Motorsport Monday - 50 Years of Long Beach Grand Prix
@fury396
For half a century, the roar of engines and the thrill of high-speed competition have transformed the streets of Southern California into a motorsport mecca during the Long Beach Grand Prix. With its roots in street racing and now serving as a cornerstone event of the IndyCar Series, lets take a deep dive into what LBGP is all about and why it drew a crowd of over 200,000 octane enthusiasts.
@ianmartin.photos (1-5), @fury396(6-9)
IndyCar
The headline act at a unique track. Long Beach is unpredictable and constantly changing throughout the weekend. Narrow corridors with no runoff promotes technical drivers and tire strategy - despite what the tagline "200mph beach party" may incline.
@fury396(1-3), @ianmartin.photos(4-6), @joeadrift(7-9)
IMSA
We love mixed class racing! Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) houses both LMDh and LMH; with LMDh being spec-based and more restrictive, while LMH allows for more open-ended bespoke designs. Then we have the Grand Touring Daytona class! These are GT3-spec cars that closely resemble vehicles you can purchase from major manufactures. All of these combine to provide stunning racing with a wide variety of sights, sounds, and strategy.
@fury396
GT America
Another GT class? Correct - but this one has SRO (GT3), GT2, and GT4! The grid featured high-performance race cars like the Mercedes-AMG GT3, Porsche 911 GT3 R, and Callaway Corvette Z06R. The GT2 class brought higher-horsepower models with simpler aero, including the Audi R8 LMS GT2 and Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo EVO2. GT4 featured more production-based entries such as the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport and Aston Martin Vantage GT4. With such a diverse field on the tight Long Beach street circuit, which type of car would you want to drive?
@ianmartin.photos(1-3), @fury396(4-5)
Super Trucks & Super Drift
Now thats a lot of competition but we don't forget the fun either. Super Trucks and Super Drift are here to bring smiles and flashy visuals to the fans. Super Drift driver qualify and compete head-to-head with tandem drifting under low lights Friday and Saturday night. Saturday and Sunday the LBGP crew adds ramps that send Super Trucks flying (literally) down straights and on two wheels around the tight turns on track.
@ianmartin.photos
Historic Formula One
Celebrating five decades of racing with Formula 5000, Formula 1, and IndyCar. These challenge drivers and enthrall fans as exhibition races allowed us a glimpse into what Long Beach would have been like prior to the hybrid-era and small displacement eras.
@fury396
Mother's Supercar Paddock
On Sunday morning the IMSA paddock turns into a hypercar and supercar gathering! Located just outside Turn 9 you'll find over 100 vehicles to pique your interest and a handful of them take it to the track so you can hear and see your favorites in motion.
@joeadrift(1-3,9), @fury396(4-8)
The Culture
With record-breaking attendance and fans from all over the motorsports sphere, its clear that the draw of Long Beach extends well beyond the classes represented here. Whether you're here for the main event, entertainment, or just love fast cars - we look forward to joining you as motorsports continues to grow. Thank you Piloti for sending us out!
Making art and showing our perspective to the world is far more than a job, but a deep passion. We are just as grateful for the car owners at the weekend cars & coffee events, as any inquiries you send. The media allows us to constantly reminisce of peaceful, petrol-filled mornings. We hope that you can join us and see where the road leads.