Drag race fans who have been to Bandimere

[noahmercy]

I'd like to take my wife to a race. We are looking at the Mile High Nationals. Now, I've never been to Bandimere and was wondering if anyone who has attended an event there has a suggestion for the best seats.

I used to drag race down in Florida, but never attended as a spectator (I was always in the car or in the pits or at the line with my buddies), so I'm chagrined to admit that I have no idea where the best place to sit would be. I definitely want wifey to experience the lovely eye-watering sinus-burning nitro fumes (ooh...getting a little turgid just thinking about it!

), but the fuel cars move out so fast that I suspect sitting near the tree might not be the best spot.

Buuuuuttttt, since I don't know fer shur, I'm asking for any input from you motorheads who have actually watched a drag race from the stands.

Thanks for your advice and suggestions, pards!

 

[chris223]

Re: Drag race fans who have been to Bandimere

At Chicago its any of the 1st 30 rows and a hundred feet from the tree but ymmv.

 

[ggarrett1911]

Re: Drag race fans who have been to Bandimere

I've never been to Bandimere, but I like seats anywhere close to the 330' mark for the fuelers. Gives a good vantage point of the tree plus the fuel cars are really starting to put the power to the ground by that point. Also a good spot to help explain things (like the tree, tire shake, etc) to newcomers to the sport. I always have a great time taking people who've never seen a fuel race before (especially the ones who say "I've seen it on TV & it can't be but so loud" LOL)!

Make sure to take the wife down into the pits when they're warming up the fuelers for maximum nitro-induced eye watering!!!

Gregg

PS - Top Fuel is an awesome spectacle, but Pro Stock is still the best class for me...

 

[slowkota]

Re: Drag race fans who have been to Bandimere

I can hear cars running down the track from 12 miles away as the crow flies... from Rock Falls raceway! But I've only been to that track, and B.I.R.

 

[Donut]

Re: Drag race fans who have been to Bandimere

Doesn't Bandimere have insanely-steep grandstands? Maybe something to consider, as that might be off-putting to have to climb to the top.

Personally, I like to be up high and about 100-150 feet out.

 

[varmint slayer]

Re: Drag race fans who have been to Bandimere

Yes Donut the stands are pretty steep but not to bad to walk up and down. Here are a few pics from about 8 years ago during the diesel drags. That little red truck is the Banks Sidewinder and was a bad bitch! 1/4 mile in 8 seconds with a twin turbo 5.9
Cummins.

 

[noahmercy]

Re: Drag race fans who have been to Bandimere

Thanks, y'all.

I'll try around 250 feet downtrack and about a third of the way up the stands. Should give Angel O. Mercy and me a pretty good vantage point. If it turns out there's a better place, we'll know better for next time. And I'll be sure to run her through the pits for a whiff of that manly aphrodisiac that is nitromethane.