The iconic Long Beach Grand Prix courses through the International City SeasideBY PAUL ZIEKE n ILLUSTRATIONCircuit BY DENNIS BROWN

56 Westways | MARCH/APRIL 2017 AAA.COM AAA.COM MARCH/APRIL 2017 | Westways 57 hree ways you can tell spring has come to Southern California: The swallows return 500. Built on identical chassis, the cars are loud “In 1981,” says Michaelian, “Abram Pritzker and fast. Last year’s winner averaged a little over came to town and was at the race. He was from to Capistrano, the Dodgers return to Chavez Ravine to play baseball, and the sounds 100 mph over the seaside circuit’s 157 miles. the family that owns the Hyatt hotel chain. He of roaring engines return to Long Beach as America’s longest-running street race In the past, one of the most popular events saw how the city was starting to develop, and said gets under way. has been the Pro/Celebrity Race. Celebrity drivers, the city deserved a hotel. Shortly thereafter, the including Jay Leno, Tim Allen, Keanu Reeves, Hyatt Regency was built, and now exists inside the For more than 40 years, drivers in the car swerved into the crowd, killing a 7-year-old George Lucas, Cameron Diaz, and Cybill Shepherd, race circuit.” have descended on this boy and injuring 10 others. The incident had a raced each other around the track in identical port city to race around its oceanfront streets, dramatic effect on racing in America, highlighting Toyota cars. Alfonso Ribeiro of The Fresh Prince of Lap Record nowadays weaving past the Convention Center, spectators' vulnerability. Street races couldn’t get Bel-Air won the race last year. Unfortunately, that As Flanders notes, the race is now older than the Long Beach Arena, and the Aquarium of the insurance. For two decades, racing fans had no might have been the last Pro/Celebrity Race. The any of the drivers in it. He says more and more Pacific. Onlookers standing on balconies of nearby choice but to visit permanent courses that often event was discontinued after Toyota moved to people these days come up to him and say they towering apartments crane their heads to catch a were located well away from cities. Plano, Texas. remember coming to the race with their parents. glimpse of racing’s elite as they twist through the Enter Dr. Peter Talbot, a Menlo Park obstetrician palm tree–lined course. turned race car driver. He came up with the The annual event has helped revitalize the concrete barrier idea, which the Long Beach race city’s core and has carved out a significant place organizers put into practice. The barriers have in racing history. “Besides Indy, this is the place since proved a great success, with not a single “"It 's really three days of entertainment that happens you want to be in the winner’s circle,” says driver spectator fatality in the race’s history. Helio Castroneves, three-time champion at the to feature motor racing as one of the tent poles."” and the winner here in 2001. Starting Line It’s certainly the place to be for high-stakes Jim Michaelian is president and CEO of the Grand -Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach drama on race weekend, but plenty of action also Prix Association of Long Beach, the group that puts takes place behind the scenes. For nine weeks on the race. Affiliated with the race since 1975, he Ground Effect One person in that category is professional before the race, workers labor to transform the says the key to its success is appealing to a broad As race week arrives, the planning really revs up. drifting driver Kyle Mohan, who first attended streets into a motor-racing mecca. audience, not just to hard-core race fans. “It’s Starting Monday morning at 6:30, race organizers the race as an infant. He recalls coming each year They start in February. A full-time staff of six really three days of entertainment that happens meet with volunteers and city officials to go over with his dad and vowing in the second grade that and a crew of about two dozen workers assemble to feature motor racing as one of the tent poles,” minute-by-minute plans for the weekend. They he would someday compete at Long Beach. Now the race course, build grandstands, and make sure Michaelian says. That’s why the race also offers refine the plan again on Tuesday, then finalize 35 and still living in Long Beach, he finished fifth FAST FACTS all the food vendors and race teams have what music concerts, a lifestyle expo with exhibits from things on Thursday. in last year’s Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge, First race: they need—all in about 60 days. That may sound major automakers and suppliers, and a children’s Announcer Bruce Flanders has been the voice where drivers intentionally oversteer cars around like a long time, but the team is also constantly area with slot cars and racing games. Parents can of the race since 1978. He says of the Wednesday corners for points in a tire-smoking spectacle. 