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Jim Michaelian: Long Beach lost a giant; I lost a friend

March 23, 2026

It was just 11 days ago when I sat in the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach office at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Spring Street..

I had joined Press-Telegram editors and staffers for our annual meeting with Jim Michaelian, the race’s longtime president and CEO, to discuss his plans for this year’s event.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian kick off the first full day of construction on the 1.97-mile Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach temporary race circuit through the downtown streets of Long Beach.
Long Beach February 17, 2015. (Photo by Brittany Murray / Daily Breeze)

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He was excited about the race he has loved for 50 years, describing in detail everything surrounding the April 17-19 extravaganza. It would be his last race to oversee. He was retiring as CEO, moving on to another job with Penske Entertainment, the new owner of the race.

Also sitting in the meeting was Jim Liaw who would be stepping into the CEO job after years of working with Michaelian, who had recommended him as his replacement.

I joked and called them “Old Jim” and “Young Jim.” The younger version laughed. But the 83-year-old, still-robust version rolled his eyes.

Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association, left, gets a hug from this year’s Allen Wolfe Spirit Award recipient Rich Archbold on Saturday, Apr. 20, 2024, in the Grand Prix of Long Beach media center. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

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When the meeting ended, Michaelian patted me on the back and said he was looking forward to reading my next column.

It was our last meeting.

The 51st Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will be happening next month without its longtime leader at the helm.

When word got out on Saturday that Michaelian had passed away suddenly, I was stunned along with this community and the racing world. Accolades poured in from everywhere.

Chris Pook, who created the Grand Prix in 1975 and hired Michaelian as his young financial officer, told me that the announcement of Michaelian’s death was “like getting hit by a 2 x 4 — totally unexpected.”

04-15-10- Grand Prix Association CEO Jim Michaelian and driver Danica Patrick along with her pit crew were on hand to compete in the Pit Stop Competition at the “Tecate “Thunder Thursday on Pine. ” The event took place on Pine Avenue between First and Fourth streets and was presented by the Downtown Long Beach Associates (DLBA), in collaboration with the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. It also featured stunt shows, live bands and car show.. .Stephen Carr / Press-Telegram

Mayor Bob Foster, right, and Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian share a laugh as they kick off the first full day of LBGP track construction in Long Beach, CA on Tuesday, February 11, 2014. Foster and Michaelian pulled up to the event in a 1975 and 2014 Toyota pace cars. The 40th anniversary of the race with take place April 11-13 on the 1.97-mile course.
(Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze)

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“Over the past 18 hours, I have been reflecting on just how lucky we were to have Jim show up for that Coastal Commission hearing in June of 1975!” Pook said.

Pook described the different jobs Michaelian held as outstanding until he took over as president and CEO when he left for a racing job in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“Jim will be sorely missed, but in true ‘Jim-like’ fashion, he has put together a stellar operating team,” Pook said.

Al Unser Jr., Hall of Fame race driver, winner of two Indianapolis 500 races and six Long Beach Grand Prix races (the most in the event’s history), said in a text, “Jim gave his heart to the race. No matter who owned the race, they chose Jim to run it. I will love him forever.”

I met Michaelian at my first Grand Prix race in 1979. Since then, he has always been accessible about the race and its development. And, despite the tremendous growth and popularity of the race, he always remained a modest and humble man.

Here’s an example. Doug Krikorian, former sports columnist for the Press-Telegram and also a friend of Michaelian’s, referred to Michaelian in a column in 2023 as the Cal Ripken Jr. of motorsports.

Michaelian got upset at the comparison. “What are you talking about?” Michaelian asked Krikorian. “That streak of Ripken’s went 17 years without his missing a game (2,632) for the Baltimore Orioles.”

“Yes, but you haven’t missed a Grand Prix in 48 years,” Krikorian responded. Michaelian scoffed, minimizing his amazing longevity with the Grand Prix. Michaelian has long been known as a workaholic, to the point that Krikorian dubbed him the Energizer Bunny “because of his inexhaustible spirit and energy.”

Michaelian also had a wry sense of humor.

