WHO HAS THE BEST JOB AT THE LONG BEACH GRAND PRIX? IT'S ME!
There are the guys in the broadcast booth, who get up close with all the stars, call the race from a place of comfort with every conceivable camera angle in front of them and are invited to all the fun parties and events.
The public address announcer who describes the action for three days from a perch just above the pits, close enough to nearly reach out and touch the cars (the legendary Bruce Flanders).
Not even the race announcers have it this good.
Photo: JackFleming.com
The photographers who follow the action from the pits to right against the track to alongside the celebrities.
The race car drivers themselves. After all, they get to roar down Shoreline Drive at 190 mph without fear of getting a speeding ticket (exceeding 40 mph for the rest of us does the trick).
So who has Best Job at the annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach?
It's me! I have the the absolute, undisputed Best Job at the Grand Prix.
Even at sponor parties, we all stay together.
My role is Media Director of the Tecate Light Miss Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Race Team. What this means is that on race weekends I lead the girls around the facility, get them press coverage, watch over them at victory circle, escort them to sponsor parties and, in general, spend three days as their constant companion.
Yes, I'm that guy who is standing next to the girls when fans stop them for pictures, who is leading that train of beauties in their cool-looking grid suits, who is going backstage with them at the swimwear and competition parts of the pageant.
Heck, I'm almost jealous of myself!
Sometimes, the group joins in with the likes of the Patron girls.
Of course, there's a team involved. Loriann Valencia, who in 2009 put the whole thing together, keeps things together and is the "den mother" (and a hot one at that). Allison, Julie, Chris and others at the Grand Prix who make many of the arrangements. The press room golf cart drivers who whisk us around so the girls don't have to walk everywhere. And I must mention Rosko Dickenson of ProCon Leisure in Australia,who got me involved in all this in the first place.
Constantly at the Grand Prix, I hear "you've got the best job," or "how can I get your job," or "tough job you have there."
Hanging with the gorgeous Lauren Garder is another perk of the position.
Much of this comes from the media or PR reps with whom I've worked for years in another capacity. I was Advance PR person for CART and Champ Car, which means I rolled around race tracks hauling media to drivers and drivers to media.
We're headed to the grid!
Now those people see me in the media center, are ready to say "hi" as they normally would at a race, then notice a stream of beautiful girls following behind me. (Good thing I'm single, right? Well, only recently right before the most recent Grand Prix, in fact.)
They are correct in their assessment, of course. I know this because I used to be on the "other side." Before this great show of girls came to Long Beach (thanks to Rosko) it was on full display at places like Toronto and Vancouver.
One duty has been to organize a shoot with the broadcast network.
That's when, in my previous role, I would be doing something at some place around the track and suddenly girls in grid suits would appear from around a corner. I would have to use every piece of influence to get a good position to watch the contests, which were the Saturday highlight events.
Now I'm the guy leading girls in grid suits from around those corners and fielding inquiries about how to get a good spot for the contest.
And instead of spending qualifying sessions pacing the pit lane to get a glimpse of a screen showing timing and scoring, then streaking to reel in the Top 3 drivers to be sure they get to the press conference, or the race glued to the monitor so I can assist the media with any questions they may have, I'm relaxing with the girls in the sponsored Tecate hospitality tent with great food and a mariachi band. Taking them on a tour of the pit row suites.
Heck, before this assignment I didn't even know where the entrances to the pit row suites were located! I never had any cause to go there.
It's not a perfect existence, of course. In 2009, we were faced with the unfortunate situation of having to replace our first runner-up. She felt she should have won, was not a team player and displayed a constant poor attitude.
Good thing the job doesn't require picking a winner.
It was part of my job, along with Loriann, to tell her to turn in her grid suit and sash. This also involved pulling out an old PR tool, the Issues Book, to properly prepare the remaining girls for any media questions about the change.
But, of course, that's a small chicane on the fast track that is this job, Any drama created by a girl here or there pales in comparison to what I used to do at the tracks.
And it is that experience that makes me ideally suited for the job. I know the sport, the key players, the drivers, promoters, PR people, sponsors and the media. And I know how to get things done.
The Miss GP girls in position for the champagne spray "money shot."
Photo: JackFleming.com
I did not get this position because of some wealthy relative. I am not a helmet holder or "handler." I even slightly cringe at the word "publicist" because it brings to mind people in Hollywood who do nothing other than stand there and wait for media to come to them so they can turn them away.
I am results oriented and am aggressive about getting coverage for clients. That is why the girls are always on the go at the Grand Prix; I'm out looking for media, exposure and photo opportunities.
But enough about me. Enjoy photos of the girls! Thanks to Jack Fleming of Jack Fleming Photography for being part of the team this year. The Procon Leisure photographer is Simon Leung. The 2009 Tecate Light Miss Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach was also sponsored by Ed Hardy bikinis and Glitter Mendhi.
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