milwhcky: Collections

The world's best racing drivers compete in the most sophisticated racing cars in the Formula One World Championship. In 2014, the series competes in 19 countries on five continents.

America's open-wheel race cars have certainly evolved over the years. The earliest sanctioned races were held in 1905. Since 1911, the premier annual event on the calendar has been the Indianapolis 500.

In the early 20th Century, thousands of American roadside barns and city walls were painted with advertisements for Mail Pouch chewing tobacco. In addition to the fresh coat of paint on their barns, farmers were paid a small annual payment for the ad. The ad campaign continued until the Highway Beautification Act of 1965 banned signs near federally funded highways.

The world's top drag racing teams compete in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. In 2014, the season consists of 24 events at 21 locations across the United States. The most prestigious event of the year is the US Nationals in Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend. The series consists of four divisions - Top Fuel Dragster, Fuel Funny Car, Pro Stock car, and Pro Stock motorcycle.

A collection of the motorsports venues I have visited. They span 14 states, but most of them are located within an 8 hour drive of my southeastern Wisconsin home. I was also taken to a few unknown tracks in Virginia when I was very young. I visit at least one new track each year, so this collection will continue to grow. I have been to over 100 tracks, which is the size limit of these collections. You can view part 2 of my travels here: http://virtualglobetrotting.com/collection/race-tracks-i-have-visited-part-2/ I have listed the dates of my most recent visit to each map in this collection.

A collection of the motorsports venues I have visited. They span 14 states, but most of them are located within an 8 hour drive of my southeastern Wisconsin home. This collection does not include dozens of other venues I have visited without seeing a race (either rain outs or curious random visits). I was also taken to a few unknown tracks in Virginia when I was very young. I visit at least one new track each year, so this collection will continue to grow. I have been to over 100 tracks, which is the size limit of these collections. This is part 2. You can view the first 100 here: http://virtualglobetrotting.com/collection/race-tracks-i-have-visited/ I have listed the dates of my most recent visit to each map in this collection.

One of the world's most iconic public Christmas tree displays is at New York's Rockefeller Center. Throughout the year, scouts comb the countryside within a few hours of New York in an effort to find a Norway Spruce tree worthy of the honor. After the holiday season is over, the trees are milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity.

Sprint cars and midgets are my favorite form of motorsport. They are tubular-frame race cars which race exclusively on oval tracks - either on pavement or dirt. They often produce insane action as drivers race wheel-to-wheel without fenders. Sprint cars are raced under various rules packages. They use methanol-drinking eight cylinder engines, usually either 410 cubic inch, 360 ci, or 305 ci. They may also use large wings, which help increase the cornering speeds. Sprint cars have a power-to-weight ratio similar to a Formula One car. 410 ci engines produce 800-900 horsepower and minimum weight rules are typically about 1400 pounds. Midgets look like small sprint cars, though they rarely use wings. They have four-cylinder engines and weigh about 1000 pounds. In Australia, they are known as "Speedcars". These cars do not have transmissions or starters. They have a direct drive gear and need to be push-started. The cars are outfitted with a larger right rear tire, which helps the cars move through the corners. Over the years, many IndyCar and NASCAR drivers have graduated through ranks of sprint car and midget racing before getting their big break. NASCAR stars Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne remain heavily involved with the sport.

The coolest trophy in sports... you know, because it's served on ice!!