Pure Heaven in Colorado

Text by Chris Bennett~Photos by Patrick Glenn

The Bennett & Fitzgerald Motorsports team traveled to the beautiful Bandimere facility in Denver, Colorado for a two-run Fuel Altered match race last weekend.

  
 
According to Leon, the last time the Pure Heaven car ran on "The Mountain" was 1979 and he went 205 mph. Thirty years and a few roman numerals later, Chris Bennett drove the Pure Heaven V to a 6.63 @ 211 mph, and then a 6.42 @ 219 mph.  Considering the 8,000 foot corrected altitude, the team was pleased but knows "she still had a lot left in her."

 
It was a reunion at the track as Leon caught up with old friends and fans.  As you can tell by the email below, it may have been 30 years ago, but nobody forgot about Leon Fitzgerald and the Pure Heaven Fuel Altered.   

 
The Bandimere facility is amazing and the fans are the most enthusiastic and grateful I've seen in a very long time.  For our first run the stands were parked to capacity in "big show" fashion (check out the second photo).  The track got a little behind and we made our second pass quite late and only the die hard fans were still remaining.

 
Overall, a great event and we were the 2nd quickest car to Ricky Ruiz who ran a 6.41 and a 6.20, if I remember correctly.  Of course, we have half the blower and a much smaller fuel pump, but who cares, it was fun!  

 
I will be updating the website www.pureheavenracing.com and sending an "official" press release soon.  It will include the Dragfest (Bakersfield) and Night of Fire & Thunder (Bandimere) race results.