Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

With the entry deadline less than a week away; here are the Denver Sportsman entries against the quota:

Competition Eliminator 36 - 10 - 27.8%

Super Stock 50 - 9 - 18.0%

Stock Eliminator 50 - 17 - 34.0%

Super Comp 75 - 52 - 69.3%

Super Gas 75 - 43 - 57.3%

Top Sportsman 40 - 25 - 62.5%

Top Dragster 40 - 30 - 75.0%

This is as bad as I have ever seen.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Hope we some last minute entries. I will be there.:D

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

have until monday

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

I've never been to a race at Denver. Is there a problem with the event or the track that would keep sportsman racers from wanting to run there?

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Most don't like the facility.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Face it they have chased away most racers, even the locals will not go to this race anymore. They make you pit 2 miles from the starting line on crushed oil, most time the air is close to 10,000 feet then throw in all the other inhancements of running an national event makes it a no brainer to most racers. Tom

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

I like Denver. Good food, mountain scenery, and low humidity. Most don't like dealing with the 10,000 foot corrected altitude in the afternoons but you make adjustments and man up. Block party in Golden is a good time too, beer works better on the mountain.

TP

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

My wife refuses to go back to Denver........bad facilities and a long way from the sportsman pits............as the saying goes....."If momma don't go, daddy doesn't go"

It has already been pointed out, I know of no one that likes to go slow and pitted 2 miles from the starting line.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

To me it is a great facility. It is the best track between Las Vegas and Topeka. If you get there early enough alot of the sportsmen get to pit on the asphalt. The North Forty is not 2 Miles from the starting line, it is actually 1.2 miles from there to the staging lanes and you can make it starting your car once or twice and coasting to the downhill staging lanes. The traction is the best around with the under ground cooling of the starting line by using the cooling towers. I run the same under the index there with the correction as I do anywhere and faster than non factored tracks like Topeka and Phoenix. It cools off at night and is usually only mid ninetys during the day and low humidity. The crushed asphalt in the North Forty is alot better than dirt and is not very dusty at all. We always have a great time and it's not 3 miles to the starting line like I saw posted from the Joliet Race. It's not Vegas, but prettier and it's not Cordova, Noble, Salt Lake, Billings, Boise, Amarillo, Speed World or the old Vegas, but alot better and people always went to those facilities and raced and had a good time. So, I encourage everyone to come and join us and have a great time in Beautiful and Colorful Colorado, it's not the best, but it is far from the worst.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Well said Mike. I`ll be there.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

We've been wanting to race at Denver for a long time...entered & hoping to have a great experience!

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Denver has been on my bucket list a long time

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Just vote for Courtney...it will all be good!!!

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Then they pit you next to refrigerator trailers that have the refrigerator units running all night to keep the ice from melting.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

x2

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

I am not trying to sound like a smart azz.............but, whether is is 1.2 miles or 3 miles from Sportsman Pits to the starting line.........it is too far.....No facilities in the sportman pits.......None.

Let's do this...............allow the comp, top alcohol, pro mods, pro stock and fuel cars to pit where sportsman do now......then we will alternate years. Do You think they would complain?

Ask the same question (switching pit areas) at Pomona, Phoenix, Chicago, Topeka, Dallas, Houston, St. Louis, etc.................not such a big deal.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Denver should have moved years ago to the airport site, and the car count would be much higher. I last raced at Denver 10 years ago and parked back behind the turnoff in the dust, dirt and broken black top and said I would never go back. I would like to support Mopar at their race, but not there. 12 Superstock cars so far. Dyno

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Here is a quick Excel spread sheet. This is a rough cost of racing in Denver. The first Column is the One Way miles...Second column is the "Start Location"....third column is the cost for fuel at 10 MPG (round trip)....then the entry cost of $310.....thus the final cost just to get to Denver and race.....without your pit crew...... So, I live in the Phoenix area....it will cost me nearly a thousand dollars to go to Denver and race.....Plus the cost of my wife, racing fuel, breakage, maintenance, and entertainment.
So, For those that have unlimited budgets.....go have at it. As for me...It would take at Least a runner up finish to break even....... Maybe this will help explain why the shortage of Super Stock Racers.....


