Telepeer

Rich Archbold: What will the Grand Prix of Long Beach look like in next 50 years?

April 19, 2026

When Chris Pook came up with his idea in the 1970s to run race cars on the streets of Long Beach, many people thought it was “a crazy idea” that would never work.

But Pook, then a young travel agent in downtown Long Beach, had the vision and fortitude to make the first race a reality in 1975.

He didn’t imagine it at the time, but the Grand Prix of Long Beach, now in its 51st year, has become the premier street car race in the United States and the single biggest event in the city’s history, drawing around 200,000 people last year.

It is a spectacular success story created by Pook and built upon by Jim Michaelian, his successor as president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach.

Michaelian died unexpectedly on March 21 at 83, just a few weeks away from the final event he planned to oversee before his retirement, at which point he would turn over the race reins to his successor, Jim Liaw.

Liaw, saddened by the loss of Michaelian, is carrying on running this weekend’s events in honor of his friend.

After moving here from Miami to become managing editor of the Press-Telegram, I saw my first Grand Prix race in 1979.

I saw Long Beach alive like I had never seen it. The noise was overwhelming (earplugs are a big help) and the speed of the cars was rip-roaring. In those early years, part of the race course ran on Ocean Boulevard and a thrill for spectators was watching the cars fly on the narrow street that dipped down to Seaside Way. They called it the Linden Leap.

Since then, I have been to every race, making a total of 47 including this year’s race. In that almost 50-year period, I have seen the Grand Prix grow into a hugely popular, iconic motorsports event.

The question now is: What can Liaw, his staff and city officials do in the next 50 years to make the racing event even bigger and better?

Liaw said this week that, in his new job, he will always work to strike a balance, honoring the Grand Prix’s history and tradition, while looking for new ways to grow the event.

“We don’t want to rest on the laurels of what Chris Pook, Jim Michaelian and their staffs accomplished,” Liaw said last week. “They created a strong foundation, which we can continue to build on.”

The 2026 poster for the ACURA Grand Prix of Long Beach. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

1 of 6

The 2026 poster for the ACURA Grand Prix of Long Beach. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Expand

The key question, of course, is finding out what customers want and then satisfying those desires, Liaw said.

“We have a lot of people interested in the race, from car enthusiasts to family members wanting to have a good time to corporate and business interests,” he said. “This is an exciting opportunity to engage even more people in this great event.”

Liaw said he will continue the Grand Prix’s partnership with city officials, community organizations and businesses.

“We can not only have an immediate economic impact on businesses,” he said, “but we can also have a residual effect like getting young people interested by going to their schools and working with the Long Beach Unified School District.”

This past week, students at eight Long Beach schools enjoyed visits from race car drivers and their cars.

“Long Beach is so rich in culture and diversity, but there are many people who have never set foot on the Grand Prix circuit,” Liaw said. “We have to figure out a way to draw more people in.”

Liaw said he was excited by his new job.

“There is so much that can be done,” he said. “We have hit one very high plateau with the race. Now, we have to push even higher.”

Pook complimented Liaw on his background.

“He has considerable experience in racing with his work in Formula Drift and Performance Racing Industry,” he said. “He can use his already demonstrated talents to grow the event.”

Liaw was aware of the need for customer satisfaction, including spectators, sponsors and businesses, Pook said.

“Relations with the city and residential neighbors are really important,” Pook said.

Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson was also complimentary about Liaw’s ability and talent.

“We are having a smooth transition with him,” Richardson said. “He has a deep respect for the race and tradition, but he also has a deep respect for the future. The combination of him and the race’s owner, Penske Entertainment, positions the race to get to the next level.”

The future of the city, Richardson said, is tied to tourism and getting more people involved. An important issue being worked on is the Shoreline Drive Realignment Project, he said, which would reshape portions of Shoreline Drive to provide more park space adjacent to Chavez Park.

Also involved are plans to develop the Elephant Lot next to the Long Beach Arena. The lot gets its name from the Ringling Brothers Circus, which used the land for shows. The 14-acre area is used by Grand Prix race crews, among other uses throughout the year.

The city, Richardson said, will work closely with Grand Prix officials on plans for Shoreline Drive and the Elephant Lot. He praised the impact the Grand Prix has had on the city for decades.

“I know it will attract future generations of race fans, too,” he said.

Steve Goodling, president and CEO of Visit Long Beach, said the Grand Prix’s next half-century “is a great opportunity to improve and enhance the entire race experience.”

“We can use more music, music, music, for one thing,” he said. “Jim Michaelian did a great job in bringing entertainment to the race experience. I’m looking forward to an even greater future for the Grand Prix.”

This year, ticket holders were treated to free music concerts on both Friday and Saturday evenings in front of the Terrace Theater.

And the race has a greater impact on the city than the immediate effects during race weekend, Goodling said.

“For instance,” he said, “this week we are entertaining 100 people from all over the United States who represent potential convention visitors to Long Beach.

“By the time the race is over on Sunday, these people will have been totally immersed in the positive aspects of Long Beach,” Goodling added, “and, hopefully, will think well about bringing their conventions to our city.”

Dan Gooch, a former city employee who helped the Grand Prix get its start in Long Beach in the 1970s and ’80s, said there were things he would like to see happen in the next 50 years:

Bring back the pro/celebrity race.
Get more media coverage leading up to the race “to build up excitement.”
Involve Cal State Long Beach and Long Beach City College by engaging their professors to link their specialties, like engineering, communications and marketing, with the race
Establish scholarships for students in high schools, creating a link to the younger generation.

Also speaking about the future of the Grand Prix was my departed friend, Michaelian. He sent me a note eight years ago, which is appropriate for today’s column.

“Rich, if you feel it is appropriate, it might be good to end your article with something about the years that the Grand Prix has provided the city of Long Beach with a superb event,” he wrote, “which continues to grow and that looks to serve the community for many years to come.”

Good ending, Jim. Thank you — and here’s to 50 more!

Rich Archbold: What will the Grand Prix of Long Beach look like in next 50 years? Orange County Register

News Details

Rich Archbold: What will the Grand Prix of Long Beach look like in next 50 years?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

News

CONTACT INFO

QUICK LINKS

SERVICES

CURRENT NEWS