Grand Prix of Long Beach

[poormans69]

Anyone going? I just got tickets for the weekend. It is quite an event.

[JEFFTATE]

Wish I could go !

[79-TA]

Yea, I'll be there for every day of the event. I'll be working the gate (that leads to the ALMS trailers) between turns 9 and 10.

[Twentyover]

I'll be sitting in a room under the convention center about 50 feet from Dwight Tanaka

[poormans69]

Sweet. I'll hit you guys up closer to the event so you can buy me a beer.

Thanks.

[DJW32]

Yea, I'll be there for every day of the event. I'll be working the gate (that leads to the ALMS trailers) between turns 9 and 10.

PM send.

[CurtiSS 69]

Anyone going? I just got tickets for the weekend. It is quite an event.

That it is. I went in 1983 and saw the F1 cars run their last time in Long Beach. I bet it is still a truly great event to last so long, as a street circuit venue is not easy or cheap to put on. I still remember the sounds of the Ferrari's echoing through the tunnel. I'm green with envy.

Enjoy.

Regards

CurtiSS 69

[79-TA]

I can't believe it's already here. I'm going to try to catch the ALMS practice session right after class tomorrow.

Things officially start tomorrow and the first actual races are on Saturday.

Here are some pics I took from the 2008 LBGP. I'll have another similar batch for this year in a week or two.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2053256&id=19907323&l=5fdb6d7d25

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2054466&id=19907323&l=15504df689

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2054505&id=19907323&l=f5fe238500

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2054513&id=19907323&l=35229d79ef

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2054603&id=19907323&l=f9b427e864

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2054608&id=19907323&l=1266caa131

[JEFFTATE]

So were they running the American LeMans Series cars at Long Beach too ???
Along with the
IndyCar Series ???

That would be cool ..

I did not know that 'till just now.
I musta' been asleep for the last two weeks....

[poormans69]

I couldn't go. I pissed away my tickets by working 14 hour days all weekend. Guess I made money insted of spending it but it still sucks. There's always things to look at in Long Beach. Guys, if you're hitched, wear sunglasses. No evidense.

[JEFFTATE]

There's always things to look at in Long Beach. Guys, if you're hitched, wear sunglasses. No evidense.

Funny !

Good Advice !
I got mirrored sunglasses..

[Twentyover]

So were they running the American LeMans Series cars at Long Beach too ???
Along with the
IndyCar Series ???

That would be cool ..

I did not know that 'till just now.
I musta' been asleep for the last two weeks....


ALMS has been running at LBGP for the last 3 years. Until last year, the Atlantic cars also ran, replaced this year w/ Indy Lights due to the consolidation. In past years, SCCA Trans Ams ran, while this year SWC ran in their stead. Finally, the crashfests (Toyota Pro Celeb race) and the drifters were on hand to feed the bloodlust

[-The Stig-]

There's always things to look at in Long Beach. Guys, if you're hitched, wear sunglasses. No evidense.


And this is why I live here in Long Beach...


Although, as much as I am a fan of racing... I have no desire to go to the LBGP. For one, if you're a spectator it's a horrible venue. You just can't see enough of the track to make it worth it as far as I'm concerned.

I rather watch it on TV.

Plus... it screws up traffic in LB something awful. Just like when they decide to have the LB marathon... that's even worse. The runners could be miles away but they won't let anybody cross major streets. They block off a major intersection on Pacific Coast Highway, to get back to the other side you literally have to go damn near 10 miles out of your way.

A few years back I had the opportunity to work on a pit crew of a team, just as a honorary member. I didn't have a real job to do, I told them I'd wash the windows on the race car... I ended up not going to the event. Which is for the best, the team didn't do that well that race. Placed like... next to last if I remember right.

[79-TA]

Aww, c'mon, the LBGP is an amazing venue. Seeing all of the track boils down to being ambitious enough to walk everywhere. It's definitely the best photo-op I get any given year, especially with trackside access. What stands out the most at Long Beach is the access that the average joe has to the racing drivers. The ALMS paddock there is more accessible than at any other venue.

In a matter of 3 days I spoke to Ron Fellows, Olivier Beretta, Boris Said, Lou Gigliotti, Johnny O'connel, Dave Pina, and Sam Hubinette. Not quite as good as last year, but it still blows my mind. If you follow international sports car racing, the place is just packed with racing legends.

Last year I managed to catch Parnelli Jones and Mario Andretti at the walk of fame induction ceremony. This year, AJ Foyt was around since he owns an Indy team.

The best places to just chill and watch are where you can see a couple of different corners, like turns 7 and 8. This is possible from the convention center where you can also get a glimpse of the cars barreling into turn 1 off of shoreline. I spend almost all of my time around turns 9, 10, and 11 given the location of the gate that I help open, which is also a good location to catch some action.

If you're cheap, the pike and aquarium (the latter would require sneaking in before the track goes hot) parking structures are good vantage points. Dangit, I'm still going through withdrawal. I'll get pics up by this weekend.

[Twentyover]

............

I spend almost all of my time around turns 9, 10, and 11 given the location of the gate that I help open, which is also a good location to catch some action.

........

Foot crossing between Alfa 3 and George 18 @ Firestone bridge? Race Management, SCCA, or ?

[79-TA]

Race Management in Alpha 3 :)



I'll be sitting in a room under the convention center about 50 feet from Dwight Tanaka

What are the details on that? Do you know Tanaka?

[Twentyover]

Race Management in Alpha 3 :)




What are the details on that? Do you know Tanaka?

Try to stay as far away from him as possible. Guy's in a perpetual state of pissed on Grand Prix weekend. Should probably cut down on how much coffee he gets that week. Doubt he knows my name, but he sees me and knows what I do. There's a layer of management (Race Central) between him and me.

I'm the guy on the other end of the radio that Denny is usually yelling at. :(

Richard Sherwood and I trade off 2 on, 2 off

[79-TA]

So I've finally begun to sort through my pictures. I'll make my facebook albums to pick out favorites. Then I'll pick the best of that crop to edit and go in the final photoshop-hosted album.

Here are some pictures from Thursday and Friday:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094195&id=19907323&l=6a045bbb98

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094200&id=19907323&l=15a8c47c8c

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2094267&id=19907323&l=4231e59781

[79-TA]

So, I got a couple of videos up along with some pictures from Saturday.

pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...3&l=e3895de31c

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...3&l=551940385c


video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90_5Uas7mfI



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_IvgY1YL0k&feature=channel



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KHiP89VnXg&feature=channel