Miles From>>>> Fuel @ Total for
One Way To Denver 10 MPG Entry Fee Car & Driver

480 Salt Lake City $384 $310 $694
600 Topeka $480 $310 $790
680 El Paso $544 $310 $854
680 Oklahoma City $544 $310 $854
820 St. Louis $656 $310 $966
850 Phoenix $680 $310 $990
880 Dallas $704 $310 $1,014
1000 Los Angeles $800 $310 $1,110
1100 Chicago $880 $310 $1,190
1180 San Francisco $944 $310 $1,254

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

The pros hardly have full fields, yes it has a nice race track but the pitting for sportsman suck maybe with the low car count they will get closer to the starting line. Other than going up the hill I liked pitting down below, face it spectators get better parking than the racers. And as far as costing your car all the way down a tight 1 1/2 lane road it is not that safe. Tom

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Excel spread sheets and drag racing should never be used in the same conversation.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

I have never been to Denver, don't ever plan on going...... it's just toooooo far for me. However......... After all these years and after reading all these posts from those of you who HAVE participated in races at Denver I find myself wondering why you would ever go back! Do you guys also burn yourselves with cigarettes? Cut yourselves with razor blades? Really, NO FACILITIES on the Sportsman side?? Really!! That probably violates health codes. So unless you have a motorhome, are you just supposed to crap in your shoe or what? This isn't the 1950's anymore. More than a mile from the staging lanes? Not to mention the altitude. And you pay these people to have to endure this? Masochism, look it up. Jim


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Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

I agree. I can't imagine how they keep getting to have a race there.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

ROFLMAO on this one Jim....LOL

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

A track is only as good as the car count.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Mopar Mile High Nat's were one of my favorite races to attend. Forget the fact you have to coast downhill to the staging area (is that really a problem?), the Mopar sponsored daily meals, the Mopar sponsored BBQ with beer and band, it was always a good time. My wife even liked that race.
Now maybe it doesn't have all the bells and whistles any more? I don't know.
But I will go back

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Denver does have it's flaws (lack of facilities, lack of parking, distance to staging, altitude, etc) but if you haven't been there before you are really missing out. It's really a beautiful place to race and the Bandimere family is top notch. It's the only place I have been to and had the owner come up to me, shake my hand and personally thank me for attending.

Most of the complaints are due to the fact its built on a mountain, they can't just expand parking or run waterline like any other facility.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psa7cf185c.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps5b37de1b.jpg

When you're there make sure to head behind the mountain into Morrison and grab a Jauns Gold Margarita and "The burrito that ate Jarez" It's tradition for us :cool:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ps2619a3d9.jpg

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

I didn't know Larry and "Not Troy" drank!

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

I fixed your post.



The pros and the sportsman both pit on the same side. Look at the pictures Troy posted. There are facilities on the sportsman side, they are just not very close.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

They don't, they inhale :D

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

You going to be there? Morrison awaits.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Right now,22 cars in Stock and 13 in Super Stock.Not very many races where winning 4 or 5 rounds will get you a National event win.I have never raced there,but I did go as a spectator many years ago.If some people think this track is a dump,they must not get out much,as I have seen some pretty bad race facilities over the years.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Thanks for correcting my post, Toby...........LOL

What I write in the forum is so different than I tell my wife..........If I want to race somewhere, I will emphasis that we could win a few thousand dollars by winning the event and you can't win thousands unless we race. I think she is catching on to my tricks....LOL

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Having been a long time racer at Bandimere as well as other tracks in the west/midwest, I'd like to set a few things straight without sounding too biased.

