John Bandimere, Sr. built his first race car in 1937, a Ford Flathead V-8, which he raced in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb to a ninth place finish. Always known as an innovator, Bandimere actually built a snowmobile in 1936. He became a nationally known expert on supercharging engines and in 1957 became the first to enter a fuel injected car in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. In 1958, John Bandimere, Sr. purchased a parcel of land on the west side of Denver, nestled up against the hogback leading up to the Rocky Mountains. He and his family began the process of constructing a small, but efficient drag strip that was to be used to augment their auto parts business. It also was the fulfillment of a dream of John Sr.’s to provide a safe environment for young people to learn about cars and race them off the streets. Now, more than 50 years later, the only thing at Bandimere Speedway that has not changed is the facility’s location. Nearly every original building has been replaced including the original spark plug-replica timing tower and the event schedule has grown nearly 10 times its original size to host a variety of specialty events, including the NHRA Mopar Mile High Nationals.
John Bandimere, Sr. passed away in 1986.