There has been a race track at Brands since 1926, when the land was first used for grass track bike racing. In those days, competitors ran anti-clockwise, but the direction of the circuit was switched in 1954. The heritage of Brands is vast – name any famous driver from the last 50 years or so and they are bound to have cut their teeth racing here. Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Barry Sheene, Jack Brabham, Ayrton Senna and Jenson Button are among the countless drivers to have raced and won at Brands over the years. Nigel Mansell scored his first Grand Prix victory there, also winning the final F1 race at Brands in 1986.

The circuit became the spiritual home of the World Superbike Championship in the 1990s and 2000s, and hosted the first A1 Grand Prix in 2005. The Formula Ford Festival continues to be an important event on an aspiring driver\’s CV and past winners have included Jenson Button and Mark Webber. Brands Hatch continues to make history, with the road cycling events at the 2012 Paralympic Games based at the Kent circuit proving a huge success, with Alex Zanardi\’s performances voted as the number one moment of the 2012 Paralympic Games by the International Paralympic Committee. Brands Hatch\’s unique combination of dips, cambers, fearsome corners and hills means it is still one of the world\’s favourite racing circuits, and continues to go from strength to strength.

Gene Heffley moved to Denver from Missouri Valley, Iowa in 1957, after serving five years in the military. In 1951, he met and married his wife Gerda. They started a trucking company and had two daughters, Helen and Patti. By 1960 this couple was operating four trucks. A year later he began to operate a salvage business in the Denver metropolitan area and sold parts to two individuals that were building race cars. When one could not pay for the parts, they ended up with the race car. With some help from some friends, Harry McCool and Bart Manley, they ran the #70 car at Lakeside Speedway. That is when he really got hooked.

In 1964, one of their drivers was Hall of Famer, Sam Sauer. Later that year they all went to a big race at Hanford, California. It was the first time they had seen a real late model race and he and Gerda decided to build a speedway designed car for late models. But that was just part of the story. In 1965, using the money from their trucking company they purchased an 80 acre parcel of farmland. On that site they designed and built a speedway, and called it Colorado National Speedway. They worked every day possible mid-year until the track was able to run a very short season. In 1966, they raced a full season with the idea of making racing possible for anybody that wanted to participate. The track had four foot retaining walls for the safety of spectators and they continued to make improvements both on and off the track.

During the years they added motorcycles, sprint cars and midgets to their racing program. In 1972, after Gene was diagnosed with cancer, they decided it would be best to sell Colorado National Speedway. They were truly pioneers in short track dirt racing.

07th June              Colorado Towers Night Out – LM GAM MC F8 CIRCLE DRAGS

14th June               14 ROCKY’S AUTOS FATHER’S DAY “NASCAR KNOCKOUT” – SLM LM SS 40 MT & Wando’s

15th June               FATHER’S DAY MONSTER TRUCK SHOW PIT PARTY

21st June                Van’s Equipment “Gets it Done” – PT LEG 40 PS F8

28th June              Carbon Valley Chamber “Connecting People” Night – SLM GAM SS SM TR

4th July                  Purifoy Chevrolet “Proud American Race” – PT 50 GAM 50 LEG F8 CIRCLE DRAGS FIREWORKS

5th July                 Famous Daves “BBQ Special” – SLM SPECIAL LM SS SMOTO FIREWORKS

6th July                 SUPER MOTO

12th July               Interstate Ford “Going Further” – LM SS MC F8 DX

19th July              Colorado Christian University “Classic” – SLM GAM SM PS TR

26th July             K & N Pro Series West -150 LM PT F8 Napa/Toyota 150 Tour Race

2 August               Whelen “Lights it up” – LM GAM LEG TR CIRCLE DRAGS

9th August           Colorado Vintage Oval Racers Night – SLM SS SM F8

16th August         Acme Truck Line “Makes it Happen” – PT GAM MC PS DX

23rd August        High Country Harley/ Mountain View Fire “Never Forget” Ride 911 – SLM LM LEG TR

30th August         Art’s Septic Services Night at the Races – SLM 100 GAM SS SM FIREWORKS LABOR DAY

31st August           SUPER MOTO

6th September      Chick-fil-A “Don’t Cownt Yer Chickins” – LM PT LEG F8 CIRCLE DRAGS

13th September    Snap-On Tools CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT – PT 50 GAM SM DX

20th September     Gillett Vet CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT – SLM SPECIAL SS MC TR

27th September    Lincoln College of Technology CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT – LM 75 LEG PS F8

28th September   Driftoberfest Drift Car Event

4th October          Coca Cola 100 CHALLENGE CUP XL – SLM 100, DX