“The Flagship MONTH of MONEY tour is back for 2024

Have you ever thought about sitting in the grandstand
at up to 30 different iconic speedways in America? 

Due to personal commitments, we couldn’t do a USA tour in 2023, but one year later you can choose from one, two or all three segments of the 2024 Month of Money tour.  And then you too can then sit in 30 different grandstands at tracks the length and breadth of the American mid-west.     Some of them more than once …..

It is proposed that the tour will be very similar to the 2022 tour described below.  But add on to that the Iron Man races for the World of Outlaws at I-55 in St Louis, the Capitani Classic, the party races at Oskaloosa and then the crowning glory of the Knoxville Nationals.

What we can tell you right now is the 2024 Month of Money Tour will leave Australia on Wednesday June 26th when you will fly to America, eventually getting off your last flight in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on the same day, ready for the start of PA Sprintweek at Williams Grove.

You will depart the US from Des Moines, Iowa on Monday August 12th after witnessing the Knoxville Nationals.  You’ll fly into your preferred Australian Airport very early on the morning of Wednesday August 14th.

For those who don’t have an available 50 days to spend chasin’ racin’, then watch out for two additional entry points throughout the tour and one earlier exit point. Once we know the exact dates of all races we want to get to, those dates will be released with the entire itinerary.

Check out the list of tracks we visited in 2022 and the itinerary which describes what you could be doing every day whilst on tour with us.
And then just sit back and wait for us to release the 2024 Itinerary and pricing.
We are expecting to be able to do that after the World of Outlaws, Hight Limit Racing and USAC release their 2024 schedules at the PRI Show in Indianapolis in the second week of December 2023.

THE BEST of the BEST in the USA tour – 2022

Up to 28 races in 32 days including a day and night in Niagara Falls
Or, extend a week and have 34 races in 39 days
(In 2024 you could have up to 42 races if dates work out.) 
Winged and non wing Sprintcars, Midgets, Silver Crown, Late Models, Modifieds, Indycars, NASCARs, Xfinity, Camping World Trucks

See racing at these legendary tracks

Williams Grove Speedway
Lincoln Speedway (twice)
BAPS (Susquehanna) Speedway
Grandview Speedway
Port Royal Speedway (twice)
Hagerstown Speedway
Putnamville Speedway
Knoxville Raceway
Angell Park Speedway
Davenport Speedway
Deer Creek Speedway
Huset’s Speedway (three times)
Attica Raceway Park
Eldora Speedway (four times)
Tri-City Raceway Park
Selinsgrove Speedway
Winchester Speedway
Gas City Speedway
Kokomo Speedway
Lawrenceburg Speedway
Further tracks on the extended tour
Circle City Raceway
Terre Haute Action Track
Putnamville Speedway
Bloomington Speedway
Tri-State (Haubstadt) Speedway
Lucas Oil Raceway (optional)
Indianapolis Speedway (twice – optional)

Remember that you are about to read the 2022 itinerary.  2024 will be very similar, but will also include the Iron Man at I-55 and the Knoxville Nationals which will be seamlessly added to the end of the tour.  

2020 has at last morphed into 2022. Yep, the Coronavirus was the winner in 2020 and 2021, but as things gradually become clearer about international travel from Australia, we are pumped to release the 2022 “Best of the Best in the USA” tour itinerary. Here you can read all about the tour highlights in a day by day format, along with a summary of the fabulous things you’ll experience, the races you’ll be gobsmacked by and the pulsating places you’ll visit. Check this link as well for all the tour inclusions. There was only room for 51 of them.

And now you can take this pricing link to see how much the 32 night and 39 night tours will cost. You might be quite surprised.

We had been so excited to release the 2020 & 2021 tours, but disappointingly neither of them ever made it off the ground. We are now even more thrilled to release the 2022 version, leaving Australia on Thursday June 23rd and returning home to Oz on Wednesday July 27th. (Or August 3rd, if you take the week long extension.) This tour does not include the Knoxville Nationals, scheduled for August 10th to the 13th. There is good reason for this, as explained below and in the printable tour itinerary “at a glance” table format.

In 2022 we are already committed to taking our second tour to the Chariots of Thunder in Darwin.  It is due to start on August 12th. We need to factor in possible quarantine time for members of the USA tour, depending on where they live.  As at the time of writing (December 2021) it is uncertain how some states will treat returning travellers. (We note that NSW and Victoria have already declared there will be no quarantine for their returning residents.)

The length of quarantine time a returning traveller will have to do (and where) has understandably dictated our planning. For now therefore, this tour will allow those who want to travel to the USA on the Best of the Best tour to also get to the Chariots of Thunder in Darwin starting August 12th.

If all state governments officially introduce the shorter quarantine period, or if you don’t intend travelling to Darwin, then tour members could also consider the “Best of the Best USA” one week tour extension.  If you can fit it in, you’ll find the included additional races at the foot of this article.

We'd like it if you took the time to read the whole 'day by day' tour description below.

But if time is an issue and you need to read it later, or show it to a mate, then use this link.

You can read and / or print off a full version of this itinerary but without the pictures and videos.  

This whole itinerary is now locked in stone.  But it remains fluid to ensure we do see the “best of the best”. And no, we don’t mean our famous $1 esky.  The schedule was originally written when only 5% of the 2022 race dates had been released.  Hence we used historical data and educated opinions to formulate what you are about to read.  In time, as more and more dates were progressively confirmed, the itinerary became more vivid as we highlighted each day and date in green to signify the confirmed race dates.  And there are some boom locked in additions throughout the tour.  We should really add an extra “best” to the tour title.  As always, we reserve the right to amend any of this itinerary as actual race dates are progressively released which in turn may have an effect on others.  Purely and simply to make it better for you.

If a particular day gets changed with info in any way, it will be highlighted in yellow to indicate there has been an update and when.  Any text in orange is a hyperlink. Please tap or click on it to watch, or read more on that subject.

Day 1 – Thursday, June 23rd 2022
Mechanicsburg, PA / Holiday Inn Express

You’ll fly out to the United States of America today from, what we hope by then will once again be the ‘united states’ of Australia. Your international departure airport will be the closest one to your residential base. If possible, we’ll position you on flights with other tour members. A same day arrival into an American gateway airport will see you connecting with a domestic flight east to the Pennsylvanian capital of Harrisburg.  Day 1 is always a long travel day in planes and airports, so it won’t be until around 9.00pm this evening that you will drag a weary body into bed in your first US hotel after 22 hours on the go.

Day 2 – Friday, June 24th 2022
Mechanicsburg, PA / Holiday Inn Express

You’re either going to awake around 3.00am, or want to sleep until Midday. If it’s not the first one, we’ll wake you up for the hotel breakfast and a mid-morning departure to an all-American favourite called Bass Pro. You’ll be flabbergasted at the effort put in to decorate what could otherwise be a simple outdoor sporting goods store!

