MORRISON — Before John Force was a racing legend, he found refuge in the Bandimeres’ basement.
The year was 1980, and Force was a young, unknown and broke driver who was making his first trip east of Arizona. He arrived at Bandimere Speedway in the middle of a snowstorm, his pockets empty. He would have no place to sleep had the family not arranged for Force to stay with them.
Thus began a lifelong friendship between Force and speedway boss John Bandimere Jr., well before Force was a 16-time NHRA champion and the owner of a record eight Funny Car wins on Thunder Mountain.
“I remember coming over the hill, and we had no money to eat, no money for anywhere to stay,” Force said. “It was snowing and the valley was frozen. The snow was shocking (for a Southern California guy).
“The way they took me into their home and helped me and my small crew get situated — I’ll never forget that. It was me, (some family) and a couple of guys who worked for free. They took me in like I was their kid. And they’ve treated me the same ever since — every time I see (the Bandimeres), they walk up to me, hug me, ask how I am.”
Force’s first visit to Denver was a memorable chapter in his racing career.
He had a small sponsorship with Wendy’s at the time and came to Bandimere Speedway for a match race. During the trip, he proposed to his wife, Laurie, in a Wendy’s parking lot using a piston ring as the engagement ring — the seeds of the Force racing dynasty that produced drivers Ashley Force Hood, Brittany Force and Courtney Force. This was 14 years before his first win at the speedway, and 18 years before he became its first 300-mph driver.
“Early in my career, my strategy was calling people and going, ‘Hey this is John Force, do you want to book me? Is there any money there? Can I get a free room when I get there?’” Force recalled with a laugh. “That’s how I did it, because I came the hard way. So as a young racer struggling (financially), it was a blessing for a kid like me to run into Bandimere.”
Force’s father, Harold, accompanied him on the journey to Denver — mainly so Force could use his credit cards to pay for hotels when he couldn’t get free rooms. As a result, Harold Force and track founder John Bandimere got to know each other while sitting together and watching their sons race that weekend.
It’s a tableau that Force recalls every time he visits Bandimere Speedway, and why the pending sale and closure of the facility “is something that really hurts” the 74-year-old. This weekend marks the 43rd and final running of the Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway in the 65th and last year of the facility.
“My dad and Bandimere’s dad sat on the side of the hill and watched us, and I’ll never forget that,” Force said. “After we lost them both, every time I go to (Thunder Mountain), I stand there and I stare at it. They were up there, right there on that side of this mountain cut out to watch us race. It’s amazing. It’s mythical.”
As for his own racing future, Force said his intention is to race at least two more years after this one, which would give him 50 years driving in the NHRA. And as long as his health is still good, Force is leaving the door open for continuing to race beyond that, into his 80s.
“The car is not that hard for me to drive — it does all the running for me,” Force said. “If this was NASCAR, I’d be done. But in drag racing, I’m out there for four, five seconds. I love it. When I get out of that car, I come alive.”
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