I understand Rick Springfield will be in concert at Blue Chip Casino, Hotel and Spa on Saturday, August 7. Should make for a very busy Michigan City that weekend.

Hey there everyone, Matey's has announced it's going to be holding a pretty cool bikini contest over the next several weeks. It will culminate in a Miss Grand Prix, who will get some pretty great prizes including a paid trip to Vegas.
To sign up or get info call Carol or Bill at Matey's. And thank them for being such great sponsors of the race.

Brillson was probably jelous because she knew she couldn't look that good in a swimsuit.

Is there a list of the boats which are racing and what categories they're in? I can't find boo online.

According to the event's website: http://www.thunderonlakemichigan.com the official race programs are on sale at the LPCC&VB office inside the Marquette Mall at a cost of $5.00.

I'm a little bit upset that the boat parade and block party are scheduled at the exact same time as the Michigan City Wolves Intra-Squad football scrimmage at Ames Field.

Is there a list of the boats which are racing and what categories they're in? I can't find boo online.

When is that?

Patch Picnic canceled; other events planned this weekend

From Staff Reports
Published: Thursday, August 5, 2010 5:10 PM CDT
MICHIGAN CITY — The annual Patch Picnic/Harborside Homes Reunion is not being held this year, but other events are planned this weekend for those who want to reunite with old friends, event chairman Bennie Edwards said.

The first is the Patch-Harborside Golf Scramble on Friday at Michigan City Municipal South Golf Course. Registration is still open, and signups will be accepted at registration at 11 a.m. Friday at the course. A shotgun start is at noon. The cost is $60 per person and $240 for a foursome. Men, women, seniors and juniors are welcome. Participants play 18 holes and compete for trophies and cash prizes. Proceeds benefit the Patch-Harborside Heritage Scholarship Fund. The previous winners were Alexis Meriweather and Essence Robinson. The outing also needs hole sponsors.

The second event is a live concert from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday at Rag Tops Auto Museum, 209 W. Michigan Blvd. Showtime is 7:30 p.m., with two performing groups from Gary: rhythm-and-blue band Toss and The Whitney Nots, who have opened for The Manhattans and Phil Ingram. Admission is $10, and proper attire is required.

Call (219) 210-0083 for information on either event.

The picnic, usually held the first weekend in August, isn’t being held this year because the location, the site of the new Charlie Westcott Gateway Park, is undergoing reconstruction, as is East Michigan Boulevard.

Washington Park event could draw 85,000 fans
Comments

August 6, 2010
BY DIANE KUBIAK, POST-TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT

MICHIGAN CITY -- The 2010 Super Boat International Great Lakes Grand Prix second annual celebration continues this weekend at Washington Park Beach and promoters have recently added a second race.

Although the boat races themselves are now slated on Lake Michigan for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday, the weekend is full of related events.

Highlights

Today

Noon-5 p.m. -- Washington Park Marina Tours.

Noon-midnight -- Meet the race teams at the Clubhouse Bar and Grill, 415 E. U.S. 20.

Saturday

Noon-5 p.m. -- Super boats will be craned into the water for testing throughout the morning, Washington Park.

Noon-5 p.m. -- Classic car show, Washington Park.

Sunday

10 a.m.-3 p.m. -- Silent auction, bumper car pavilion, Washington Park

11 a.m. and 1 p.m. -- 2010 Super Boat International Great Lakes Grand Prix

5 p.m. -- Awards ceremony, Blue Chip Casino, Hotel and Spa.

Last year, the first for this event in Michigan City, the Saturday practices drew 20,000 people, said Jason Miller, event organizer.

By Sunday, the race had drawn 85,000 viewers both along the beach or in their own boats outside the race course, said Miller.

This year police will shut down the parking lot at Washington Park when it is full and shuttles will run from Marquette Mall and from Lighthouse Place, said a spokesperson from the Michigan City-LaPorte Visitors Center, event sponsor.

Miller said 2009 World Champion Manufacturer Production I Class racer Dan Davies of Chicago has been promoting the race and is seen by many as the race's "hometown entry."

"He's talked about it in every race he's raced in all over the country," Miller said.

Miller said it is viewed by the teams on all three racing circuits as one of their top five races.

Information technician Marty Russon of the Supercat Offshore Racing, Kalamazoo, Mich., a racing enthusiast who films races, said the Michigan City race is going to be exciting.

"It's solid deck-to-deck racing," he said. "The Super Cat class will be well-represented."

He said expects to see boats reach speeds of 150 mph.

The excitement is reportedly building on the southern most point of Lake Michigan as Super Boat International prepares for the second annual Great Lakes Grand Prix this weekend (August 6-8).

Last year's event attracted record crowds and exceeded all expectations.