Lunch will be at the outstanding Hibachi Chinese Buffet next door to Bass Pro, after which we head straight to the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing. A better range of speedway memorabilia you won’t see on the eastern seaboard. Two hours or so will keep you well and truly occupied.

Our arrival time at each track throughout the tour varies upon the location and magnitude of the race night. Today at Williams Grove Speedway it’s a 4.30pm appearance in the parking lot to get our position and to meet as many tailgating US fans as possible.  It’s a way of life for American sports fans and we have no doubt you will enjoy their instant friendship once they realise you are from Australia.

At all tracks we visit, your ticket cost (and reserved seating if applicable) is included in your tour price.  Should you want to upgrade your ticket to include a pit pass, then you are welcome to do so at your own cost. Or just watch ’em go round from the infield.

Here’s Donny ……

The racing tonight is round 1 of Pennsylvania (PA) Sprintweek at the historical paper clip shaped half mile that is Williams Grove. Supported by the 358 sprintcars which are unique to Pennsylvania.

Day 3 – Saturday, June 25th 2022
Mechanicsburg, PA / Holiday Inn Express

Sightseeing is an integral part of our Global Speedway Tours trips. In fact, we estimate that you are only at a racetrack for 10% of the total tour time. Today is one such example when we visit the historically important town of Gettysburg. It was of course the site of the bloodiest and most costly (in terms of human lives lost) battles of the entire Civil War in the 1860’s.  It is recorded that 53,000 Americans were killed by other Americans in the three days of the Gettysburg carnage.

Lunch will be at General Pickett’s Buffet before enjoying the optional Gettysburg’s Premier Battlefield Tours double decker bus experience.

Without returning to the hotel, we head straight for Abbottstown, a mere “dot on the map” if it wasn’t for the excellent Lincoln Speedway being hidden away there.  Round 2 goes down tonight supported by the “Lincoln Extreme Stocks”.

Day 4 – Sunday, June 26th 2022
Mechanicsburg, PA / Holiday Inn Express

An American institution that you will certainly grace the doors of on many occasions across this tour is Walmart.  It just so happens that there is one a kilometre from the hotel.  Not that we will make you walk, but you can if you like. If you want, the bus can ferry you to the Mechanicsburg Walmart Supercentre this morning for a visit.

Lunch should be taken while you are out and about this morning and a suggestion could be the Red Robin Gourmet Burgers restaurant just around the corner from Walmart. Red Robin have been the PA Speedweek major sponsor for several years now and have put their hand up to do so again in 2022.  Aussies are good at supporting those who support our sport.

York, Pennsylvania is about 28 miles south of our hotel in Mechanicsburg. It’ll take around 35 minutes to drive to the Harley-Davidson Assembly plant for our afternoon factory tour. The HD website is a little sparse in its content at the moment given that the tours have been suspended since the start of the COVID pandemic. However, they should open up again in time for us to enjoy all-new experiences in 2022.  The gift shop is very worthwhile visiting to secure super presents for those back home.

From the Harley factory it’s straight to BAPS Motor Speedway previously known as Susquehanna Speedway for Round 3 of Speedweek supported by the BAPS Super Sportsmen.

Day 5 – Monday, June 27th 2022
Mechanicsburg, PA / Holiday Inn Express

Tonight, it’s back to Lincoln Speedway for R4 and their second shot at Speedweek. Sprintcar racing on a Monday night is not a common occurrence, but when you’re in the hotbed of racing that is Dutch Pennsylvania, racing on any night of the week attracts enormous crowds.

But before the track, it’s time to head across the picturesque Susquehanna River to Lancaster and progressively make our way into Intercourse with the Amish. Some of the covered bridges of Lancaster County are a must see and we’ll do our best to visit at least three of them today.  We won’t spend long in Intercourse because it can be tiring, but we’ll be there long enough to sample everything it has to offer. 🤫

Abbottstown is an hour from Intercourse, so after a tasty late Amish lunch at Dienner’s Country Restaurant we’ll find ourselves going through the gates of Lincoln Speedway about 4.30pm. Totally sprintcars tonight. No supporting cast and crew.

Day 6 – Tuesday, June 28th 2022
Quakertown, PA / Econo Lodge

We leave Mechanicsburg and the Holiday Inn this morning to drive 105 miles further east to Quakertown which is one of the closest townships to Grandview Speedway, our destination tonight for Round 5. We’ll be breaking the journey however with a stop at Hershey on the way through to visit Chocolate World and also to take a look at (from the outside), the magnificent Hershey Park  which boasts no less than 13 of the biggest roller coasters you will see for a long time.

From Hershey we meander along Route 422 though Myerstown, the home of Outlaw racer Brent Marks, before continuing to the very famous speedway town of Reading. It was here in this city where the local fairgrounds track produced some outstanding races.  Local heroes and USAC champions regularly invaded Reading before it met its demise in 1979 with a shopping mall cementing itself right over the top of the fairgrounds. The irony is that in 2020 the Fairgrounds Square mall was itself partly demolished and the site is now pretty much shut down.

Do yourself a favour and watch this USAC national midget race from 1978. It was a live telecast back then by NBC Sports, so the quality of the vision is excellent for its age and as good as the quality of the race.  Even Australia gets mentioned and there is action aplenty from some enormous American names from the 1970’s.

After Reading we continue on through wooded countryside that in winter would be covered in snow with several ski resorts along the way. The Econo Lodge in Quakertown sits across the road from a Walmart, so if we’re early you can shop to your heart’s content. This arvo will be an early arrival at Grandview as the place gets packed out. Expect a huge field of Big Block Modifieds as the support class.

Day 7 – Wednesday June 29th 2022
Burnham, PA / Quality Inn & Suites

Today should be our most picturesque of the tour so far. Certainly, the most innovative. After leaving Quakertown, we take I-476 onto I-78 before leaving the freeway system to tackle the country roads. One of which (209) will take us past Big Diamond Speedway, not to watch anything, but just to say we’ve been there!

Staying on 209 gets us to Millersburg which sits right on the mighty Susquehanna River, 464 miles long, one mile wide and claimed to be 300 million years old. Now guess what? There is no bridge over the Susky at Millersburg, but after having lunch with Max at his Grille & Sports Bar we’ll board the Millersburg Ferry which looks just about as ancient as the river itself. Except it was built in 1998!   She’s a reliable old thing as you’ll see from the spectacular pictures on the website.     And this video ….

On the other side we should have time to call into the “Winery at Hunters’ Valley” for a tasting before continuing on the 43 miles to our hotel in Burnham, where we’ll put our heads down for the night after returning from Round 6 at everybody’s new favourite track Port Royal Speedway. I’m sure you’ll be excited to see a race at Port Royal, but your tour host will be more so. He’s been there three times before, but has been rained out every time!  The exciting URC sprints will stop you getting a hot dog while the 410’s aren’t on.

