Bandimere Speedway
Encyclopedia
Bandimere Speedway, also known in the NHRA as Thunder Mountain, is a quarter-mile dragstrip
located just outside Morrison, Colorado
and Lakewood, Colorado
. It opened in 1958 and hosts the NHRA
's Mile-High Nationals. The facility has a seating capacity
of 23,500 spectators.
nestled up against the Hogback leading up to the Rocky Mountains
. He and his family began the process of constructing a small but efficient drag strip that was to be used to augment their auto parts business. It also was the fulfillment of a dream of John Sr.'s to provide a safe environment for young people to learn about cars and race them off the streets.
In 1988 the Bandimere family made the decision to undergo a much-needed $4 million improvement project, which included a year sabbatical on the national event circuit. The many facility improvements allowed for diversity of events, more spectator seating, better pit areas for race vehicles, improved spectator parking and access to all areas of the facility, and an unsurpassed venue for sponsor involvement with improved sign visibility. The ability to host larger spectator events added a tremendous amount of exposure opportunities for the facility and its sponsors. Seating capacity of the grandstands was increased from approximately 8,000 to over 23,500.
Now, nearly 50 years later, the only thing at Bandimere Speedway that has not changed is the facility's location. Nearly every original building has been replaced including the original spark plug-replica timing tower and the event schedule has grown nearly 10 times its original size to host a variety of specialty events, including the NHRA Full Throttle Mopar Mile-High Nationals.
"This speedway was the fulfillment of a life-long dream of dad and mom's," relates John Bandimere, Jr., track president. "It gives me great joy to know that through the efforts and support of many dedicated people over the years, we are enjoying over 45 years as a successful full-time racing facility and look forward to many more years in the business."
The track has several quirks that make it unique within the NHRA's schedule of events. First, and foremost, is the altitude
. At over 5,000 feet in the air, the air is much thinner than any if its sea-level counterparts, which translates out to less air being pushed over the rear wings, and a loss of downforce
, the thinner air also slows the cars down dramatically, a 330 mph run on any other track would barely top 320 at Bandimere, while a sub-5 second run would be over the 5 second mark.
The track is also the only NHRA sanctioned track with a downhill staging area, and uphill shut down strip. The latter being a substantial safety measure.
Dragstrip
A dragstrip is a facility for conducting automobile and motorcycle acceleration events such as drag racing. Although a quarter mile is the best known measure for a drag track, many tracks are eighth mile tracks...
located just outside Morrison, Colorado
Morrison, Colorado
The historic Town of Morrison is a Home Rule Municipality in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. The population was 430 at the 2000 census...
and Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood, Colorado
Lakewood is a Home Rule Municipality that is the most populous city in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Lakewood is the fifth most populous city in the State of Colorado and the 172nd most populous city in the United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that in April 1, 2010...
. It opened in 1958 and hosts the NHRA
National Hot Rod Association
The National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
's Mile-High Nationals. The facility has a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 23,500 spectators.
History
In 1958, John Bandimere Sr. purchased a parcel of land on the west side of DenverDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
nestled up against the Hogback leading up to the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
. He and his family began the process of constructing a small but efficient drag strip that was to be used to augment their auto parts business. It also was the fulfillment of a dream of John Sr.'s to provide a safe environment for young people to learn about cars and race them off the streets.
In 1988 the Bandimere family made the decision to undergo a much-needed $4 million improvement project, which included a year sabbatical on the national event circuit. The many facility improvements allowed for diversity of events, more spectator seating, better pit areas for race vehicles, improved spectator parking and access to all areas of the facility, and an unsurpassed venue for sponsor involvement with improved sign visibility. The ability to host larger spectator events added a tremendous amount of exposure opportunities for the facility and its sponsors. Seating capacity of the grandstands was increased from approximately 8,000 to over 23,500.
Now, nearly 50 years later, the only thing at Bandimere Speedway that has not changed is the facility's location. Nearly every original building has been replaced including the original spark plug-replica timing tower and the event schedule has grown nearly 10 times its original size to host a variety of specialty events, including the NHRA Full Throttle Mopar Mile-High Nationals.
"This speedway was the fulfillment of a life-long dream of dad and mom's," relates John Bandimere, Jr., track president. "It gives me great joy to know that through the efforts and support of many dedicated people over the years, we are enjoying over 45 years as a successful full-time racing facility and look forward to many more years in the business."
The track has several quirks that make it unique within the NHRA's schedule of events. First, and foremost, is the altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
. At over 5,000 feet in the air, the air is much thinner than any if its sea-level counterparts, which translates out to less air being pushed over the rear wings, and a loss of downforce
Downforce
Downforce is a downwards thrust created by the aerodynamic characteristics of a car. The purpose of downforce is to allow a car to travel faster through a corner by increasing the vertical force on the tires, thus creating more grip....
, the thinner air also slows the cars down dramatically, a 330 mph run on any other track would barely top 320 at Bandimere, while a sub-5 second run would be over the 5 second mark.
The track is also the only NHRA sanctioned track with a downhill staging area, and uphill shut down strip. The latter being a substantial safety measure.