What the hell is this?: The Thunderdrome! ranks amongst the craziest damn thing most people have seen in some time. We took a once-abandoned velodrome, excavated it from under tons of overgrowth and neglect, fixed the surface and started holding this race you see before you. It’s a track long dead brought back to life in the city that made racing possible in the first place. It’s truly a spectacle to behold.
When?: Saturday, September 15th, 2012. Racing and event is 6:00PM-12:00AM.
Where?: The Dorais Velodrome located at Mound Road and Outer Drive in Detroit. It’s a great big park with a lot of history attached. Some locals call it Derby Hill as the soapbox derby nationals used to be held there long ago.
Classes Racing?: Classes racing are Hot Damn, Just Dangerous Enough, Lead Paint and Drano, Go-Kart and Bicycle. Bicycle classes will be Devil-Takes-The-Hindmost-style racing. In all classes, expect multiple heats. All hands on deck – this is definitely one where feces meets fan.
Cost?: $25 to race. $5 to spectate (free for 12 and younger). Tickets located at the top of this page. Spectators can buy at the door of the event — but racers need to register online beforehand with ticket sales ending Wednesday, September 12th at 9:00pm sharp.
Parking?: Parking is free at The Thunderdrome! Plenty of people park on the street and the surrounding area. The lot next to the track is also open, which you access from Mound Road. We’ll have our guards policing the lot; but we’re not responsible for lost or stolen goods and innocence, yada yada.
Pits?: The pits will in the newly deforested are next to the entrance on Outer Drive. Come to Race HQ to get your pit pass so our gate people will let you in. Space is very limited and only a very few vehicles will be permitted to park inside – first come, first served. Be prepared to cart all of your things into the pit and set up without your van. Vehicles can only enter the pit area from 2:00PM ’til 5:00PM and cannot leave until 12:00AM. If you need to leave earlier, do not park in the pits as there will be NO exceptions.
Bathrooms?: The bathrooms at the velodrome are of the porta-potty variety. We contract Don’s ‘Lil Johns and they’re quite nice.
Food?: Food will be provided by some very excellent food trucks we’ve contracted. They’re incredibly impressive.
Drink?: We’ll be selling beer, water and soda at the event. No outside beer, liquor or wine is allowed per Michigan Law and our insurance company. We’ll be searching coolers, so don’t screw with us, please.
Practice?: Practice will be held the day before the event from 2:00PM ’til 5:00PM. You may do tech inspection at this time as save both of us the hassle come race day. You’ll come up to the tents near the track to check-in for race day and do tech.
Race Day?: Tech and practice on race day starts at 2:00PM and ends promptly at 4:00PM. Anyone not tech’d by 4:00PM will be unable to race.
Course Map, Race Schedule and Driving Directions?: Soon, friend. Detroit wasn’t built in a day.
More Questions?: Feel free to hit us up anytime at hello@thunderdrome.com, 248-270-8226 or on Facebook.