Day 8 – Thursday, June 30th 2022
Hagerstown, MD / Sleep Inn & Suites

Our journey today takes us right through the Tuscarora State Forest, probably prettier in the middle of winter, but none-the-less there is still spectacular summer scenery to soak up.  Hagerstown is only three hours away, so you could expect to be there for lunch. The adjacent Walmart and Premium Outlet stores will use up all the time you need while waiting to get access to your hotel room.

Tonight, it’s our final PA Speedweek race (#7) at the Hagerstown Speedway, a true half mile of red clay with straightaways over 300 metres long and 22 metres wide.  You are guaranteed vortexes snaking off the wings down the front straight here. Cars that won’t have any vortexes are the supporting Eastern Museum of Motor Racing historics.

I don’t normally do this, but two enormous crashes over the years put Hagerstown Speedway on the map.  The first in the Late Models and then USAC came to town.

Day 9 – Friday, July 1st 2022                   
Cloverdale, IN / Super 8

PA Speedweek is held over nine races, with tonight back at Williams Grove, topped off by Port Royal again on Saturday and Sunday at Selinsgrove. However, given that we have already been to those two tracks, (and will be at Selinsgrove on Day 27, we have elected to forego these three races in favour of returning west into Indiana today, Knoxville Raceway on Saturday and then up to “cheesehead” country in Wisconsin on the Sunday.

Today will be the second longest drive of the tour at 565 miles (8 hours and 42 mins … if we didn’t stop).  An early 7.00am start will see us begin on I-70, one of the most user-friendly Interstates in the country and one we’ll use a lot over the next 30 odd days. By the way, learning how and why the Interstates got their numbers makes for a worthwhile two minutes.

We travel through an extraordinary five states today commencing in Maryland, followed by Pennsylvania (for about 20 minutes), West Virginia on I-68, (a modern sweeping freeway through steep terrain for 112 miles), Ohio and finally Indiana. There is plenty to see as we traverse the magnificent US road network, including these gigantic wind turbine propellors that you will encounter at some stage of your tour.

One important chore for passengers I haven’t mentioned yet is that on the days when the itinerary hasn’t specified where we will have lunch, it is the responsibility of a nominated passenger to select what we will have for lunch.  The driver will choose where to stop once we have located the selected style of food in a suitable town along the way.  Today will be a “no knife and fork, eat on the run” lunch.

5.00pm should see us hit Cloverdale and after checking in at the hotel, we’ll make the very short seven mile drive to Lincoln Park Speedway, aka Putnamville Speedway. A prettier setting for a racetrack you may never find.  Tonight, USAC and MCSC combine for a co-sanctioned non wing 410 sprintcar spectacular.

Day 10 – Saturday July 2nd 2022           Updated  31/03/22
Newton, IA / Best Western Holiday Manor

From Cloverdale we head west into Illinois, stopping for an inspection of Macon Speedway near Decatur. Owned by Tony Stewart, Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader, this little 1/5th mile dirt track will amaze you. Midgets are simply spectacular on it, but you are entitled to wonder how 24 Late Models can get around it in a feature race.

Onwards we go through to Hannibal which sits right on the mighty Mississippi. The childhood home of Mark Twain and hopefully one of these majestic beauties will be in town. 

Ice creams and thick shakes will also be the order of the day for morning tea at Becky’s Olde-Fashioned Ice Cream Parlour in the main street. 

Bob and Pat aren’t statues, but the guy with the bowler hat on is!

After which it’s north to Knoxville, Iowa, the Sprintcar Capital of the World. No, it’s not the Knoxville Nationals, but you will experience everything else that the town can offer a first time sprintcar fan from Australia.  We should arrive around 3.30pm to allow you a few hours to while away in the Hall of Fame and Museum. Tonight it’s a regular night at the Raceway with 410’s, 360’s, Pro Sprint 305’s and fireworks to celebrate Independence Day.
If you only do three things in Knoxville they must be:

•  Watch the racing on the world famous black gumbo of Knoxville Raceway
•  Visit the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum
• At least have one drink in Dingus
  
  

  Dingus – 2019 Month of Money tour. You might not recognise the guy in the blue T-shirt anymore. Now down to a very impressive 91kgs.   Well done Leigh Fallon …..

Day 11 – Sunday July 3rd 2022               Updated  31/03/22
Sun Prairie, WI / Quality Inn & Suites

Today’s drive from Newton, Iowa to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin will be a leisurely one indeed. After a big sleep in, we’ll hit the road about 10.00am for Madison the capital of Wisconsin.  If you’re a NASCAR fan we’ll have the Kwik Trip 250 from Road America on the radio for you while we’re on the road.

Sun Prairie is essentially a suburb of Madison, so the plan for today is to take an afternoon drive around the city centre and wander about. With any luck there may be a food festival on in the city square housing the incredible State Capitol Building. If so, enjoy the fun walking while sampling food and a couple of beers. But most of all I strongly suggest you also take a tour of the Capitol to see just how beautifully the Americans preserve their history.

Meanwhile back at Angell Park Speedway the midgets and sprintcars are assembling in the pits ready for tonight’s traditional Independence Day weekend races. Before everything starts, suggest you make time to take a walk through the National Midget Hall of Fame and Museum located at the track. The history of this track is worthwhile reading.  More can be found here.

Day 12 – Monday July 4th 2022 – Independence Day
Fond du Lac, WI / Hampton Inn               Updated 31/03/22

It’s unlikely that we’ll get a race in tonight, but never mind because you’ll be looking for a break after 10 consecutive nights of racing.  Besides you’ll appreciate a meal where you can use some cutlery!   Before we get to enjoy that “luxury” meal with a knife and fork though, there are things to see and do. We depart Sun Prairie to keep going north, but not quite as far as Canada!

Our first stop will be at Elkhart Lake, a name you may be familiar with. To keep the auto racing connection going, it’s important to drop into Road America where the NASCARS raced yesterday. Seeing the complex in clean up mode could be quite unique.  Maybe we can follow a garbage truck around the circuit!

From there we will keep pushing north for another 45 miles or so until we get to Green Bay.  But stopping in at 141 Speedway in Maribel for a look at Toby Kruse’s little jewel in the crown.  One thing you might like to do in Green Bay is to take a tour of Lambeau Field, the home of the incredibly famous Green Bay Packers.  The merchandise shop is unreal …..

After Green Bay we make the 180° turn towards Lake Winnebago and tackle the western side of this 557 square kilometre freshwater lake. In winter they ice fish on it.  We’d stop at the RV factory, but they’ve never made Winnebagos in Winnebago strangely enough.  And then when we reach Oshkosh, we’d stop at the baby clothing factory, but that got moved to Bangladesh. So, we’ll just keep going to the Oshkosh B’Gosh superstore assuming someone wants to buy grandkid stuff.