1975 shifting to and fro to keep access available to a race against their kids on a go-cart track. If you meeting, “By the time we’re done, I can tell you Does Mohan hope to take his son or daughter Lap record: busy convention center and arena. It’s a dance want a glass of wine while watching the race, within 30 seconds when the final checkered flag to see America’s oldest major street race? 1 minute, they’ve had four decades to perfect. several restaurants are located around the course will come down.” “Having kids is still on the horizon,” he says, “but 6.6 seconds The race is the brainchild of Chris Pook, a Long with windows on the race action. Things have changed a lot over the years, says absolutely.” (106 mph) by Helio Beach travel agent who dreamed of bringing The effort to broaden the race’s appeal has paid Flanders, now 71. In the beginning, the city was One other thing that’s certain: Soon after the Castroneves in 2015 Europe’s racing to his hometown. off. Marketing surveys show a race-attendance still a Navy town, home to the Long Beach Naval last echoes of engine noise fade, race organizers Lap length: That vision dovetailed nicely with city officials’ ratio of 59 percent male to 41 percent female, Shipyard. Its downtown had deteriorated, there will spring into action to take everything down. desire to change the image of an aging downtown. unheard of in motorsports. “It shows everybody was no parking structure, few restaurants, and Their contract with the city gives them three IF YOU GO 1.97 miles Pook staged the first Long Beach Grand Prix in 1975 feels they can come out and have a good time,” lots of empty buildings. “But that first Formula weeks to wrap things up. By the time the workers Laps in race: as a race and followed six months Michaelian says. One race broadcast was sent out to countries all dismantle the grandstands, pedestrian bridges, Toyota Grand Prix later with a Formula One race. The format has To further attract a wide range of fans, multiple over the world,” says Flanders, and it raised the and concrete barriers, the only clues left to show of Long Beach takes 80 place April 7–9 Race distance: changed through the years, but the event has types of racing are offered, including Stadium city’s profile. that the world’s top street racers were here are a and features an featured Indy-style cars since 1984. Super Trucks, drift cars, sports cars, and the That positive attention slowly brought change single red stripe painted on the ground outlining autograph session, 157 miles That first race in 1975 marked the debut of a key historic Can-Am cars and IndyCar. to . Offices, restaurants, the course and a painted start/finish line on the (approximately) live concerts, safety innovation: concrete barriers topped with But the race weekend’s marquee event is the and new hotels and apartment towers replaced eastbound lanes of Shoreline Drive. and Super Drift Most wins: rigid fencing. Before then, bales of hay were used IndyCar Series on Sunday. Long Beach is just one boarded-up buildings. Retail areas such as challenges. The final Jr. to protect spectators. In 1952, a tragic accident stop on a 16-course (17-event) season for the 2017 Shoreline Village and The Pike Outlets were built, Senior writer Paul Zieke crossed “Go Faster Than 120” Grand Prix race is on at Watkins Glen in New York made people think series, which uses the same type of vehicle found Pine Street was revitalized, and the world-class off his bucket list when he got to ride in Kyle Mohan’s Sunday. Tickets start (6) twice about opening city streets to . A at the granddaddy of these races, the Indianapolis Aquarium of the Pacific opened. pace car at last year’s race. at $32. gplb.com.

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ORLANDO ULTIMATE SAN FRANCISCO ADVENTURE Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf 10 Loews Royal Pacifi c Resort Universal 5 NIGHTS FROM $1,236 Orlando ResortTM 1 INCLUDES: 8 DAYS | 7 NIGHTS FROM $1,071 LAND ONLY • Five nights’ traditional king accommodations THE ORLANDO ULTIMATE ADVENTURE • Kids 17 & younger stay FREE11 INCLUDES: • Round trip private sedan airport/hotel transfers • Seven nights’ standard EXCLUSIVE MEMBER TRAVEL: Select dates accommodations through December 22, 2017 BENEFIT AAA VACATIONS® • 3-Park 3-Day Park-to-Park $50 SAVINGS2 AMENITY Ticket includes admission per booking $50 SAVINGS9 to Universal’s Islands of per booking Adventure™, Universal Studios Florida® and Universal’s Volcano Bay ® Water Theme Park per person3 • Early park admissions to Universal Orlando™ theme parks4 • One Orlando Explorer Pass per person – choice of four activities in the Orlando area5 • Seven-day mid-size car rental6 • And more! TRAVEL: Select dates through December 22, 2017

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