From left to right, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian, then-Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, then-Formula DRIFT President & Co-Founder Jim Liaw and Stephen Papadakis, owner of Papadakis Racing, helped kick off the first full day of construction on the 1.97-mile Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach temporary race circuit through the downtown streets of Long Beach. (Photo by Stephen Carr, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

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When I wished him a happy birthday in 2020, he emailed me this note: “I just hope that you won’t have to spend any time soon doing what you seem to being all too often – writing obituaries of people in town.”

Another time he congratulated me when I received a distinguished journalist award. “Like me, I know you do your job because you love it, but it is always good to have others extol your efforts.” He added quickly, “Even with your exalted recognition, I assume that you will still be accessible for Grand Prix stories.”

Michaelian didn’t always appreciate it when I would bring up his penchant for driving fast on city streets, resulting in dozens of tickets. “That was all some time ago,” he would say. “I always had a passion for speed, even as a youngster. I got some hot rods and driving around Southern California I got my fair share of tickets.”

Michaelian also had a heart of gold.

He worked with King Taco, which has donated 1,000 tickets to Long Beach Boys & Girls kids to attend the race for free each Sunday for decades. “That’s what it’s all about, helping others like these kids,” he told me. “You should be writing about that.” He was right, and I did.

Long Beach Press-Telegram columnist Rich Archbold visits with Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian as columnists Shirley Wild and Joe Murray look on. Thousands attended the 40th Belmont Shore Christmas Parade along Second Street in Long Beach’s popular shopping and dining districts on Saturday evening, Dec. 7, 2024. Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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Michaelian also showed his compassion to me when I was diagnosed with melanoma cancer on the side of my head.

It was about the same time I received a Key to the City from then Mayor Robert Garcia, now a member of Congress.

Michaelian wrote to me, “I’m not sure where that key gets you, but you deserve it nevertheless. I’m also praying that you will emerge victorious in your battle with cancer.”

Michaelian had his own battle with cancer more than 20 years ago and lost his left eye to the disease.

The cause of his death has not been released and the Michaelian family has requested privacy after his death.

Michaelian gave me the surprise of my life two years ago when it was time to pass out the Allen Wolfe Spirit Award to a person who has made a significant contribution to the Long Beach Grand Prix.

Every year for the previous 24 years I have been passing out the award with Michaelian.

The coveted award was named after Wolfe, the Press-Telegram’s late, legendary auto racing writer, who Michaelian called “a giant in the field of auto racing reporting.”

Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association, left, congratulates columnist Rich Archbold as the recipient of this year's Allen Wolfe Spirit Award on Saturday, Apr. 20, 2024, in the Grand Prix of Long Beach media center. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer) — Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association, left, congratulates columnist Rich Archbold as the recipient of this year’s Allen Wolfe Spirit Award on Saturday, Apr. 20, 2024, in the Grand Prix of Long Beach media center. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

Unfortunately, one week before the 1999 race, Wolfe’s heart gave out and he died at age 51.

In Wolfe’s honor, the Press-Telegram and Michaelian created the Allen Wolfe Spirit of the Grand Prix Award. Michaelian and his staff would select a recipient each year but would keep it a surprise until the award presentation. Michaelian would give me advance notice, but there was something different about this year as he always found excuses as to how an award recipient had not been selected yet.

At the press conference to announce the recipient, I patiently stood next to Michaelian, eagerly waiting to hear who that year’s recipient would be.

Finally, Michaelian said, with a wide smile: “And this year’s recipient, whose ongoing efforts reflect Allen’s enthusiasm and professionalism for the Grand Prix, is the man standing next to me, Rich Archbold.”

I threw up my arms in astonishment. Michaelian gave me a big hug. “Hey, you deserve it,” he said. “Allen would approve.”

That was Jim Michaelian. Always thinking of other people.

Like so many other folks, I will miss him – his smile, his humor, his modesty, his expertise and his compassion.

Goodbye, Jim. And godspeed, my friend.

Jim Michaelian: Long Beach lost a giant; I lost a friend Orange County Register

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