Eventually we’ll reach Fond du Lac where we’ll pull up stumps for the night before heading off to the Sunset on the Water Grill & Bar for dinner overlooking the lake.

Day 13 – Tuesday July 5th 2022            Updated 30/01/22
Chicago, IL / Hampton Inn by Hilton – The Loop

Tuesday July 5th 2022 must be marked in every promoter’s diary as “no speedway day” I reckon.  There’s not even a tractor Pull within driving distance.  So it’ll be an all sightseeing day today. The first of which will be the truly superb Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee. We’ll be there right on opening time at 10.00am so we can be on our way before midday. Entry is included in your tour price, however if for some reason we don’t end up going there, we will put the admission cost towards dinner tonight. As we do for any nights where racing is rained out. 

Chicago is 90 minutes south and on arrival we’ll drive straight through the middle of the big city and along Michigan Avenue, otherwise known as the Magnificent Mile.   We will stay the night in the heart of this huge metropolis, because to be so close and not do so would be criminal. Our hotel is ideally located in the Chicago Loop, one block from the river, allowing every possible city landmark to be within walking distance.  We only have the afternoon and tonight to sightsee, so please do some homework as to what you might want to get to.

If tour members are keen we could do the Gangsters and Ghosts walking tour at 8.00pm.

Or if anyone fancies the baseball, the White Sox are playing the Minnesota Twins at 6.00pm. Cheapest entry can be as low as US$15.00.

The lobby and bar of the Hotel. Al Capone himself might jump out of that Model A Ford with the dickie seat …..

Day 14 – Wednesday July 6th 2022        Updated 30/01/22 
Quad Cities, IA / Holiday Inn Rock Island, IL

The Hampton Inn provides breakfast, so you can eat there or find a local breakfast haunt to dine with the locals.

We’ll be on the road again around 9.30am, this time for a morning of nostalgia when we motor into Streator, Illinois around 11.00am. If that town name is not known to you, then you missed out on an era of midget / speedcar racing in Australia that will probably never be repeated. The incomparable Bob Tattersall made 12 consecutive trips to Australia winning “everything there was to win” and virtually becoming a national hero, such were the crowds that flocked to see him race at Adelaide’s Rowley Park, Claremont in Perth, Brisbane’s Exhibition Ground and most of all the Sydney Showground.

Bob died of cancer in 1971 leaving his remarkable wife Dee a widow for ever more. She did not marry again and still lives in the same house in Streator that she and Bob bought just before illness struck him down. Dee loves visitors to call in and we will again, to say hi and see the shrine of memories she has set up for her beloved Tat in the house.

After seeing the enormous mural of him on the east wall of the Homebaker Automotive building, hopefully Dee will accept our luncheon invitation before we depart Streator for our return to racing after a drought of 48 hours.

After lunch we continue up to Davenport in Iowa and our hotel just a block back from the Mighty Mississippi. The width of the river at the point where we will be staying is immense and a truly spectacular experience to stand beside it.

Equally spectacular will be the Lucas Oil Late Model tour when it hits the Davenport Speedway tonight. Not sure if they will be using the half, or the quarter mile track at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.  Whichever one it is won’t matter to us.

Day 15 – Thursday July 7th 2022       Updated 04/11/21
Spring Valley, MN / Americas Best Value Inn & Suites  

For the first time ever on a Global Speedway Tours itinerary we push into Minnesota which is pretty much equal to Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania when it comes to popularity of the sport of speedway racing in the mid-west. The Lucas Oil Late Model Tour moves into the North Star state and in particular Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley.  A town with one hotel and we’re in it, having booked straight after Lucas Oil released their schedule.

Tonight is the first of three nights racing culminating in a $50,000 to win main event on Saturday night, but we’ll be long gone having moved onto Sioux Falls tomorrow for three nights of USAC midgets and sprintcars. 

Before we arrive in Spring Valley however we will call into Dyersville, Iowa which was once just a speck on the map until Universal Studios built a baseball diamond and a two story house in a cornfield.  You don’t need to like baseball to watch the movie Field of Dreams.  It’s simply a magic inspirational tale which shows that dreams can come true.  In 2019 the Major League Baseball authorities announced that they had leased a couple of cornfields adjacent to the “movie diamond” in order to build an 8,000 seat park so the Yankees could play the White Sox in a regular season game for points in 2020.   COVID took care of that idea, but in 2021 they tried again and the match was a huge success.  

We’ll pull up at the exact site where the movie was shot back in 1989 and indeed we’ll have lunch there at “The Stretch” concession stand. After all, hotdogs, hamburgers, nachos and peanuts are the staple diet of any baseball fan.  Oh and cold beer is available too …..

Day 16 – Friday July 8th 2022            Updated 04/11/21
Sioux Falls, SD / SpringHill Suites by Marriott 

When I mentioned we haven’t been to Minnesota before, I should also have added in South Dakota because the Mt Rushmore state has never appeared on a GST itinerary either. It’s a long way to go to see a race, but when you get the two flagship divisions of USAC for three nights in the USAC Nationals, “ya can’t say no“.  Even if it is 878 miles and 15 hours back to Attica for Tuesday night’s Brad Doty Classic.

On the “short” three hour drive to Sioux Falls we pass straight through Jackson and the fabulous Jackson Motorplex. It is owned by the same person who has put Huset’s Speedway back on the map. The Big Game Tree Hunter man, Tod Quiring purchased the track and has returned it to its former glory.

This evening is night 1 of the USAC Nationals with both the 410 non-wing USAC sprintcars and supported by the midgets. Although nowadays the mighty midgets can be quite entitled to top billing at any race track they go to.

Can’t wait …… !

Day 17 – Saturday July 9th 2022           Updated 04/11/21
Sioux Falls, SD / SpringHill Suites by Marriott 

The hotel is smack bang next to the largest shopping mall in South Dakota. I don’t think anyone will have any trouble in finding things to do during the daylight hours today and tomorrow.

At night however its back to Brandon and Huset’s for night 2 of the USAC Nationals.

Still can’t wait ……

Day 18 – Sunday July 10th 2022              Updated 04/11/21
Sioux Falls, SD / SpringHill Suites by Marriott 

The hotel pool, the gym, the washing machine, or the TV to watch the NASCARS at Atlanta might occupy the day if the shops have been thoroughly canvassed yesterday.

Night 3 at Huset’s sees all the finals and $50,000 to the winners of each of the sprintcar and midget features.  Great prizemoney for these guys, many of whom will be on “double duty” trying to win both.

Day 19 – Monday July 11th 2022              Updated 11/11/21
Joliet, IL / Hollywood Casino

One of the consequences of driving to South Dakota means that it makes for a long two day return trip to Ohio. The Brad Doty Classic is on at Attica tomorrow night and those 878 miles take us into a different time zone as well between Sioux Falls and Attica.  The saving grace is that we have a Monday night up our sleeve where there is no racing anywhere along the way that we would want to attend.

