Wisconsin

From the travels and adventures of the “World’s #1 Trackchaser”

All-Time Favorite Wisconsin Track:

Wisconsin State Fair Park – West Allis

Current lifetime trackchasing state rank: 4

Best Memories:

I got my first taste of big-time auto racing at the Wisconsin State Fair Park. That’s Jack Bowsher and A.J. Foyt above. I’m not sure I was in love with what is now called the “Milwaukee Mile” itself but I loved the USAC stock car competition they offered.

My stepfather, his friends and I made the trip to “Milwaukee” many times. We saw drivers like A.J. Foyt, North Nelson, Ramo Stott and Don White (above) race. A youngster by the name of Dick Trickle showed up in the late 60s as well. It always seemed as if the #99 of Trickle just didn’t have the financial support to keep up with the big names on a big track.

I grew up watching oval racing. Most of that oval racing was on dirt. Back in those days, I was a “racechaser”. I went to the races wherever my favorite drivers were expected to appear. Later I would become a “trackchaser”. As a trackchaser, I honestly didn’t really care who showed up to race. I just wanted to see racing at a new track. I have enjoyed trackchasing more than just about anyone can imagine. However, I can’t help but think I might have enjoyed staying a racechaser a good deal as well.

I went to my first ever road course race at Road America during my college days. Why? My college fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi, was hosting a camping trip at Elkhart Lake. The road course race itself was the undercard for the brotherhood, drinking and camping for the weekend.

I will tell you that I couldn’t understand for one moment the intrigue of a road course compared to an oval. Who would want to go to a basketball game where you couldn’t see the players all the time? Not me.

Wisconsin has a lot of good racing. I’ve enjoyed seeing oval tracks in the Badger state such as Slinger, Cedar Lake, Angel Park and Wilmot among many. I’ve been back to all of those tracks. In 2019, I came back to Slinger so my sister Becky and her husband Bob could see the races (above).

Since becoming a trackchaser I’ve been up to Wisconsin during the winter for ice racing. I’ve seen racing on the ice at more than 25 ice tracks in Wisconsin. As a matter of fact, I’ve even driven competitively at a few Wisconsin ice ovals and ridden shotgun in several more.

I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that Wisconsin is famous for something else from my experiences. What’s that? They are the biggest beer drinkers of any state in the country by a factor of several. Around the world, they are matched only by Zimbabwe. In just about any small Wisconsin town you’ll likely find more bars than gas stations!

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