Quote:
Originally Posted by RacingRicki
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.
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Ricki, I agree with you and Mike Coe about your positives about Bandimere Speedway. Other than the Bandimere family being such great people, and some of the most racer friendly track owners I've ever known, I stopped reading these threads after page 4 because one very important (but overlooked) thing Bandimere Speedway has that most tracks don't have, is a "COOL DOWN ISLAND", capable of cooling down 10-14 race cars at once! Ricki I'll be greatful that when ESPN did that interview of your car, I was able to see a bit of mine during the tale end of your interview, which was the first time any car I've owned/raced was ever captured on tv...thanks bud for being a pit neighbor!. Moreover, that was also the same year ('06), that I made the quarters, and at least had the best Stock Eliminator racing package of the event (.006)....I have to thank my buds Randy Hyman, and Lane (The Hawk) Weber, for their assistance in making that possible. I wanted to go up there to try and improve on my '06 finish, but my work didn't get busy quick enough for me to earn the needed funds to go there for a divisional last month.
After that messed up crap here at the former Firebird "International" Raceway, I needed a divisional to qualify to go there this week, and I'd have gone if the funds allowed...my only regret was rushing back to the lanes and finding out I was the first car of the quarters participants (Ryan McClanahan benefitted from my poor judgement)...I won't make that mistake again.
I have a lot of people up there to root for this weekend in several classes, and I'll be looking forward to "Drag Race Central", and ESPN's coverage as well (since all of the Pro Stockers, and nearly all of the fuel racers will make the first round call). I just wish I could be there with those of you going! HAVE A GREAT/SAFE TIME UP THERE!!!