It’ll be an early start around 7.00am when we head south down I-29 to I-80 and then stay on that until we hit Joliet.  It’ll be about a four stop trip, one of which will be at the World’s Largest Truckstop for fuel and food before stopping again 25 miles further on at the home of the American Pickers in Le Claire on the Mississippi for a look around their shop.  After which it’s full steam ahead on the final voyage of velocity to Joliet, 157 miles away in Blues Brothers territory.

Our only reason for stopping the night in Joliet is (apart from the driver will be buggared) is that it is possible to catch the Metro (train) into Chicago if anyone wants another look around the city.

Day 20 – Tuesday July 12th 2022   
Lima, OH / Howard Johnson Hotel  

It’s only 275 miles today to “Stubb City”, otherwise known as Findlay, Ohio where we pick him up from tonight ready for Attica. But first we call into Lima and check in to the fabulous Howard Johnson Hotel. I call it an “inside out hotel” as all the balconies face inwards overlooking the pool in the atrium inside the building.  Remember we lose an hour today, so it will be an early start again.

A lot of our journey today will be along US30 which deservedly should be as famous as Route 66.  It is one of the oldest highways in America and because it has a zero as the last digit in its highway number, you know that it spans the country from coast to coast.  It’s not an interstate freeway, but once on it you would never realise that.  In fact, much of the very historic Lincoln Highway is in fact US30.

We should arrive in Lima around 2.00pm and if an early check in can be arranged it will allow us to take off again for Attica Raceway Park and turning up there around 4.00pm would be perfect. We will have reserved seating, but it will be a packed house and besides there will be plenty of Stubb’s friends you will need to meet and tailgate with like we did in 2019.

The World of Outlaws are in the house tonight along with all the guns from Ohio and Pennsylvania who pay homage to Brad Doty and his benefit race. It should be a ripper.

Day 21 – Wednesday July 13th 2022
Winchester, IN /  Randolph Inn & Suites

He first surfaced in Australia in the late 1970’s when he toured with the four-man USA sedan teams which attracted magnet like crowds to all the big city tracks. One of those trips resulted in him winning the legendary Marlboro Grand National at Liverpool Speedway in 1980.  His first Aussie sprintcar steer appears to have been at Claremont for the Bob Trostle team on New Year’s Day in 1982, followed by the Melbourne Speedbowl and Drouin in Feb 82.

Fans at Sydney’s Parramatta City Raceway saw him in just one appearance in the 1982/83 season, but his next visit to Oz was not until the 1990/91 World Series Sprintcars. Second in points (to Max Dumesny) and five wins from 16 races. And he won the Grand Annual Classic at Warrnambool in January ‘91.  He came back again for WSS in 91/92 to finish 3rd in points, with two wins. And that was it.

Who are we talking about and why didn’t he travel to Australia more often?  Well, why not ask him yourself over lunch today in Troy, Ohio.  Yes, hosted by 2004 Sprintcar Hall of Famer Dave Argabright, we will be lunching with 2002 Sprintcar Hall of Famer Jack Hewitt.  (To be confirmed.)

This will be quite an experience I’d say and one of the highlights of the tour. We need to check out of the Howard Johnson before we go to lunch, because tonight (after Eldora) we will be moving in to the Randolph Inn and remaining in Winchester for the next four nights. Our hotel is co-owned by Charlie Shaw, who also owns Winchester Speedway which will be our objective on Friday morning.

After lunching with Jack, we’ll head straight to Eldora Speedway with all your suitcases locked away in the bus. Here we’ll meet up with the little fella again at what we quaintly call “Stubb Central”. You’ll become very familiar with this patch of turf right behind turns 3 & 4 in the massive RV and campgrounds that surround Eldora. This afternoon and again on Thursday and Friday you’ll be based here while you explore the complex that is Eldora Speedway.

Stubb and his mate Jeff rent three spots so they can parallel park their caravans across them leaving a big gap in the middle for drinkin’, meetin’ and throwin’ throughout the next four days.  You’ll never know who just might drop in for a drink.  

Saturday of the Kings Royal “it’s all day at Stubb compound”, meeting what appears to be every single person of the 30,000 strong crowd who stroll in to say hi to Stubb and Gail. The “94th” annual Petey Memorial Cornhole championship will be contested on this day so make sure you know how it works so you can enter. To get an idea of life at Stubb Central, how well it is positioned and what cornhole is all about, check this out.

It’s easy to predict the winner of the Kings Royal.  Just wait for the transporters to roll in and then take your pick.  Here’s how Kevin Arnold from Murray Bridge does it.

Tonight, the program is totally sprintcars in the time honoured “Jokers Wild”.  Highly unusual for Aussie fans, but very worthwhile to see. In fact the next four nights will be 100% sprintcars.   Tonight our seats will be on the front straight in the grandstand area.

Around midnight, or when Stubb allows us to leave, we’ll tackle the 30 miles to Winchester and check in at the Hotel for a well-deserved sleep.

Day 22 – Thursday July 14th 2022 
Winchester, IN /  Randolph Inn & Suites

No organised activity is planned for today, specifically to allow you to catch up on some long overdue sleep, the washing or maybe friends back home to tell them “how much you wish they were here.”

If you did miss breakfast and / or want lunch, then consider walking across the road to Wicks Pies – Bakery & Café.  Be careful though. They aren’t meat pies, if you’re hanging out for one of them. Here’s the menu to help get your mouth watering.

At 3.00pm we’ll make our way back to Eldora ready for the Historical Big One paying $100k to win. The last time the HBO was run was back in 2003 when Daryn Pittman picked up the cash. The first winner was Jac Haudenschild in 1993 when $100,000 was a big deal. Still is of course, but winning that much 28 years ago was very big … and historical.

Tonight and tomorrow night we’ll be in the back row of the stands beneath the corporate boxes midway between turns 3 & 4. This is the view you’ll have.

Day 23 – Friday July 15th 2022
Winchester, IN /  Randolph Inn & Suites

At 10.00am we’ll be at Winchester Speedway, the “World’s fastest paved half mile”.  If it’s the same as the last 11years, we’ll be met by Charlie Shaw the owner, along with Kirk Daugherty, Gary McFarlane and Bob Lemons, his able offsiders in running the track.  Bob’s the historian and you’ll hear all about the illustrious history and why the banking is so steep.  

With a bit of luck, Bob may have his Nissan there to take everyone for a couple of laps on the high banks.  

This next video demonstrates that Bob’s a very good driver indeed. 

Lunch will be in Greenville at Kathy’s Restaurant, a beaut little family restaurant with home cooked meals like meatloaf with spaghetti & meatballs and stuff ….

