Bandimere Speedway, the iconic racing track located outside of Denver, Colorado, is set to close later this year. However, the family that owns the track is determined to build a new facility on a much larger plot of land. Owner John Bandimere Jr. told the Denver Post that his family plans to take a year off in 2024 before launching a new facility near Denver International Airport in 2025 reportedly ten times the size of the current location.
Bandimere, in the same article, emphasized that the main reason for the move is the need for more space and not encroaching residential development. The current 100-acre speedway, which has been in operation for 65 years, faces parking constraints that will become increasingly problematic after 2023. To address this issue, the family is considering two potential sites near DIA, totaling approximately 1,100 acres.
“We haven’t had any room for parking,” Bandimere told DenverPost.com. “We’ve been renting our neighbors’ lots for parking, and they’re under contract to sell also because there’s so much development happening in the valley.”
Bandimere still cannot reveal the buyer due to a confidentiality agreement but described the purchaser as a company connected to the automotive industry.
Bandimere assured enthusiasts that the new property’s use will remain consistent with the track’s longstanding tradition. “There definitely will be vehicles here. You look over here to the mountain, and you see trucks and trailers and campers, you name it. It will be very similar to that,” he explained.
The planned new facility will offer modern amenities, including moe permanent restrooms and grandstands with backs. Bandimere envisions expanding the facility to include a go-kart track, ample parking, a road course for racing car enthusiasts, garages for auto storage/work, and industrial buildings on the perimeter to prevent encroachment from Denver’s suburban growth.
Bandimere Jr.’s son, John “Sporty” Bandimere III, indicated that the new facility might not necessarily carry the Bandimere name. Outside investors will likely be involved, and discussions are underway for a potential renaming. The purchaser of the current Speedway is working on rezoning the property to align with their plans.
“We want a place for this (racing) community to go — to watch events, to compete in events, to be a part of it,” said Sporty, echoing the family’s commitment to preserving the racing legacy even if they don’t own the new facility.
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