Del Mar
A five-year contract for Grand Prix auto racing at the Del Mar Fairgrounds was formally approved Thursday by the Del Mar Fair Board despite protests and threats of lawsuits from surrounding property owners in Del Mar and Solana Beach.
The unanimous vote of fair board directors will allow an annual 10-day meet starting in the fall that will bring the state-owned fairgrounds an estimated $1 million in new revenues during the five-year period.
Residents lodged last-minute appeals at the Thursday meeting but failed to persuade directors that they should adhere to local noise ordinances and tone down the roar from unmufflered racing cars to residential noise standards.
The auto racing has become an issue in election campaigns in Del Mar and Solana Beach.
Assistant Atty. Gen. A. Wells Petersen said he felt “exceedingly comfortable” in defending the fair board’s action in any lawsuits that might be filed by local residents.
The auto racing event will be run by Christopher Pook, who also stages the Long Beach Grand Prix.
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