Yes, during the MileHighs things get cramped. Everybody tries to squeeze onto the limited asphalt. In years past, more sportsman racers could get on asphalt but with the size of the rigs and the pros requiring more space with hospitality etc., sportsman get pushed into the recycled asphalt. Which by the way is closer to the staging lanes than Topeka's expanded pit area. People don't seem to mind pitting far away. I think the difference is Topeka has asphalt and a pretty darn nice restroom facility close to the sportsman pits.

I for one HATE the recycled asphalt. Its dusty and rocky and that black dust gets everywhere. But the lack of asphalt is supposedly not Bandimere's fault. Something about too much pavement on the hill is bad for drainage. Believe me if they could, they would pave the whole thing to make it nicer. The Bandimeres are not shy about investing money in their facility.

Yes there is no running water and no restrooms/showers except for the tower (well water). But they have lots of port a johns that are serviced throughout the weekend. The women don't like them but at least they aren't crapping in their shoes. I go to lots of other tracks that don't have great restroom facilities.

On the plus side, the Bandimeres are great people and they care about the racer's/fan experience. Mopar offers lots of perks and hosts the block party in Golden which is always well attended with live music, car show, etc.

Some people may not like it but I for one, enjoy the race. Throngs of people attend this race and the security personnel have to "part the sea" of people to allow the cars to get to the staging lanes. After the races you can drive into the mountains to the many mountain towns that have gambling etc. or just enjoy the scenery.

The view from the pits is second to none. You can see the whole track from anywhere in the grandstands and the fence along the pits. Racers can watch the races in the spectator grand stands with your credential. Other tracks make you sit in the bleachers down track where you can't see anything.

All in all, like every track, there are pluses and minuses. I think Bandimere's pluses outweigh the minuses.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

We went there on our Western Swing in 2010 and was very disappointed in the changes with Mopar sponsoring the race. The only other time we were there (1992), Mopar had a banquet they invited all the Mopar racers to. They also had lots of things they gave away. We still have the engraved beer mug. We were trying to remember what they did in 2010 and can't remember anything except maybe hot dogs one day at lunch. The party downtown was nice, but Mopar did nothing there either.

I won't say we will never go back, but I really can't think of a reason to go! (and we had good parking on the asphalt!)

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Not sure what you mean. More cars = More port-o-lets? How many cars do you need to get running water? I can't figure this out.

I know us Southern racers are reportedly pretty backward according to some, but, at least we have figured out how to push water uphill! It's called a PUMP!

To be fair, I have heard, in the past, that Denver was a nice place given the geographical problems. Now, I have not attended a NHRA National Event in many years. I have my reasons. That said, I have read and spoken to many of you who have. It seems to me that for whatever reason, you guys are being pushed further and further into the back forty (that's Southern for boondocks). Charlotte? Maybe that could be one of the reasons the car counts are so bad? Jim


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Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

That's because it takes about a football field sized space to run a fuel car by the time you accommodate all your big money sponsors comfort needs.

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

That and the fact that you (we) are nothing but filler for the Nitro racers! You have to believe that they realize there is a big drop off in Sportsman participation which means their monetary input is dwindling. I just hope they figure out that they NEED the Sportsman racer in order to survive! There is no way they can live on the meager fan base coming to the races! Jim


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Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

It sure seems like we ss racers go out of our way to find an excuse to not race these days. Bandimere isnt the greatest but it ain't the worst either. Its more challenging to race here at 10,000 feet but that's part of the fun. I strugle as much as anyone but when you start to figure it out and go faster , its awesome! Dont be scared boys,come on up and get you some.....plus i got a cold coors with your name on it......just come find me!

Kirk gittins,ss/bm

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

I always heard that the Bandimere's wanted the Town of Morrison to annex them then the city would bring in the water. That has never happened so you get port-a-potties.

Jeff

Re: Lack of Sportsman Entries for Denver
 

Just wondering.... where do they get their electricity? They have NO running water there? Are there NO bathrooms at this track? I don't think I have EVER been to a National Event race track that didn't have at least ONE permanent bathroom facility with running water within a mile of the Sportsman pits! Just sayin'. Jim


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