Finally, just before I had to make a decision to go to the basketball game, while I was still in the Seattle airport, I got a text message from the race promoter. There had been no senior champs at the Friday night races (today). Johnny thought there might be some tomorrow but did have any firm commitments.

 

 

With that information I had to cancel my trip to Mississippi. There just wasn’t enough concrete evidence to make it worth my while to travel that far.

 

 

O.K. New plan. Now!

I would have to develop a new plan. From the Alaska Airlines Board Room airport lounge in Seattle I checked flights that would take me back to Los Angeles tonight. I don’t stay out on the road once the tracks disappear.

 

 

Despite it being January 1, with all of the holiday travelers moving across the country, a flight back to Los Angeles to Seattle had plenty of open seats. I booked one.

 

 

Tempurpedic time.

My trip had changed a good deal. However there was another major positive. I always see positives. I left the house at 4:36 a.m. this morning. If all worked out I would be back home sleeping on our Tempurpedic mattress before 1 a.m. I would have been gone from the house just 21 hours or so.

 

 

This would save me from having to sleep on an airplane tonight and in a Texas located hotel tomorrow night. Rather that getting home late on Sunday I would now be home tonight, Friday.

 

 

Do not underestimate this particular item.

There are lots of cool things about trackchasing. One is that it forces me to think on my feet. As soon as I get a certain piece of information that requires a change of plans I change the plan.

 

 

I recall a trackchaser several years ago that was totally stumped when a minor glitch came his way. The airline had lost his bag or some such thing and before he even left his foreign based location for the U.S. he cancelled his trip. Someone cancels an international trip because he doesn’t have a checked bag? Oh, my.

 

 

This works for me.

This was a wild 21-hour adventure. Over the years I’ve had my share. I suspect my 2016 trackchasing season will have lots more unusual features to it. I’ll simply go with the flow. That works well for me. 

 

 

Washington

 

 

The Evergreen state

This afternoon I saw my 30th lifetime track in the Evergreen state, yes the Evergreen state. I’ve seen 30 or more tracks in 21 different states.

 

 

 

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

Washington facts: Washington is the site of the world’s largest building, Boeing’s final assembly plant

 

 

 

 

QUICK FACTS

 

 

AIRPLANE

Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – Portland, OR (PDX) – 834 miles

 

RENTAL CAR #1

Portland International Airport – trip begins

Washougal, WA

Portland International Airport – trip ends – 56 miles

 

AIRPLANE

Portland, OR (PDX) – Seattle, WA (SEA) – 130 miles

Seattle, WA (SEA) – Los Angeles, CA (LAX) – 958 miles

 

 

 

Total air miles – 1,922 (3 flights)

Total rental car miles – 56 (1 car)

 

Total miles traveled on this trip – 1,978 miles 

 

 

 

TRACK ADMISSION PRICES:

Washougal MX Park – $10

 

Total racetrack admissions for the trip – $10

 

 

 

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 525 tracks of my lifetime total. Don’t blame me.

 

1. Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 2,187

 

 

Total Trackchasing Countries

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

 

1. Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 70

 

 

 

Current lifetime National Geographic Diversity results

 

1. Randy Lewis, San Clemente, California – 4.47

 

 

 

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

 

 

Click on the link below to see the “Video Lite” production from the racing action today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on the link below for a photo album from today’s trackchasing day.  You can view the album slide by slide or click on the “slide show” icon for a self-guided tour of today’s trackchasing adventure.

 

 

Washougal MX Park – Photo album