Among the most popular venues among offshore racers and fans, Michigan City, Ind., has long-proven the success of taking the “big fish in a small pond” approach to the sport with the XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix on Lake Michigan. That’s not to say the mercurial waterway is anything close to small, but with approximately of 32,000 year-round residents Michigan City is no sprawling metropolis.
Still, come July 27-August 2, the entire town—plus fans from surrounding communities Northern Indiana and Southern Illinois—will flock to the Race World Offshore-produced event. And no one is more excited about it than Race World Offshore head Larry Bleil.
“We are excited to come off a record-setting year with 70 boats and an incredible team spirit throughout the entire event,” said Larry Bleil, President of Race World Offshore, in a press release on the website of the Key West, Fla.-based event-producer.. “Michigan City embraced this race at every level—from the fans and volunteers to the leadership that helped bring it to life. Having it the Great Lakes Grand Prix on our calendar as part of this five-year vision allows us to continue building something truly special and deliver an even bigger and better experience for the teams, sponsors, and community.”
Buy-in for the event at the local level has been exceptional during the years, Bleil noted, in the release. “The continued support of Michigan City and LaPorte County has been instrumental in establishing the event’s long-term trajectory and expanding its impact on regional tourism, local businesses, and national media exposure, he wrote.”
The chief executive officer of the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jack Arnett agreed.
“The Michigan City Offshore Event, now in our 17th year, is excited to be going into year two of our multi-year contract with Race World Offshore,” he explained. “Race World Offshore understands the business model we require here and they deliver on that. Last year’s event was the best year yet and we credit Race World Offshore for much of that success.
“Michigan City Offshore and Race World Offshore will continue our tradition of hospitality by making sure Michigan City stays the most racer-friendly site in all of offshore—where all race teams are welcome,” he added.