By Betsy Scott, The News-Herald

A major powerboat race is coming to Lake County this summer.

The city of Mentor announced Jan. 12 that the ParkOhio Offshore Power Boat Race will be held Aug. 28 at Headlands Beach State Park.

“We are thrilled to host this event here in Mentor,” said Councilman at large Scott J. Marn, who helped bring the race to town. “Having attended a number of these races, I can tell you that the atmosphere is absolutely electric. This is sure to be an exciting, family-friendly event, and I’m proud that we could be a part of it.”

Race organizers said the event will draw up to 50 powerboat racing teams from around the world and an estimated 40,000 spectators.

“These are not your typical boats,” said Mark Small, promoter for the event and captain of the #4 Cleveland Construction Offshore Racing Team. “These are world-class offshore powerboats capable of reaching speeds of up to 200 mph. These multimillion-dollar competition boats are supported by professional staff and crew from a dozen different countries.

“This is real offshore racing at its best and it’s coming to Mentor, Ohio.”

The race is being held with support from local businesses, including Cleveland-based ParkOhio and K&D of Willoughby. Business leaders are working to raise the $150,000 necessary to put on the event, Marn said.

The race will fall the weekend of Mentor CityFest, Aug. 26 and 27 this year, and will be considered part of the festivities.

The city will provide in-kind contributions, such as police and fire services, Marn said.

Officials from Mentor, Lake County, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Grand River and Fairport Harbor are working closely with organizers to ensure success of the international event, including traffic and parking management, said Ante Logarusic, Mentor community relations administrator.

The economic impact of the race is an exciting prospect, he said.

“We’re looking at 500 to 1,000 people who will be here for the weekend at the very least, in terms of team support personnel,” Logarusic said. “We expect that the majority of the crowd will consist of day-trippers from surrounding states. It will be a busy day for area retailers and eateries, for sure.”

Great Lakes Grand Prix — a similar event held the last several years in Michigan City, Indiana — is estimated to have boosted the local economy by nearly $8 million during three days of activities leading up to the race, according to a 2014 article in nwi.com.

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