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1994 First Public
Hearing
Sneak Preview Book -1995
1995 Fund
Raising Begins
Fund Raising Mailers
1996 First Event on Site
1997 Major Fund Raising
Fund
Raising Viewbook.
1998 a new direction
1999 For Profit
underway
2000 to date
Development
Continues
June 28, 2003
BMP Speedway
Opens
4x4 and Offroad
areas are expanding. Rock Crawling is the newest feature.
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The Excitement Started Here
Motorsports enthusiasts had their first public hearing January
27, 1994. Organized by the Montana Tradeport Authority (MTA -
now the BSEDA), the hearing was held in the City Council chambers.
It was estimated that over 300 people attended, spilling from
the chamber into the halls. Speakers from a variety of motorsports
clubs spoke and voiced interest in a motorsports park. Dragster,
Sports Cars, Motorcycles, Off-Road, and Circle Track enthusiasts
were represented.With the help of MTA, the first "Task Force"
meeting was held February 10, 1994, followed by committee meetings
on layout, location and facility costs.
April of 1994 was saw initial site selection and first T-shirts
sold for fund raising. In July-August 1994, the Billings Motorsports
Park Association was formed; officers were elected and board
members selected, two from each club or interest group. The Billings
Drag Race Association was founded and held its first show at
WalMart. Meetings and fund raising continued throughout summer
and winter of 1994.
In 1995 Les Kraft's 240-acre site was selected for development
as the Billings Motorsports Park. Fund raising continued with
a Car Trailer Raffle, displays at the GoShow and the publication
of a 4-page Sneak Preview brochure (see illustration). The BMP
Association met with the Billings Architect Association, and
two firms indicated interest in donating time to prepare site
plans for the park. JGA Architects & Engineering Inc. was
selected, with John Eisen of JGA leading the development effort
that included representatives from all the motorsports clubs
presenting their input and ideas.
In May of 1995 a fund raising strategy was developed that
included Winner's Circle for large contributors
and Supporting Memberships. Mailers developed and
used at fund raising events and mailed to people who indicated
interest. Summer saw more fund raising events, including the
BDRA's 2nd car show at KMart. In the fall of 1995 a conceptual
drawing of the motorsports park was presented by JGA and approved.
A public hearing was then held at MetraPark, where the concept
was unveiled and presentations were made by various motorsports
clubs personnel.
In early 1996, potential investors were sought at meetings,
at the Turf Club at MetraPark and at one-on-one meetings. A BMP
section of the Yellowstone Shopper was developed and published,
and the Magic City 4-Wheelers held their first event at BMP's
off road area. In the summer BMP was one of the sponsors of "The
Great Race" that stopped in Billings. BMP had two
booths in the downtown area set aside for this event. BDRA held
a demolition derby fund raising event at the BMP site, and booths
were set up at the Black Otter Hillclimb. A Golf Tournament was
held in August, and another 4x4 rally was held Labor Day weekend.
Fall saw a BMP show at Eagle Hardware, a BDRA Car Show at Blazing
Saddles, and displays at Ron Tesinsky's "Chicken Ranch
Run". Another BMP benefit was held at the Sheraton,
along with the Elvis Impersonator Show. As the year closed, the
BMP Association began developing articles and organization plans
for becoming a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
1997 saw the fund raising effort in earnest, with formation
of the Race to the Finish campaign, completion
of the 16-page viewbook and a financial model for events and
economic impact of BMP on Billings and the area. Paul Hickman
was hired to coordinate the fund raising effort headed by Lew
Hines. Their first weekly meeting was held in March of 1997.
The BMP section of Yellowstone Shopper continued throughout the
year, and Inter mountain Distributors pledged a percentage of
beer sales as a contribution to the effort. In May a Motorcycle/
Snowmobile/4x4 Rally was held at the BMP. BDRA held another demolition
derby in August. BMP got an information phone number, and fund
raising continued until November, when the IRS denied BMP's application
for 501(c)(3) status. A 501(c)(4) classification was designated
- non profit, but non-deductible. Since Race to Finish
fund raising had been based on tax deductible contributions,
BMP faced its first major obstacle. The fund raising committee
of Race to the Finish held its last meeting November 15,
1997.
1998 was a year of regrouping for the BMP and its backers.
The BMP approached the County Commissioners, but they wanted
complete control. The idea of a "for profit" organization
was revived; original contributors were contacted and new potential
investors were sought. On the activity side, a sign was put up
at the site and a 4x4 Rally and another Demolition Derby and
Thunder on the Prairie tractor pull were held during the summer.
After many meetings and consulting, the Billings Motorsports
Park Foundation, Inc. became the official 501(c)(4) that would
continue pursuing how to develop the park.
1999 was reorganization time, with lawyers retained to determine
what role a non-profit could play in a for-profit corporation.
The Foundation remained active, but was limited by its non-profit
status which does not allow investment in the profit corporation
unless it has a majority interest. The foundation continued to
receive many contributions of materials and to work with various
motorsports enthusiasts and organizations, including Quarter
Midgets, Bump n Run, Radio Control Model racers and Circle Track
racers.
2000: The Foundation continues its monthly meetings.
On site, soil tests have been made, test wells drilled and the
blueprints refined and cost estimates obtained. Building drawing
for timing tower, concession and restrooms have been developed.
Timing equipment has been purchased from Las Vegas Motorspeedway.
The private investment group continues its work on drag strip
for Phase I.
Summer 2001: The Foundation buys 4,200 seat grandstands
from Sears Point. These grandstands are now on site at BMP ready
for assembly. These are now leased to
the BMP LLC and are assembled at the new BMP Speedway.
Summer 2002: Investment Group BMP LLC announces financial
offering for construction of on-site racing facilities.
Summer 2003: Oval Racing
comes to BMP
Summer of 2003:
Name Changes to Billings Motorsports
Foundation in line with our goal of supporting all forms
of Motorsports in the community.
See What's New for the latest
information
See Minutes of meetings
for news of the Foundation, Inc.
Now you can see Oval Racing, 4x4 Offroad Events and Racing,
Quarter Midget Racing, Motorcycle and Quad Racing. |
