Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

I am a retired school teacher and former photographer for National Speed Sport News and former official for URC and ARDC and did have the ability to travel. As per Trackchaser's rules I have been to 183 different tracks where I have seen a completed feature for the main attraction, green to checkered.  21 different states and 1 Canadian province (Quebec.)  Some of the rules keep the official count down, example: Lawrenceburg, IN is NOT two different tracks (1/4 mile and 3/5 mile are counted as the same track.)  I count them as two different tracks in my personal count because the two tracks are distinctly different.  There are several others that fall into that situation.  You also can't count drag strips, I count them as races that are carried on network TV as real race tracks.  My my personal account, taking in the previous statements, I have been to 191 different race tracks.  I have been to a new track every year since 1971 and I plan to keep that streak alive this year.  As a side note, I have a photograph that my dad took of mom and me in the infield of Williams Grove Speedway taken on September 12, 1948, 12 days before my 1st birthday.  My dad attended the 1st race at Williams Grove when he was 16 years old.  He also saw midgets race at Hershey Stadium both before WW II and in the 1960's when they reopened the track.  I was able to pick his brain about tracks he went to as he was a salesman and he spent many nights going from sales call to a local track (especially if his client was a fan or raced) and then to the next town. Back when he was on the road, during the 1950's and 60's there were all sorts of local tracks running mid-week shows.   Based on the list we were able to put together he attended well over 100 tracks, I need to find that list so I can add him to the Trackchaser list.  I am sure there are some tracks that he and I attended when I would go with him in the summer for a week that I can not verify until I find the list.  Enjoy the races

Well hell yes Super Chuck is counting Eddyville Raceway. Been there a handful of times, including the Fuel Altered Nationals. It may not be NHRA funny cars, but they aren't slouches either.

Super Chuck has asked the race trackers about what qualifies and basically if you are paying admission to see racing competition, then it counts. There are those that like to throw a lot of "rules" around, but whatever. To Super Chuck, the Jacobson Building racing on concrete indoors is completely different than the 1/2 mile dirt track across the street...so two tracks albeit on the same property. Some count tracks that change configuration (1/2 to 3/8ths or something) but he doesn't count those twice.

Super Chuck

My own personal rule is that I must see a competitive lap at the track to count it. Anything from time trials onward is good enough. 

See more racing videos at
http://www.youtube.com/user/dagunner

Have watched Legends race the short circle track at Eddyville and watched the drags so I'm totally counting that as two as well.

Just thinking off the top of my head I believe I have been to 23 different tracks between asphalt and dirt across  9states(OH, PA, MI, KY, VA, TN, FL, IN, IA). Hoping to add a few more tracks and a couple more states this year.

I would MUCH rather watch Fuel Altereds than NHRA Funny cars! Old school hotrods.....

So where is Eddyville Raceway?

Eddyville Raceway Park is in Eddyville, IA on the North side of town just off of Highway 163. This is about 10 miles south of Oskaloosa or 45 miles South and East of Knoxville. I lived on the same road as the track for about 8 years when first married but always went to Knoxville on Saturdays instead of the drags. Night of Fire over the Fourth of July and Fuel Altered Nationals are their big dates. Been there more for Midnight Madness on Friday nights where it's run what you brung straight up cars off the street. Pretty nice facility but it's an 1/8mi with not a very big slow down lane. I was watching the Fuel Altered Nationals once and a guy went straight off the end of the track when the shoots didn't deploy. Pretty sure that ended the night if my memory serves me right but I was prob in my early teens back then.

Wrote down a list the other night. I came up with 85 tracks in 18 states.I mean I have been to Hartford at the old half mile 40 years ago and the 3/8 its now been for like 34 years , also Jackson as a half and the new downsized configuration, does that count as 2 at each site?

I agree the guys with 1000 + tracks go to the Buzzard Hollow fargrounds for the 4 cylinder enduro event, not exactly my favorite kind of racetrack porn.  I have no interest in doing that to inflate my #s of tracks but more power to those that want to do that.Have been to both dirt and pavement, counting Daytona, Atlanta & Darlington maybe 15 paved tracks in the mix?

Most unusual track I would say was the paper clip they put over the dragstrip at Heartland Park Topeka, went there for the Thursday Busch All Star LM event before the 2 day Friday- Sat WoO sprint event. The Kinsers, Lasoski and plenty of other sprint drivers practiced at intermission Thursday as the track never existed until that week.

Later read that Hillenburg won the Saturday night A from 16th starting position which at the time was the deepest anyone had ever come from back in the pack to win a WoO race and it was the 3rd biggest crowd in WoO history. Curious for anyone here that was there for that race, must have been one helluva show.