Then it’s merchandise shopping over behind the front straight at Eldora, cornhole practice at “Stubb Central” and right arm strengthening exercises via corn boards and drinking.  On track from 6.00pm is the quaintly named “Knight before the Kings Royal.”

Day 24 – Saturday July 16th 2022 
Winchester, IN /  Randolph Inn & Suites

Let’s assume we’ve had a favourable run with the rain staying away so far in the first 23 days. But be assured it does rain at Eldora as this video from 2015 proves. 

But if it doesn’t, then just remember it can also get very dusty at Eldora, so be prepared.  

But it won’t rain today and the weather will be fine from go to whoa. A midday arrival at “Stubb Central” and the first thing you will smell is the aroma of barbequed chicken with special herbs and spices from Walmart.  Stubb is the cook and Gail prepares the rest for a lovely mid-afternoon lunch courtesy of Global Speedway Tours.  Even the $1 esky today is a zero dollar esky.

While waiting for the 94th annual Petey Memorial to start, you might be able to go for a ride around the campground in this. Just make sure though you take a drink with you because you’ll be the odd one out if you don’t.

The “Petey Memorial” honours a young man who was one of the boys at Stubb Central every year until sadly he decided he was done with living any longer. The “Petey” commemorates a wonderful guy with a very traditional  and intensely fought for Cornboard Challenge. The prize is two Global Speedway Tours’ shirts.

This four minute video shows the great fun that happens on Kings Royal Saturday.

Entry to inside the cauldron that is Eldora is anytime you like. It’s $175,000 to win the 39th Kings Royal tonight and this is the view you’ll get from our reserved seats high up on Turn 1.  

We’ll be home sometime tomorrow morning.  The drive out of Eldora tonight is phenomenal. The local Ohio constabulary have this remarkable ability to send you in totally the opposite direction to where you want to go.

Day 25 – Sunday July 17th 2022        Updated 15/01/22
Franklin, PA /  Quality Inn & Conference Centre

Pennsylvania is a huge state so it’s not that surprising we venture back onto the rim of it again today. We’re on our way to Niagara Falls, but it just so happens that a sprintcar show is on at Tri-City Raceway Park in Franklin which is right in the way of getting up to where folks used to ride barrels over the edge into oblivion.

Between Winchester and Franklin lies the massive Industrial city of Pittsburgh. We could avoid it, but to do so would mean missing the wonderful sight of the Alleghany and Monongahela Rivers confluencing (merging – I had to look it up too) to form the massive Ohio River. We’ll drive right over the top of it on classic American Iron bridges, two of a total of 446 in the city.  It’s Sunday, so the traffic won’t be too bad …. much.

After Pittsburgh believe it or not, for those who were with us on the 2015 Month of Money tour, we will drive straight through the town of Butler, the site of the infamous “hill episode”. A stop will be made at the scene of the crime to renew acquaintances with the trees.

The speedway tonight has winged 410’s, 358 big block modfieds, pro stocks and mini stocks. Grass roots racing with tons of variety.

Day 26 – Monday July 18th 2022        Updated 06/12/21
Niagara Falls, NY / Quality Hotel and Suites at the Falls

One of the more intriguing facts I came across during my research on Niagara Falls, is that 20% of the world’s fresh water supply lies in the American Great Lakes of Michigan, Huron, Superior and Erie.  18,000 years ago, southern Ontario in Canada was completely covered by ice sheets, estimated at 2-3 kilometres thick. The last Ice Age.

As this ice melted, vast quantities of ‘meltwater’ was released into basins of land in the upper USA and southern Canada to form the Great Lakes that you will see in our travels throughout Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.  99% of the water in these Great Lakes is called fossil water. ie. Left over from the melted ice sheets. The other 1% is renewable water from natural sources. Otherwise called, rain. Phenomenal.

The Niagara River which created the Niagara Falls came about because of the melt. The water had to go somewhere. It’s natural path between the Great Lakes means that Lake Erie eventually gets it all. Erie then has to send it further, so the 58 km long Niagara River was carved naturally to continue the flow to what is now known as Lake Ontario.  The elevation difference between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario is 99 metres (half of which is at the Falls themselves), so it wasn’t surprising that the water took this path.

So finally, you’re entitled to ask what happens to the water then?  From Lake Ontario it has to find its way to the Atlantic Ocean 1,197 kms away. By itself it created the St Lawrence River, but later on mankind helped by constructing the St Lawrence Seaway which now provides shipping access from the Atlantic into Canada and the USA.

And the last fact before we move on?  If all the fresh water in the Great Lakes system was spread out across the USA, it would cover the entire country to a depth of one metre.

So, with that out of the way, we are only three hours from seeing 2,271,247 litres of water flow over Horseshoe Falls every second. Our hotel will be on the American side, so we do not have to undergo the expected regulatory paperwork and Covid testing to enter Canada. Individual tour members may choose to walk across the Rainbow Bridge into Canada at their own discretion if they want to. Our first task on arrival will be to take a ride on the wild side when we board the Maid of the Mist, (included in your tour price) to get up close and personal with Horseshoe Falls.

This afternoon and tomorrow morning are allocated entirely to sightseeing Niagara Falls at your leisure. I expect we will do that as a group, but tour members are strongly encouraged to undertake their own research as to what you want to see and do during this time. These three links will help.

Niagara Falls, USA 2021: Top 10 Tours & Activities
7 Must-Do Niagara Falls Activities & Experiences
The Niagara Falls Tourism Commission – Things to Do

Our hotel is the closest you can get to the American side of the Falls, so there will be plenty to see and do. Dinner tonight could be just around the corner at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Day 27 – Tuesday July 19th 2022               Updated 06/12/21
Selinsgrove, PA / Holiday Inn Express

For the first time in decades the World of Outlaws have removed their traditional post Eldora Tuesday night date for the Don Martin Silver Cup at Lernerville Speedway. Hence, we needed to find somewhere else to watch some racing tonight.

And we did.  Selinsgrove Speedway has grabbed the opportunity to put on their 76th Anniversary Sprintcar Spectacular the night before the new World of Outlaw’s date at nearby Port Royal (see Day 28 below). Hence at about 11.00am we’ll say farewell to Niagara and make the 4½ hour drive to Selinsgrove to check into the Holiday Inn, chosen because they kindly feature a front page photo of a floodlit Selinsgrove Speedway on their website!  And they have Super Late Models as the support tonight ….

On the way to Selinsgrove we’ll make a short detour to Watkins Glen International, the mecca of North American Road racing.

Day 28 – Wednesday July 20th 2022         Updated 01/02/22

Selinsgrove, PA / Holiday Inn Express

The Outlaws have given Port Royal Speedway an extra date in 2022; no doubt it’s the one that belonged to Lernerville. We have therefore retained our accommodation so we too can be back at Port Royal to watch the best of the best compete with the PA Posse at one of the USA’s finest facilities. 

