A busted sale of four motorsport manufacturers for $13 million is grinding the buyer’s gears.
Western Distributing Co., at 4955 Bannock St. in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood, got its start in 1933 when an Italian immigrant and shoemaker named Guido Mapelli picked up Coors beer in Golden and sold it on the streets of downtown Denver. The family company is now run by Mapelli’s grandson, Vieri Gaines, and operates in a wide variety of industries, including auto parts.
Mikey Sasina knows about family businesses. He took over Metro Pavers Inc. from his father and grew it into MPI Cos., which includes a trucking company and asphalt milling business. And like Gaines, a retired National Hot Rod Association driver, Sasina enjoys drag racing.
In May, Gaines and Sasina met in north Denver to dis