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Who would have thought Pook's dream, Gurney's persistence, and Andretti's victories would combine to create an annual rite of spring in Southern California?

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A Grand History of the Grand Prix
It Took A Dream, Peristence and Mario, Mario!

The Grand Prix has become Southern California's rite of Spring.
Photo: Tim Mathinsen

For the past 36 years, North America's #1 street race has served up drama and excitement on a silver platter to fans, participants, the city of Long Beach, all of Southern California and even to the world.

In 2011, the Indy Racing League brings Danica Patrick, Dario Franchitti and more top open-wheel drivers roaring down Shireline Drive downtown Long Beach. It marks just another change in this long history of this grand race through the streets of downtown Long Beach.

Who would have thought that Chris Pook's dream, Dan Gurney's persistence, the city of Long Beach's cooperation and Mario Andretti's victories would combine to create an annual rite of spring in Southern California?

Yet this April 15-17, cars will roar down Shoreline Drive for the 37th time, highlighted by the high-horsepower machines of the Indy Car Series in Sunday's featured event.

Also during the three-day weekend will be the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race on Saturday, a fun form of motorsports called Drifting, the development Indy Lights, the wild and crazy World Challenge Series, and the exotic sports cars of the American LeMans Series.

The Savior, Mario Andretti made the Grand Prix.

Paul Newman in Victory Circle in '87.
Photos: Grand Prix Association of Long Beach.

Ahead of them lies the glory or disappointment of the day. Behind them is a more than a quarter-century of historical moments, magical memories and event-threatening occurrences.

"I'm quite proud of what we have created in Long Beach," said Pook, who launched the inaugural event back in 1975. "What we have here is more than a race. It's a cultural event."

The goal, Pook preached from the outset, was to not to develop a race, but a happening. It is here that he has succeeded most spectacularly.

The champagne bath with 09 winner Dario Franchitti.
Photo: JackFleming.com

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach has become such a fixture on the local social calendar, it's hard to imagine the days prior to its existence. The event is to Long Beach what the Hollywood sign is to that city, the Rose Bowl is to Pasadena, Pauley Pavilion is to Westwood.

Part of the success story belongs to the fans. The turnstiles click some 200,000 times on race weekend, making the race one of the the largest paid spectator special sports events on the West Coast.

Some view from the top of the buildings while others pack the place.

People have taken to the event with such passion, they plan vacations around the race, often sitting in the exact seats they have kept for years. They have developed fierce loyalty to favorite drivers over the years – Andretti, Fittipaldi, Unser, Zanardi, Tracy, Vasser and now Castroneves and Patrick.

The moments these and other drivers have provided are legendary: Andretti becoming the first American to win a U.S. Grand Prix in 1977, an occurrence that may well have saved the entire event; Danny Sullivan twice running out of gas the final 11 laps in 1985; Michael Andretti out-dueling Al Unser, Jr., over the final 24 laps to earn his first CART win in 1986; Unser, Jr.,'s six victories earning himself the title "King of the Beach;" Michael Andretti colliding with Fittipaldi in a spectacular pit lane incident in 1992 and Zanardi's dramatic late-lap pass of Bryan Herta for the win in 1997.

The free Saturday concerts are a big hit with fans.

The 2009 Miss Grand Prix girls with LB Mayor Bob Foster.
Photo: JackFleming.com

For the fans, it's these thrills and many others. A few years ago, the event added a free concert to the lineup and began billing it as "Rock 'n Roar." Bands have included Everclear, Third Eye Blind and Pennywise. This year's band is Cheap Trick.

The weekend kicks off with Thursday Thunder on Pine which has pit stop and extreme sports demonstrations and the Miss Grand Prix pageant. On Friday, there is another free concert at the Performing Arts Center for anyone with an event ticket.

The drivers are not the only ones who get to visit Victory Circle.

During the day, people walk around, admire the tans and bodies of other fans and join them for beers behind the bleachers or in the bars. Some, it must be said, never see a wheel turn.

It's all part of the show.

– LINKS TO MORE GRAND PRIX STORIES – 

• Fans Guide
• Grand Prix Photos
• Miss Grand Prix
• Fans Guide
• Friday at the Grand Prix
• Saturday at the Grand Prix
• Sunday at the Grand Prix
• Who Has The Best Job at the Grand Prix!?
• Long Beach Restaurants & Nightlife
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