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This is how my bandolero will look

!The sun was beating on the pavement, even though it was early in the day it promised to be a scorcher. We approached the 600 Racing Trailer and drivers Justin Johnson and Kevin Terrell came up to us hands stretch out to greet us. Both young men drive at the Bullring, the 3/8-mile oval at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but offer their assistance at 600 Racing, a company that builds three specific race cars geared to the entrée level racer. The Bandolero is a sporty looking GT model geared as the first step for young drivers. The 30 horse Power car can be driven from age 8, and has no age limit. The Legend is a small version of the hot rods and cars from the mid 30's. The most recent addition to the 600 racing stable is the Thunder Roadster a open wheeled race car that looks much like the cigar model of the old formula race cars. All three cars were on display and available for test drives. This was our reason for the visit, to give my son Kyle a test drive in a Bandolero car. He has been wishing and hoping to become a race car driver and with great anticipation his wishes came true. The test drive was given on a small test track right on the inside of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Justin who drives a Legend but started out in a Bandolero, and Kevin who bagged a double win just a few weeks ago in de Bando's were joined by Brian Kizer. Kizer is the crew chief for late model driver Jason Allen and last but not least Fred Meis, who runs the Las Vegas operation of 600 Racing, properly named 600 Racing West from the small office in the Business Park adjoining the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.



Kyle was ready he had his Kids race against drugs t-shirt on he had received in one of his first racing outing, and his cap signed by various drivers from Brendan Gaughan, Sean Woodsford, to Charlie Wahl. Brian Kizer gave Kyle instructions as Justin Johnson adjusted the oversized helmed. The instructions were simple here is the gas, there is the brake, and observe his directions as to when to stop. Kyle then stepped through the roof flap into the Bando and Justin and Kevin strapped him in the five-point harness. His foot already heavy on the gas took him out of the pits and into turn one. He picked up a steady speed, and his first lap was promising, and quite fast. On his return to turn one he got a little loose, his back coming out from underneath him, but he steered in the right direction and the car evened out. By now he was driving pretty fast, but on previous laps he had come out high out of turn four and on the third lap he was so close to the grass that he stepped on the brakes and turned the car around twice, landing in the grassy area. As Kizer, and Fred Meis ran to help him he had already fired up the car and pulled it out of the grass back onto the track, before Kizer could give him any more pointers. This is where a 2-way radio system could help, but not essential in test drives.



The spin may have put some fear into the young testdriver as his laps became considerably slower, following the groove of black tire rubber on the track. He lapped and lapped at a comfortable pace getting the feel of the tiny race car. The Test drives consist of 10 laps, and those laps are over before you know it. Meis who had seen the initial speed Kyle had driven around the track followed by the conservative laps after the spin, suggested that Kizer stopped Kyle and told him to give it two more fast laps around the track, and taking turn three closer to the cone. He never regained the speed of the initial laps. Driving into the pits he was helped out of the car. Taking of the helmet and slapping the grass from his shirt, Kevin joked: "Thanks for mowing the lawn, Kyle". Kyle was somewhat over-heated but he certainly had not lost any interest in becoming a race car driver.



We informed ourselves about the classes, and Fred Meis told us that the classes include a one-hour classroom time, and about 70 laps on the track, with intervals for instructions on improving the consistency, the driving and lap times. He told us that this was enough time to learn the essentials, but most importantly it gives you a feel of the cars, too much and you will get bored. He also said that for those that purchase the cars there is a discount on the class, as well as special Wednesday night test and tunes at the Bullring. Regular test and tune on Friday nights gets busy, and the time to practice for beginners can be quite intimidating when the regulars come streaming by on both sides. The Wednesday Test and tune is just for beginners, and their time to get a grip of the things the car they drive does, and what the track has to offer. Kyle experience other than the spin was a positive one, and he wishes he was still lapping around at this time.



If you are interested in a test drive, they are offered once a month, contact Fred Meis at 600 Racing West (702) 643-4386. Or come by the office on 6825 Speedway Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada 89115. The offices are of the main entrance to the Speedway from I-15 East, in the business center. 600 Racing also has race cars for sale, or visit the website at Http://www.600racing.com.

Update*I herd that Justin Waters,driver of the #95j bandolero,is selling his car.He was sellng it for $4000.00
and we planed to buy it.We bought it but we don't have a trailer.My Dad is looking for a trailer that is a good size to fit the bandolero and tools for it.The car is rivetted together so we will buy some new body parts for my rookie season(2002) this year we are going to practice and also let Justin Waters drive it before he's ready to take racing off for a year and then race in a legend for the 2003 season.Thanks and see you at the track.

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