Rotary gearing up for another grand prix

The Rotary Club of Laguna Beach is gearing up for a second grand

prix, and this time they’re prepared to work hand-in-hand with local

merchants.

“We learned some of the problems as we went along and we think we

know what mistakes were made and how to correct them,” said Bill

Parrish, Grand Prix Steering Committee chair.

Sponsorship packages and surveys to merchants have already been

distributed. The dates they are aiming for are Sept. 20 and 21, and

organizers hope to include a professional women’s event. However, a

formal announcement will not be made until the committee has reviewed

and shared the survey results with the Laguna Beach Chamber of

Commerce Board of Directors.

Under the direction of Linda Yadao, the grand prix brought nearly

600 racers to compete on a criterion track that started at Forest

Avenue and Glenneyre Street, took riders to Third Street, Mermaid

Street and back to Forest last September. The race was enhanced with

bike safety and educational events before and on the day of the

event.

Spectators, racers and representatives of the U.S. Cycling

Federation loved the grand prix, Rotarian Patrick Fetzer said.

However, merchants on Forest Avenue angrily descended on the City

Council at its Oct. 1 meeting with complaints that it devastated

business.

“I was down there for most of the race,” Councilman Wayne Baglin

recalled. He walked into stores that hadn’t seen one dollar cross the

counter and he is now adamant that the Rotary get support from the

merchants before they come in front of the council.

Although he feels that the event has the potential to bring in

added tourist dollars, Baglin doesn’t just want to see members of the

Rotary make a presentation, he wants to see merchants approach the

podium, as well.

“If not, I would have a difficult time voting to close the streets

again for the race,” he said.

Parrish acknowledges that the committee made mistakes last year

and that the race was not as financially successful as they hoped.

The funds generated from the race allowed the Rotary to complete its

$30,000 pledge to the Laguna Beach Boys and Girls Club, he said. He

would not release a solid number of the total amount raised.

Nonetheless, committee members feel that merchants are much more

receptive to the event. Parrish along with others personally made

appointments with and spoke to merchants who were particularly

affected by the grand prix.

“People are receptive. They want to talk and they want to be part

of it,” Fetzer said.