The worst president of my lifetime:
Ronald Reagan

I'm at 160. I thought it was closer to 200. I'll have to go over my list again. 

At our age it feels good and we are fortunate when we can do darned near anything.  Some folks our age cant get around very well.  Last week I went to the eye doctor thinking I need some glasses for night driving.  Turns out that it's cataracts and they're far enough along that insurance would approve the laser surgery without question.  I am watching most of my racing from home but still want to drag out the old camera gear and shoot a couple races.  Driving home from the nearest track Cedar Lake isnt bad, I could drive that route with my eyes closed I have done it so many times.  Only a 35 minute drive and spotting deer about to cross the road is the biggest chaplenge but avoiding them is part seeing them and part luck.  Yeah, getting old kind of sucks for us older fans but it beats the alternative.

Stan Meissner

Gettin' old ain't for sissies!

I'm 70 & either bike 10 miles or swim 1/2 mile almost every day, sometimes more, sometimes both

Yesterday I took a hellacious spill on my bike at top speed (for me!), fortunately on dirt (what else for a Hoser?).... hit a rock. Got the typical scraped & bloody elbow & knee, but the worst part is a big fat lump & stiffness in my thigh. Debating swimming today, might sit in the hot tub first & see how I feel....

 "I agree the guys with 1000 + tracks go to the Buzzard Hollow fargrounds for the 4 cylinder enduro event, not exactly my favorite kind of racetrack porn.  I have no interest in doing that to inflate my #s of tracks but more power to those that want to do that"

Same here.... life is too short!

I normally get my exercise walking for 45 minute on our treadmill but the past couple days climbing up and down a ladder to install a second garage door opener for the wife's car.  I feel fortunate that I am in relatively good shape for someone a couple months short of 70 but not at the level you're going about it.  Sounds like you could bike to those new tracks but just like in racing try to keep it wheels down. 

Stan Meissner

I just looked at a couple  different statistics.  Two  of the 13 tracks I've been to have been reconfigured; Hatford SD from 1/2 to 3/8, Jackson MN from 1/2 to 4/10. Five of the 13 tracks I've been to are now gone. That's 38%.

Maybe I'll count Hartford twice- Hartford Speedway 1/2 mile and I-90 Speedway 3/8 mile.

 "Sounds like you could bike to those new tracks" I wish, 4 or 5 hr. drive to Pa. tracks. There are 2 tracks in NY state 2 hrs. away but the racing usually sucks. Last trip down to the Grove, too cold for my usual swim so I brought my bike & did a "rails to trails" ride for about 2 hrs.

"but just like in racing try to keep it wheels down." Wise words! I try....this one caught  me by surprise, happened so fast. I was all cocky cause I just passed some fast young runner, then blammo! Fortunately the guy was there to help me back up....

By the way, the hot tub felt good & there was nobody in the pool. Couldn't pass that up, so i swam a 1/2 mile.... it all felt good, still stiff & sore but walking better

Try walking outside! You might see some animals.... & get fresh air

On my bike trail I've seen the usual, geese, ducks, hawks, turtles, deer, wild turkeys, fox, beavers, muskrats, the occasional Great Blue Heron & one really strange one: all white chipmunk!

People see bears but I haven't yet. Just missed one by a few minutes last week

I live across the road from the old rail bed now turned into a paved walking path.  I used to get up on the path but the pavement bothers my knees if I get up there every day.  The treadmill is spring loaded and there is a 55" 4K TV I can watch races on while walking.  We live a short distance from wide open spaces and I have a big yard so no issues getting fresh air.  

Back on subject about number of tracks.  I saw races at the MN state Fair on both dirt and pavement but I only count it as one track.  Likewise Elko Speedway, went there in the 80's to watch a guy from work on the pavement, did photography from the infield the times they covered with dirt.  Photographed IRA, Outlaws and local Sprints, only counted it once.  I would be at 41 if I counted those tracks twice but I feel like it's more accurate to count them once.  We need a ruling on that from the super fans.

Stan Meissner

I don't think detailed rules for "number of tracks visited" is so important

Its not a contest.....If it is, neither of us is in contention anyway!

Good job stopping my attempted thread hijack to "old farts discuss exercise"!

Wait... I don't like pavement either!

For walking, racing, or bike rides

Walking on pavement was agony for me, thats when I decided I needed knee replacements

"Rails to trails" are great cause there are no cars, & they were built with 3% maximum grades. Too bad yours is paved, the one I usually use isn't, so I don't have to wear a helmet. Fortunately none of my 4 spills have landed me on my head.... NO JINX, PLEASE!!!!