Bandimere Speedway

I finally made it out to Bandimere Speedway for Test & Tune Night sponsored by the Colorado State Police.  This is a fun low key event that allows everyone from me to serious racers to take a car, truck or motorcycle out for quarter mile runs on the track.

After arriving at the track and paying the entry fee, I went over to tech inspection.  They looked under the hood, checked the tires, seatbelts and then OK’d my car to 14.00 seconds.  The inspection is more rigorous, the faster you intend to run.  A number was placed on my car and I got in the queue for my first run.

When you get to the front of the line, you are waved to a pre-stage area where drivers can warm up the tires.  I did not take advantage of this.  You then get waved to the staging area.  As you approach the top yellow lights will go off indicating you have 12 more inches to be staged.  When the top two rows of yellow lights are lit, you are properly staged.  Then the descending yellow-yellow-yellow-green lights will go.  I was instructed to hit the gas as soon as I saw the third yellow.  This provided reasonable response times.

After going a quarter mile as fast as you want to, there is a rise on the track during which you slow down, make a left hand turn and pick up your timing slip from the booth.

7/31/2013	5:36 PM	5:56 PM	6:22 PM	6:56 PM
926	left	right	right	left
R/T	-0.026	0.367	0.337	0.267
60 feet	3.314	2.527	2.521	2.566
330 feet	7.874	7.108	7.056	7.029
1/8 mile	11.457	10.696	10.616	10.554
mph	69.47	69.5	70.03	70.58
1000 feet	14.489	13.724	13.623	13.54
E.T.	17.032	16.26	16.147	16.053
MPH	89.06	89.22	89.55	89.83

R/T is response time.  I did not start correctly the first time as indicated by the negative R/T.  The elapsed time is given for 60 feet, 330 feet, 1/8 mile and 1000 feet.  The speed is reported at 1/8 mile and quarter mile.  Finally the speed is reported at a quarter mile.

Over the four runs, I improved every time in terms of response time, quarter mile time and quarter mile speed.  I considered doing another run to try to break 16.00 seconds and/or 90 miles per hour, but decided to pass.

There were a lot of great cars out there.  Mustangs were represented by various years including classics, a new Shelby and a 500 GT.  Camaros including several SS models were out there.  I also noticed several Corvettes.  They were a whole host of drivers from trucks, classic cars, tuners and American muscle cars that were built up for racing.  I saw racers in helmets, five point harnesses and even a couple of cars with parachutes on the back.  I think running a motorcycle full out would be terrifying.  For me it was a great experience.

After watching the “Fast and the Furious,” I knew I did not own a 10 second car.  A friend of mine reported that he had run a 12.83 and I was very curious of my potential times.  Websites reported 14-15 seconds for a stock 2004 Mustang GT, but I was skeptical as I have an automatic transmission with 80,000 miles on it, 16 inch steel wheels and nothing aftermarket except for a K&N cold air intake.  I would not have been surprised by any number from 15 to 18 seconds.  Now, I can tell folks it does around 16 seconds at 90 mph.