Brewster: In racing rich Southern California, Grand Prix of Long Beach sets standard

Random thoughts about the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, wondering whatever happened to Parker Johnstone, former race car driver, musician, actor and scuba diver who finished second in the 1996 event.

There is a rich racing history in Southe Califoia, enough to provide historian Harold Osmer with so much that he wrote a very informative book, “Where They Raced,” that traces the sport in the area.

If reading doesn’t interest you, he’s also produced an award-wiing DVD, based on the book, that won the prestigious Motor Press Guild Award for Best Audio/Video Presentation in 2013. And if that wasn’t enough, it also won the 2014 Golden Wheel Award at the Inteational Reel Wheel Film Festival in Knoxville, Iowa.

Many Southe Califoia tracks are gone or no longer host competition. Racing has thrived in this area, but it’s also been tough on promoters and track operators. However, there is one major exception.

Long Beach stands out. It’s a been a constant on the racing calendar since the first event in 1975, a Formula 5000 race. Chris Pook’s gamble has tued out to be a big win for the not only the city but for the industry. Many cities have attempted to duplicate the Long Beach formula – attracting great crowds for street course racing – but not many have been able to sustain their events.

Some of the greatest drivers in the world have run on the streets of Long Beach. In the early days, there were some conces about not only the validity of the race, but also the future.

No longer. In fact, Formula One, which was the featured attraction from 1976 to 1983, even made some noise about coming back until the city council wisely extended the contract with the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach until 2020.

Solid plaing and a just reward for GPALB president and CEO Jim Michaelian and his staff. They have worked hard to make the event a tradition and one of the best of its kind in the country.

Here’s an example. Riverside Inteational Raceway pre-dated Long Beach, but is now a shopping center, as is Ontario Motor Speedway after opening in 1970 and operating 10 years. A peek at Osmer’s book will also reveal such tracks such as Saugus, Carlsbad and Corona (just to name three) that are now memories.

Long Beach has plenty of memories and also a very bright future. …

There is one public address aouncer Southe Califoia race fans have come to cherish and listen to. Bruce Flanders has a rich and deep history in the area calling races, and across the country. His deep baritone voice is legendary, instantly recognizable.

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Flanders is best known as the “Voice of Long Beach,” having called every race since 1978. Of course he started before that, calling his first race – his beloved motorcycle competition – at Orange County Fairgrounds in 1968. Flanders, who resides in San Beardino, has a lengthy resume.

He’s called races in the state at Costa Mesa Speedway, Auto Club Speedway (CART), Irwindale Speedway, Orange Show Speedway, Laguna Seca Raceway, SoCal Speedway at City of Industry and Victorville Speedway in addition to Orange County and others. He’s also called races at Watkins Glen, Daytona, Caesar’s Palace and Wembly Stadium in England. His list is rather lengthy.

He was CART’s lead PA aouncer in 2002.

On Thursday, Long Beach will retu the favor. He and Roger Penske will be inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Hall of Fame in front of the Convention Center. It’s the 11th such ceremony and will start at 11 a.m.

“They have both contributed mightily to the success of our event and join an illustrious list of honorees who have preceded them over the past nine years,” said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. ...

The fastest race ever at the Beach? It was in 1994 when the King of the Beach, Al Unser Jr., drove a Penske Ilmor to victory, covering the 105 laps in 1:40:53, an average of 99.283 mph. It was one of six wins for Little Al at Long Beach, and the first of two straight first-place finishes.

Unser won four straight races from 1988-1991 in a Chevrolet Ilmore For Galles Racing. Sebastien Bourdais is in second place for most consecutive wins with three, from 2005-07 for Newman/Haas Racing. Mario Andretti is second behind Unser for most wins at Long Beach with four, three in the CART/IndyCar period and once (1977) In Formula One. …

In 2014, well-respected auto racing joualist John Oreovicz took a look at the history of the event, and asked a question that remains perplexing to this day. In an essay for ESPN, he pointed out that the initial Long Beach race in 1974 “was staged as the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and the United States Auto Club (USAC) were completing their second year of co-sanctioning the U.S. Formula 5000 Championship. The eventual goal was to create a common formula that would feature oval and road racing championships within an overall North American Championship.

“It’s easy to wonder what would have happened if those exploratory efforts 40 years ago would have resulted in the SCCA and USAC successfully creating a unified open-wheel racing series that included road, street and oval circuits. Would CART (Championship Auto Racing Teams) have ever been formed? Likewise, the Indy Racing League? Would NASCAR have emerged as the dominant power in American auto racing regardless of what tued into a 30-year fight for control of what generically became known as Indy car racing?

“It’s interesting to ponder the what-ifs, and ultimately it’s just another tale of frustration for open-wheel racing fans in this country. But it’s a fascinating tale, and the Long Beach Grand Prix figures prominently in the story.” ...

From the mail bag: “How many active drivers have Long Beach wins on their resumes, in the feature race?” – P.A., Long Beach

Probably more than you think, if it’s a bet. It’s a good bet and the answer is eight: Helio Castroneves (2001), Bourdais (2005-07), Will Power (2008, 2012), Ryan Hunter Reay (2010), Mike Conway (2011, 2014), Takuma Soto (2013) and Scott Dixon (2015).

Conway’s first win in 2011 ranks as one of the greatest upsets. He was racing for Andretti Autosport, started third on the grid and led 14 laps. Power was the pole sitter, led 25 laps but finished 10th. Hunter Reay was second on the grid, led two laps but suffered mechanical after 72 of the scheduled 75 laps. Ryan Briscoe, driving for Team Penske, started 12th and led 35 laps as the ruer-up.