RMGA Membership Meeting Review 


​Bandimere Speedway


Membership Program October 9, 2018 
 

The meeting started with Mike Pearl presenting a short business meeting which consisted of announcing the location of the November meeting (Le Meridien Hotel) and introducing a possible business member, Ethan, of “A Taste of Denver” food tours. Larry Foos, Nominating Committee Chair announcing the slate for 2019.  The slate is as follows:   

 President – Sherry Moon

 Vice President – Jessica Ward

 Secretary – Nancy Brueggeman

 Treasurer – Wendy Pickering

 Director at Large – Mike Pearl

Nominations were opened to floor, no additions.  Nancy Brueggeman moved we accept the slate as presented, Lily Ewing seconded.  Motion carried.   
 
Larry Foos then introduced Tami (current President) and John Bandimere Jr. (CEO, retired President and also current Chief Spiritual Officer) – our hosts for the program.  Tami is the 3rd generation Bandimere and has served as President for the past two years.   
 
Bandimere Speedway is very visible along C-470 between Morrison Road and I-70.  The lights were still on along the track and we met in one of the box seat sections on the second level and had a great view of the track.  Bandimere was built to give car enthusiasts a place to race instead of the city streets.  The races used to be run on city streets – of course, that was illegal.  They raced on Kipling from 6th to Alameda – a divided street so it was tough for the police to get around a break to chase them.    
Started in 1958 by John Bandimere, Sr. and still in the family 60 years later.  John Sr. was a Tax Assessor and also owned an auto parts business at 14th &Broadway.  He first wanted to build the track at 58th & Ward – neighbors said no.  The Jefferson County Commissioners helped find the current site for the Speedway.  The land had been owned by three families: the Pike family, the Cox family and Margaret Morrison (city of Morrison named for her family).  There were several other hot rod tracks around Denver but none of the others were profitable.  John Sr. was the first person to supercharge anything.   
 
John Sr. died in 1986 – Bandimere did not race on Sundays because John Sr. prayed that if his 2nd son was saved from spinal meningitis he would never race on Sunday.  Second son saved – still alive.  Also, they did not sell alcohol so guests brought their own, creating many trash and drunkenness problems.   
 
We each received a timeline history of the track and a fact sheet about the track itself.  This information tells us that the only thing that hasn’t changed over the last 60 years is their location.  The site has grown from 170 to between 350 – 400 acres.  Major renovations were done in 1988 once it was determined where C-470 would go.  This renovation included enlarging the seating from 8,000 to 23,500! 
 
Two really fun facts and innovations are the Compulink Timing System designed by John Jr. and Bob Brockmeyer.  The system is all fiber-optic and is based on the one developed by engineers for the molybdenum mines.  The other fun fact is that the track itself is cooled underground to help develop the traction in hot weather by running water through underground pipes.   
 
John Jr. told us that people don’t race for money – building and maintaining these hot rods costs a lot more than can be paid to any racer.  They race for the fun and the speed.   
 
There are more than 1,800 racers registered at Bandimere.  A women’s group was started 5-6 years ago and now has more than 600 members.   
 
When John Jr. took over the operation of the track, he instituted running on Sundays because most racers were not available except on weekends.  John Jr. ran his first race on July 19th, 1987.  At the time he was under water financially with 34 liens on the property.  Needed an additional $875,000 to operate.  Was able to arrange this additional financing and in 1989 he sold $1.2 million in sponsorships, keeping the track operating.   
 
There are many special events/charities that Bandimere participates in:

 Race to Read – a program with the schools that encourages learning to read and has been instituted in 65-70 schools and encouraged more than 70,000 students.  The kids can earn tickets to “Fire & Thunder” race day at Bandimere.   


 High School day – the numbers of high schoolers who have raced has varied from 178 the second time they offered it, to a high of 785.  Currently this program is open to alumni as well.   


 Master Drive – driving school – kids as young as 6-7 can really be good behind the wheel.  This school is considered the best in Colorado.   


 Sponsors – there are close to 200 sponsors – the sponsors help equalize the costs so that Bandimere can make a profit.   

  • The heir to Carnation Foods (a sponsor) sold a portion of their company to Heinz for $3.7 billion.   
  • One Cure – Fort Collins – this is an oncology center – they rescue animals from floods, hurricanes, etc.   


 The 3rd weekend in July is the largest motor sport event in Colorado – this event pays for all the other events each year.  The season runs from mid-April through mid-October.   


 Noise is not really a problem – compared to an oval, it’s very quiet.   

 Bandimere has had “Truck Invasions”  - first one on May 6, 2017 – advertised only on social media had: o 1,150 trucks o 10,000 spectators  o Ran this twice in 2018 – the concessions were great!


 Opened the track to other cultures (Hispanic) – organized by a guy named Freddie 

  • Had bands playing and everyone was paid in cash
  • One band was a no-show – their fee was $27,000 so Freddie threw the money (in $100 bills) to the crowd.   

 

 Bandimere owns their own concessions – easier to control amount sold, drunkenness, etc. if they are in charge of the concessions.   


 They also own their own fuel store,


 And the souvenir store.


 Bandimere had 80 different groups for private events in 2018.   


 Trivia – if you are backing out of a parking space, when your mirror clears the bumper of the car next to you, you can “cut” the wheel hard and exit neatly.   


 More trivia – the starting line at Bandimere is at 5,280’.  
 
John Jr. has written a book ($15) with many more stories of his past adventures at the track which he passed around.  He also donated six tickets to the Saturday, October 13th, 2018 Avalanche game to RMGA.  Mike Pearl found takers for all of them.   
 
Other information we received included the 2018 fan guide listing records, sponsors, and events.  For more complete information, go to Bandimere.com.   
 
Contact info:

Tami Bandimere

bandimere.com 

303.697.6001 



Written by Nancy Brueggeman 



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WHAT:  RMGA Membership Meeting:  Bandimere Speedway

WHEN:  
October 8, 2018, 6:30 pm –Networking, 7:00 pm – Short Business Meeting, Nomination Committee, 7:15  pm - History of Bandimere Speedway. 

WHERE: 
Bandimere Speedway, 3051 South Rooney Road, Morrison, CO 80465

PROGRAM:  
Tami Bandimere will introduce John Bandimere, Jr. who will present the History of the Bandimere Speedway.  


Bandimere Speedway