Super Boats International's CEO, John Carbonell rated it the largest crowd ever for a first-time race.

'The entire course was lined with spectator craft and I think this year we'll see even more boats out there following the racing and even more people on the beach,' he declared.

Numerous additional activities have been arranged by the local government authority, including a golf tournament and an extravaganza of food, ‘Taste of Michigan City.'

Many of the offshore race teams that competed at the event last year were amazed at the spectator attendance.

’WHM Motorsports’, Jason Muller driving, Bill Mauff on throttles, out to claim a chequered flag in Superboat Unlimited. - Rodrick Cox

Teams began arriving yesterday (Thursday, August 5) and will begin testing and fine tuning immediately.

Hometown favourite, Dan Davies, at the wheel of ‘Global Warmer', Martin Sanborn on throttles, will be contesting Superboat Vee Unlimited, and says he 'can't wait' for the flag to drop.

'That is the sentiment of most of the teams that will compete here this weekend,' he said.

'We had such a spectacular turnout last year, what with parties and a great weekend of racing that we're all pumped and ready to go, we're out to make 2010 even better than 2009,' he added.

All teams are expected to test on the Saturday for ‘shake down' trials and last-minute adjustments.

An early start is scheduled for Sunday with physicals, driver's meeting and race 1 timed to start at 11am.

The fields will include classes featuring catamaran and vee bottom entrants, all boasting maximum horsepower.

John Carbonell, CEO of Super Boats International. - Rodrick Cox Click Here to view large photo
If anyone beats Miss GEICO they’ll know they’ve been in a race! - Super Boats ready to rock Michigan City - Miss GEICO


For further information visit the website, www.superboat.com

Indianapolis has its “500” and now Michigan City has a signature event in the making.

The Second Annual Super Boat Great Lakes Grand Prix is on tap for this weekend.

Last year, Michigan City took a gamble on hosting the power boat race and it paid off.

The 2009 version brought in 80-thousand spectators over a two day period and pumped an estimated $5 million into the local economy.

“It was unbelievable, we would have been happy last year in the first year with 20-thousand spectators,” said Jason Miller with the LaPorte County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “This is our Indianapolis 500.”

Despite the uncertain economic times, it proved to be a winning formula: Take the dog days of summer, mix in plenty of horsepower, and create a cash cow at Washington Park on the shores of Lake Michigan.

For Dan Davies, the race was in the right place at the right time. “Last year was my first actual sanctioned race here, so I got into racing here last year because it was so close (to his Chicago area home) I’ve got to give it a shot.”

In 2010, Davies returns as the 2009 World Champion, although, this year, the competition appears to be getting tougher.

“So far this year, we’ve won every race we’ve been in, in fact, last year we won every race but one,” said veteran driver Bob Teague with Team AMSOIL. Teague missed the 2009 race, but he’s clearly the man to best this year.

“But we heard so much about how good this race was and how great the fans were and the people and we’re always looking for a good spot to showcase our sponsor,” said Teague. “So here we are in Michigan City.”

Two races will take place on Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Central Time. On Saturday night, a boat parade will travel down Franklin Street. After the parade, the public will have a chance to get up close and personal with the boats and racers.

The race itself is free, “Everything is on the house here,” said Jason Miller.

While parking at Washington Park costs $6, free parking and a shuttle bus system has been established at Marquette Mall and Lighthouse Place.

For more information on the Great Lakes Grand Prix, visit: http://www.michigancitylaporte.com/

Sunday's Great Lakes Grand Prix drew thousands of visitors to Michigan City.

The 2nd annual Super Boat race has pumped millions of dollars in the local economy.

"We didn't have a clue. We didn't know what to expect. It was just we took a long shot, we rolled the dice on getting these folks in here," said La Porte County Conventions Bureau's Jack Arnett.

Arnett didn't know what to expect when the county paid $75,000 to bring the event to Michigan City last year.

With close to 80,000 spectators crowding the beach at Washington Park, it's safe to say that gamble paid off.

"I don't know where they all come from, but they sure all seem to come into Michigan City for this event," said Super Boat International PR Director Rodrick Cox.

Last year's Grand Prix pumped more than $5 million into the local economy.

This year's numbers aren't yet in, but restaurant owner Lee Hummel is smiling about the business he's seen.

"It brings in millions of dollars to our local economy. With all these people here spending money, spending money, it can do nothing but boost. I wish the event would go for two weeks," said Hummel.

The 6-day event has been a win-win situation for all involved.

The racing community views Michigan City as one of the best racing stops in the nation.

"You know, this place is phenomenal. We had such a turnout last year," Cox said.

Driver Dan Davis adds that, "This year they're even more involved. We've found that they're more involved. They want a lot more autographs, they really want to connect with the teams."

