OBSERVER file photo by Christian Storms The Cleveland Construction boat had plenty of support from fans in Dunkirk this year.

A former executive for Cleveland Construction says his retirement in December is what played a role in the discontinuation of boat race in Mentor, Ohio.

Mark Small, one of three partners with the company, served as chief financial officer until December 2018. It spelled the end of the Mentor boat races, which had been held in the previous three years.

“It really had more to do with my retirement than anything else,” he said in a phone call explaining his boat-racing passion to the OBSERVER earlier this week. “(Ohio) was a huge success.”

Cleveland Construction, based in Mentor, boasts on its web site of being a national company specializing in general contracting, construction management, design-build, and self-performing interior trades services. Small’s boat — and the firm’s connection to the community — helped boost the races in Ohio for the three years the event took place.

That being said, Small remains bullish on the prospects of the race taking off in Dunkirk. “The boat races only get bigger and better year after year,” he said. “Dunkirk is trying to build from Ground Zero.

Small was at the event this year and the inaugural happening in 2018. He was honored to witness the excitement and passion provided by those who attended the events. “Your community came out in full force,” he said.

He also was touched by the applause for his Cleveland Construction boat, which was a fan favorite and held a lead during the Great Lakes Grand Prix on Aug. 18. Unfortunately, his boat had some mechanical failures toward the end of the afternoon that dropped it from placing.

Understanding the negative sentiment and the concern over few boats making the trip, Small summed up what hurt Dunkirk the most. “You picked a bad date,” he said.

Small’s sentiments echo a letter that appears in today’s edition by Larry Bleil, founder of Race World Offshore. “We need to look at the dates on existing schedules and come up with the dates that work for the future,” Bleil writes.

Noting previous races that took place in St. Clair, Mich., and Michigan City, Ind., the Race World Offshore official notes it is tough to move equipment and the boats three weeks in a row. Small also said the racing does take a heavy toll on the vessels as well, which leads to plenty of work and repairs.

Criticism of the Dunkirk boat races started after attendance fell greatly during the weekend of Aug. 17 and 18 when compared to the previous year. Boat totals, according to one writer from Speedonthewater.com, were eight while city Mayor Wilfred Rosas claims there were 18 boats.

Adding to the disdain was the sentiment the race would bring in upwards of 30,000 people with an economic impact of more than $10 million to the north county. It is doubtful, however, that even $5 million in revenues came to the area.

Bleil notes Race World Offshore and the city will meet to consider other dates in the future. In the meantime, he also had nothing but praise for Dunkirk and the city leaders and staff.

“I feel all the negativity has been blown way out of proportion by critics in the city that are attacking the mayor,” he wrote. “You have a city government that is only trying to do the best for the city.”