[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...ArticleID=27399

Great Lakes Grand Prix returning to Mich. City

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - "We're on the map now."

That's what Jason Miller said Wednesday night when announcing the Aug. 8, 2010, race date for the Second Annual Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City.

Miller, La Porte County Convention & Visitors Bureau sports-development manager, made the announcement at the bureau's annual Winter Glo event at its Marquette Mall office.

Miller backed up his statement by holding up a batch of popular boating magazines ­- including a Swedish publication - that carried articles about the inaugural boat event in Michigan City last August. He credited Paul Kiemel with providing the photography featured in the publications.

The three-day event attracted some 80,000 spectators and pumped nearly $6 million into the local economy, according to a study commissioned by the LCC&VB. Early sponsors committed to supporting the 2010 race, Miller said, are Blue Chip Casino, the main sponsor, and restaurants including Harbor Grille, Matey's, McGinnis Pub and Top Dog/Great Lakes Catering.

Plans are in the works for three days of events leading up to the Sunday race day, Miller said.

"This year, we want more community events and festivities," he said. "We want to make it bigger and better."

Miller acknowledged the main complaint last year was the lack of an announcer. He's taken care of that by hiring veteran superboat announcer Stan Lane to call the race action. A program book with background on the racers and details about the race also will be available to help inform spectators.

"Last year, we were on a learning curve," Miller said. "It was the first year. We had an idea of what would work and not work."

Miller said he would be happy with a crowd of 80,000 or more at the second annual event and hopes for a higher boat count than the 20 boats participating last year.

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Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[taxthedeer]

Great deal for Michigan City. I have a feeling that that RPM fest monster truck show that they had in
La Porte will not be returning. I guess the county officers that worked overtime providing security for that event never got compensated, they said they were each supposed to get $30.00 an hour.

[Michelle]

Yay, I was hoping it would come back. It seemed like such a successful event. Really hoping I can make it this time.

[Dave]

Oh, shoot. I was hoping it was a car-type Grand Prix when I saw the thread title. I had visions in my head of cars zooming past my house at 200 mph. I'll just have to settle for the motorcycles that zoom past my house at 120 mph.

[ChickenCityRoller]

Oh, shoot. I was hoping it was a car-type Grand Prix when I saw the thread title. I had visions in my head of cars zooming past my house at 200 mph. I'll just have to settle for the motorcycles that zoom past my house at 120 mph.