That connection has organizers hoping the Great Lakes Grand Prix continues on forever as the city's marquee summer event.

"We're happy," Arnett says. "The hotel rooms are full. Restaurants are full. And that's what we're looking for."

Rain clouds threatened the event late Sunday morning, but the event went on without a hitch.

Officials think this year's crowd has brought in between $6 and $7 million to the Michigan City economy.

Extreme class super boat JBS 121 races past spectators Sunday during the 2010 Super Boat Great Lakes Grand Prix along Michigan City's Washington Park. The JBS team took first in the Turbine class and raced unopposed.

Great Lakes Grand Prix

At Washington Park, Michigan City

First race

Superboat Vee Limited Class

1. Watch Your Back (Brian Forehand, Maddie Janssen) 45:31

2. Pirate Racing 48:17

Superboat Stock

1. Talbot Excavating (Kyler Talbot, Jim Anselmo) 39:06

2. Mapei 39:09

3. Double Edge Motorsports 44:02

Maufacturer Production 4

1. Simmons Racing (Kyle Dietzen, Jim Simmons) 41:36

2. National Guard 42:53

3. Absolutely Not 43:23

Second race

Superboat Unlimited

1. Cintron (Herb Stotler, Richard Wyatt) 47:53

Superboat Vee Extreme

1. Saratoga Stampede (Michael Janssen, Brian Forehand) 52:40

Superboat Vee Unlimited

1. Instigator (John Stanch, Peter Meyer) 53:23

2. Global Wamer DNF

Superboat 750

1. WHM Motorsports (Jason Muller, William Mauff) 52:04

2. Talkin Trash 52:21

3. JD Byrider DNF

4. Warpaint DNF

Super Cat

1. Stihl (Robert Noble, Grant Bruggemann) 55:22

2. Team Amsoil 56:15

3. Popeyes DNF

Manufacturer Production 1

1. Global Warmer (Dan Davies, Martin Sanborn) 35:09

2. Instigator (broke class speed limit)
Related Stories

* Related: Super Boats to invade Michigan City again

MICHIGAN CITY | The Great Lakes Grand Prix has become Dan Davies' favorite event on Super Boat International's schedule -- and for good reason.

In 2009, it was the location where Davies, a Lombard, Ill., resident, cut his teeth racing for SBI, and he turned out to be a world champion racer in the Manufacturer Production 2 class along with throttleman Martin Sanborn.

So, it is without question that Davies was looking forward to a return trip to the second annual Great Lakes Grand Prix at Washington Park -- in a city that's become a favorite destination for him and his family.

"This event is really special to me," Davies said. "It's really close. I have a lot of friends that come out here, and we have a lot of support."

Overall, Davies -- who owns and drives the yellow Fountain No. 47 boat (nicknamed Global Warmer, a local fan favorite) -- had a successful return to Lake Michigan. He finished first in the Manufacturer Production 1 class and second in the Superboat Vee Unlimited Class, overcoming the choppy water of Lake Michigan in the second race of the day.

"It was typical Lake Michigan water, and the guys who haven't raced it before really can't believe what it's like out there," Davies said. "We ran really well, and (Sanborn) had to do a lot of work today."

Though she's just 18 years old, Denver resident Maddie Janssen made an immediate impact in the first SBI race of her life. As the throttleman for Watch Your Back, a Superboat Vee Limited class boat, Janssen won her class along with driver Brian Forehand. Sunday's race was also her first trip to Indiana -- and her first race in Lake Michigan.

"It was definitely deceiving," Janssen said of the water. "It was pretty rough today. I had to prepare to bounce around and know what's going to happen before it happens.

"It definitely feels good to win. The city was great, and people kept saying ‘How do you like the lake?' I kept thinking it was an ocean with the beach and everything."

Popeyes boat throttleman Stan Ware, a New Orleans native, along with driver Lisa Matthews, had to be rescued by the SBI medical team after 32 minutes of racing when their boat capsized while driving 110 miles per hour. Ware escaped unscathed, but Matthews was taken to St. Anthony Memorial Hospital for precautionary reasons after nearly drowning.

"It was the first time I had Lisa in the boat, but she's a good driver. There was no driver error," Ware said.

"I've raced the Great Lakes since the '70s, and it's always a surprise. We went straight up (and tipped over). (Matthews) got tangled up in some lines, and I was pulling her out. We're fortunate to be here. It was a scary moment. The medical team is great. Without them, it wouldn‘t be like this right now."

Posted in Sports, Boating on Sunday, August 8, 2010 11:30 pm

***I think the 85,000 people is for all of M.C. stretching from Washington Park all the way down to stop 20 and then all the boats which lined the course.

You must have been the person who thought that back around 1970 that Michigan City was going to have a population of over 100,000 by the year 2000.

I was -4 years old in 1970.