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Bandimere Speedway
Bandimere Speedway, also known by the NHRA as Thunder Mountain, was a quarter-mile dragstrip located just outside Morrison, Colorado and Lakewood, Colorado. It opened in 1958 and was the host to many racing events, including many NHRA Nationals events. In April 2023, it was announced that Bandimere Speedway would be closed at the end of the 2023 season, with the intent to move the speedway elsewhere. HistoryIn the late 1950s, John Bandimere Sr. began to explore property in the Denver metropolitan area with the intent of constructing a drag strip to supplement the family auto-parts and machining business. After being met with stiff resistance from the community in nearby Wheat Ridge, Bandimere Sr. purchased property in 1957 along the Dakota Hogback and began building the motorsports facility.[1][2] In 1958, the facility was opened to the public, with access to the drag strip, an oval track, and garages to teach automotive repair and performance. Additionally, the facility offered its use as a "high-altitude testing facility", with "lifetime memberships" available to commercial automobile manufacturers for $75. By 1968, the facility was sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association, though it would not be until 1977 that an NHRA national event was held at the facility for the first time. In 1978, the first "Mile-High Nationals" event was hosted, elevating the track's status from a small local track to larger recognition in the racing community.[3]  In 1988, the speedway underwent $4 million in upgrades (equivalent to $10,305,008 in 2023), requiring a one-year hiatus from hosting events while the work was completed. The facility improvements expanded spectator seating, with grandstand seating capacity growing from around 8,000 to 23,500. Additionally, pit areas were upgraded, parking was added, and signage across the grounds was enhanced.[4] ClosureOn April 21, 2023, the Bandimere family posted an announcement to YouTube that they would be closing the speedway at the end of the racing season, citing the need to relocate to allow for more space to grow their racing facilities. Reflecting on his time in the area, Bandimere Jr. noted, "this place has never been ours, but always God’s. Keeping that perspective over the years has given our family not only the honor to run a business with integrity and dedication, but also the realization to hold it lightly knowing more than likely that we wouldn’t have it forever."[5] News of the facility's closure was met with a mix of responses, with John Force notably remarking at the venue's final hosting of the Mile-High Nationals, "It’s going to be an emotional weekend, saying goodbye to this place [...] it’s Mount Rushmore [...] this is God’s gift. This is mythical shit. I love racing, and I love this hill – and I want ’em all to know it.”[6] Track characteristicsThe track has several quirks that make it unique within the NHRA's schedule of events. At over 5,000 feet above sea-level, the air is much thinner at the facility compared to other similar venues, negatively impacting the downforce a vehicle can impose on itself. Additionally, the thinner air slows the cars down dramatically; a vehicle that normally could hit 330 miles per hour (530 km/h) on other drag strips might barely top 320 at Bandimere, and a sub-4 second run would be over the 4 second mark. Because of these limitations, the NHRA also adjusts the indices in their bracket categories, typically by six tenths. Super Comp runs to 9.50, Super Gas to 10.50, and Super Street is run to 11.50 seconds. All bracket racing-based classes are also reindexed due to the effects of high-altitude. 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. References
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