Street race study on City Council agenda Monday

Grand Haven City Council will be asked Monday to decide on whether to allow a man to study the feasibility of bringing a race car event to Grand Haven.

The proposal comes on the heels of a presentation during a City Council work session in January when Charles Steen entertained the idea of holding a Grand Prix Motorsport racing event in Grand Haven in 2013 or 2014.

Steen, a Wyoming resident and co-founder of the former Michigan Grand Prix Motorsport event in Grand Rapids, said that the Grand Rapids event brought many people to the area when it was held in 1998 and 1999. He said it attracted an estimated 150,000 spectators and $1 million in sponsorships, and had a local economic impact of $20 million each year.

It was discontinued when organizers were unable to secure major sponsors for a third year.

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