F1 PROP Tour Adds Indiana Race to 2013 Schedule

ByJason Johnson

According to a press release from the LaPorte County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), the shores of Stone Lake will come alive with the sounds of high-horsepower outboard motors this summer when the F1 PROP Tour comes to Northwest Indiana for the inaugural Maple City Grand Prix.

Representing the US F1 Powerboat Tour (from left) Fred Miller, driver Lynn Simburger and driver Chris Fairchild joined the press conference for the Maple City Grand Prix F1 PROP Tour race in LaPorte, Ind. Photo by Paul Kemiel/Paul Kemiel Photographics
Representing the US F1 Powerboat Tour (from left) Fred Miller, driver Lynn Simburger and driver Chris Fairchild joined the press conference for the Maple City Grand Prix F1 PROP Tour race in LaPorte, Ind. Photo by Paul Kemiel/Paul Kemiel Photographics

The event, which will be held May 31-June 2 in LaPorte, will include two classes of racing with the F1 and F-Light boats taking to the water. The CVB, along with the Greater LaPorte Chamber of Commerce and the City of LaPorte, are bringing the series to town in what they hope will be the first of many F1 PROP Tour races on Stone Lake.

F1 champions Chris Fairchild and Lynn Simburger attended last Friday’s press event in LaPorte and said they’re excited to come back and race.

“The site looks perfect and the city looks nice,” Fairchild said. “I know we’ll give the people here a good show.”

The second stop of six races currently on the US F1 Powerboat Tour schedule, the Maple City Grand Prix will be LaPorte County’s second powerboat race—jumping onboard with the annual Great Lakes Super Boat Grand Prix offshore race held each August on Lake Michigan in Michigan City, Ind.

The LeMans style race start—like this one from the docks at the 2012 Bay City River Roar in Bay City, Mich.—will be hitting the shores of Stone Lake in LaPorte, Ind., in late spring. Photo by Paul Kemiel/Paul Kemiel Photographics
The LeMans style race start—like this one from the docks at the 2012 Bay City River Roar in Bay City, Mich.—will be hitting the shores of Stone Lake in LaPorte, Ind., in late spring. Photo by Paul Kemiel/Paul Kemiel Photographics

Jason Miller, race director for both events and the CVB’s sports development manager, expects the F1 race to be an economic boon for LaPorte and add to what is fast becoming one of the Midwest’s premier areas for boat racing.

“The offshore race in Michigan City has pumped more than $20 million into the economy in its first four years, and I see that trend continuing, as I do with the new race in LaPorte,” Miller stated in the press release. “The economic impact of the Maple City Grand Prix on LaPorte and LaPorte County will be just as dynamic. And when you add this race to the Great Lakes Grand Prix and all the sailing races we have off our Washington Park Beach in Lake Michigan, we’re really building a reputation for competitive boat racing in this county.”