Anyone remember Rocky Mtn. Dragway at Commerce, CO?
 

In the summer of 1964, I lived in Colorado Springs, CO, and saw a lot of drag racing as a spectator at Denver, which had a suburb called "Commerce City." There was a drag strip there at that time, named "Rocky Mountain Dragway" (IIRC) and it was one of the nicest facilities I ever visited.

For instance, it had TWO public-address systems, with two "sets" of speakers; one in the stands for the spectators' race descriptions, and another, completely separate one in the pits for the "racer information" (calling to the lanes, etc.) This made it especially nice for the racers, who didn't have to constantly monitor the general announcements about the goings-on on the track, in order to hear their calls to the lanes.

That was the first time I'd encountered that dual P.A. system. Haven't seen one since...

The grandstands were very colorful (everything seemed brand new, but I don't know how long this strip had been in operation when I discovered it in '64; not very long, from the looks of things.) The grandstands were wood, but good-quality, smooth wood seats, and every row of seats were painted a different color!!!

It was really nice to look at...

They seemed to generate good crowd numbers, and I saw a lot of really good Sportsman racing there; lots of Stockers, Gassers, etc....

I moved to Des Moines at the end of that summer and never got back to the Denver area, but have often wondered how long that strip lasted. Seems like it was in an industrial area, if I remember right.

Does anyone from that area remember that strip, and remember how long it was in operation?

They seemed to do everything right...

Thanks for any information!

Bill

Re: Anyone remember Rocky Mtn. Dragway at Commerce, CO?
 

Bill,

Was it located at 96th and Buckley Road, in Adams County? I'm not sure you're talking about the same dragstrip I'm thinking of, however I've only heard of one track remotely close to Commerce City (which the city still exists, but not the drag strip), and when I started racing it was called Dragway Denver (1975-77), then Thunder Road (1978), and finally Mile High Raceway (1979-80).

During the Dragway Denver period, it was an NHRA sanctioned track, and even held a divisional points series event there (I remember watching Warren Johnson race his burgundy/white Camaro Pro Stocker there)! However, from 79-80 (it's last years as a drag strip), it became an AHRA track (and in '80 even held a divisional type of race too). I got my start in racing at that track, and after I lost the first round of my first bracket race, I almost gave up, and thought I'd never race again...however the manager of the track came and sat by me and encouraged me to come out there and do it often because it took lots of practice and getting to know my car in racing mode, to become even an elimination round winner....ohh am I glad I did that, cause the rest going forward created some great history for me, with more to come GOD WILLING!!!

Re: Anyone remember Rocky Mtn. Dragway at Commerce, CO?
 

Gary,

You're talking to a 70 year old guy about something he did 45 years ago... lol!

"CRS" brain is surely a factor here... :(

I am reasonably sure that drag strip was located in Commerce City, but have no information beyond that.

I also seem to remember that it was called "Rocky Mountain Dragway," but, I wouldn't bet the farm on that, either.

Thanks for your input.

Bill

Re: Anyone remember Rocky Mtn. Dragway at Commerce, CO?
 

Eureka!!!

I have an old "1967 Drag Racers' Almanac" that lists a "Rocky Mountain Raceway" in Commerce City, CO, so maybe I'm not losing my mind after all... LOL!

Re: Anyone remember Rocky Mtn. Dragway at Commerce, CO?
 

Bill
Think you are correct. The drag strip I remember in that area I always thought was actually on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal property which is right by Commerce City. Likely had a Commerce City address. It was the first strip I ever went to, 1965, with my Dad. I was living in Arvada, Colorado. I seem to remember they ran 4 at a time the day we went. For some reason we went more ofter to CDR in Castle Rock. First strip I ever went down, 1966 I was 16.
Great memories.

Re: Anyone remember Rocky Mtn. Dragway at Commerce, CO?
 

Thanks, Stewart! We're gettin' there... :)

Bill

Re: Anyone remember Rocky Mtn. Dragway at Commerce, CO?
 

I certainly remember the place. I won the Div. 5 championship there in 1977, with my 65 Chevelle. It was the final Div 5. race of the season, and at the end of the day, Judy Lilly and I were tied for points. So Zim, our Div. director had us run a tie breaker for the championship, and she lit the RED bulb.
Eddie Rezac

Re: Anyone remember Rocky Mtn. Dragway at Commerce, CO?
 

Congratulations, Eddie!!! And, thanks for the info!!!

Any idea when it closed???

Bill

Re: Anyone remember Rocky Mtn. Dragway at Commerce, CO?
 

My only trip there was just after I moved to Denver from Phoenix. There was a Divisional held where I met Zim and a few other people. The were no altitude adjustments, we ran off the sea level indexes (or records) and that was my 1st try at racing a mile in the air. That was a learning experience!
There was a string of redlights and missed gears (nobody could break out) against me all the way to the final, where Scott Main freight trained me by 5 cars. He went on to win the World Championship that year so that sets the time frame if you wanted to look it up.
I don't remember it being very nice but nothing in Commerce City ever was.

Re: Anyone remember Rocky Mtn. Dragway at Commerce, CO?
 

Bill got any Des Moines Dragway stories?