Long Beach Grand Prix: The audacious dream that roared to life
On September 26, 1975, the ground trembled as a pack of Formula 5000 beasts roared to life. This wasn’t just another race; it was the realization of a vision, a high-octane dream orchestrated by Chris Pook, the Englishman who dared to reimagine Long Beach. At approximately 1:15 p.m. PT, these cars thundered onto the temporary street circuit, a pivotal moment in transforming a city on the brink.
The raw power of those 302cu.in Chevys (and a couple of Dodges!) echoed through the streets, shaking the very foundations of Long Beach. By Sunday evening, this Southern California city, previously known for its aging ocean liner, the Queen Mary, and aircraft manufacturing, had something new to boast about: a thrilling auto race. A reported 65,000 fans flocked to witness this spectacle, a mere prelude to what was to come. Just six months later, the same streets would host a round of the Formula 1 World Championship.
Chris Pook, a savvy travel agent who arrived in Southern California in 1963, saw the untapped potential of Long Beach. By 1973, he managed the travel accounts for major sports teams. When the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau (LBCVB) became his client, Pook recognized the city’s desperate need for revitalization.
“Long Beach was struggling,” Pook recalled. “They aimed to become a tourist and convention destination but lacked quality hotels. I told them they needed something outrageous, like Monte Carlo with the Monaco Grand Prix! Why not copy them?” And that audacious idea became the spark that ignited the Long Beach Grand Prix.
Pook knew he needed credibility to bring his vision to life. He turned to racing legend Dan Gurney, a recent retiree deeply involved in team ownership and engineering. Gurney, always up for a challenge, was captivated by the idea of a street race in Southern California.
Gurney’s unpublished autobiography dedicates a chapter to the Grand Prix of Long Beach’s origins. He recounted telling Pook, “It’s bold, it’s risky, it will probably never happen, but I like it a lot. Damn the torpedoes, let’s go full steam ahead like in the pioneer days!”
Despite legal warnings against it, Gurney’s passion prevailed. “To me, a race through a city was not a lunatic idea as some characterized it, but maybe exactly the right and innovative thing to shake up the establishment and capture the hearts and imagination of racing fans worldwide,” Gurney wrote.
Gurney’s enthusiasm was infectious. He even designed the initial course during his first meeting with the LBCVB, personally driving the route to ensure its feasibility.
“It was very important in my view to make Ocean Blvd. the long main straight of the circuit,” Gurney explained. “These two sections proved to be spectacular, praised by drivers and spectators alike. To see an F1 car racing there at speed, sliding sideways down the hill, remains etched in my memory as an unforgettable experience.”
Gurney recruited Les Richter, former LA Rams linebacker and Riverside International Raceway manager, to navigate city council skepticism. The project gained serious momentum when Tom Binford, chairman of ACCUS, and Dr. Nino Bacciagaluppi, Monza’s operations director, joined the team.
One hurdle was the track length requirement for F1 races. Gurney’s Long Beach layout was shorter than the 2.5-mile minimum. However, Monaco’s similarly short track provided a precedent. To prove the track’s viability, an F5000 race was scheduled for 1975. And, after Gurney drove one of his F5000 Eagles up a closed stretch of Shoreline Drive to pass the decibel test, all systems were go.
Brian Redman clinched victory at the inaugural Grand Prix of Long Beach for Formula 5000 cars in September 1975. Just six months later, Formula 1 took center stage.
Even after Richter’s departure, Gurney replaced him with another legend: 1961 F1 world champion Phil Hill!
“It was honestly touch and go until about July 1975,” Pook admitted. In the final months, the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach raced against time to prepare. Grandstands, barriers, and safety measures were erected, transforming the city streets into a race-ready circuit.
The F5000 weekend saw Mario Andretti secure pole position, but it was Brian Redman who ultimately triumphed.
For Pook, the inaugural race was a learning experience. He knew he needed a detailed plan for future events.
The following March, Pook amplified the spectacle for the inaugural U.S. Grand Prix West. The Tuesday before the race, the F1 cars were displayed on Pine Avenue, allowing fans to mingle with teams and drivers. The weekend extravaganza included parachutists, drag boat displays, a celebrity race, stunt teams, and historic F1 cars driven by legends.
Clay Regazzoni’s Ferrari dominated the F1 race, but the overall experience captivated the audience. The sight and sound of Formula 1 cars racing through the streets of Long Beach was spectacular.
With a contract signed by Bernie Ecclestone, the U.S. Grand Prix West was secured for at least three years. In 1977, with Toyota as the main sponsor, Mario Andretti’s win propelled the event to new heights.
The Grand Prix of Long Beach has evolved over the years, transitioning from F1 to CART Indy cars and then to IndyCar. Despite changes in leadership, sponsors, and a forced hiatus in 2020, the Grand Prix of Long Beach remains North America’s premier street race, a testament to the audacious dream that roared to life half a century ago.
Gurney wrote in 2016, “It has been very gratifying for me to hear many young people say they got hooked on motor racing because of Long Beach… Now when I look out of the window from the Hyatt Hotel and see the changed landscape of the city, the skyscrapers and the aquarium, the white sails in the marina and the many new restaurants and hotels, it fills my heart with great pride that a motor race played a part in this transformation. I am proud that we were risk takers.”
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