Selinsgrove to Port Royal Speedway is a very pleasant 40-minute drive through the rolling Pennsylvania countryside. It’s a morning to do “not much” and attempt to recharge the batteries after 24 races in 27 days. The Selinsgrove Walmart might get a workout, or the bed, or the pool.

The little town of Port Royal will be buzzing tonight with what will no doubt be a sell-out crowd. We’ll need to get there early!

If there’s a rain-out (and we don’t want that to happen of course), dinner will be partaken of at the Old Trail Tavern on Fishing Rod Road, off Highway 15. The menu looks delightful with unlimited chicken wings being Wednesday’s special. We may not see Happy Hour, but the range of drinks available is mighty impressive indeed.

Day 29 – Thursday July 21st 2022             Updated 13/12/21 with big news
Winchester, IN /  Randolph Inn & Suites

The last big drive of the tour is today as we turn back west again and shoot for Indiana. A 7.00am start will have us on I-80 headed to an historical first in Global Speedway Tours history. For 12 years we have been calling in at Winchester Speedway on the way through to “somewhere else” just so we could say “we had seen it”.  Throughout those 12 years there was never a race that coincided with our schedule. Well tonight that all changes as USAC bring their Silver Crown cars to the “World’s fastest paved half mile”.

Charlie, Kirk, Gary and Bob will be delighted to see us head through the gate for the 2nd annual Rich Vogler Classic. The first one, in July 2021, was described as the best Silver Crown race of the year.

For some history, the following link will be time well spent.  Winchester Speedway – Then and Now.

Day 30 – Friday July 22nd 2022                 Updated 13/12/21 
Gas City, IN / Best Western Plus

The odds are that last night we may have been entertained a bit too well by our friends in the Winchester Speedway bar at the track, so a small sleep in on Friday morning might be in order before making our way to the quaintly named Gas City, just 55 miles away.   Anderson Speedway, the high banked paved 1/4 miler and home to the “Little 500” is between these two towns so it is obligatory to drop in and take a look at it. If only to attempt to visualise how they start 33 non-wing sprintcars three abreast on it.

There’s not necessarily a lot of things to do during the day around these parts, but the James Dean Gallery in nearby Fairmount could occupy some of your time.  The rest might be lunching in Payne’s British Restaurant or the Casa Grande Mexican Restaurant or Cracker Barrel (the chicken pot pie is superb), all of which are within walking distance of the hotel front door. Oh, and not to forget the Starbucks across I-69.

Tonight marks the commencement of another long-held Indiana tradition. Especially if you love non wing 410 sprintcars.  And to help you love them even more, watch how Loudpedal Productions saw Indiana Sprintweek unfold in 2017.  It is compulsory to watch this video before reading any further!  (Even our own Will Liston gets a mention in the credits!) 

You too can be at all seven rounds by just sticking with Global Speedway Tours.  Or, Indy cars and NASCAR’s might entice you away from the last two rounds.  Decision time is looming for you as you will see by reading on ….

Gas City Speedway is a little gem and we’ll need to make sure we are there early for Russell to mark off our seating in the grandstand. The Best Western Plus Hotel is not a long way from the track.  At most, it might take two minutes, but only if traffic is heavy!

We can’t walk, because that would mean someone has to carry the esky …..

Day 31 – Saturday July 23rd 2022                    Updated 25/03/22
Gas City, IN / Best Western Plus

Two sleeps in this great hotel means you can leave your gear in the room while we take off for some sightseeing.

A road trip around Indianapolis is always a good thing. There are plenty of places to see and explore such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and the VIP Track Tour (both of which are inclusions in your tour price).  We’ve hit the jackpot here because this weekend is the only time the VIP tour is operating in July. 

\If you are a true blue race car fanatic, then you must read this. Only opened late in 2021 is the brand new and very exclusive Basement Collection Tour.  The link provides all the info and at US$150.00, it may well be the experience of a lifetime.  Something for you to consider.

And after we leave the Speedway, we’ll drive around to the old Gasoline Alley for T-shirt bargains, Lucas Oil Raceway, the Indiana State Fairgrounds (the site of the Hoosier Hundred since 1953) and the suburb of Brownsburg where many Indycar and Drag Racing teams have their race shops.

Certainly enough to fill in a morning and half an afternoon before heading off to Kokomo Speedway to get a prime position in the car park and grandstand. The joint will be packed for round 2 of Sprintweek. (Please note the bus will go straight to Kokomo and not back to the Hotel first.)

PS. Betcha whoever won last night, doesn‘t win tonight!  

Day 32 – Sunday July 24th 2022                        Updated 01/02/22
Lawrenceburg, IN / Quality Inn

The caravan that consists of race cars and their haulers along with race fans and their hangovers, all make the annual pilgrimage from Kokomo to Lawrenceburg Speedway for Round 3 at the same time.  It’s usually a 2½ hour drive to a track that has the highest banking of any dirt track you’ll see racing on this tour.  But for us today we’ll detour via Indianapolis again to catch up on anything we missed yesterday.

Today had previously shown us as touring the Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts which can be seen by absolutely everybody driving through, or into the city on the vast number of freeways that criss cross the capital of Indiana. Unfortunately news has been received from the Stadium management that due to extensive building works throughout 2022, all guided tours have been suspended.

However we’ll still take lunch at Shapiro’s Delicatessen where the catch cry is “over 100 years of Jewish tradition”. Here’s the Menu – Homemade and Locally Sourced if you’re a little uncertain …..

We’ll aim to arrive in Lawrenceburg around 3.30pm so we can check-in to the hotel, rest up a bit and then make the five-minute drive to the Fairgrounds. Tailgating will definitely take place with dozens of friends made along the journey, all of whom also follow the Sprintweek trail.

If you’re feeling a touch tired at this point, you deserve to be. It’s race # 27 and were at day # 32. No other person outside your tour buddies can lay claim to those numbers.

Day 33 – Monday July 25th 2022             

The time has come to return home to Australia for those who aren’t taking the one-week tour extension. Those who continue on will be able to complete Indiana Sprintweek. Or make the choice to forego the last two nights in favour of NASCAR Trucks at Lucas Oil Raceway on Friday night and Indy cars and Xfinity Series on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday.

If you are leaving today, we will get you to Indianapolis Airport (IND) from Lawrenceburg in plenty of time to catch your connecting flights to international gateway airports in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles or San Francisco. You’ll lose tomorrow completely and will be home in Australia very early on Wednesday morning.

If you are staying on, please keep reading.

Indianapolis, IN / Comfort Inn (Plainfield)         Updated 24/11/21

To cater for those leaving today, the two hour drive up from Lawrenceburg to Indianapolis will be about a 9.00am start to ensure that we can have folks at the airport in time for their flights which will be some time after midday in all cases.

