The Formula E electric car race descended on Montreal Saturday, to mixed reactions.
As the cars zipped around Rene-Levesque Boulevard and Viger Street at over 200 kilometres per hour, many spectators were pleased with the show.
West Islander Louis Pinsonneault owns a Tesla vehicle, and said he thought the race was a great showcase for what electric cars can do.
"People think they're still golf carts but now they come out and see that they go 240 kilometres an hour, they see it's possible."
Some who weren't electric car superfans, like Robyn Pope, also liked what they saw.
"I'm not a geek or anything but I find the speed is really impressive, I like the fact you don't need earplugs, it's really easy on the ears. To me it's very exciting, the cars are just really sexy looking race cars, going super fast."
Pope added that she thought the event itself had been well organized from a logistics point of view.
"To me it looks like everything is going smooth as silk, and I'm sure they'll be able to tweak this and that next year."
But residents in the Village and on the south side of the racetrack around Saint-Antoine Street weren't so happy.
Thierry Zambo lives near St-Antoine and Wolfe streets, and said there were lots of racegoers wandering around his neighbourhood, in some cases lost - he said the city and race organizers had minimal signage
We try not to confront them, we try to make them understand that this is private property and they have to be careful. They're getting lost in the area.
Zambo also pointed out gaps in the fences protecting the race track, saying that the fences hadn't been fully installed so extra security guards had to be brought in to make sure everything was secure.
Businesspeople had mixed views on the race, too: some restaurants and bar owners on Sainte-Catherine said they were hoping for a boost from racegoers.
But businesses that were less likely to serve those visitors, like fish market La Mer, were not doing so well - manager Francois Dehdin said Saturday had been extremely quiet.
"There is not too much going on, it's a day where we usually have 300 to 350 people and by noon I had a dozen customers. That's a big deal."
La Mer is almost beneath the audience stands at the east end of the racetrack, but Dehdin said that proximity wasn't helping sell goods - even ready-to-eat options for racegoers like oysters or tartares.
"They barely see me, all the attractions are on the other side. So there's not really that much to do here."
Some businesses took extra measures to try to keep business up - Ontario Street bar Station Ho.st was forced to remove its terrasse for the Formula E event.
Zambo said they had a novel strategy to get locals to come by.
"I know no one who received free tickets that is going to the race. But I know a friend of mine who has a pub on Ontario has a special offer: if you bring your unused tickets you can get a beer for it. He's trying to compensate and do a little marketing, because he's going to lose around $30,000."
The Formula E event wraps up Sunday.