Jerry Van Dyke’s passion for auto racing could be heard in his opera-trained voice, which reached more than five decades’ worth of Front Range track listeners. The microphone-savvy announcer and founder of the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame died Friday night of cancer at his Aurora home. He was 74.
Van Dyke, who made his living running an advertising agency, worked or volunteered at virtually every current or defunct Front Range racetrack since 1951, beginning when he was hired by J.C. Agajanian to pass out fliers and posters at an Indy-car race at Centennial Racetrack.
He went on to promote and announce races at Continental Divide Raceway, Lakeside Speedway, Englewood Speedway, Century 21 Speedway, Thunder Road Dragway, Colorado National Speedway and Rocky Mountain National Speedway.
He served as infield pit reporter at Pikes Peak International Raceway from 1997 to 2005.
“Jerry Van Dyke will be missed dearly by his family, his friends and everyone fortunate enough to have known him and to have experienced his extraordinary spirit,” said former PPIR president Rob Johnson, who succeeds Van Dyke as Hall of Fame chairman.
Van Dyke was as humorous with his work as serious.
“During one of the first events at PPIR, Jerry brought the crowd to its feet in anticipation of the facility’s first military flyover at the conclusion of the national anthem. As the anthem came to a close, it became apparent there was no flyover,” Johnson said. “So, in a split-second, Jerry told the crowd to look to the northeast, toward a jet just taking off from Colorado Springs International Airport, and announced that PPIR was going to have the country’s first commercial flyover, courtesy of Continental Airlines.
“The crowd went wild and I hit the ground laughing,” Johnson said.
Van Dyke was inducted to the Colorado Motorsports Hall of Fame in March as outgoing chairman.
He was born in Denver and graduated from St. Francis High School before attending Regis College. As a teenager, he raced at the old tracks in Englewood and Lakewood.
He founded the Hall in 1977, and within the first three years of the event he had nationally-known racers Rick Mears, Bobby Allison, Johnny Rutherford and Wally Dallenbach in attendance.
Van Dyke is survived by daughters Barbara Albin of Arvada, Cheri Hudak and Laurie Bohlen, both of Thornton, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Condolences can be sent to 1940 Gaylord Place, Thornton, 80241. Services are pending.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
