Bandolero racing

Bandolero car racing is a type of entry-level racing in the United States and Canada. Many bandolero car drivers move into Legends racing. Cars can reach in excess of 50 mph, but do not accelerate very quickly. The cars are built like miniature stock cars, with a tube frame and sheet metal cage. Drivers enter through the roof of the vehicle. Most drivers range from 8 to 16 years old, but older drivers can also race. The cars race on 1/4 mile, 3/8 mile and 4/10 mile ovals and also road courses and dirt tracks. Currently, there are 2 divisions in Bandolero racing.

Bandolero cars were introduced by US Legends Cars (formerly 600 Racing, Inc.), the makers of legends cars, in 1997 to be a series of entry-level cars. The Bandolero car is a turnkey, spec-series racer designed for drivers as young as eight years old. The term bandolero is Spanish for bandit, outlaw, or thief.

"We wanted something to go between a kart and a car and wanted to make it relatively simple for everybody to use," said US Legends Cars found H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler. "For example, like a kart, the Bandolero Car has left-foot braking and a centrifugal clutch so there's no shifting of gears for a new driver to worry about. Simplicity and economy of design are evident everywhere, with 150 parts making up the entire package--just half of what goes into making a Legends Car."

The Bandolero car engine is a Briggs & Stratton 570cc Vanguard engine mounted behind the driver. Small modifications have been made to the engine to bring a 20 horsepower stock engine to nearly 30 horsepower.

Racers who have raced bandoleros includes NASCAR racers Joey Logano, David Ragan, and Reed Sorenson.

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