Those staying on can move into the Comfort Inn (Airport) in Plainfield. We will endeavour to arrange an early check-in for you.  It will be a reasonably leisurely day while we get departing tour members on their way back to Australia.

The evening is a real bonus to those who stay for the extra week.  USAC have announced that Indiana Sprintweek will increase to eight rounds in 2022 and tonight is the extra race at the brand new (12 months old) Indianapolis track called Circle City Raceway.

Round 4 will be on tonight and we’ll be there …..

Day 34 – Tuesday July 26th 2022   
Indianapolis, IN / Comfort Inn (Plainfield)

I’m tipping that the four Ganassi Indycars will still be in the race shop today, even though Saturday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) is closing in. We will be getting in touch with our contacts at Ganassi to request an appointment for a guided tour of the factory this morning. To be confirmed, but they have always been great to us in the past.

Note that the Ganassi NASCARS are not housed in Indianapolis, but in Concord, North Carolina. But not any longer because effective November 7th 2021 the business shut down completely having sold all NASCAR assets to Justin Marks, former partner with Kyle Larson in their sprintcar team.

Following the Ganassi tour, we’ll head over to Main Street, Speedway (yes that the name of the suburb) for lunch at Charlie Browns Pancake & Steak House.  You could find anyone who’s anyone in here.  Check out their very old fashioned but up to date menu.     

After lunch a wander across the road to the Speedway Indoor Karting complex would be in order.

Afternoon tea will be at Long’s Bakery and dinner will be somewhere else!   Maybe Big Woods or the Union Jack Pub.  Or just pick an old favourite like the Golden Corral.

Day 35 – Wednesday July 27th 2022
Terre Haute, IN / Hampton Inn

Time to hit the road and get back to racing after two nights off.  I-70 is an interstate that we have travelled frequently in recent weeks, but not the section which leads to the Terre Haute Action Track.  If it’s possible to find a dirt speedway that drips more history than this one, then I’m yet to see it. From the old-fashioned Wabash Valley Fairgrounds sign out the front, to the wooden grandstands that look capable of failing at any time, it demonstrates that auto racing has been around for a long, long time at this venue.

Indiana Sprintweek resumes with Round 5 on the half mile oval with spectators allowed to spend the whole night on the grassed infield if they want.  Take your fold up chair and esky in with you. Otherwise take your chances in the grandstand.  🙄

Day 36 – Thursday July 28th 2022                        Updated 07/02/22
Terre Haute, IN / Hampton Inn

Another day, another race. There’s not a lot we can do during the day, so it’s pretty much a catch-up morning and afternoon, although there is stuff around the hotel to walk to and explore. If by this stage of the tour, we haven’t eaten in an iHop yep, then there’s one just up the road past the Starbucks (Hi Terry).  If you make it, then I suggest the Philly Cheesesteak.

Or, we might head to Putnamville early and take US40 rather than the Interstate. In the 50’s and 60’s US40 rivalled Route 66 as the best road to cruise up and down on in your hot rod looking for a diner to eat and a motel to stay an houir orb so in.  We’ll check out what’s left of that era between Terre Haute and Putnamville.

Lincoln Park Speedway tonight for dinner at Round 6. Also known as Putnamville Speedway, it’s not my all time favourite, but it’s right up there. It is so picturesque with all the travelling RVs wedged very orderly into the grassed and heavily wooded campground.

The racetrack is a little ¼ miler which suits the non-winged cars down to the ground.  Assuming they don’t get demolished by the Putnamville cushion.  Every chance by the end of the night there are now six different winners in the series.

Day 37 – Friday July 29th 2022                               Updated 07/02/22
Day 38 – Saturday July 30th 2022                           Updated 07/02/22
Edinburgh, IN / Comfort Inn

Decision time. Previously we had suggested that tonight and tomorrow night would be at Fairbury in Illinois for the Late Model Prairie Dirt Classic.  We have withdrawn that option when we found out about the NASCAR Trucks, Xfinity cars and the Indycars. Now it’s a choice between the sprintcars and these two events:

• Friday night – NASCAR Trucks at Lucas Oil Raceway
• Saturday (daytime) – Indycars and Xfinity Series cars in the doubleheader on the Indianapolis Speedway infield road course at 1.00pm and 4.00pm.

Going to the Trucks will mean missing Sprintweek Round 7 at Bloomington Speedway.

Going to the Indycars and Xfinity cars at Indy during the day means missing Round 8 at Tri-State Speedway because with a 4.00pm start at Indy for the Xfinity cars and 2½ hours to Haubstadt, you’ll never make it in time. Even though Haubstadt is an hour behind Indy. Maybe these guys can head for the Speedrome in Indianapolis later that night? The cast of the fast at the Speedrome tonight is Hall of Fame Night with the Sonny Thompson Memorial 100-Lap Figure 8 race for Late Models, Factory FWD, Adult Faskarts, Ford Oval & Figure 8 cars.

I already know there are some who want to go to the sprintcars and some who want to stay in Indianapolis. We can cater for both extremes at the same time by staying in Edinburgh at the Comfort Inn and hiring a second vehicle for two days to handle each alternative.

We will adjust ticketing costs within the tour price once we have a clearer picture of who wants to go where.

Outlet Store shopping will be available Friday afternoon and Saturday morning directly across the parking lot from our Hotel in Edinburgh.

Day 39 – Sunday July 31st 2022                     Updated 22/11/21
Edinburgh, IN / Comfort Inn

We’ll all be back together again on Sunday, so we can go as a full group to Indianapolis Speedway to attend the Verizon 200 for NASCARS on the road course. Qualifying is at 9.05am and racing is from 1.00pm. We will make this an optional race on the itinerary. ie The ticket cost won’t be included in the tour price, but we will most definitely get you there and home again.

Plus pre-buy the tickets and seats for you.

Our farewell dinner will be held tonight, maybe at El Toreo “just down the road” for some Mexican. Or if that cuisine doesn’t work, Applebee’s is within walking distance.

Day 40 – Monday August 1st 2022

Tour vehicles will be returned to Budget at Indianapolis Airport as the group prepares to depart IND for western gateway cities and their trans Pacific flights home.  These will be either Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles or San Francisco.  Or some may choose to stay on for the Iron Man races in St Louis and the Knoxville Nationals.  If so, Global Speedway Tours can sort all that ticketing out for you.

Tuesday August 2nd 2022

This day mysteriously disappears, never to be seen again. Sorry if it’s your birthday!

Day 41 – Wednesday August 3rd 2022

An early morning arrival in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane will see you at the end of your fabulous 40-day tour of the USA. Depending on what state you live in, quarantine may or may not be required for you over the next 0-14 days.

Good luck and thanks so much for travelling with Global Speedway Tours. 

To get in contact with us, the link is here or phone Pete Physick on 0419 264159.

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