Drag Illustrated Issue 159, August 2020 | Page 18

Got Dirt? dirt@dragillustrated.com Bandimere Speedway Fights Back The Bandimere family continues to stand its ground, vows not to be bullied by local officials BY JOSH HACHAT For more than six decades, Bandimere Speedway has been a mainstay in Jefferson County, Colorado. Its impact on the local community has been immeasurable, if only because the impact has been so great. Through that time, the Bandimere family has contributed greatly to the community, which has made the recent actions from the higher-ups in the area so confounding. A temporary restraining order continues to be in place at the track, as county officials continue to come down hard on the business during the COVID-19 pandemic while other area locales seemingly are playing by a different JOHN “SPORTY” BANDIMERE III set of rules. “I really truly feel like we’re getting singled out and bullied, so to speak,” John “Sporty” Bandimere III says. “I can show you pictures of lakes, campgrounds, flea markets, gatherings in towns where people are wall-to-wall. It’s very frustrating and very discouraging, and it makes you really think about PHOTOS: ROB PEARSON AND JOE MCHUGH 18 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated.com Issue 159