121: Bob Boileau discusses how he became President of Pikes Peak International Raceway and how they have outlasted the previous owners
Description
Bob grew up in Colorado and has been around racing his whole life. His dad raced with SCCA and then became the chief driving instructor in Colorado. His dad brought the family to a race and they met another family of racers. It was at this time that Bob would meet his future wife (she was 11 and he was 13). Bob went to college for a business degree and ended up in California after graduating to become a stunt driver. He ended up moving back to Colorado when he and his wife got married.
Back in Colorado, he managed one of the Acura dealerships and created a racing program. A group of investors came to Colorado Springs looking to purchase the abandoned Pikes Peak International Raceway and were looking to have a local person manage it. Bob was then chosen to come on as the General Manager. He has become an investor and is now the President of the track.
Over the years, Bob has vastly expanded the offerings and revenue sources for the track. Typically, it is easy to fill up the weekends with enthusiast events. But, he has pushed to get other activities during the week to rent out the track. He went after OEM’s, military contractors, and research programs to fill up the week day spots. This has helped them be successful in keeping the track open and expanding the offerings!