The Monaco Grand Prix takes place each May but its USA equivalent – the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach – is each April.
Modeled after the famous Formula 1 race, the Long Beach Grand Prix is a high-powered auto race on city streets along an ocean with a palm tree-lined street and the Queen Mary providing the scenic surroundings.
The 2023 event's dates are April 14-16 and feature the cars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, as well as a host of other races, including the debut of the IMSA Weathertech Sportscar Championship's rebirth of its premier GTP class on city streets. The defending INDYCAR champion is Josef Newgarden, who drives for Team Penske and is becoming a force in North American racing.
And F1 cars, which did once race in Long Beach, which is located in Los Angeles, are back for 2023. They are vintage F! cars from the 1970s ad 1989s in the Historic F1 Challenge. Also on the track are the the Super Drift Challenge in which cars slide through tight corners to earn style points from a panel of judges; the wild SPEED/UTV Stadium SUPER Trucks in which trucks fly off ramps and bash each other around turns and the Porsche Carrera Cup North America.
Like Monaco, it is also a seaside party. While there are more paupers than princes, it does feature groups of party people who make going there an annual tradition to hit the many beer and cocktail stations inside the facility as well as the many Long Beach bars around the track and even down a couple miles away in singles-strong Belmont Shore.
You know you have a winning event when there is great daylife that spills into nightlife.
General Admission tickets are $38 for Friday, $77 Saturday, $82 on Sunday and $112 for all three days. Reserved grandstand seats are open Fridays, cost $84 on Saturday and $92 and $107 on Sunday with all three days selling for $124 and $175. Those who are truly into it can buy special tickets to the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Turn One Club ($260), the C300 Club ($390 for three days) or various hospitality clubs that include food and drinks ($760-$1,125 for three days).
To this, people can add a paddock pass ($30 per day or $70 for three days) and even a Super Photo ticket with access to exclusive photo areas ($340).
Race information, along with on-and-off track activities and ticket purchases, can be found at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach website – gplb.com.
Kevin Wilkerson is editor and publisher of the lifestyle website PubClub.com.
