Super Chevy Show Bandimere Series - Chevy Show Cars

Stop number seven on the 2010 Super Chevy Show circuit had us landing in the Centennial State of Colorado. Quick fun fact about that nickname: Colorado achieved statehood in 1876, the centennial anniversary of the United States. Knowledge is power; use it wisely.

Back to the subject at hand, after missing my flight from Tampa (insert colorful tall tale that proclaims my innocence here) I arrived in Denver six hours late and met up with Super Chevy publisher Ed Zinke and headed out to Bandimere Speedway to check things out and get the lay of the land. John Bandimere Jr. and his crew at Thunder Mountain pulled out all the stops for the weekend, welcoming back the Super Chevy Show after a six-year absence from one of the oldest NHRA major event tracks in the country.

Bandimere Speedway is a fascinating facility, featuring a proprietary "Track Cooling System" that is unique to the sport of drag racing. The system lies in the concrete launch pad and circulates chilled water from a pair of 12,000-gallon underground tanks through over 15,000 foot of lines in the launch pad. The cooled area is 200-foot long-40 feet behind the starting line to 160 feet past the starting line. Track temperature probes in the concrete, as well as surface reading show temperature reductions between 15-25 degrees.

Denver-based Corvette Connection sponsored a Saturday morning cruise from Invesco Field to the track.
Denver-based Corvette Connection sponsored a Saturday morning cruise from Invesco Field to

After first call went out, the staging lanes filled quickly with a variety of Bow Tie racers ready to duke it out for their class crowns.
After first call went out, the staging lanes filled quickly with a variety of Bow Tie race
Marv Bauer drove his sweet '63 Impala all the way from Lincoln, Nebraska, to the show. Since he bought and modified the big Chevy, Marv has put over 60,000 miles on the Impala driving it to shows, and anywhere else he feels like driving to. Looks for a feature in an upcoming issue.
Marv Bauer drove his sweet '63 Impala all the way from Lincoln, Nebraska, to the show. Sin

Don Bigham brought out this 17,000-mile Inca Silver '57 survivor. Originally bought by Loretta Southern-James from Grass Valley, California, she drove the car until 1974 when it was parked in her garage, not to see the light again until Don purchased it in 2007. Sporting a 283 Power Pack/Powerglide, the car still has its original sheetmetal, paint, and interior.
Don Bigham brought out this 17,000-mile Inca Silver '57 survivor. Originally bought by Lor
This gem belongs to Larry Christensen. A legit '67 Indy 500 pace car, Larry's is one of five known L-78 equipped pace cars to exist.
This gem belongs to Larry Christensen. A legit '67 Indy 500 pace car, Larry's is one of fi

Steve Luethge took his dad's old '56 "Panic Again" drag car and rebuilt it into a street-oriented restomod. Steve remembers going with his father to tracks all over Southern California and the west, watching the car run and helping wrench on the 210.
Steve Luethge took his dad's old '56 "Panic Again" drag car and rebuilt it into a street-o
Revell brought its Make N Take model program out to Thunder Valley, with kids and adults getting into the fun of building their own '57 Chevy to take home.
Revell brought its Make N Take model program out to Thunder Valley, with kids and adults g
To check out all the cool models Revell offers, and find out more about the Make 'n Take program, visit www.revell.com.
To check out all the cool models Revell offers, and find out more about the Make 'n Take p

Another cool Camaro brought to the show by Larry Christensen was this '69 Yenko Camaro survivor. Originally bought in Ohio, the original owner had the Camaro Ziebarted to protect it from rust. That decision meant the car would survive life in the rust belt cancer free. Larry doesn't keep this Yenko in a cocoon though. He has long hauled the car on the Hot Rod Power Tour not once, but twice. Watch for a future feature on this car in Super Chevy.
Another cool Camaro brought to the show by Larry Christensen was this '69 Yenko Camaro sur

An extra treat for our Editor's Choice Car Show winners on Saturday was a chance to cruise down the drag strip in front of the crowd gathered to watch the evening's quarter-mile action. Thanks to an ordering misunderstanding, we ended up with 20 Editor's Choice awards to give out, a good thing since there were so many great cars in the car show field.
An extra treat for our Editor's Choice Car Show winners on Saturday was a chance to cruise

Tom Gillen brought out his cool '55 two-door post, and we were smitten with the 210 at first sight. Originally blue and white, he found the car in a barn still powered by its original 235 I-6 and three speed trans.
Tom Gillen brought out his cool '55 two-door post, and we were smitten with the 210 at fir
Tom wanted this car to be different and stand out from other '55s, so he went through the original 235, and tricked it out with a four-barrel intake, Edelbrock carb, and other custom pieces. Instead of a three speed, the '55 has a five-speed gearbox for driving fun.
Tom wanted this car to be different and stand out from other '55s, so he went through the

Another cool Tri-Five at the show (and there were several) was Bill Baker's '57 Nomad.
The car was pretty rough when Bill purchased, but after time, love, and money, the Nomad was in tip-top shape, with an LS2 for smoking the tires and aftermarket suspension for modern handling.
The car was pretty rough when Bill purchased, but after time, love, and money, the Nomad w

While the Chevelle was the main headliner in '70 for Chevrolet with the 454 LS-6 and a new body, the Camaro had also received a full redesign that made it turn heads on the street and at the track.
While the Chevelle was the main headliner in '70 for Chevrolet with the 454 LS-6 and a new
John O'Gorman's example is one of only 600 to leave the factory (either Van Nuys or Norwood) with L-78 power. Sold at racing legend Fred Gibb's Chevy dealership in Illinois, this Camaro was no stranger quarter-mile sprints.
John O'Gorman's example is one of only 600 to leave the factory (either Van Nuys or Norwoo

At awards time, everyone gathered in the luxurious main event hall/tent at Bandimere to get the coveted Super Chevy Show award plaques and jackets. The hospitality of John Bandimere Jr. and his crew was spectacular, and made the event that much more enjoyable. Big cheers went up when Bandimere announced the show would return again in 2011 (dates to be announced).
At awards time, everyone gathered in the luxurious main event hall/tent at Bandimere to ge
While there's nothing special about this pedestrian Malibu, but we had to take a picture since it's basically the hardtop clone of our rusty Chevelle convertible project.
While there's nothing special about this pedestrian Malibu, but we had to take a picture s