Long Beach Grand Prix 2018

[plexiform]

Have my seat in the Hyatt above the porsche pit crew. Should be a fun day of racing. My 6yr old son and 9yr old daughter and I are having a blast. The sound of the RSR 911s during practice yesterday were amazing! Can feel the rumble 14 stories up. Will post some shots later. Anyone else here enjoying the weekend? If so share your pics/thoughts.

[Por_sha911]

I'm an Indycar/CART fan since the 70's but have only been to the show in Birmingham. I know that Long Beach is such a key race to the drivers but I don't quite understand why it is a fan favorite. I understand the concrete canyon requires precision and no mistakes but there is such limited passing ability and it seems like qualifying is 90% of your chance to win (other than pit stops). If there is an accident at the start you have no place to go and anyone in the mid to back of the pack are doomed.
Am I missing something? For me, watching Long Beach is watching everyone waiting for an accident or a quick pit stop.

[plexiform]

From a spectator/tourist perspective Long Beach is just a great venue. Lots of stuff to do for kids and wife. But yes the track is tight and accidents probably hard to avoid for the drivers. Catching the cars on the straightaway is the draw for me. Loud and rumbling!

[plexiform]

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

I'm an Indycar/CART fan since the 70's but have only been to the show in Birmingham. I know that Long Beach is such a key race to the drivers but I don't quite understand why it is a fan favorite. I understand the concrete canyon requires precision and no mistakes but there is such limited passing ability and it seems like qualifying is 90% of your chance to win (other than pit stops). If there is an accident at the start you have no place to go and anyone in the mid to back of the pack are doomed.
Am I missing something? For me, watching Long Beach is watching everyone waiting for an accident or a quick pit stop.

Long Beach is an icon of street racing in America. From the F5000 and F1 days to now, the venue, atmosphere, and much of the time, the racing have been spectacular.

[plexiform]

[astrochex]

plexiform, you are going down to the track and garages, yes? Fan access is exceptional in IMSA, you and your kids will love it.

[plexiform]

Originally Posted by astrochex

plexiform, you are going down to the track and garages, yes? Fan access is exceptional in IMSA, you and your kids will love it.

Yes. Last year we got passes for everything and seats at the starting line. This year I got a nice corner room with windows all around so we can see the whole straightaway from the room. But will get down to the track as well.

[Scott Douglas]

My son usually attends with his cousins and friends, stays on his uncle's boat which is located about where the red circle is. This year he's not attending as his first child is soon to be born so he's not straying too far from home these days. It could happen any time now.
Hope you have a good time. I haven't attended since they started charging for Friday's practice sessions.

[plexiform]

Scott: we had dinner at yard house last night and were admiring the boat life. Looks very relaxing. Congrats on the new new baby! Hope it goes well. That’s a pretty good excuse to skip the race.

[greglepore]

Agree that the racing isn't always great, but its America's Monaco. Same thing, beautiful venue with a parade.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

I'm an Indycar/CART fan since the 70's but have only been to the show in Birmingham. I know that Long Beach is such a key race to the drivers but I don't quite understand why it is a fan favorite. ...
Am I missing something? For me, watching Long Beach is watching everyone waiting for an accident or a quick pit stop.

Long Beach is/was a great race (for the spectators in attendance) because it was a big party surrounding a car race. Other than the racing, there are still a ton of other attractions: the Convention Hall is part paddock (for the junior formulae and supporting races), and part mini-SEMA. There's a festival/party atmosphere that other races on the schedule lack. Heck, half the people there probably don't even care there's a race weekend going on. Which is fine, as even as they're in the restaurants, bars, and beer gardens partying, the stands and fences are still packed. If you're into racing but your better half/family isn't you can still go together and find some aspect of the carnival you like.

[Laneco]

We went to the Long Beach Grand Prix a couple of years ago. Had a fantastic time.

Tip? Don't miss the Baja trucks... These LS powered trucks come out of the corners with the outside rear tire tucked under so far you think it's going to peel off the rim and the inside front about fifteen inches off the ground. Then they hit the ramps... They put the ramps/jumps throughout the course. These trucks get Michael Jordan style hang time. Really impressive to watch from trackside.

angela

[R K T]

Started going to Long Beach when it was Formula 1 back in the 70s and continued goinf until we moved out of state. Always fun!

Tried watching the start on TV today and three commercials in the first 5 minutes I was done.

[Embraer]

Originally Posted by Laneco

We went to the Long Beach Grand Prix a couple of years ago. Had a fantastic time.

Tip? Don't miss the Baja trucks... These LS powered trucks come out of the corners with the outside rear tire tucked under so far you think it's going to peel off the rim and the inside front about fifteen inches off the ground. Then they hit the ramps... They put the ramps/jumps throughout the course. These trucks get Michael Jordan style hang time. Really impressive to watch from trackside.

angela

What Angela said. Here's me 4 years ago when I took my buddy in the fcar, and we got to park in the infield supercar corral. Fun day.

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by Laneco

We went to the Long Beach Grand Prix a couple of years ago. Had a fantastic time.

Tip? Don't miss the Baja trucks... These LS powered trucks come out of the corners with the outside rear tire tucked under so far you think it's going to peel off the rim and the inside front about fifteen inches off the ground. Then they hit the ramps... They put the ramps/jumps throughout the course. These trucks get Michael Jordan style hang time. Really impressive to watch from trackside.

angela

True this. They were far more entertaining than I thought they would be upon hearing the concept. As a corner worker you had to be extra sharp because they could go any direction at any time.

[Por_sha911]

As usual, accidents and bad timing on yellow flag for pit stops made the race interesting to watch on TV.

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

As usual, accidents and bad timing on yellow flag for pit stops made the race interesting to watch on TV.

But how about Bourdais' (almost legal) pass on a restart? One for the ages.

[Rtrorkt]

did anyone find the gratuitous punt of the back marker, Sullivan, in the PWC race by Utell just wrong? Sullivan a rookie was in his first race and in my view doing a good job of staying out of everyone's way, when Utell turned left into his right front and sent the car into the wall on the right. Figure that Cayman is toast.

[Laneco]

As you all know...I'm VERY easily entertained - LOL! (from 2015)

angela